Chamber and committees

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the use of face-to-face general practitioner appointments. (S6T-00139)

Does Mark Ruskell accept that, despite perseverance, rent controls have failed in Sweden and have only created a second-hand market of sub-let properties?

We face a postcode lottery in patients’ experience when they try to access their GP. Although patients are permitted to have face-to-face appointments with practice nurses and other health professionals, GP appointments have been limited to phone calls, which, in some cases, have no specific time for a call back. With the reports at the weekend of the new contract signed by NHS Scotland to expand such consultations, many patients are worried about access. We know that early diagnosis is crucial for many conditions, yet many patients are not able to access their GP. Does the cabinet secretary believe that Scottish patients have the right to see their GP face to face, and does today’s guidance give a date for when they can expect that?

It gives no date, then. As I mentioned, accessing healthcare is a problem for many patients right now. With many unable to access their normal healthcare routes, such as going to their GPs, they are simply turning to our accident and emergency services. For the past four weeks in a row, we have seen the number of patients not being seen within four hours at A and E departments hit shocking new highs, and Scotland’s largest health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, is now telling people not to turn up unless the situation is life threatening. What has been done to tackle those waiting times now, and, as we move into the critical winter period, what planning is under way to ensure that we do not see a future A and E winter crisis?

I should probably have declared an interest, given that I was a board member of Marketing Edinburgh when we were seeking to get a studio in the city.

At our introductory meeting, we spoke about the role of the gaming community—I do not mean pheasants—[Laughter.] I mean “Grand Theft Auto” and the role of Dundee. You have spoken at length about screen industries, but where does the gaming sector fit in?

It is a verb: to game. It is for a young man or a young woman—

Welcome to the meeting, cabinet secretary. This is the first time that we have met in person. Before this, we have had only virtual meetings.

Both of us represent this fine capital city, which is important not just internationally but at the more local level with regard to our country’s economic growth. Our world heritage status, which is something that Liverpool lost just recently, is under direct threat through a number of decisions taken by the city’s Scottish National Party administration. Those decisions were taken without consultation with Historic Environment Scotland or Edinburgh World Heritage or any proper local engagement, and you have written on the subject in the local Edinburgh Evening News. Given the cultural importance of our maintaining our world heritage status, what can you do as cabinet secretary and as the Edinburgh Central MSP to help to preserve it?

I thank the minister for taking the time to make such an extensive statement today. My question builds on the answer that she has just provided to Ms Martin. The SNP has said that it will do everything that it can to tackle Scotland’s drug deaths crisis. However, the UK Government has invited the Scottish Government to work with it on project ADDER—addiction, disruption, diversion, enforcement and recovery—three times, and three times the SNP has snubbed it.

The SNP’s persistent refusal to work with the UK Government is costing lives. The First Minister admitted that she has let Scotland’s drug deaths crisis spiral out of control, and the SNP’s obsession with independence has come at a high cost. The Scottish Government must focus on the devolved public health and justice systems that it controls. When will it accept the UK Government’s invitation and start working constructively with it to solve this national crisis?

Like Jenni Minto, I am new to Parliament and to the committee. The committee has quite a broad remit and, as other members have said, it is key that we do not step on the toes of the other subject committees. However, there is definitely somewhere for us to dip in and out as and when necessary. Finding that balance is going to be key for the committee if it is to be effective. It will be interesting to see how that develops.

I am an MSP for Lothian, so issues around the festivals and culture are really important to me. How the festivals and the Edinburgh economy change and adapt will be key, as the sector has been left largely unsupported for the past 15 to 16 months. We need to be aware of that.

On the four points in the legacy paper, we must make sure that we are on top of the point about the 2022 census. As a citizen, I was disappointed that we did not take part in the UK-wide census that took place in 2021. We need to figure out how to get back on track with the rest of the country and make sure that the census is carried out. There are no excuses now for its not taking place.

I remember all the emotion around the fire at the Glasgow School of Art, which was very upsetting. We must make sure that there is an investigation into that and find out what happened. It was a great cultural tragedy for the country.

On interparliamentary working, as I have been an outsider for longer than some of the other members here, I know that people in our country do not want to see the different Parliaments in the UK bickering; they want to see us working together in a much more positive way. If we take one thing away, it is that we have to start working more positively together and finding positive things to work on instead of always drilling down on the minuscule negatives. People do not want to see that. There is time for it, but we have to be mindful about what we are here to do.

I have no relevant interests to declare.