Angela Constance
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Patients deserve better. There have been active campaigns by members across the chamber to represent the views of constituents in Lanarkshire, including by my colleagues Neil Gray and Fulton MacGregor. I fully appreciate the strength of feeling on the need for a new Monklands hospital.”
“Proceeding in that cost envelope would significantly limit our ability to invest in services and infrastructure across the wider NHS. I have carefully weighed the opportunity cost against our objective on improving public services. The current proposal also raises important questions about value for money.”
“For the wider system, it will reduce pressure on acute hospitals, allowing focus on those who need specialist care most. I can announce today that, as part of the programme, specifically for Lanarkshire, we will begin with a new general practitioner walk-in facility in Lanark—transforming an old shop front and a retail park in the town ce…”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to provide an update to members on NHS capital projects, specifically on the current position and next steps for the Monklands replacement project. I begin by being absolutely clear: the Government will deliver a new Monklands hospital. That commitment has not changed and it will not change.”
“During the election campaign, the Scottish National Party promised to increase use of the new refugee doctors project, which is meant to help medically trained refugees from Gaza and other places to get registered for work in the national health service.”
“Scotland welcomes refugee doctors and is committed to supporting them in overcoming barriers that prevent them from rebuilding their medical careers.”
The complete record
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“Motions agreed to, That the Parliament agrees that James Adams be appointed as a member of the Climate Action Committee. That the Parliament agrees to nominate Keith Brown as a full member and Jenny Young as an alternate member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The Presiding Officer: That concludes decision time. Action Mesothelioma Day 2026”
“The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that motion S7M-00455, in the name of Stephen Kerr, on the Scottish Commission for Public Audit, be agreed to. Motion agreed to, That the Parliament agrees to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body’s proposal to appoint Miles Briggs, Michael Marra, Jenni Minto and Kate Nevens to be members of the Scottish Commission for Public Audit. The Presiding Officer: Unless any member objects, I propose to ask a single question on two Parliamentary Bureau motions. The question is, that motion S7M-00492, on committee membership, and motion S7M-00505, on membership of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, be agreed to.”
“Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament recognises the scale and complexity of the current prison population, which is above the design and operational capacity of the estate and causes significant associated operational and safety risks for prison staff; notes that Scotland has one of the highest prison populations in western Europe; acknowledges the underlying drivers, including the growing number of individuals convicted of serious violent and sexual offences who receive longer sentences, reflecting progress in how the justice system supports victims and holds offenders to account; notes that the cost per prisoner per year to the public purse is £52,000; recognises the importance of effective rehabilitation to reduce re-offending and to benefit the communities that individuals return to; agrees that public safety is paramount and that it is vital that victims are supported and have confidence in the justice system; agrees, therefore, that a balanced package of measures to increase capacity in the prison estate, expand effective community sentencing, and enact preventative measures to stop people entering or re-entering the prison system, are necessary to achieve a sustainable prison population now and in the future; is concerned that the current prison population crisis is chronically hampering effective rehabilitation; calls on the Scottish Government to increase its investment in GPS technology and speed up its roll out, and notes that the current approach to rehabilitation, community justice and early release is failing to address the prison population crisis; further notes the persistently high remand population and the contribution that court delays and wider pressures within the justice system have on overcrowding in the prison estate; believes that public protection, rehabilitation, alternatives to custody and a reduction in reoffending must be pursued together rather than in competition with one another; further believes that investment in addiction treatment, mental health services, supported housing and effective community justice are essential to reducing offending and easing the pressure on prisons, and calls on the Scottish Government to publish a long-term strategy for achieving a sustainable prison population that commands public confidence and adequately supports victims and their rights to information, protection and safety.”
“For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adams, James (North East Scotland) (Con) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Barratt, David (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Black, Dawn (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Bonnar, Steven (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Bouse, Gary (Falkirk West) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con) Brown, Alan (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Campbell, Kate (Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent) (SNP) Campbell, Michelle (Renfrewshire North and Cardonald) (SNP) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chou Turvey, Yi-pei (North East Scotland) (LD) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh North Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Day, Martyn (Falkirk East and Linlithgow) (SNP) Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Edinburgh Northern) (LD) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Dunlop, Duncan (South Scotland) (LD) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fagan, Joe (South Scotland) (Lab) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Con) Gethins, Stephen (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ghani, Zen (Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok) (SNP) Gibson, Patricia (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Goodlad, Hannah Mary (Shetland Islands) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie) (SNP) Green, David (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (LD) Griffin, Mark (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Hagmann, Katie (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harley, Adam (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen and Cambuslang) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Alex (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) Kerr, Calum (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Kumar, Simita (Edinburgh South Western) (SNP) Linden, David (Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston) (SNP) Long, Joe (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) MacKinnon, Donald (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Melville, Lloyd (Angus South) (SNP) Merrick, Colm (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Middleton, Jack (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mitchell, Laura (Moray) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Oswald, Kirsten (Eastwood) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (Fife North East) (LD) Sangster, Katherine (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Smith, Alyn (Stirling) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stafford, Pauline (Bathgate) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thewliss, Alison (Glasgow Central) (SNP) Young, Jenny (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Against Bannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform) Bland, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Bruce, Holly (Glasgow Southside) (Green) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Currie, Victor (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Duane, Iris (Glasgow) (Green) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Kerr, Thomas (Glasgow) (Reform) Kinross-O’Neill, Kayleigh (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Kirkwood, David (South Scotland) (Reform) Langan, Jamie (South Scotland) (Reform) Leask, Kristopher (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Lindsay, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Green) Manivannan, Q (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Massey, Duncan (North East Scotland) (Reform) McDade, Helen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) McKee, Cara (West Scotland) (Green) Moodie, Laura (South Scotland) (Green) Nevens, Kate (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Offord, Malcolm (West Scotland) (Reform) Ross, Angela (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Reform) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Schmulian, Kim (Glasgow) (Reform) Simpson, Graham (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Simpson, Mark (North East Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Edinburgh Central) (Green) Smith, David (West Scotland) (Reform) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on motion S7M-00469, in the name of Neil Gray, on achieving a sustainable prison population, as amended, is: For 89, Against 31, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that amendment S7M-00469.4, in the name of Yi- pei Chou Turvey, be agreed to. Amendment agreed to. The Presiding Officer: Well done. The next question is, that motion S7M-00469, in the name of Neil Gray, on achieving a sustainable prison population, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Adams, James (North East Scotland) (Con) Bannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform) Bland, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Briggs, Miles (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Currie, Victor (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Kerr, Thomas (Glasgow) (Reform) Kirkwood, David (South Scotland) (Reform) Langan, Jamie (South Scotland) (Reform) Lindsay, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Massey, Duncan (North East Scotland) (Reform) McDade, Helen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Offord, Malcolm (West Scotland) (Reform) Ross, Angela (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Reform) Schmulian, Kim (Glasgow) (Reform) Simpson, Graham (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Simpson, Mark (North East Scotland) (Reform) Smith, David (West Scotland) (Reform) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP) Barratt, David (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North) (SNP) Black, Dawn (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Bonnar, Steven (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Bouse, Gary (Falkirk West) (SNP) Brown, Alan (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Bruce, Holly (Glasgow Southside) (Green) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Campbell, Kate (Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent) (SNP) Campbell, Michelle (Renfrewshire North and Cardonald) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Chou Turvey, Yi-pei (North East Scotland) (LD) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh North Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Day, Martyn (Falkirk East and Linlithgow) (SNP) Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Edinburgh Northern) (LD) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill) (SNP) Duane, Iris (Glasgow) (Green) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Dunlop, Duncan (South Scotland) (LD) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Gethins, Stephen (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ghani, Zen (Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok) (SNP) Gibson, Patricia (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Goodlad, Hannah Mary (Shetland Islands) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie) (SNP) Green, David (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Hagmann, Katie (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Harley, Adam (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen and Cambuslang) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Kerr, Alex (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) Kerr, Calum (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Kinross-O’Neill, Kayleigh (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Kumar, Simita (Edinburgh South Western) (SNP) Leask, Kristopher (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Linden, David (Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Green) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) Manivannan, Q (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Cara (West Scotland) (Green) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Melville, Lloyd (Angus South) (SNP) Merrick, Colm (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Middleton, Jack (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mitchell, Laura (Moray) (SNP) Moodie, Laura (South Scotland) (Green) Nevens, Kate (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Oswald, Kirsten (Eastwood) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (Fife North East) (LD) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Sangster, Katherine (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Edinburgh Central) (Green) Smith, Alyn (Stirling) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stafford, Pauline (Bathgate) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thewliss, Alison (Glasgow Central) (SNP) Abstentions Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Fagan, Joe (South Scotland) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Long, Joe (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) MacKinnon, Donald (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Young, Jenny (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S7M-00469.5, in the name of Stephen Kerr, is: For 26, Against 78, Abstentions 15.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that amendment S7M-00469.5, in the name of Stephen Kerr, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Bruce, Holly (Glasgow Southside) (Green) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Duane, Iris (Glasgow) (Green) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Kinross-O’Neill, Kayleigh (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Leask, Kristopher (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Green) Manivannan, Q (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Cara (West Scotland) (Green) Moodie, Laura (South Scotland) (Green) Nevens, Kate (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Edinburgh Central) (Green) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adams, James (North East Scotland) (Con) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Barratt, David (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North) (SNP) Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Black, Dawn (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Bland, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Bonnar, Steven (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Bouse, Gary (Falkirk West) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con) Brown, Alan (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Campbell, Kate (Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent) (SNP) Campbell, Michelle (Renfrewshire North and Cardonald) (SNP) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chou Turvey, Yi-pei (North East Scotland) (LD) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh North Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Currie, Victor (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Day, Martyn (Falkirk East and Linlithgow) (SNP) Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Edinburgh Northern) (LD) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Dunlop, Duncan (South Scotland) (LD) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fagan, Joe (South Scotland) (Lab) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Con) Gethins, Stephen (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ghani, Zen (Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok) (SNP) Gibson, Patricia (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Goodlad, Hannah Mary (Shetland Islands) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie) (SNP) Green, David (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (LD) Griffin, Mark (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Hagmann, Katie (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harley, Adam (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen and Cambuslang) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Alex (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) Kerr, Calum (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Kerr, Thomas (Glasgow) (Reform) Kirkwood, David (South Scotland) (Reform) Kumar, Simita (Edinburgh South Western) (SNP) Langan, Jamie (South Scotland) (Reform) Linden, David (Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston) (SNP) Lindsay, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Long, Joe (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) MacKinnon, Donald (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Massey, Duncan (North East Scotland) (Reform) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McDade, Helen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Melville, Lloyd (Angus South) (SNP) Merrick, Colm (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Middleton, Jack (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mitchell, Laura (Moray) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Offord, Malcolm (West Scotland) (Reform) Oswald, Kirsten (Eastwood) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (Fife North East) (LD) Ross, Angela (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Reform) Sangster, Katherine (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Schmulian, Kim (Glasgow) (Reform) Simpson, Graham (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Simpson, Mark (North East Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Alyn (Stirling) (SNP) Smith, David (West Scotland) (Reform) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stafford, Pauline (Bathgate) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thewliss, Alison (Glasgow Central) (SNP) Young, Jenny (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S7M-00469.3, in the name of Maggie Chapman, is: For 16, Against 104, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that amendment S7M-00469.3, in the name of Maggie Chapman, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: I trust you. You do not need to show me the evidence. Thank you. Your vote is recorded. For Adams, James (North East Scotland) (Con) Bannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform) Bland, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Briggs, Miles (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Currie, Victor (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Kerr, Thomas (Glasgow) (Reform) Kirkwood, David (South Scotland) (Reform) Langan, Jamie (South Scotland) (Reform) Lindsay, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Massey, Duncan (North East Scotland) (Reform) McDade, Helen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Offord, Malcolm (West Scotland) (Reform) Ross, Angela (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Reform) Schmulian, Kim (Glasgow) (Reform) Simpson, Graham (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Simpson, Mark (North East Scotland) (Reform) Smith, David (West Scotland) (Reform) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Barratt, David (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Black, Dawn (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Bonnar, Steven (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Bouse, Gary (Falkirk West) (SNP) Brown, Alan (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Bruce, Holly (Glasgow Southside) (Green) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Campbell, Kate (Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent) (SNP) Campbell, Michelle (Renfrewshire North and Cardonald) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Chou Turvey, Yi-pei (North East Scotland) (LD) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh North Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Day, Martyn (Falkirk East and Linlithgow) (SNP) Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Edinburgh Northern) (LD) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill) (SNP) Duane, Iris (Glasgow) (Green) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Dunlop, Duncan (South Scotland) (LD) Fagan, Joe (South Scotland) (Lab) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Gethins, Stephen (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ghani, Zen (Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok) (SNP) Gibson, Patricia (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Goodlad, Hannah Mary (Shetland Islands) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie) (SNP) Green, David (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Hagmann, Katie (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Harley, Adam (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen and Cambuslang) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Alex (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) Kerr, Calum (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Kinross-O’Neill, Kayleigh (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Kumar, Simita (Edinburgh South Western) (SNP) Leask, Kristopher (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Linden, David (Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston) (SNP) Long, Joe (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Green) MacKinnon, Donald (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) Manivannan, Q (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Cara (West Scotland) (Green) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Melville, Lloyd (Angus South) (SNP) Merrick, Colm (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Middleton, Jack (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mitchell, Laura (Moray) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Moodie, Laura (South Scotland) (Green) Nevens, Kate (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Oswald, Kirsten (Eastwood) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (Fife North East) (LD) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Sangster, Katherine (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Edinburgh Central) (Green) Smith, Alyn (Stirling) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stafford, Pauline (Bathgate) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thewliss, Alison (Glasgow Central) (SNP) Young, Jenny (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S7M-00469.1, in the name of Amanda Bland, is: For 26, Against 94, Abstentions 0.”
“I want to reiterate three key points: we will build a new Monklands hospital; we will do so as part of a wider transformation of care across Lanarkshire and the west of Scotland; and we will ensure that the investment meets the standards that are required for managing public money by delivering the best possible outcomes for patients, staff and the people of Scotland. I commit that the Government will work as quickly as possible with NHS Lanarkshire to ensure that there is a redesign that is affordable and, crucially, that reassures the local community that vital services will not be lost or downgraded. I am happy to answer any questions that members have. I will also reach out directly to offer a meeting to any local MSPs who have further issues that they wish to discuss.”
“Under the reset approach, we will move at pace to complete the redesign over the next year and bring forward revised options by the middle of 2027. Subject to ministerial decisions, the design will then progress, with an ambition to begin construction in 2028. We will set clear milestones, including completion of the redesign, agreement of the final scheme and the start of construction. We will ensure demonstrable progress during this parliamentary session. This is a difficult decision, but it is the right one.”
“For the wider system, it will reduce pressure on acute hospitals, allowing focus on those who need specialist care most. I can announce today that, as part of the programme, specifically for Lanarkshire, we will begin with a new general practitioner walk-in facility in Lanark—transforming an old shop front and a retail park in the town centre into a GP walk- in centre. We will also deliver a new walk-in GP service in Shotts. By rebalancing our investment, it is my intention that we will deliver on other NHS capital projects that are priorities for communities across our country. For example, if further investment is required to ensure that the Baird hospital and ANCHOR—Aberdeen and north centre for haematology, oncology and radiotherapy—project in Aberdeen can be delivered safely, ministers will consider that carefully.”
“Central to that will be investment in community health hubs, which will bring together services such as general practice, community nursing, mental healthcare, diagnostics and out-patient services in modern facilities closer to home. The hubs will make it easier for patients to access co- ordinated care in a single place, reducing the need to travel to hospital. We have set out the first phase of investment in the hubs in Port Glasgow, Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly, and East Calder. We will use those projects to deliver a standardised model for further centres, including in Hamilton, Cumbernauld, Edinburgh, Ayr, Kincardine, Inverness, East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow. For patients, that will mean quicker access, earlier intervention and more care delivered in the community.”
“That means ensuring that Monklands acts as the blueprint for how we deliver better services in the community, building on the work that is being taken forward by our subnational planning partnership. For example, I am open to the prospect of Monklands not only being an acute hospital but delivering specialist services for communities across the central belt and west Scotland. Alongside the reset of the Monklands programme, we will use this opportunity to rebalance investment across the wider system. The scale of the original proposal would have concentrated a significant proportion of our capital budget in a single project. By taking a different approach, in addition to investing in services that serve the people of Lanarkshire, we can invest more broadly.”
“Thirdly, I recognise the challenges that staff and patients in the current hospital face, and I can announce today that we will invest in addressing immediate infrastructure risks, including known issues that affect patient experience. That will ensure that safe, high-quality care continues while the replacement programme is taken forward. I pay tribute to the staff at Monklands for their dedication, patience and professionalism. They have been waiting a long time for a new facility, and the project team has worked hard to progress this important project. I am committed to working closely with NHS Lanarkshire to move the project forward at pace. I am committed to ensuring that the new Monklands hospital plays a core role in designing how we deliver services in the future.”
“The new design will take a whole-system approach, bringing together acute care, community services, diagnostics and digital provision in an integrated model. Importantly, the work will take place at pace from the summer and will be focused on designing a modern hospital with a more efficient footprint. I recognise that the announcement will raise concerns locally, and I will address those directly. First, we remain fully committed to building a new hospital at Monklands. Secondly, this is not about downgrading services; it is about delivering the right service in the right place. Core services, including accident and emergency, will be retained.”
“To proceed with the current proposal would risk locking us into a model that does not represent the best use of public investment in the years ahead. Finally, the project is approaching a point where continued design development would lead to further cost escalation and reduce our ability to consider alternatives. It is therefore essential that we act now. Today, I am announcing that we will undertake a formal reset of the Monklands replacement programme. It is a reset and not a stop. It will involve pausing progression of the current design and commissioning a comprehensive redesign, which will be led jointly by the Government, NHS Lanarkshire and partners across the west of Scotland. It is not delay for its own sake and we are not stepping back from our commitment.”
“Proceeding in that cost envelope would significantly limit our ability to invest in services and infrastructure across the wider NHS. I have carefully weighed the opportunity cost against our objective on improving public services. The current proposal also raises important questions about value for money. It is significantly more expensive than comparable programmes. Investment of that scale must be fully justified before it can be approved. Just as importantly, the current design is heavily reliant on large acute hospital provision. That is not the direction in which our health service is moving. Across Scotland, we are shifting towards delivering more care closer to home, strengthening community services, making better use of digital technology and ensuring that hospitals are focused on those who need specialist and complex care.”
“Patients deserve better. There have been active campaigns by members across the chamber to represent the views of constituents in Lanarkshire, including by my colleagues Neil Gray and Fulton MacGregor. I fully appreciate the strength of feeling on the need for a new Monklands hospital. However, it is also my responsibility to ensure that major investment decisions are affordable, deliverable and aligned with the future direction of our health and care system. The proposal that is before us has an estimated cost of around £2.1 billion and would represent an unprecedented concentration of capital investment in a single health project. For context, it would cost an estimated £5 million per bed to deliver and would exceed the cost of delivering Scotland’s largest hospital, the Queen Elizabeth university hospital, and the new HMP Glasgow.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to provide an update to members on NHS capital projects, specifically on the current position and next steps for the Monklands replacement project. I begin by being absolutely clear: the Government will deliver a new Monklands hospital. That commitment has not changed and it will not change. However, having carefully considered the full business case that was submitted by NHS Lanarkshire, I cannot approve it in its current form within our current financial landscape. That is not a decision that I have taken lightly. The case for replacing Monklands is well established. The current hospital estate is ageing, it presents ongoing operational challenges and it constrains the delivery of modern models of care. Staff have worked in difficult conditions for many years and they deserve better.”
“I am aware that we could support many more people, so we will continue to work with the programme to understand what more we can do, and we will also increase our expectations of other partners. Blindwells Housing Development 4.”
“During the election campaign, the Scottish National Party promised to increase use of the new refugee doctors project, which is meant to help medically trained refugees from Gaza and other places to get registered for work in the national health service. Seven weeks in, is the cabinet secretary able to say how many people that promise has reached? Will the Scottish Government commit to fast tracking it before more of Gaza’s medics are killed while waiting? Angela Constance: I assure the member that the Scottish Government will continue to work with and pressure the United Kingdom Government regarding the role that it has to play in this humanitarian cause. The bridges project is dear to my heart, given my involvement in earlier iterations of the programme. To date, 60 refugee doctors have obtained GMC registration.”
“Scotland welcomes refugee doctors and is committed to supporting them in overcoming barriers that prevent them from rebuilding their medical careers. Since 2017, the Scottish Government has provided more than £1.6 million in funding to the bridges refugee doctors programme to support refugee medical professionals in attaining General Medical Council registration. We do not hold information on the country of origin of the refugee doctors supported. Q Manivannan: I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer, but it will mean little to the family of Mohammed Al-Habil, a paramedic at Al-Shifa hospital, who was killed by an Israeli strike about 10 days ago while filling water containers with his teenage son. Doctors and paramedics in Gaza are being killed more quickly than any scheme can register them.”
“I will keep the member informed. The Presiding Officer: That concludes general question time. First Minister’s Question Time Back-bench Members 14:30”
“What mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that there is accountability, scrutiny and proper leadership to get the project finalised to the highest standard of safety? Angela Constance: I assure Mr Middleton that we remain absolutely focused on ensuring that the ANCHOR centre and the Baird family hospital open when they can operate safely and effectively. A national oversight group, which is led by my officials, has been established to ensure that that happens as quickly as possible. The group has been established to take control of recovery planning and delivery of the Baird and ANCHOR. A key focus of the work is to establish a timeline for opening while ensuring that safety is not compromised. There are critical issues with building systems that may require redesign, but that work will determine cost and timeline.”
“The Scottish Government works closely with NHS Grampian and NHS Scotland Assure on all capital investment projects. Safety is always paramount, and NHS Grampian is implementing several changes to the new hospital as a result of clinical recommendations following a design review, which has had an impact on the completion date and the cost. The key stage assurance review process is in place to ensure that a safe, high-quality healthcare facility is delivered. We are focused on ensuring that the ANCHOR centre and the Baird family hospital open when they can operate safely and effectively. Jack Middleton: I appreciate that my constituents continue to receive first-class care elsewhere at Foresterhill, and that patient safety must be paramount, but the doors to the Baird and ANCHOR need to open, and need to stay open, as soon as possible.”
“Can the cabinet secretary advise of further work that the Scottish Government is undertaking to build on that progress, in particular within the first 100 days of the current session of Parliament, to ensure that patients are receiving treatment as soon as possible? Angela Constance: Our first 100 days are focused on removing barriers early in the session, alongside bringing forward a national plan to improve hospital flow, recognising that pressures across the system can impact on planned care delivery. We will also expand access by opening five more walk-in services to make it easier for people to get timely care when they need it while easing pressure on general practitioner surgeries. Taken together, those actions will reduce delays and ensure that more people receive treatment sooner. Bus Fares”
“Through our operational improvement plan, we committed to delivering an additional 150,000 national health service appointments and procedures, and I am pleased to confirm that we have exceeded that target. Public Health Scotland data shows that more than 168,000 additional appointments and procedures were delivered last year and that, since July 2025, waits of more than a year for new out-patient appointments have fallen by 76 per cent and in- patient and day-case waits of more than a year have almost halved. Zen Ghani: I welcome the cabinet secretary’s response. I am proud that the Scottish National Party Government is committed to renewing and investing in our health service, and it is clear that our NHS is turning a corner.”
“It is a commitment that is located in the infrastructure development plan and in the Scottish National Party manifesto. I will keep to my word and keep members updated, because I recognise the importance of the issue. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Assessments (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) 9.”
“Along with Neil Gray and others, I have been on site to observe the preparatory work and to hear from the team about future construction plans. Will the cabinet secretary provide me and my constituents with any further clarity on when the Government intends to give this vital project the green light, and if there are any difficulties or roadblocks in the way, will she outline what those might be and how they might be overcome? Angela Constance: I very much appreciate the member’s championing of his local hospital and his local communities, and that of course also applies to other Lanarkshire MSPs. As I intimated in my original answer to Mr MacGregor, a range of assurance processes still have to be completed. The provision of an effective and sustainable health service will be at the heart of decisions about Monklands hospital.”
“The 2026-27 budget confirmed the Scottish Government’s continued support for the development of the business case for the Monklands replacement project. The Scottish Government is clear that a new Monklands hospital will be delivered, but, equally, we must ensure that the various assurance processes and value-for-money conditions are met. I will, of course, keep the member updated on any developments. My officials continue to engage with NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Assure on the NHS Scotland design assessment process and key-stage assurance review. Fulton MacGregor: I welcomed the news late last year that the board of NHS Lanarkshire had approved the full business case for the new University hospital Monklands.”
“Angela Constance: Perhaps I should rather diplomatically remind members that Mr Smith and his party have a history of calling for budgets to be cut and for tax to be cut. I also point out to the member that, under this Government, there have been real-terms increases in health and local government funding, which is a significant funding package. If I recall correctly, the Accounts Commission report acknowledged the increase in funding that integration joint boards receive, but it also pointed to the increase in the cost of delivering services. In my view, the underpinning reason for that is austerity, Brexit and the cost of living crisis. We certainly need to do things differently, but austerity, Brexit and the cost of living crisis demonstrate that Westminster never works for Scotland.”
“In 2023, the Scottish Government took a decision to claw back £331 million of ring-fenced Covid-19 reserves from IJBs. During the past few weeks, the Scottish National Party has been very good at playing the victim with respect to its chief executive’s embezzlement of £400,000 of ring-fenced referendum campaign money. Will the cabinet secretary agree with me that the real victims of the financial mismanagement by the Scottish National Party are the unwell, the vulnerable, the elderly and the disabled, who are dependent on services that are provided by health boards? Will the cabinet secretary seek emergency funding to fill the funding gap that the Scottish Government has created?”
“The 2026-27 Scottish budget provides almost £22.5 billion of investment in health and social care services, which exceeds consequentials and provides a real-terms uplift to enable more sustainable and resilient services. That includes almost £2.3 billion for social care and integration, which is an increase of more than £1.3 billion since 2021. We recognise the financial pressures that the health and social care sector faces. Through the service renewal framework, we are taking bold and ambitious action to reform and renew our health and care system, in line with our vision in which people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. David Smith: With respect, that does not satisfy the requirements of councils, which have to provide the funding right now.”
“That letter was 40 pages long and spoke about future plans for boards to enhance the support and services that they provide. I am happy to supply that letter to the member for her interest. Integration Joint Boards (Finances) 7.”
“In line with the Scottish Government’s wish to move towards prevention or early care, which will lead to better outcomes, will the cabinet secretary meet me and ME Action Scotland to discuss what measures could be taken now to alleviate people’s suffering? Angela Constance: I am always happy to meet stakeholders to discuss specifics. I am also aware that the member spoke of the impact of ME during her first speech in the Parliament. One of the benefits of providing recurring resource is that it enables health boards to develop sustainable support and also helps with the retention and recruitment of skilled staff. The former Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health wrote to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on the subject in October last year.”
“Although the configuration of services and staffing composition is a matter for NHS boards, we have been clear that we expect services to follow relevant clinical guidance, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance for those with ME and long Covid. Helen McDade:The ME Association estimates that more than 100,000 people in Scotland have ME or long Covid. Approximately 80 per cent of them are women, and most are of working age. That £4.5 million, although welcome, equates to £40 per person for conditions that are often lifelong and cost the country huge amounts in revenue and care, but the costs to the individual affected are incalculable.”
“We recognise the significant impact that ME and long Covid can have on the lives of those who are affected. We are providing £4.5 million of recurrent funding to national health service boards to support them to deliver specialist support for long Covid, ME and similar conditions. For example, in the member’s region, the funding is supporting the delivery of NHS Forth Valley’s post-acute infection syndrome service and development of the board’s regional partnership with NHS Borders, NHS Fife and NHS Lothian, which will provide a comprehensive multidisciplinary team approach to support those with complex needs.”
“As I intimated, my officials have had discussions with Stephen Brown, the chief officer of the Orkney integration joint board, in which a range of challenges were discussed. I know that the vacancy rate in Orkney is higher than the national average, although the numbers of national health service staff and social care staff have increased and the spend on agency staff has decreased. Nonetheless, there are particular challenges for the area that Mr McArthur represents. The Government’s commitment to the next phase of the adult social care displaced workers scheme, which we have committed to relaunch within the first 100 days of this Government, is also important. That is one of the issues that my officials discussed with Mr Brown when they last met. Neonatal Care (Reorganisation) 4.”
“Liam McArthur: I thank the cabinet secretary for that acknowledgement and commitment. Despite local recruitment initiatives, Orkney health and care still faces long-standing vacancies and significant reliance on agency staff. With an ageing population, demand will only rise, yet it is expected that health and care will bear the brunt of efforts to close the £5 billion gap in Scotland’s public finances by 2030. Does the cabinet secretary accept that Orkney faces particularly acute workforce challenges? What specific measures will the Government take to help Orkney health and care to build a sustainable local workforce for the long term? Angela Constance: I am very conscious that the differing landscapes of Scotland’s communities deepen some of the challenges, not least in and around adult social care.”
“Health and social care workforce planning and service delivery are the responsibility of the health board, the integration joint board and the local authority. However, we remain committed to working with island communities to strengthen the resilience of health and social care services. The service renewal framework highlights the challenges of increasing demand and the opportunities of system and service reform, including new approaches to health workforce planning. Officials meet relevant partners in Orkney on a regular basis and the most recent meeting, which was on 28 May this year, focused on adult social care. More widely, our national islands plan and the action plan to address depopulation support broader actions to support sustainable rural and island communities, with health and social care being integral to that work.”
“Furthermore, under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, local development plans must take account of the health needs of the population of the district and the likely effects that the use of land for development will have, and there are underpinning regulations that state that health boards have a duty to co-operate on the preparation of such plans.”
“I appreciate what the cabinet secretary said, but will the Scottish Government look at how the data on housing consents could be used more consistently by NHS boards to identify which practices are more likely to come under pressure in relation to GPs, dental services and community health teams? Angela Constance: Public Health Scotland is currently working on revised guidance and an associated data set to support integration authorities and partners to improve population needs assessment to plan service provision. However, as I stated, it is for integration authorities, using their knowledge of their areas and circumstances, to take account of how data on housing consents can be used more consistently to identify which primary care and community health teams are likely to come under pressure.”
“Integration authorities, which include representatives of NHS boards and local authorities, are responsible for the strategic planning and investment in the delivery of integrated adult health and social care services in their areas. Therefore, integration authorities and not ministers are responsible for how they take account of planned housing growth when assessing future demand for general practice, dental and other primary care services. Lloyd Melville: In growing communities such as Monifieth, the issue is often not the approval for the houses but the lag before the health services adjust to the new population.”
“The independent review is about ensuring that women can have the confidence that the Government will take swift action where it is needed. That not only delivers now on our 100 days commitment but, importantly, will deliver real and tangible change for women, their babies and their families.”
“I will also ask Professor McCourt to examine service models and make robust evidence-based recommendations on the best possible clinical pathways to ensure that women are safe when they give birth and that their needs and those of their families are met. Pace is essential, and I expect the review to be commenced after summer and completed within nine months. We will publish a more detailed scope and terms of reference in due course. To ensure that the Parliament is fully involved in that work, I will ask Professor McCourt to host a cross- party meeting before she begins the review. I close by providing reassurance to women that they will be heard. Welcoming a new arrival to the world is the most precious and special moment, and women must be able to trust the services that are being provided to them.”
“Her wide-ranging expertise includes focusing on the experience of women, informed choice in care, place of birth, induction of labour, group care and continuity of carer, and on approaches to improve equity, quality and safety in care. She is a trusted leader in the UK in maternal health and is well placed to lead the transformation that we need to see. Professor McCourt will engage with women, families, patient groups, clinicians, midwives, nurses and the wider maternity workforce across Scotland, including in Caithness and Wigtownshire. It is essential that the voices of those receiving and delivering care are heard directly through the process.”
“The review will consider inequalities and outcomes, including the higher maternal mortality rates experienced by black and Asian women, and will assess whether current work to tackle racialised inequalities is achieving the required impact. That will be informed by the voices of black and Asian women. Lastly, the review will consider how NHS boards engage with their local communities on the decisions that they make about maternity services. I know that that has been a key issue that has been raised by the Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland. This work will demand an experienced and trusted chair, and I am therefore very pleased to announce that the review will be chaired by Professor Christine McCourt, who is professor of maternal and child health at City St George’s, University of London.”
“The review will be forward looking and consider service sustainability, taking account of workforce, culture, safety, quality and equity of access. The review will consider maternity services in rural and island areas and the experiences of women living there. I have heard very clearly— particularly from Maree Todd, David Green, Finlay Carson and Laura Mitchell—of the strength of feeling in Caithness, Wigtownshire and Elgin. I know that progress has been made in meeting our commitment to Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin, and I want to ensure that progress continues. This review will look at the experiences of women in Caithness, Wigtownshire and Elgin, and in other rural and island communities.”