Chamber
Plenary, 11 Jan 2007
11 Jan 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Community Hospitals (Western Isles)
Health and Community Care
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 services throughout Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands and the Western Isles. Despite all the press coverage about the management of Western Isles NHS Board, I have to say that the delivery by staff in the Western Isles was second to none. They performed extremely well and their performance was innovative and creative, leading to substantial reductions in waiting times and waiting lists and providing local services such as the renal service.
The member could not have picked a worse time to criticise NHS 24, which has just had its most significant period of demand. During the two four-day holiday periods over Christmas and the new year, demand for the service increased by 15 per cent, but response times were at an historically high level. Patients from up and down the country have e-mailed me and written and talked to me about the high-quality service that they received from NHS 24 during the Christmas and new year breaks.
The member could not have picked a worse time to criticise NHS 24, which has just had its most significant period of demand. During the two four-day holiday periods over Christmas and the new year, demand for the service increased by 15 per cent, but response times were at an historically high level. Patients from up and down the country have e-mailed me and written and talked to me about the high-quality service that they received from NHS 24 during the Christmas and new year breaks.
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...