Press Release, 8th June 2015
McNeil welcomes Health Minister’s commitment to public debate on NHS
Duncan McNeil MSP has welcomed today’s commitment from the Cabinet Secretary for Health Shona Robison to a full public debate on the future of Scotland’s National Health Service.
Last week, the Labour MSP tabled a motion in Parliament highlighting the joint call made by the Royal Colleges for such a debate.
The Greenock and Inverclyde MSP said:
“I welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s commitment to a public debate on the future of the NHS. It’s essential that we have this debate to ensure that it does not only survive but evolves to meet the future needs of the people of Scotland.”
“Every day we are witnessing the huge pressure it is under as demand grows. It’s clear a fundamental rethink is required about what our priorities are for our NHS and the way in which we deliver health services.”
Notes to editors
Duncan McNeil’s motion lodged on Thursday is copied in below. It has received cross-party support.
S4M-13372# Duncan McNeil: NHS Scotland: Time for a Public Debate—That the Parliament notes the joint call by the Royal College of Nursing and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland for a public debate on what are considered to be the difficult decisions that need to be made about future investment in Scotland’s NHS; believes this to be a measured and considered approach that could kick start changes to the way the NHS provides services; considers that, while the NHS budget is protected and, in recent years, the number of staff employed by the NHS has increased, demand for care from Scotland’s growing and older population has increased in places such as Greenock and Inverclyde, and notes the joint call for a mature debate involving the public, health and care professionals and MSPs from all political parties so that there is a consensual approach to future changes to Scotland’s beloved NHS to ensure that it does not only survive but evolves to meet the future needs of the people of Scotland.
Supported by: Ken Macintosh*, Stuart McMillan, Dennis Robertson, Jim Hume, Tavish Scott, Lewis Macdonald, Elaine Smith, Graeme Pearson, Elaine Murray, Jackson Carlaw, Jackie Baillie, Richard Simpson, Johann Lamont, Jayne Baxter, Cara Hilton, Neil Findlay, John Pentland, Margaret McDougall, Malcolm Chisholm, Hanzala Malik, Patricia Ferguson, David Stewart, Hugh Henry, Michael McMahon