Meeting of the Parliament 25 March 2026 [Draft]
I will turn to Oliver Mundell’s substantive point in a second, but, with your indulgence, Deputy Presiding Officer, I take this opportunity to pay tribute to Oliver Mundell. I have had many dealings with him during the past five years in my ministerial roles, and I have always found him to be a constructive champion for his constituents and a tenacious parliamentarian. I have always enjoyed working with him, and I wish him and his family all the very best for the future.
In addition, I thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and your colleagues who are standing down, for your service in the chair over the past five years. It is very much appreciated by the Scottish Government’s health team.
I deeply regret the case that Oliver Mundell has put on the record. From what he has said, that is a completely unacceptable situation. I have seen corridor care happening, and it is undignified, unacceptable and no way for us to proceed, which is why we are making the investments that we are making through NHS Dumfries and Galloway.
The board has been allocated almost £4.5 million of combined core unscheduled care and operational improvement funding to increase the number of hospital-at-home services and to improve patient flow-through by implementing discharge without delay and addressing adults-with-incapacity delays.
If Oliver Mundell wants to send me more details, I will be happy to look at what can be done through NHS Dumfries and Galloway in the time that I have left to do so.