Meeting of the Parliament 19 November 2025
I have taken a good number of interventions. Let me wrap up with some of the specific points that were raised during the debate.
I say to Douglas Ross that I am more than happy to chase that response for the save our surgeries group. Sharon Dowey raised some issues about audiology, which is a recognised challenge in our healthcare service and we are working to improve that. The issues with dentistry were largely caused by Brexit and the pandemic. The south of Scotland was particularly dependent on European dentists but we have taken action to try to improve that situation and we are seeing the benefit.
I agree with Carol Mochan’s point about apprenticeship and local earn as you learn, which would also be helpful in my area. There has been some progress on that front, with nurses, including mental health nurses, training in situ, but we need to expand it to other professions. Being a fellow member of a regulated health profession, Carol Mochan will understand that the barriers to that do not all lie in the Government’s hands; there are barriers within the professions, but it is important that we continue to pursue that.
I assure Tim Eagle that NHS Grampian has hospital at home. There are 35 patients a day using that service at the moment, and there are plans for expansion to respiratory and other areas.
I am sorry that I have not managed to respond to everyone’s points. I want to finish the debate by saying a huge thank you to our health and social care workforce for their resilience and for their innovation. It is very clear that there is a lot of innovation across the country, including in rural areas. The debate has highlighted the challenges that are faced by communities in Stranraer, Wigtownshire and across Dumfries and Galloway.
We are acting on the motion’s calls, investing in GP recruitment and retention, expanding diagnostic capacity, improving ambulance response times and increasing the number of community beds. We will continue to work with local communities to ensure that future health policy reflects their needs. I invite members to support those reforms and to work collaboratively across the Parliament to ensure that we deliver equitable access to care for every person, wherever they live.
Meeting closed at 18:39.