Sandesh Gulhane
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“It has been a privilege to be here in the Scottish Parliament for the past five years. I came into politics to stand up for patients and our hard- working national health service staff, who do extraordinary work in the face of immense pressure, and I am proud to declare that I am a practising NHS general practitioner.”
“Neil Gray: I do not think that we can—and nor should we—seek to draw a correlation between NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde officials and the SNP. I do not know the politics of the leadership of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and we should be careful to draw a distinction in that regard.”
“On Skye House, the Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing gave a statement to Parliament just days ago setting out the Government’s actions and how we are seeking to respond, working with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, to ensure that improvements are made.”
“I say that as someone who shares some of those internal tensions—as a practising Hindu, I wrestle with the philosophical, ethical and spiritual aspects of my faith when I consider legislation such as this. These are not abstract ideas to me; they are part of my own moral framework. However, this Parliament is not a theocracy.”
“Jenni Minto: I am grateful to Dr Gulhane for his comments. The healthcare exception exists to ensure that the bill will not regulate procedures that are provided by regulated healthcare professionals for a healthcare purpose— specifically, for the purpose of preventing, diagnosing or treating illness.”
“I want to be clear that many practitioners who work in the sector take their responsibilities extremely seriously. They operate from clean, sterile environments, follow proper consent procedures and understand how to recognise complications. I have every sympathy with those practitioners.”
The complete record
Every one of 283 lines we hold for Sandesh Gulhane, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 6.
“We have a health secretary who, until recently, was more interested in defending the chaos in his party leadership than in fixing our health service. What about the SNP’s so-called digital front door, which the cabinet secretary spoke about? That was first promised in 2022 but has still not been delivered. The front door is still waiting for its hinges and for someone to hang it, although I am sure that the SNP would be able to find a way to cut the bottom of the door off.”
“While patients are struggling, doctors and nurses are at breaking point. A recent British Medical Association survey found that 84 per cent of doctors believe that there are not enough staff to meet rising demand and that 86 per cent do not believe that the Government is committed to sustainable funding. It is no wonder—the SNP has overseen staff shortages, budget pressures and a growing funding crisis that has left NHS Scotland struggling to cope. While the SNP fails to invest in real innovation, life-changing technologies are being left behind. Scotland was the first country to introduce AI in diabetes screening, back in 2011, but, in the past four years, AI adoption in our NHS has completely stagnated. Experts such as J D Blackwood from NHS Forth Valley have pleaded for stronger national leadership on AI, but what do we have instead?”
“The SNP promised transformation and delivered total failure. The only true innovation is to overpromise, underdeliver and then abandon ship when the mess gets too big to clean up, blaming someone else. What about digital health? The SNP’s so-called digital health and care strategy was launched in 2018, but now, six years later, what do we have? We have chaos, a slow and inconsistent roll-out, health boards struggling, doctors and nurses trying to work with outdated systems that do not communicate with each other and patients waiting longer and longer because the SNP cannot deliver even the basics of modern healthcare. This Government has had 18 years to get its act together on digital health but instead has created a system in which even getting a GP appointment is a battle.”
“We have a healthcare system that is running on outdated information technology, a Government that still cannot properly integrate patient records and an NHS Scotland app that was promised three years ago but that does not have even a supplier, let alone a launch date. Down south, 33 million people already use an app to book GP appointments, order prescriptions and track their health while, in Scotland, we are still waiting, still hoping and still being failed by an SNP Government that cannot bear to find solutions or to collaborate with the rest of the United Kingdom. Instead, we are fed grand SNP announcements. For example, the now-abandoned national care service was supposed to be a flagship policy and a game changer in social care, but, after years of hype, what happened? It collapsed.”
“I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests: I am a practising NHS GP, which means that, every week, I see at first hand the consequences of the SNP’s failure to innovate in health and social care. I see patients left waiting, doctors stretched to breaking point, nurses and care staff battling with outdated systems and a healthcare system that is crying out for the very innovation that this Government claims to champion. The Government talks about digital transformation, telehealth, artificial intelligence and electronic records, but, after 18 years of SNP rule, what do we actually have?”
“I move, That the Parliament believes that there are significant health and economic benefits in supporting and adopting innovation in the health and social care service; recognises the urgent and critical need for health and social care recovery and renewal to meet the changing demands on the NHS whilst protecting its founding principles of remaining in the hands of the public and free at the point of need; agrees that reform can and must be accelerated by scientific and technological innovation and that rapid national adoption of research-proven innovations are essential to drive further improvements for patients, and welcomes partnership working between Scotland’s world class academic institutions, life sciences and technology businesses, the public sector and the NHS to improve health outcomes and support a thriving economy. 15:35”
“That information will then be presented to the person who needs it in an accessible, understandable and inclusive way. Over time, the functionality of the app will be extended to include social care and community health. That is crucial to breaking down silos and delivering person- centred care. Full details of our plan to roll that out across the country will be finalised in the summer. Now is the moment to grasp the transformational potential of scientific and technological innovation to improve our health and social care systems and the crucial services that they deliver for the people of Scotland. I am privileged to have opened this debate, and I welcome the contributions and thoughtfulness to come.”
“Exactly five years ago this week, we set out to the Parliament our plans to accelerate our Near Me service in support of remote video-based access to appointments. At that time, fewer than 20,000 appointments had been delivered remotely. Now, Near Me is embedded in nearly 2,000 services across more than 100 organisations and has been used for well over 2.5 million appointments. I previously informed the Parliament of the First Minister’s commitment to launch an online app from December this year, starting with a cohort of people in NHS Lanarkshire. That will be the start of a five-year development of a digital front door to Scotland’s health and social care services. Health and care data will be presented digitally by connecting to a range of new and existing digital systems in primary, secondary and social care.”
“Patient safety is and will remain of paramount importance as we look to adopt new technologies in the NHS. I recently visited NHS Lothian to see its early implementation of the NHS Scotland scan for safety programme, which uses point-of-care scanning to provide rapid electronic traceability for implantable medical devices. Such scanning enables near instantaneous tracing of devices in the event of a safety concern. If we are to take full advantage of the innovations that are emerging through ANIA and achieve the vision that was set out in the First Minister’s speech, we need to take swifter action in moving towards a digital first approach to reform. We are already seeing the impact of that approach in the NHS.”
“About one in 500 babies are born with a genetic variation that could result in permanent hearing loss if they are treated with a common emergency antibiotic. Over the next two years, we will invest £800,000 to establish a pathway across Scotland that will use a point-of- care test to quickly identify whether critically ill babies have the genetic variation in question. Once that programme has been fully adopted, more than 3,000 newborn babies a year will be tested, and those who require an alternative antibiotic will be provided with one. That will avoid such babies suffering unnecessary harm and will reduce the pressure on an NHS that will no longer need to provide them with additional care and support. The programme will begin in October and will be rolled out to all territorial boards within 18 months.”
“The purpose of that drug is to reduce the risk of a secondary stroke, which can often be debilitating. NHS Tayside has developed a pathway to allow such patients to be tested and given the most effective treatment. Over the next two years, we will invest £1.1 million to extend that innovation across Scotland. Once it has been fully adopted, it will impact about 20,000 patients per year, with an estimated 6,000 being moved to an alternative treatment, which will reduce pressure on our rehabilitation and social care services and the likelihood that those patients will suffer further harm. The programme will begin in October, and it will be rolled out to all territorial boards within 12 months. We will also use genetic testing to improve care for our youngest citizens.”
“I am glad to hear about the work that is being done on diabetes and weight management in particular. What is the cabinet secretary’s position on the use of Ozempic for people who are overweight and have a body mass index of 40 or more? Neil Gray: We are still exploring such matters. As innovations come forward and improvements are made in weight management treatment, we must explore them, but we must do that in a clinically safe way. We will also be supporting two pharmacogenetic programmes. Pharmacogenetics looks at how an individual’s genetic variation affects their response to specific drugs. About 30 per cent of people have a genetic variation that means that they do not respond to a drug that is commonly prescribed to patients who have recently suffered a stroke.”
“That is why I am responding today to the interim report of a public inquiry that was established under this Government to see what lessons needed to be learned from the issues that he has raised. There are areas where we can already see improvement. The implementation of NHS Scotland assure in all stages of our health infrastructure capital project will ensure that we are able to learn lessons from what happened previously. Of course, it is an interim report, so there will be further work to be considered. We will respond in due course to the inquiry on its interim findings and, of course, we will seek to implement them and make sure that improvements happen in commissioning of our health infrastructure.”
“Patients suffered and families had to watch their children suffering and, as always, not one manager or board member was sacked or held accountable. Senior NHS staff members have sauntered off into the sunset with their fat-cat pensions. Given the serious failings that were highlighted in the inquiry, including ventilation design flaws and communication breakdowns, will the Scottish Government take full responsibility for the mismanagement of the project, and can the cabinet secretary say what specific actions will be taken to hold accountable those who are responsible? Neil Gray: It is critically important that we have processes that are transparent, and that we learn lessons where issues have arisen, as Sandesh Gulhane has set out.”
“I declare an interest, as a practising general practitioner. The hospitals were given the go-ahead in 2012 and were initially scheduled to open in 2019. However, catastrophic ventilation system failures were found, and the hospitals eventually opened some two years later than planned, which caused more than 2,000 appointments to be disrupted. The inquiry’s findings are deeply concerning. From catastrophic ventilation design flaws to a complete failure of communication with patients and families, this is a stark example of utter incompetence. The Scottish National Party Government has form when it comes to secrecy, brushing problems under the carpet and poor financial oversight. I say to the cabinet secretary that the hospital is a children’s hospital for the children of Scotland.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress with the cladding remediation programme. (S6O-04441)”
“We would cut home buyer taxes by raising the land and buildings transaction tax threshold to £250,000, helping up to 59,000 buyers a year to afford homes without facing excessive taxation. The choice is clear. The SNP, propped up by Labour, the Lib Dems and the Scottish Greens, will continue down the path of economic decline, high taxes and underfunded public services. They will keep shifting the blame while failing to deliver real change. The Scottish Conservatives, on the other hand, offer a path to prosperity that encourages rather than punishes work, investment and enterprise. It is time to reject SNP failure and choose a better future. 16:59”
“In Glasgow, the crisis is dire. Care homes are stretched beyond capacity, leaving elderly residents waiting weeks— sometimes months—for support. Home care services are in chaos, with families struggling to secure help for loved ones. Instead of improving services, the SNP increases dependency while stifling economic opportunity. There is another way. The Scottish Conservatives would cut income tax to 19 per cent for every taxpayer who earns up to £43,662, delivering a fairer, simpler system that puts money back into people’s pockets and encourages growth. We would fully exempt pubs and restaurants from business rates, which would help nearly 7,000 venues to survive and would protect jobs.”
“The SNP’s tax policies are not just damaging, they are absurd. Scotland now has an unnecessarily complex tax system under which those who earn just £26,562 are considered rich by this SNP Government and face higher rates than people anywhere else in the UK. For Glasgow, that is a disaster. The city’s financial sector is struggling to attract talent, with fintech and banking companies warning that skilled professionals are being lured away to London and Manchester. Nowhere is SNP incompetence clearer than in social care. The sector is in crisis, yet the budget does nothing to address long-term structural problems. While the SNP pours £800 million more into social security—far above the forecast levels—it fails to deliver funding models for social care. Donald Macaskill of Scottish Care has called this “a budget that kills”.”
“The council is making deep cuts to community projects, road repairs and front-line services. Could Glasgow actually declare itself bankrupt? Libraries, sports centres and community hubs are at risk, while bin collections and road maintenance continue to decline. Even the Glasgow school of sport, which was home to Olympians such as Michael Jamieson and Kirsty Gilmore, is threatened with closure. It is shocking that such a gem might be lost. Let us talk about Glasgow’s crumbling infrastructure. Roads and pavements are riddled with potholes, making daily life harder for businesses and residents alike. The SNP’s decision to exclude pubs and restaurants from UK Government rates relief was an attack on Scotland’s hospitality sector—businesses that create jobs and support local communities.”
“The SNP has controlled income tax since 2017, yet its decisions have weakened Scotland’s economy and tax base. Despite forcing Scottish taxpayers to pay almost £1.7 billion more than they would under the UK system, the SNP budget is missing out on more than £800 million due to sluggish economic growth. The SNP calls that progressive, but tell me what is progressive about losing revenue that would fund hospitals, social care and public services. The SNP spends way beyond its means while failing to generate growth. Nowhere is that clearer than when we look at SNP-controlled Glasgow City Council’s financial crisis. Years of SNP Government neglect coupled with incompetent SNP councillors have left Glasgow facing devastating cuts to local services. The council’s debt has soared to £1.6 billion and the city is suffering.”
“That is common sense but, unfortunately, it is beyond the SNP’s competence. The consequences in Glasgow are severe. Waiting times at the Queen Elizabeth university hospital remain dangerously high, Glasgow royal infirmary’s accident and emergency department is overwhelmed and GP surgeries are struggling to cope with rising demand. Beyond mismanagement, that is a betrayal of NHS staff. The SNP Government pledged fair pay and safe staffing levels, yet our nurses remain overstretched, with many leaving the profession due to stress, burnout and poor working conditions. John Swinney and Neil Gray should be ashamed of themselves for betraying our nurses by not honouring their agreement on terms and conditions. They struck a deal and they have turned their backs on our nurses. The root cause of all these ills is economic mismanagement.”
“I declare an interest as a practicing NHS GP. As have many colleagues in health and social care, I have seen at first hand the consequences of years of SNP failure. Despite claiming to prioritise our NHS and public services, the SNP has left us with a system that is creaking under mismanagement, short-term fixes and economic stagnation. This budget, which is backed by a left- wing Holyrood cartel, continues the SNP’s high- tax, low-outcome agenda, stifling growth and threatening the services that we rely on. After 18 years in power, the SNP has a legacy of failure, and its latest budget—which is endorsed by Scottish Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Greens—is no exception. We need to recast how we manage healthcare and start doing things that yield better outcomes.”
“What I heard in the programme shocked me, and that has put in place a sequence of events that will give me and others in the chamber assurance that the situation has changed since the period of the programme. I assure the member that I take the issues very seriously, and I will be working very closely with the board. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and I will meet the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde tomorrow, along with the chief executives of NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside, because there are in-patient adolescent units in all those areas. We take our role in scrutiny and in assuring the quality of services to our most vulnerable young people very seriously. The Presiding Officer: I remind all members of the requirement to speak through the chair.”
“I make a declaration of interests as a practising NHS general practitioner. The minister spoke of accountability, but not a single manager has been sacked for scandal after scandal in our NHS. Today, we heard clear evidence that the Scottish Government knew of the abuse suffered by those children years before the release of the documentary, yet nothing was done. Minister, who in the Government is responsible for failing our most vulnerable children, and which manager was responsible and held to account? Maree Todd: The member is well aware that the responsibility for delivery of care is down to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. I absolutely am concerned about what I heard in the programme.”
“The ripple effect of the policy is also being felt by Scotland’s dental practices. Many more are now at risk of closure due to the added financial burden from Labour’s tax hike. It will mean fewer people, especially in the most deprived areas, being able to afford dental care, worsening health inequalities. It is clear that the Labour Government does not care about the consequences of the policy. If it did, it would not have pushed through a tax hike with such a devastating impact on our vital public services. The workers, charities, small businesses and the people who rely on them are not faceless entities; they are real families in our communities, struggling to access care and keep their jobs. Labour’s actions show that it is more interested in soundbites than the people who need those services the most.”
“Scottish Care has warned that nearly half of its members are considering cutting services or closing their doors due to increased costs. The impact is also being felt by small businesses such as community pharmacies, which are often the first point of contact for many patients, particularly in deprived areas of Glasgow, worsening health inequalities. As a practising NHS GP, I know at first hand that our surgeries are already under intense strain, and the increased national insurance contribution will worsen the financial instability for practices across Scotland. Many practices are struggling to recruit and retain staff, and this tax hike will make that harder, resulting in fewer appointments, longer waiting times and reduced hours. That means that patients will struggle even more to access care, worsening health inequalities.”
“Today, we see the harsh reality of Labour’s governance. The hikes to employer national insurance contributions may sound to some like a minor accounting change, but for our healthcare system and charities, and for people who rely on those services, the impact is severe. Scotland’s third sector organisations, many of which provide essential health and social care services, will face devastating financial consequences. That includes charities such as the Thistle Foundation, which supports people with long-term health conditions and disabilities and which may face an additional £292,000 in costs per year. For a sector that is already operating on a thin margin, that is the difference between maintaining vital services and having to cut back or close entirely.”
“Let us be absolutely clear that the Labour Government’s tax hike, which is supported by Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour, is a tax on vulnerable people who rely on those services for their health and wellbeing, even in their final days. It is also a tax on jobs and on hard-working individuals who keep Scotland’s vital services running. The decision will hurt both employers and employees. As a direct consequence of Labour’s policies, Scotland’s public sector, which is already disproportionately large compared with the rest of the UK, is set to suffer even more. Higher labour costs, higher taxes and a shrinking capacity to deliver essential services will harm our communities. We have all heard the promises from the Labour Party: competence, fairness and prosperity. However, those are just slogans from another well-embellished CV.”
“I declare an interest as a practising NHS GP. We are here to address a critical issue that will have far-reaching consequences for everyone in Scotland—the devastating impact of the Labour Government’s decision to raise employer national insurance contributions and reduce the threshold for those payments. That decision has serious consequences for Scotland’s health service, social care services and third sector organisations, which many people rely on from conception to grave. Families, children, the elderly, those who live with disabilities and Scots who struggle with addiction all depend on those services.”
“Neil Gray: I, of course, apologise to anybody who is having to wait for too long to access services and to staff who are having to communicate that news and are not able to deliver the job in the way that they wish to. I absolutely understand the point that Sandesh Gulhane has made, and I was discussing the moral injury point with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. That is why the investments that we are making in the budget are so important: they are setting us on a trajectory of relieving the pressure in the health service, which is why I encourage Sandesh Gulhane and his colleagues to vote for the budget. Scottish Water (Executive Bonuses) 2.”
“I declare an interest, as a practising national health service GP. Hundreds of people have died needlessly during the course of this session of Parliament as a result of having to wait more than half a day in A and E. That is hundreds of families who have lost a loved one: a mum, dad, brother, sister, son or daughter. NHS staff are overworked and overstressed and are suffering moral injury. Enough is enough. The situation is not “regrettable”, as Emma Harper suggested; it is wrong and distressing. Will the cabinet secretary apologise to those families? How can the public, families or NHS staff have any confidence that the Government is taking the crisis seriously?”
“That is a rise of 21 per cent, which demonstrates our commitment to taking all possible steps to resolve the matter.”
“On the Thistle centre, as I have set out in relation to previous questions from Mr Gulhane and others, the aim of the pilot is to reduce drug- related harm and deaths and give people access to services that they otherwise would not have approached. We can already see from the evidence from those managing the Thistle centre that that is coming true. I hope that everybody will engage positively with the centre as an additional element of our national mission, because it has to be a holistic approach; no one element is going to fully respond to or resolve matters. On residential rehab, a report on the capacity that we have available shows that there has been a rise in residential rehabilitation capacity from an estimated 425 beds in 2021 to a maximum of 513 in 2024.”
“Neil Gray: I recognise what Sandesh Gulhane set out in the opening part of his response to my statement, which is that drug-related deaths in Scotland remain far too high. I acknowledged such in my statement as well. Even when I responded to the latest RADAR figures showing a 10 per cent reduction, I recognised that there can be fluctuation in quarterly data. The reason why the statement is so important is that the purpose of the implementation of the MAT standards is to reduce harm and deaths. On sustainable funding, I am confident that we will achieve the £250 million national mission. That funding has created a significant amount of additionality in alcohol and drug partnerships, and there is also the likes of the Corra Foundation funding that goes out to community partners.”
“Given that the Scottish Government’s latest project, the Thistle drug consumption room facility, is now operational, my questions are about how the Government will evaluate whether the Thistle is a success or otherwise. What specific—and I mean specific— criteria will be measured? Will the cabinet secretary commit to assessing the centre’s impact on not only users but the community that surrounds it? Did the Scottish Government evaluate the impact that was made by investing in the Thistle centre against the impact that that money would have had if it had been used for community-led projects such as the routes project that the cabinet secretary referenced in his statement?”
“I declare my interest as a practising national health service general practitioner. We still have the highest drug death rate in Europe. The MAT standards were announced in a fanfare in 2021, yet, four years later, people who are seeking help still face unacceptable delays, workforce shortages and a postcode lottery in treatment. Community-led services continue to struggle due to a lack of sustainable funding, and the Government’s slow progress is costing lives. Scotland needs urgent action, not more rhetoric, and that means real investment in rehabilitation and a commitment to the Scottish Conservatives’ right to recovery plan, which would ensure that everyone can get access to the treatment that helps them to get off drugs for good. The people of Scotland deserve better. We need measurable results.”
“As I did in answer to Carol Mochan, I would just reflect that the period in question was during the peak of the winter flu spike, when we experienced the highest level of flu incidents since, I believe, records began in 2010. We are talking about a period of exceptional demand. I also recognise the picture that Mr Gulhane has portrayed with regard to the indignity that patients in such situations have suffered. That is why passing the budget will be so important; it will ensure that we are able to relieve pressure, increase capacity and ensure better flow through our hospitals, so that our patients and staff are able to get better service. Too many people are waiting too long or are being treated in inappropriate places. Non-residential Care (Charges) 3.”
“I declare an interest as a practising NHS general practitioner. In the harrowing RCN report, one nurse explained that in a “department with capacity for 13 beds, we had 40 in, with patients on chairs having treatments administered, also sitting in the waiting room on cardiac monitors, using privacy screens to put around patients to use the bedpan.” Imagine the indignity, cabinet secretary. The First Minister told journalists that multiple crises are “facing too many parts” of our NHS, but when he was pressed about which parts, he refused to answer. Can the cabinet secretary now be straight with us and tell us which parts of the NHS are in crisis? Neil Gray: I absolutely recognise the points that Sandesh Gulhane makes.”
“It happened; it must never happen again; and it is our duty to ensure that “Never again” finally means what it says—never again. 18:09”
“Those efforts must continue, and we must do more to ensure that every young person in Scotland learns about the Holocaust, not just as history but as a warning of what happens when hatred goes unchallenged. The Holocaust was not an accident. It was the result of antisemitism, propaganda and the systemic erosion of human rights. Although we say, “Never again”, we must also ask where “Never again” was in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia or Darfur. Where is it today, as antisemitism rises once more? We cannot be bystanders. We must challenge prejudice, confront denial and educate future generations. The theme “For a better future” reminds us that remembrance alone is not enough. We must act. We must make Holocaust education a national priority and ensure that the lessons of history shape the future that we strive to build.”
“Those statistics are deeply troubling, and they demand action. As representatives of Scotland, we must ensure that Holocaust education is not just an academic exercise but a national priority. Institutions such as the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre and the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre play a vital role in that respect. In my Glasgow region, Garnethill synagogue stands as a beacon of history and remembrance, and its heritage centre offers profound insights into Jewish life in Scotland and the Holocaust. I have been privileged to engage with those institutions, to commend their work in Parliament and to support new educational initiatives, such as the Holocaust heritage walking trail in Glasgow.”
“Hours before, I had heard birds singing and people laughing, yet, in Auschwitz, even nature seemed to recoil from the horror. The air itself carried the weight of those who had suffered. It shocks me that a third of young adults in the United Kingdom cannot name Auschwitz or any other concentration camp. It is a sobering reminder that it is our duty to educate, to remember and to challenge denial. The need for that has never been more urgent. Holocaust denial and distortion are rising, fuelled by misinformation and the dark corners of social media. Studies show that 23 per cent of people in the UK have encountered Holocaust denial online and that a significant proportion of young people—our future leaders—do not know that 6 million Jews were murdered. Some believe the number to be far lower.”
“That theme compels us not only to remember the horrors of the past but to act in the present to challenge hatred, confront prejudice and build a world in which atrocities can never happen again. I recall visiting southern Poland as an 18-year- old. After exploring the vibrant city of Kraków, with its bustling market square and rich history, I travelled westwards to Auschwitz. Joy and warmth seemed to vanish. Walking past razor-wire fences and grey brick buildings, I was confronted with a reality too horrific to comprehend. Above me, the sign read, “Arbeit macht frei”—“Work sets you free”—but, in the 1940s, there was no freedom there; there was only death and suffering. What struck me most, and what still haunts me, was the eerie silence.”
“I remind members that I was born and raised in Golders Green, and I thank Jackson Carlaw for securing tonight’s debate. Tonight, we mark Holocaust memorial day, which is a solemn occasion to honour the 6 million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered by the Nazis, alongside the millions of others who perished under the same brutal Nazi regime. We stand together in remembrance, not only to mourn but to reaffirm our unwavering commitment: never again. Holocaust memorial day falls on 27 January each year and marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the largest Nazi concentration camp. This year, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of that liberation and reflect on the theme “For a better future”.”
“The people of Scotland deserve better: better leadership, better care and a better future for our NHS. I move amendment S6M-16252.2, to insert at end: “; notes that the Scottish National Party administration has failed to deliver improvements to social care in Scotland, despite wasting nearly £30 million and years of civil servants’ time on its failed National Care Service, and calls on Neil Gray to resign as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, following his disastrous tenure in office.” The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Gillian Mackay, who joins us remotely, to speak for around six minutes. 15:25”
“We would also take decisive action to reduce waiting times by standardising best practice across Scotland’s hospitals, introducing initiatives such as super Saturdays for elective surgery and making better use of off-peak scanning. It is time for change. The SNP has had 18 years, and it has failed. Patients are suffering, staff are burned out, and our NHS is on life support. Neil Gray is not the answer; he is not the leader that Scotland’s health service deserves. Today, we urge Neil Gray to do the right thing and resign as health secretary, and for Maree Todd, who said she was in charge of the failure of the flagship national care service, to be held accountable— although I will not be holding my breath that the SNP Government will do the right thing.”
“We have a policy paper, “Modern, Efficient, Local: A new contract between Scotland’s NHS and the public”, which sets out how we would implement a 10-year workforce plan that prioritises recruitment, retention and support for front-line staff. We would reinvest the funds wasted on the SNP’s failed national care service into localised, effective social care. Mental health spending would reach 10 per cent of the NHS budget, ensuring support for the growing number of Scots who are struggling with mental health issues. We would hold Scottish Government ministers and NHS managers accountable for their failures and focus resources where they are needed most.”
“As Matt McLaughlin of Unison put it, John Swinney’s promises are little more than “reannouncements” of pledges that the SNP has already failed to deliver. Colin Pullman of the Royal College of Nursing described the state of Scotland’s hospitals as “distressing”, with staff forced to provide patient care in corridors and other inappropriate locations. Dr Iain Kennedy of the BMA warned that without urgent reform, the NHS might not survive another year. We cannot afford more dithering from the SNP. The Audit Scotland report could not have been clearer. There is no credible plan for NHS reform. Instead, the SNP continues to lurch from one crisis to the next, with no strategic vision and no leadership. The Government is failing both patients and staff. The Scottish Conservatives are not here just to criticise; we are here to propose solutions.”
“Dedicated professionals have worked in a system under the SNP that has treated staff as though they are expendable resources, rather than the essential lifeblood of our health service. Social care remains in chaos, and patients are paying the price. Just look at the SNP’s handling of its flagship policy, the national care service. We could see how flawed it was; so could the trade unions, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and other experts. However, the SNP pressed on regardless, led by an overmatched, though self-assured, minister for public health, and flushed £30 million down the drain—money that could have gone to the front line. That is what oblivious incompetence looks like.”