Report to the People
3rd January 2005
All the Best for 2005
Happy
New Year!
As
traditional at this time of year as pledging to exercise every day and drink
nothing stronger than mineral water, is predicting the highlights of the twelve
months ahead. (A task made slightly
easier this year by the fact we don’t need to worry about how any Scottish
sides will fare in the latter stages of European football competitions.)
At
the Scottish Parliament, I’m looking forward to the publication of the Health
Committee’s report on our NHS workforce planning inquiry.
Given the sparks which flew at the evidence taking sessions, it should
give those charged with delivering our health services – both professionals
and politicians – a great deal to think about.
It will also, I hope, signpost a route out of the current ridiculous
situation where there is precious little strategic planning, leaving individual
boards – such as Argyll and Clyde – dealing with Scotland-wide problems on a
crisis-by-crisis, hospital-by-hospital basis.
At
times, though, it can seem like that the only thing travelling along at pace is
the NHS centralisation bandwagon. The
major Transport Bill, therefore, is also set to make progress.
A comprehensive and far-reaching piece of legislation, the Bill will let
pensioners and disabled people travel on off-peak buses throughout Scotland for
free. And
for all road users – especially the long-suffering commuters – the
Bill will bring in tougher provisions for directing
the timing of roadworks, reinstatement and resurfacing.
One
way and another, then, 2005 could be the year for getting things moving.
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