Report to the People
5th July 2004
Last Debate Far From the Last Word
Thursday
saw the last ever parliamentary debate in MSPs’ temporary home on The Mound.
As we prepared to hand sole occupancy back to our theological landlords
in the Kirk, I suppose it was appropriate to ask “why are we here?”.
Why,
I asked during the debate on Argyll and Clyde’s under-fire Clinical Strategy,
despite all the extra funding which is going into the NHS, are we here talking
about threats to services?
As
we in Inverclyde know only too well – and as some of my parliamentary
colleagues seem to have difficulty grasping – the root of the problem is (the
lack of) NHS workforce planning. I
am not about to go over this ground in detail yet again, but it’s clear, even
on a skin-deep analysis, that the inability of the NHS to deal with issues such
as new working time rules is affecting service provision across the country.
The
debate, though, did more than simply revisit the well-worn arguments.
It also attempted to take matters forward.
For
my part, I was pleased to announce that two of Inverclyde’s
most respected doctors are ready to play their part in helping draw up the
credible alternative plans which are vital if we are to make the Health Board
think again. Leading Inverclyde GP
and Chair of the Local Health Care Co-operative, Dr Mustafa Kapasi, and senior
consultant surgeon and Clinical Director of Surgery at the IRH, J.J. Morrice,
have both assured me that they are prepared to stand up and be counted.
But
we need more than star players in the team.
We also need a level playing field.
As
I made clear to the Minister on Thursday, the Health Board’s proposals are the
product of many officials and many months – two luxuries we will have to do
without when we draft our alternatives.
I
therefore called on the Minister to outline exactly how our efforts will be
supported – in terms of time, resources and expertise – and sought an
undertaking that equal weight would be given to the Health Board’s plan and
any alternative. Finally, I argued
that a consultation process worthy of the name was essential.
The
Minister, while not going into specifics, did say that it was important that the
process was fair and balanced and I will be making representations to him,
asking that he clarify exactly how he intends to ensure that this is the case.
We
might be leaving The Mound, but along with our files and phones, this issue will
definitely be coming down the road with us to Holyrood.
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