David Smith
Reform UK · Scotland
“To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Accounts Commission's report on integration joint boards finances, which highlighted a projected funding gap of £457 million in 2024-25, what urgent action it will take to ensure that health and social care services are protected, and that patients and service users do not experience any red…”
Scottish Parliament17 June 2026Source ↗
“Allocated time slots for carers have been reduced to seven minutes. Many local authorities across Scotland have reduced their time slots to 10 minutes. Does the cabinet secretary agree that such incredibly short visits are completely inappropriate?”
Scottish Parliament3 June 2026Source ↗
“Many, if not all, local authorities in Scotland are in severe financial difficulty, which is cited as the reason for the decline in many health and social care services. Will the cabinet secretary review the formula for health and social care funding, with a view to better match the funding to the service demands in local areas?”
Scottish Parliament3 June 2026Source ↗
“Our current system for delivering social care is devolved to each individual local authority, which means that when we consider reform and look at the picture across the whole of Scotland, we see that it is very fragmented.”
Scottish Parliament3 June 2026Source ↗
“My aim today is not to campaign against the Government but instead to identify areas in the social care system in which there are significant shortfalls, so that collaborative work on renewal and reform can begin across all parties. My experience of the social care system is lived experience.”
Scottish Parliament3 June 2026Source ↗
“Last October, I had the privilege of being invited to the carers parliament, which was held just up the road at the Apex hotel on the Grassmarket. Such events are incredibly beneficial, because they bring together unpaid carers from all over Scotland to speak about and debate health and social care issues.”
Scottish Parliament3 June 2026Source ↗