Neil Gray
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“I welcome the fact that, through the police and the courts, our justice system is ensuring that justice is done. Victims show enormous bravery and trust in our legal system in reporting crime, and I want that to continue.”
“The Scottish Government-funded Caledonian system is a good example of a community-based programme that aims to address the behaviour of men who have been convicted of domestic abuse, alongside providing support to affected women and children.”
“On the day after my appointment as justice secretary, I visited HMP Edinburgh to see the level of pressure that the Scottish Prison Service is facing due to an increasing prison population. It is clear that staff want to focus on rehabilitation and reducing reoffending but that it is increasingly difficult for them to do so.”
“Scotland shows a clear and persistent trend of increasing the length of average custodial sentences, including a 37 per cent rise between 2014-15 and 2023-24.”
“However, although the operational impact that will result from the changes is expected to be minimal, I still advise the Parliament to give legislative consent to the relevant sections of the bill.”
“I note my thanks and appreciation to the Parliament for expediting consideration of this legislative consent motion. It is regrettable that we are having to expedite scrutiny on an LCM, which is due to the UK Government’s timetabling for the National Security (State Threats) Bill.”
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“Yes, difficult decisions will be required across not only our health services but our public services in general, because of the corrosive impact that years of high inflation have had on our spendability, as well as the demand that is coming through. That is why it is so important that we use tools, such as the population health framework that we have set out, to shift the balance of care, reform our health and social care services, reduce demand and address demand more directly. I will continue to work with NHS Dumfries and Galloway, and its chief executive Julie White, to ensure that that will be the case in Dumfries and Galloway as it is elsewhere. Dentistry (Skilled Worker Visa) 7.”
“Oliver Mundell: Any additional money is welcome, but with a record deficit of £58 million, as predicted by the health and social care partnership for 2025-26, the board’s financial position continues to deteriorate. Local communities have real concerns about the impact of drastic reductions in spending. Fundamentally, it will not be possible to save such a sum without reducing services, which will leave rural communities even more isolated. Cost pressures are starting to dictate services, rather than, as the cabinet secretary talked about, services becoming more patient led. Neil Gray: When such situations arise, I expect us to move to a position in which we have services that are sustainable but that ensure the needs of the population that they serve are being met.”
“Following NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s escalation for finance, the Scottish Government has provided increased oversight and engagement to ensure that the board is provided with support that is commensurate with its financial circumstances. So far, that has included an on-going whole clinical services review, which involves NHS Dumfries and Galloway closely collaborating with the Scottish Government in order to identify changes to its models of care and improve sustainability while protecting patient outcomes. In addition, NHS Dumfries and Galloway has received £7.4 million of additional funding to support its financial position.”
“NHS Dumfries and Galloway (Financial Support) 6.”
“I know personally about the truly remarkable specialist care that is provided at the spinal injuries unit at Queen Elizabeth university hospital, because my father was a patient there. I am concerned by the point about Borders general hospital that Ms Grahame has raised. I expect national health service boards to provide high-quality, person-centred care and support for all people. It is always disappointing to hear of instances where that care has fallen short of the standard that is expected. I hope that Christine Grahame will understand and appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases. However, I welcome a discussion to better understand the circumstances, and I invite her to write to me with further details so that we can arrange a meeting to explore them fully.”
“Although his wife had praise for the three months that he spent in the spinal unit at Queen Elizabeth university hospital in Glasgow, the planned transfer to Borders general hospital exposed dreadful deficiencies in its ability to look after him, including not even knowing initially how to use a hoist. Will the cabinet secretary meet my constituent to hear her experience, as it is disturbing that in an area known for rugby, horse-riding and agriculture, where a spinal injury might not be so uncommon, the appropriate training for spinal injuries appears to be lacking in the local hospital? Neil Gray: I am grateful to Christine Grahame for raising the case. I am sorry to hear of Mr Wright’s passing, and I offer my sincere condolences to his family for their loss.”
“The Queen Elizabeth national spinal injuries unit in Glasgow is responsible for the acute and lifelong care of all adult patients with traumatic and non-progressive spinal cord injury. We are committed to ensuring that all adults who require rehabilitation in all settings have timely access to the right services at the right time. The once for Scotland rehabilitation approach sets out commitments that will shape a national programme of improvement work, under which national health service boards will be expected to demonstrate rehabilitation provision in a variety of settings, including in-patient and community settings, and at a range of intensities. Christine Grahame: My constituent, Graham Wright, suffered a freak accident last year. His spine was paralysed from the neck down. Sadly, he died recently.”
“When an NHS board undertakes a significant adverse event review, the patient or their family should be kept fully informed throughout that process. Furthermore, the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 and supporting legislation provide a specific right for people to make complaints and place a duty on NHS boards to thoroughly investigate and respond to any concerns that have been raised. If a person remains dissatisfied following the board’s decision on their complaint, they can ask the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman to consider the complaint.”
“Patrick feels that he is being ignored by the health services that are involved in his care, which cannot give him clarity on why the complication occurred or on what can be done to address it. The cabinet secretary will know that I have written to him this week regarding this case, but what can be done to ensure that the NHS has policies in place to ensure the least stressful and best outcomes for patients in what I understand is the very rare event of complications? Neil Gray: I thank Fulton MacGregor for raising that case with me here, in the chamber, and in writing. I am very sorry to hear of Mr Higgins’s situation, and I will provide a full response to Fulton MacGregor’s correspondence as soon as possible. Following an adverse event, no patient should be left in the position that they do not know what has happened.”
“Any patient who experiences complications following surgery should discuss their concerns with the healthcare professionals who are responsible for their care. In addition, everyone has the right to make a complaint about the NHS treatment that they have received, and their concerns should be addressed at a local level through the NHS complaints-handling procedure. When that is not possible, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is the second and final stage of the process. Fulton MacGregor: Last week, I met a constituent, Patrick Higgins, who underwent a routine operation. He now has severe mobility issues due to a nerve in his leg accidentally being severed.”
“I expect complaints or concerns that are raised with national health service boards to be responded to timeously, regardless of whether they have been raised by elected members or by individual patients, and I expect progress to be made in resolving the issues that have been raised. A new chief executive, Laura Skaife-Knight, has just taken up post at NHS Grampian—she has been in post for just over a week. I will ensure that Mr Ross’s concerns about ensuring that there is better communication with elected members are raised with her. What Mr Ross has raised with me just now is not the standard that I would expect, and I pass on my sincere condolences to the family of his constituent.”
“I raised an issue with the health board on 22 May. It was raised here, in Parliament, with the First Minister on 5 June, and we have still had no response. In another case, I contacted NHS Grampian on 29 April. I have had a number of automatic responses to say that it is still looking into the matter, but there has been no reply. The constituent whom I was advocating on behalf of has now passed away. They had no closure on the issue that they raised with their elected member in Parliament. Does the minister agree that that is simply unacceptable? What will he do to encourage NHS Grampian to fully respond to those serious concerns? Neil Gray: To give a direct response to the question, yes, I agree that that is unacceptable.”
“The chair of NHS Grampian participated in the most recent meeting of the NHS Grampian assurance board on 23 September. The board, which provides oversight of NHS Grampian’s improvement plan, comprises Scottish Government officials and NHS Grampian leaders. The agenda for that meeting included the financial position of the local system, engagement between NHS Grampian leaders and the local workforce, and improvement plans for unscheduled care. Douglas Ross: As an MSP, I regularly write to NHS Grampian to raise serious concerns on behalf of constituents. The board has now taken to responding to MSPs by saying that it will not meet the 20-day target for a response. However, it is not that the board is not meeting the target—it is missing it completely. Months are going by without my getting any reply.”
“Amendment 309 disagreed to. Amendment 310 moved—[Katy Clark]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 310 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed. I call Angus Robertson for a point of order.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect to the app. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Gray. I will ensure that that is recorded. For Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) [Proxy vote cast by Willie Rennie] Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 48, Against 58, Abstentions 0.”
“That is exactly the aspiration that I have for MyCare, which will go further than what has been available to residents in England—”
“The app that was available to her south of the border made her life as a parent and carer much easier. It gave instant access to her medical history and allowed her to easily renew prescriptions for herself and her disabled son. When she moved to Scotland, she expected that her details would automatically migrate to the Scottish version of the app—except that there was not one. The transfer of paper records led to vital information being missed on allergies, Covid vaccines and complex medical conditions. Why, in 2025, are patients in Scotland still unable to benefit from a national health service app that provides the same joined-up care that families in England have been able to rely on since before the pandemic? Neil Gray: I sympathise with the situation that Alex Cole-Hamilton has narrated about Ms Clark and her family.”
“I refer Alex Cole-Hamilton to the summary of the roll-out plan, which was published on Friday and of which Parliament was notified. That confirms the intention to make the MyCare app available across the population of Scotland throughout 2026, starting in April. It is right and normal practice for digital technology roll-out to include iterative improvements beyond the initial launch, with new and improved services being added regularly, and that is what we aim to do. That approach also allows us to continue to be informed by testing and user feedback. That will ensure that the service is developed to be robust, secure and aligned to what people need, and it will allow for this transformational innovation to progress effectively. Alex Cole-Hamilton: Amanda Clark and her family moved to Scotland from England three years ago.”
“Our budget provides a record £21.7 billion for health and social care, with more than £100 million to tackle the longest waits. NHS Grampian is receiving more than £9 million to support specialties that have the longest wait times, and we have established an assurance board to agree an improvement plan. Grampian has also welcomed a new chief executive this week, and we will ensure that the board has support to deliver the plan and address any further opportunities for improvement.”
“Jackie Dunbar: The cabinet secretary will be aware of the recent pressures that NHS Grampian has been facing, and I know that he will join me in thanking all of the NHS staff in Grampian who have been working hard to manage those pressures. Can he provide a further update on how the Scottish Government is supporting NHS Grampian to relieve its pressures and ensure that patients are receiving the care that they need in a timely fashion? Neil Gray: I am aware of the pressures, and I echo the member’s thanks to staff in NHS Grampian for their commitment, their hard work and their dedication to providing the best care possible. There are people still waiting too long in Grampian and elsewhere, and that is not good enough.”
“In August, I announced initial additional investment of £15 million in general practice. GP practices in Grampian will receive £1.5 million of that funding, which builds on the increased investment of more than £100 million that we have already made in general practice over the past two years. We have been listening carefully to the views of GPs, and the new investment will help to ease financial pressures, support workforce retention and recruitment, build service capacity and support the day-to-day running of GP services in Grampian and across Scotland. We remain in discussions with the sector on the provision of further support in the future, but the initial instalment demonstrates the Government’s commitment to making it easier for people to see their GP and to ensuring that more NHS funding goes into primary and community care.”
“Amendments 271 to 274 disagreed to. Amendment 275 moved—[Maggie Chapman]. The Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 275 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed.”
“For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 43, Against 67, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 139 disagreed to. Amendments 271 to 274 moved—[Meghan Gallacher]. The Presiding Officer: Does any member object to a single question being put on amendments 271 to 274? As no member objects, the question is, that amendments 271 to 274 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect to the app. I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Gray. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 48, Against 63, Abstentions 0.”
“I intend to allow around 20 minutes for those, after which we will need to move on to the next item of business. I encourage members who wish to ask a question to make sure that they have pressed their request-to-speak buttons.”
“However, I am also clear that we must see continued improvement. Any future decisions that are taken on the provision of services must be based on the right clinical evidence and take into consideration the impact on local accessibility and, importantly, equity. It is my pledge that the Scottish Government will do all that it can to assist NHS Highland and to ensure that the voices of the people of Skye are well represented in decisions that are taken. Indeed, that is a wider pledge to all rural and island communities in Scotland. As an islander myself, I understand the challenges and I assure people in those areas that this is a Government that will continue to listen to them and learn from them. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues raised in his statement.”
“That work is helping to shape a tiered framework for healthcare delivery, ensuring that care is provided as close to home as possible, while also improving access to specialist services when needed. Board chief executives will discuss that work in October. A programme of rural and island specific training sessions is also in development, with two pieces of work already in progress, which focus on dispensing practices and developing supervisory training hubs. I understand the concerns that are shared by communities in Skye. I appreciate that it has been seven years since Sir Lewis Ritchie’s report, but it is right that NHS Highland has been given the time and the space to rebuild its workforce and to address the wider barriers that stand in the way of delivering sustainable services.”
“Beyond that, the Scottish Government has established a number of other initiatives to support rural and island healthcare, including committing more than £3 million to progress the national centre for remote and rural health and care, which launched in October 2023. The centre is working with health boards and health and social care partnerships to ensure that we avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. We also established the remote, rural and islands task and finish group to develop a sustainable model for delivery of healthcare for those communities and reflect the unique needs of those areas. That includes better use of digital tools, mobile services and local workforce solutions.”
“NHS Highland will continue to monitor the effectiveness of such campaigns and will work together with local community representatives to ensure that a consistent communication plan about the services is agreed and implemented. Members—and you in particular, Presiding Officer—will be aware that I grew up in Orkney, and I know all too well that living and working in rural and island communities brings with it challenges. In Skye in particular there are concerns about the availability of affordable housing, which was the subject of one of the recommendations in Sir Lewis’s review. That is why the Scottish Government is making up to £25 million available to local authorities and registered social landlords to enable them to acquire suitable homes to support the needs of key workers, where required.”
“When I visited Skye, I stressed the importance of effective communication with the public about how to access urgent care. That is essential in order to build trust and confidence in the resilience and availability of the service. We know that NHS 24 plays a vital role in responding to patients as a first point of contact, and its staff are trained to direct patients to the right place to get help. NHS Highland continues to work in tandem with NHS 24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service to ensure that patients in Skye know how to access the healthcare that they need, when they need it. In August, in collaboration with NHS Highland, NHS 24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service undertook a leaflet drop to approximately 6,000 households in Skye, to highlight the urgent care services that are on offer and explain how to access them.”
“All the new permanent staff will be in place by the end of this year. In addition, on 8 September, a new team lead for urgent care took up his post, which is a crucial appointment to support the service’s expertise and resilience. His role will span urgent care on the hospital sites at both Portree and Broadford, to ensure a seamless service and to develop the integrated model that NHS Highland aims to achieve. NHS Highland continues to build the resilience of the service by investing in staff training and development, to ensure that the highest level of clinical expertise is available to Skye patients 24/7. Paramedics, ward nurses and advanced nurse practitioners are working together, as a multidisciplinary team across the hospital, to share knowledge and skills and optimise the quality of the care that they can give.”
“Members might recall the tragic incident that took place at the Skye music festival in May 2024, when one person sadly lost their life and another person was unable to access urgent care support from clinical staff at Portree hospital. NHS Highland learned many important lessons following that event. A new service model was implemented in August of the same year, which enabled there to be access to 24/7 urgent care at Portree hospital. NHS Highland has pursued a number of successful recruitment initiatives in partnership with the local community. It has considered meeting the accommodation needs of clinical staff and looked at developing training opportunities. I am pleased to say that that approach has led to successful appointments to all advanced nurse practitioner vacancies in Skye.”
“I am clear that the local community’s voice must be central in any decisions that are taken and that that will be done through Sir Lewis Ritchie’s implementation steering group. For a number of years now, the group has been the vehicle for many members of the community to voice their concerns, communicate directly with the board and work collaboratively with it on important issues. As a result of the implementation of Sir Lewis’s recommendations, significant improvements have been made to urgent care services in Skye. Urgent care at Portree hospital is provided 24/7 by an integrated team of clinical staff, which includes registered nursing staff, advanced nurse practitioners and paramedics. They can all assess patients and respond to a range of minor injuries.”
“I welcome that commitment and will ensure that the Scottish Government provides its full support to NHS Highland to enable the board to implement the service. Portree hospital provides in-patient, out-patient and urgent care facilities and is a base for the Scottish Ambulance Service. Currently, the hospital has capacity for 12 in-patient beds, but utilisation of those beds can vary depending on patient need and availability of staff. The hospital is utilising up to eight beds while the board completes recruitment to all established vacancies. Agency staff are supporting the in- patient service in the short term until that is achieved. As for the site’s future, since the review’s initial report was published, NHS Highland has been clear that Portree hospital will remain open and will provide a range of key services.”
“However, as we know, the journey since then has not been without setbacks. The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic brought severe operational challenges. Progress stalled and, in some areas, was even reversed as staff left their posts and NHS Highland struggled to recruit those who were needed to deliver a safe and sustainable service. Regrettably, that led to a further breakdown in trust between NHS Highland and the communities of Skye. However, let me be clear: during my recent visit and through continued engagement with the board, I have been assured that NHS Highland is fully committed to rebuilding that relationship. NHS Highland will work hand in hand with the people of Skye to deliver a service that is safe, suitable and sustainable.”
“I am clear that recent incidents that have been highlighted in the media about difficulties accessing services are not acceptable, and I understand why the people of Skye have felt frustrated. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the dedication and commitment of the community representative groups in Skye who ensured that their voices were heard on those important issues. Throughout 2018, Sir Lewis met local communities and their representatives in Skye, Lochalsh and south-west Ross, and he also engaged with the leadership team at NHS Highland. From there, independent facilitators were appointed to drive forward a range of recommended changes. I am pleased to say that real, positive progress began to take shape. Importantly, every single one of Sir Lewis’s recommendations was accepted by NHS Highland.”
“That review came after a period of serious staffing challenges, most acutely in Portree, which led to a breakdown in resilient out- of-hours care provision. It recommended essential improvements for sustainable 24/7 urgent care and in-patient services at Portree hospital in tandem with the services provided at Broadford hospital. The review also emphasised the excellent care that is provided to the public by clinical, social and support care staff. During his expert group’s review process, Sir Lewis talked to and listened to many, including the public who receive services and the staff who are working tirelessly to deliver them. My recent visit to Broadford and Portree was also about listening and learning. The people of Skye spoke out because they feared the loss of vital health services that they depend on.”
“As part of my summer tour, I travelled to Skye and visited Broadford and Portree hospitals as well as Home Farm care home. I went to hear directly from the public in Skye about the challenges in providing urgent care services, and to see how we can work together to address them. I was proud to meet dedicated staff, including nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, doctors and paramedics, local community groups and the co-chairs of Sir Lewis Ritchie’s steering group, alongside the Deputy First Minister in her constituency capacity. Let me provide some important context. In February 2018, Sir Lewis Ritchie, a respected academic general practitioner, was asked by the chair of NHS Highland to carry out a review of urgent care services in Skye, Lochalsh and south- west Ross.”
“The reduction in the number of visas for those in the health and care workforce that have been approved by the Home Office over the past year is extremely concerning, because that could have an incredibly damaging impact on our health and social care services. Indeed, in May, the RCN said that new immigration measures could “accelerate an exodus of internationally educated nurses ... with potentially devastating consequences for health and social care services”. I am keen to work with Carol Mochan and others to persuade the UK Government of the merits of a proper immigration service that works for the needs of our public services in”
“Neil Gray: We are already working to implement the recommendations of the nursing and midwifery task force. As Carol Mochan will recognise, the challenges that we face in attracting people into nursing and midwifery courses are not unique to Scotland. Those challenges are also being faced in Labour-run Wales, where there has also been a reduction in the number of student nurses. It is also not just an issue in the United Kingdom—half of the nations in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development are reporting a reduction in the interest of 15-year-olds in nursing education. We take the issue seriously here. It would make a big difference if we were able to recruit and retain international workers.”
“Carol Mochan: Cabinet secretary, without properly trained staff, nursing places will remain unfilled. Over the past three years, nearly 2,500 fewer nursing students have started university than were planned under the targets that were set by your Government. That means that the gap between the number of registered nurses who are needed and the number who will enter the workforce in the coming year is set to widen even further. There is real concern across the profession. Will the cabinet secretary confirm whether the nursing and midwifery task force’s recommendations, which were published in February, will be funded and fully implemented before the end of the current parliamentary session? The Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair, please.”
“We are working with the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives to ensure that the nursing and midwifery task force takes action to address them, and we are working in collaboration to deliver the task force’s recommended actions. We recognise that widening access to nursing and midwifery programmes is important in order to increase the number of nurses and midwives. Substantial work to widen access has already begun, including with our higher education institutions. That will involve testing innovations over the next three to four years and collaborating with the college sector to enhance and promote recruitment and retention in rural and island areas. That work will include the delivery of satellite education and the development of work-based learning programmes.”
“Carol Mochan: I wish to quote the Royal College of Nursing’s warnings: “Scotland does not have the number of nurses now that it needs to meet the demand for care in health and social care services. Thousands of registered nurses are missing from health and social care teams across Scotland, impacting on the quality and safety of patient care. This is a desperate negative spiral. The Scottish government must take urgent action now and make investment focused on addressing the nursing workforce shortages.” Those are the warnings from the profession itself. Does the Government believe that it is currently training enough staff to meet demand? Neil Gray: I thank Carol Mochan for that question, because these are very serious issues.”
“Under this Government, nursing and midwifery staffing has increased by almost 19 per cent since 2006. It is important to be clear that the UCAS statistics do not cover all routes into those courses, with part-time, Open University and most postgraduate courses not using the UCAS platform. However, I absolutely recognise the need to encourage more people into the profession. That is why our nursing and midwifery task force is bringing together partners to drive forward lasting change and to support staff, including by recommending actions to develop alternative routes, such as through our excellent colleges, to widen access into education pathways.”
“On that, I ask Mr Sweeney to lobby the United Kingdom Government to stop the decimation of social care and health visas, which were down by 77 per cent last year. That would enable us to recruit into the positions that can help us to get through those waits. Residential Social Care Beds (West of Scotland) 6.”
“Neil Gray: I reiterate the point that I made in my initial response to Mr Sweeney, which is that my priority is to expand NHS capacity, and that is what is happening. July saw the largest number of operations performed in the national health service since back in February 2020, and a record number of hip and knee operations were performed in the NHS last year. The number of paid-for private procedures in NHS Scotland is much lower than in other parts of the health service, including in areas where Labour is in charge, such as England. The level of paid-for private provision was 54 per cent higher in NHS England than in Scotland. Our service delivery would be made much easier if we were able to recruit internationally.”
“The choice that many of my constituents face is to spend their life savings on private healthcare or languish on waiting lists. That is a result of the failure of the Government after 18 years. People in their 20s are waiting for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder assessments and elderly people are waiting for cataract removals. More and more people are being forced to seek private care out of desperation and pain. That is simply unacceptable, and it is reminiscent of a time before the national health service when private care was the only option. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the rise in paid-for visits to private clinics is a result of an NHS that is failing to meet people’s needs?”
“My priority is to expand national health service capacity to cut waiting times. That is why we have invested a record £21.7 billion in the budget—which, I note, Labour MSPs refused to support. This year, we are targeting more than £110 million of that to cut waits. That targeted funding is expected to deliver more than 213,000 additional appointments and procedures this year. Clearly, our plan is working, given that a record number of hip and knee operations were performed last year. In July, the highest number of NHS operations were performed since February 2020. Paul Sweeney: The NHS was established by Labour to provide universal healthcare that is free at the point of use. The new Labour Government has provided the Scottish Government with record investment, but it has not been utilised effectively—that is self-evident.”
“Not only did they oppose it, but their tax and spending plans would have involved £1 billion coming out of the funding of public services and the decimation of the health service. Those were the plans that Mr Hoy put forward.”