Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 November 2025
19 Nov 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Rural Communities (Challenges)
I am proud of the Near Me technology, which is now used all over the UK and in Ireland. It came into its own during the pandemic. It was developed in Caithness, in my constituency, because of the challenge of travelling down to the hospital and it is now well used all over the UK. It could do with being used more, in fact.
We are continuing to expand diagnostic and treatment capacity at Galloway community hospital and other hubs. We are improving ambulance response times by reducing hospital delays, enhancing triage and increasing safe treatment at home or in community settings.
The provision of community beds and step-down facilities has been increased to reduce delayed discharge. Dumfries and Galloway’s home first work is a great example of shifting care into local settings, as is the investment in hospital at home around the country, flow navigation centres and, as we have mentioned, Near Me. Work with communities to co-design services that reflect local needs is vitally important.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-19548, in the name of Finlay Carson, on the growing tide of on-going challenges facing...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I thank all members from across the chamber who supported the motion. I will be clear: rural Scotland, including areas such as Stranraer and the Rhins in Dum...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Mr Carson, I caution against electioneering in the chamber.
Finlay Carson
Con
My apologies, Deputy Presiding Officer. Scottish Conservatives believe in fairness and that where someone lives should never determine the quality of care t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I advise members that there is a lot of demand to speak in the debate. I am conscious that we have already been late in starting, so I will require members t...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
Deputy Presiding Officer, can I go after the next speaker? I am having technical difficulties with my Surface laptop.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I think that we can do that.
Christine Grahame
SNP
Thank you.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Douglas Ross, assuming that he is ready to go. 17:51
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am always happy to accommodate Christine Grahame in any way that I can. I am delighted to contribute to the debate, which has been brought to the chamber ...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
As ever, Mr Ross is speaking up for his rural constituents. What do you think that viewers of the debate tonight should read into the fact that not one sing...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Always speak through the chair, Mr Hoy.
Douglas Ross
Con
I think that it is very disappointing. I will listen closely to the speeches from SNP members when we hear them. However, I note that we have members’ busine...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I am not getting an indication from Ms Grahame that she is ready just yet, so I will call Craig Hoy and possibly come back to Christine Grahame after that. ...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank Finlay Carson for bringing this important debate to the chamber. Today, we are talking about one overarching issue: the SNP’s neglect of rural Scotla...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I see that Ms Grahame is still not ready, so I call Rhoda Grant. 18:00
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Finlay Carson for securing this important debate. His motion speaks about the impact of urban-based policies on Dumfries and Galloway, and that is re...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Sharon Dowey. 18:04
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
The challenges that my colleague Finlay Carson has laid out are moving and troubling, and illustrate the experience of an area that faces a number of problem...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I now call Christine Grahame. 18:08
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, for allowing me to resolve my technical issue—so far, so good, but it is early days yet. I congratulate the member on...
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I thank the member for bringing this really important members’ business debate to the chamber. In some ways, I am a little bit shocked. I had a speech prepar...
Christine Grahame
SNP
I am obliged to the member for taking my intervention. I am not aware of this—perhaps you can advise me. Does NHS Grampian operate the hospital at home mode...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Through the chair.
Tim Eagle
Con
I was on the IJB in Moray when the hospital at home model was being discussed, and I remember making the point at the time that the model works only if we ha...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank my friend and colleague Finlay Carson for securing the debate, which I have been listening to intently. I did not map out a speech—I thought that I w...
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, thank Finlay Carson for bringing today’s debate to the chamber, and I was pleased to support his motion. As we have heard, people in rural areas face...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
My colleague Finlay Carson’s motion is absolutely spot on, and I thank him for bringing the debate to the chamber. Under the SNP, taxpayers are paying more a...
Christine Grahame
SNP
I hope that the member will agree that the demographics in the Borders are extremely challenging, with an increasing elderly population that is living even l...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
Christine Grahame has made my point for me: we should not have inequality, simply because of a geographical difference between urban and rural communities. I...