Hansard

I thank Jean Turner for bringing the matter to the Parliament today. I will read out an e-mail that I recently received, because it is relevant to the debate. It states:

"Dear John, …

I'm wondering how typical my 85 year old mother's experience has been of the non-provision of services.

About four years ago, she was referred by her GP to a clinic to see if she needed a hip replaced (she'd already had the other one done in the late 90s). She was turned down. We went through the same procedure every six months until (a) she was in considerable pain and (b) she was losing so much weight as a result that we thought she wouldn't survive—period, not just as the result of an operation. We eventually dug deep and went private; the surgeon at the Murrayfield thought twice about operating because of her body condition … She left hospital with no support package in place which we had to find for ourselves.

She is now in the position where she needs a little extra support—dressing, bathing and that kind of thing. I approached Edinburgh Council Social Work Department some months ago; they took detailed notes and promised her an assessment but we've since heard nothing.

This week however, she had an accident and broke her wrist. I took her straight to the ERI A & E Department. They were very good but could not admit her for the night as there were no available beds"—

that is exactly what we are all talking about. The e-mail continues:

"We had to take her back to hospital for a major but non-invasive procedure early the following morning. Again, the doctor stressed there would be no support after the operation despite her being in plaster for the next six weeks. He said we'd have to get in touch with the Social Work Department … Again, the Social Work Department said something along the lines of ‘OK, she's slightly up the waiting list—but basically, why not choose a nursing agency out of Yellow Pages and check them against the Care Commission!' … in other words, you're on your own!

So I've been scrabbling about on the Internet trying to source something at short notice.

I can't help but wonder if this is typical of the Executive's much-vaunted ‘free care for the elderly'?"

Those are not my words but the words of the sender of the e-mail.

I honestly believe that health should not be used as a party-political football. Consensus should always be the order of the day in relation to health. Therefore, I read the e-mail with a heavy heart, because I am proud of our health service. It is seldom in receipt of praise for a job well done but receives severe criticism on the rare occasions when that is not the case, such as the circumstances outlined above. Basically, there have been too many cutbacks in hospital beds. It is time to reduce the number of managers, statisticians and bean counters and invest in more doctors, nurses and hospital beds.