Chamber and committees

I am pleased to have the chance to speak in the debate and highlight the fantastic work that the UK Government did to make the Covid-19 vaccination programme such a success. Thanks to the UK Government, we were one of the first nations in the world to be vaccinating people. We vaccinated millions of Scots, protecting all of us from coronavirus. Meanwhile, Sturgeon was overseeing a stagnant and stuttering vaccine roll-out until the UK Government intervened and sent the British Army and other military forces to assist the Scottish Government in vaccinating Scots.

The Covid-19 vaccination programme was an unmitigated success in the end and a perfect example of what can be achieved when we work together. The success of the vaccination programme not only saved lives but contributed to the gradual reopening of the economy, the resumption of educational activities and the restoration of—very much needed—social interactions. It truly was the triple-helix model of innovation in action, as the vaccine task force, comprising academia, the universities, industry—we should not forget industry’s involvement in the process—and Government, worked at pace to scale up the successful Covid vaccines that were identified by the University of Oxford and Imperial College London.

Scrapping that service will have a devastating effect on vulnerable children and young people across the Lothian region. The Queen Elizabeth hospital is hardly accessible. Many other youth worker services have lost funding and statutory services, such as child and adolescent mental health services, are at breaking point. Cutting back on youth work is the wrong course of action and will simply store up problems for the future. So often, we hear about a preventative approach being championed by the Scottish Government, and the navigators programme takes exactly that approach, so why are we even considering cutting it?

I welcome the chance to speak about the future of St Michael’s hospital, in Linlithgow, and I thank Fiona Hyslop for bringing the debate to the chamber. Like her, I believe that local health services are a vital part of our local communities and, as we know, St Michael’s hospital has served the community for many years. However, the current situation demands that we take a hard look at the hospital’s viability and its role in meeting the healthcare needs of the community.

St Michael’s was first shut in August 2021, in response to acute staffing pressures that were created by Covid-19. That is a clear indication that the hospital was struggling to provide the level of care that was needed. It is important that it was a temporary closure, and it was done using emergency powers.

In West Lothian, we have a growing population that is well in excess of that of Dundee, and we have one of the highest proportions of older people. West Lothian needs a healthcare system that can meet the needs of the community now and in the future. As Ms Hyslop said, West Lothian has the fastest-growing population of pensionable age, with a projected increase of 44 per cent—twice the Scottish average. I, too, put on record my support with regard to the concerns about the data that is being used in relation to population growth across West Lothian.

The importance of the hospital to the local community cannot be overemphasised. I draw parallels with what is happening elsewhere within the NHS Lothian boundary, with the Edington hospital in East Lothian. That hospital remains closed as a result of very similar issues, so the situation with St Michael’s is not simply an isolated incident in West Lothian.

Supporting, developing and protecting our workforce is vital and, in order to ensure that that happens, there will need to be active talent management and succession planning across NHS Lothian, in addition to recruitment and retention initiatives. That is key to keeping our local services in the communities open and thriving. Although I acknowledge the campaign to maintain the hospital and the health services at St Michael’s, we must take a view that considers the future needs of patients and families in the area.

West Lothian health and social care partnership’s consultation on the current closure of St Michael’s hospital and its community bed review was an important step in understanding which direction needs to be taken. When I visited St Michael’s last year, it was clear that the building was not in a good state of repair and that it would need significant investment to restore it to what would be expected in order to meet the standards that are required for modern healthcare. However, the Scottish National Party Government’s funding decisions have resulted in the West Lothian IJB needing to save an eye-watering £17 million. Any decision to close St Michael’s hospital must therefore be accompanied by a clear plan to ensure that the healthcare needs of the community are met in a way that is sustainable, effective and equitable.

Unfortunately, there is a funding shortfall in NHS Lothian relative to other health boards under the NHS Scotland resource allocation committee formula. In the 2022-23 financial year, that equates to approximately £14 million. That alone is a huge challenge, but, over the past decade, that equates to more than £100 million. If we are to continue services in the community across the Lothian region, that must be rectified, with reference to the changes in population in West Lothian specifically.

In conclusion, although the history of St Michael’s hospital is important, we must prioritise the needs of the community and ensure that we have a healthcare system that can meet those needs in the future. I urge my fellow members to work together to find a sustainable and effective solution that meets the healthcare needs of the people of West Lothian.

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used to determine how much funding should be spent on active travel projects. (S6O-02184)

Last week, the City of Edinburgh Council confirmed that it must restart a public consultation on making active travel schemes permanent due to errors with bus lanes and yellow lanes, which will cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds.

That is not the first wasteful project led by Sustrans. Given the scale of funding that it receives—in the order of £234 million over five years—will the minister commit to reviewing whether Sustrans is providing value for money and listening to the genuine concerns of local residents?

I believe that the minister responded to my question by saying that that matter would be considered.

We now move on to questions regarding transport, from my colleague Ross Greer.

Mr Kerr, can I come in? We heard a lot of evidence about the concerns. Minister, you have spoken about the long-term aspirations and the cost savings to society from the settlement. What we are saying is that, right now, there is no mechanism to transfer the savings from the justice system into local government, children and families and social work. What is the Government going to do to address that imbalance?

Pam Duncan-Glancy did not quite get the answer to her second question, which was on funding. Maybe colleagues can pick that up in asking about the financial aspects.

The committee heard from Social Work Scotland that it is “almost inconceivable” that police custody will not have to be used for under-18s—this is the important line—

“for a number of years to come.”—[Official Report, Education, Children and Young People Committee, 26 April 2023; c 39.]

How would you respond to that point? Will local authorities be expected to use secure care as an alternative to custody? If so, what are the cost implications of that?