Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 16 January 2025
16 Jan 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Health and Social Care (Rural Scotland)
I am grateful to my colleague Tim Eagle for bringing forward this debate on rural healthcare.
At 5 past 4 this afternoon, just over an hour ago, I received an email from a constituent, which I will read out word for word. It states:
“Dear Rachael I’m waiting for cataract surgery at Borders General Hospital. I was told in December it would be possibly a year. Now I’ve just had a call from BGH telling me if I don’t accept the Jubilee Hospital as an option I’ll be removed from the waiting list. This I find to be totally unacceptable as I’m 82. I can’t travel to Glasgow; I’m not able. So as from today I am no longer on the waiting list. Just thought I’d let you know this because I believe it’s the SNP government who has made this decision. Listening to First Minister’s questions today I was shocked at what I was hearing about the NHS and replies from John Swinney as if everything is ok. I just can’t believe this.”
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-14408, in the name of Tim Eagle, on improving access to health and social care in rural...
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I remind members that my wife is a general practitioner partner in a practice in Buckie and that I previously served for five years as a councillor in Moray....
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes)
SNP
In the spirit of commending workers in rural areas, I note that one advantage of smaller teams is that they are able to adapt, innovate and trial things more...
Tim Eagle
Con
I agree. I do not have time to go into this in my speech, but I would argue that some of the centralisation in relation to community treatment and care nurse...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Before we move to the open debate, I advise members that we are heavily oversubscribed for this debate. It is inevitable that we will have to extend it by ha...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Tim Eagle for, as he said, giving us all the opportunity to raise important matters. I wish to focus, as I have intimated to the cabinet secretary, o...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Neil Gray)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Yes.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Be very brief, cabinet secretary.
Neil Gray
SNP
I have met Fergus Ewing and those GPs’ colleagues, whose advice I am very grateful for. I hope that he will accept that I have also provided clear guidance a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to conclude.
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I appreciate that the cabinet secretary’s intentions are entirely honourable and good. I entirely accept that. However, as a former minister, I gently say to...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We need to move on. I call Finlay Carson. You have up to four minutes. 17:15
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I congratulate Tim Eagle on bringing this crucial topic to the chamber. Living in rural Scotland remains a massive challenge and it is certainly not getting...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to conclude.
Finlay Carson
Con
In nobody’s mind is 90 miles “close to home”.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to conclude.
Finlay Carson
Con
Once again, I urge the cabinet secretary to consider an urgent review of the matter.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Neither of the last two speeches has been within four minutes. We will need to do better, otherwise members who want to speak in the debate will be deprived ...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I congratulate Tim Eagle not just on securing tonight’s debate but on the tour de force speech that he gave on issues affecting his constituents—our constitu...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, thank Tim Eagle for securing the debate. Access to health and social care in the Highlands and Islands is poor, which is borne out by the Scottish H...
Neil Gray
SNP
On Rhoda Grant’s point about social care, the progress that we are seeking to make in relation to a national care service is about enshrining a human rights-...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I agree that a human rights-based approach to budgeting must be taken at all levels to meet people’s human rights. That was clear from the Scottish Human Rig...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
As other members have done, I thank Tim Eagle for bringing the debate to the chamber. The number of speakers and the pressure that is being brought to bear h...
Neil Gray
SNP
I hope that the member will recognise that, along with the constituency member, Kate Forbes, I met residents and family members at Moss Park and that interve...
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
Saved for how long? That is the problem. What will the loss of care provision mean for the Belford hospital, which is itself in need of replacement? I joine...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
I am grateful to my colleague Tim Eagle for bringing forward this debate on rural healthcare. At 5 past 4 this afternoon, just over an hour ago, I received ...
Neil Gray
SNP
Will the member write to me with the details of that case? We are investing in making sure that we can get through the waiting lists and are using the nation...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
I am very grateful to Neil Gray for that response and will certainly write to him. I have also written to him in the past couple of days to invite him to com...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I thank Tim Eagle for raising this important topic in the chamber. In addition to the list of facilities that need replacement that is included in the motion...