Chamber
Plenary, 11 Jan 2007
11 Jan 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Community Hospitals (Western Isles)
Health and Community Care
I thank the minister for that response, and I also formally put on record my thanks to him for his decisive action in his intervention last summer, which ensured that the management of Western Isles NHS Board was placed firmly back on track.
Does he agree that people in every part of Scotland, whether they live on islands or in mainland Scotland, expect that, as was outlined in Professor Kerr's report, services will, if at all possible, be safely delivered as close to communities as possible, and that that is one of the many reasons why my constituents have such high regard for the staff who deliver services in the Western Isles? My constituents obviously know more about the isles' health service than the nationalist MSP Rob Gibson, who betrayed his ignorance—
Does he agree that people in every part of Scotland, whether they live on islands or in mainland Scotland, expect that, as was outlined in Professor Kerr's report, services will, if at all possible, be safely delivered as close to communities as possible, and that that is one of the many reasons why my constituents have such high regard for the staff who deliver services in the Western Isles? My constituents obviously know more about the isles' health service than the nationalist MSP Rob Gibson, who betrayed his ignorance—
In the same item of business
1. Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab):
Lab
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the strategy to enhance community hospitals will have on health care in the Western Isles. (S2O-11636)
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Mr Andy Kerr):
Lab
We believe that "Developing Community Hospitals: A Strategy for Scotland" will have a positive effect on health care in the Western Isles. The strategy, publ...
Mr Morrison:
Lab
I thank the minister for that response, and I also formally put on record my thanks to him for his decisive action in his intervention last summer, which ens...
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
To the question, please.
Mr Morrison:
Lab
Yes, Presiding Officer. Mr Gibson betrayed his ignorance when he asked a parliamentary question before the Christmas break about a hospital that had not even...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
A question, please, Mr Morrison.
Mr Morrison:
Lab
Does the minister agree that such a staggering level of ignorance demonstrated by a legislator does not inspire confidence, and does he agree that it is a re...
Mr Kerr:
Lab
What inspires confidence is the Kerr report, which provides a national framework. What inspires confidence is "Delivering for Health". Medical leaders—partic...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Will the minister authorise the funding of terminal care units in NHS hospitals in small island communities, such as St Brendan's hospital in Barra, where a ...
Mr Kerr:
Lab
I am always happy to consider such ideas. Of course, I would need much more detail on the project to which Rob Gibson refers. We will continue to support the...
Dave Petrie (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
Will the minister give assurances to patients in the Western Isles that such enhancements as have been mentioned will offset some of the frequently documente...
Mr Kerr:
Lab
The member refers to frequently documented problems, but I suggest that he cannot be looking at up-to-date material about the delivery of health care service...