Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 12 March 2026 [Draft]
12 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
First Minister’s Question Time
Private Healthcare (NHS Consultants)
I set out to Clare Haughey that—as I have just said to Brian Whittle, but I need to say it again so that members hear—under this Government, long wait times are down eight months in a row and long waits for new out-patients have halved since July, just as I promised would be the case. The number of GPs, nurses, midwives and consultants is up, and there are 16 new walk-in GP clinics.
Let me reassure Clare Haughey that my Government intends to take no lectures from Tony Blair.
In the same item of business
5. Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of any impact on the national health service arising from reports that the number ...
The First Minister (John Swinney)
SNP
The very modest increase of 20 private consultants over the past year has to be seen in the context of a record high number of NHS Scotland consultants. Sinc...
Brian Whittle
Con
I thank the First Minister for that answer. However, much as I accept that people have a choice, I am concerned that more people are accessing private health...
The First Minister
SNP
I need to correct Mr Whittle on the point about more staff leaving the NHS. There are more staff working in the NHS under this Government than there have bee...
Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP)
SNP
I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests. As the First Minister referenced, it is worth Brian Whittle noting that Scotland continue...
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
Let us hear one another.
Clare Haughey
SNP
Can the First Minister therefore outline how, under the SNP and his leadership, Scotland has seen the number of doctors, consultants and nurses increase, and...
The First Minister
SNP
I set out to Clare Haughey that—as I have just said to Brian Whittle, but I need to say it again so that members hear—under this Government, long wait times ...