National Health Service | Scottish Parliament debates
I would not be opposed to the legislation that David Smith has suggested, but there would be a quicker way: the Government could give staff sufficient resources to enable them to do their job. Would he agree with that?
National Health Service | Scottish Parliament debates
Perhaps he should listen. A recent survey by the Royal College of Nursing found that seven in 10 nurses felt that staffing levels on their last shift were below or well below what was needed. The organisation’s latest report, which was published in May, warned that “Scotland cannot build the sustainable nursing workforce that it […]
National Health Service | Scottish Parliament debates
Thank you, Presiding Officer. [Interruption.] Oh! Did I make that noise with the microphone? I will start the debate on a consensual note. I very much welcome Angela Constance to her new post as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care. I have considerable respect for her as an individual—I hope that my saying that is […]
National Health Service | Scottish Parliament debates
I absolutely agree that we need innovation and to be able to move forward, and that it is not a case of putting one thing against another. However, we have not thought through how to secure continuity of care and how to make other aspects work better, such as deciding where test results go when […]
National Health Service | Scottish Parliament debates
Neil Gray is the past health secretary—he can sit down.
Summer of Sport | Scottish Parliament debates
Like others in the chamber, I suspect, I remember the world cup campaign in 1998—hard to believe, I know—and the hope, aspiration and sheer joy that is the tartan army. I have to say that, although we have never yet made it into the second round, this could be our year, and the expectation is […]
Public Confidence in Political Institutions | Urgent Question | Scottish Parliament debates
We have warned consistently about the rotten culture of secrecy and cover-up at the heart of the SNP Government. We have seen that during the Salmond inquiry, with the legal challenge to the Scottish Information Commissioner and, at its most extreme, with the embezzlement of SNP supporters’ money. In March 2021, a complaint was made […]
Oaths and Affirmations | Scottish Parliament debates
I, Jackie Baillie, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.
Accident and Emergency Departments (Waiting Times) | Portfolio Question Time | Scottish Parliament debates
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine estimates that, “at the current rate of progress, it could take more than 200 years to reduce the number” of Scots waiting long hours at A and E to levels seen just a decade ago. Will the Government accept that its current approach has failed and commit to a […]
Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 | Scottish Parliament debates
I lodged amendment 118 on behalf of Hospice UK. The amendment would ensure that the five-year review of the assisted dying legislation considers the effectiveness of the code of practice, which is set out in section 22B of the bill. Members will know that the aim of the code of practice is to ensure that […]