Chamber
Plenary, 04 Jun 2008
04 Jun 2008 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Scottish Ambulance Service
My recollection of the conclusion of the debate on 22 May was that it was, in fact, a Liberal Democrat amendment, calling for a statement from the cabinet secretary, that was approved by the Parliament. It would be entirely churlish of me not to thank the cabinet secretary for coming to the chamber so quickly with her statement and for providing copies of it in advance. It would be equally churlish not to recognise that the cabinet secretary has addressed, or is in the course of addressing, or has set in place steps to address, almost all the issues that were raised in the debate last month, which is welcome. I hope that, equally, the cabinet secretary will acknowledge that, although the Scottish Ambulance Service performs well and those who work for it do a good job, the issues that we have been discussing are important. The breadth and range of her statement indicate that a number of them need to be addressed.
I have two questions. First, I accept wholly what the cabinet secretary said about front loading being tested elsewhere. I hope that, in asking for an inquiry, she will not prescribe it narrowly, such that it precludes addressing relationships and staffing. If, as the cabinet secretary has admitted, a number of rostering issues have developed that are not acceptable to her and are not in line with policy, that could easily undermine the delivery of front loading. I hope that the specification that Harry Burns receives will cover those issues.
Secondly, I refer again to a matter that it is important to raise in the public interest—safety and ambulance journey times. I do not wish to go on and on about it, but I continue to believe that the cabinet secretary is required to give the public assurance on some of the statements that were made in good faith by Professor Walker in his report on Ayr hospital, which implied that extended journeys might not be safe. As I requested during the debate on 22 May, we require some public assurance on the matter.
I have two questions. First, I accept wholly what the cabinet secretary said about front loading being tested elsewhere. I hope that, in asking for an inquiry, she will not prescribe it narrowly, such that it precludes addressing relationships and staffing. If, as the cabinet secretary has admitted, a number of rostering issues have developed that are not acceptable to her and are not in line with policy, that could easily undermine the delivery of front loading. I hope that the specification that Harry Burns receives will cover those issues.
Secondly, I refer again to a matter that it is important to raise in the public interest—safety and ambulance journey times. I do not wish to go on and on about it, but I continue to believe that the cabinet secretary is required to give the public assurance on some of the statements that were made in good faith by Professor Walker in his report on Ayr hospital, which implied that extended journeys might not be safe. As I requested during the debate on 22 May, we require some public assurance on the matter.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson):
NPA
The next item of business is a statement by Nicola Sturgeon on the Scottish Ambulance Service. The cabinet secretary will, of course, take questions at the e...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Nicola Sturgeon):
SNP
In the debate on 22 May, a number of concerns were raised about the Scottish Ambulance Service. I undertook to investigate each and every one of them. Today,...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues that were raised in her statement. We have around 30 minutes for such questions, after which we m...
Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab):
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer—I will do my very best, I promise. I thank the cabinet secretary for advance copy of the statement.Cabinet secretary, you will b...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank Margaret Curran for her questions. I acknowledge that Labour raised those issues two weeks ago. Members of all parties have raised them and I thank a...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I remind all remaining members that making contributions through the chair means not calling other members "you".
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I thank the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing for a copy of her statement and I place on record the Conservatives' recognition of the excellent work...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank Mary Scanlon for her acknowledgement of the action that is being taken on single manning. The problem has been with us for many years, but I think we...
Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD):
LD
My recollection of the conclusion of the debate on 22 May was that it was, in fact, a Liberal Democrat amendment, calling for a statement from the cabinet se...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank Ross Finnie for those questions. Before this descends into a competition between Labour and the Liberal Democrats as to who is responsible for today'...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
We now come to questions from back benchers. More people wish to ask questions than I can possibly fit in, so in order to allow in as many as possible, I mak...
Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
As the cabinet secretary knows, the pilot scheme for rapid response vehicles that took place in Lanarkshire, which is in my region, is being evaluated extern...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Christina McKelvie is right to say that the use of rapid response vehicles in Lanarkshire is currently subject to external evaluation, which is an important ...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I join other members in welcoming the speed with which the cabinet secretary has responded to this undoubted glitch in the Ambulance Service, which is an oth...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Of course staff should speak freely. I make it clear to any member of the Scottish Ambulance Service staff that if they have something to say, they should fe...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I repeat that there should be one question per member.
Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP):
SNP
As the cabinet secretary will be aware, I represent a constituency that includes rural Kinross-shire, whose residents can be quite far from hospitals in time...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Question, please, Mr Brown.
Keith Brown:
SNP
Will the cabinet secretary clarify what has been happening with regard to the issue? Will the action that she is proposing to take reassure my constituents?
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Keith Brown raises a valid and important point. I covered the issue in my statement, but I will again make it clear that single manning of accident and emerg...
Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab):
Lab
Does the cabinet secretary have statistics on ambulances that were dispatched but subsequently stood down following a paramedic triage stand-down message to ...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Of course protocols are in place to deal with the scenarios to which Helen Eadie refers. The dispatch centre will make decisions about the appropriate type o...
Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con):
Con
I would like to press the cabinet secretary a little further on the review that is being headed up by Ken Corsar. No organisation, let alone a major service ...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
The date for the annual review, which I have decided to move to early autumn to allow progress to be made, will be set before or around the time when I meet ...
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
On pages 7, 8 and 9 of the written version of her statement, the cabinet secretary frankly acknowledges the staffing problems that I have outlined. Can she a...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I am happy to confirm that the work that I have requested from the Scottish Ambulance Service will cover the issues to which Jamie Stone refers. I am also ha...
Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP):
SNP
The cabinet secretary will be aware of concerns about how operational research consultancy—ORCON—targets are being applied, particularly for category A calls...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I understand where Michael Matheson comes from in asking his questions. The eight-minute target was set not by this Government but by the previous Administra...
James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab):
Lab
In the debate two weeks ago, concerns were expressed about the cleanliness of vehicles and the impact on health and safety of pressures on staff. The cabinet...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I am happy to do that and to report to Parliament when I make a fuller statement. Members will know the importance that I attach to cleanliness and infection...