Last week during Health Questions I quizzed the Public health minister on the issue of food banks within the region after reports of a high demand for Levenmouth Foodbank since it was launched in September.
I asked the Government what action they would be taking to target resources to address health inequalities after concerns were raised that a number of people referred to food banks also suffer from other health conditions such as mental ill health. Continue reading
Last week during Health Questions in the Scottish Parliament I quizzed the Cabinet Health Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Alex Neil MSP, to ask for assurances from the Scottish Government that Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy will be able to deal with the winter months ahead as pressures and demand increase.
I called for assurances after previous concerns over patient care and A&E waiting times at the Victoria were raised for the same time period last year. Last winter we saw that NHS Fife had the third highest number of patients waiting over 12 hours in A&E across Scotland. That is why I have pushed Alex Neil for a commitment that we won’t see this happen again in Fife. Continue reading
Commenting on the UK Government’s announcement on Common Agricultural Policy allocations,Scottish Labour’s Rural Affairs Spokeswoman, Claire Baker MSP, said:
“Whilst I am disappointed that Scotland has not received an immediate uplift, as called for on a cross-party basis by MSPs, it is important that all sides continue to try and work together to achieve a fair deal for farmers across Scotland. Continue reading
Today in Parliament I raised concerns about NHS Fife funding during General Questions. I raised the question following an Audit Scotland report which highlighted that NHS Fife are currently receiving less than their target funding, four years after a new funding formula was introduced. This report confirms what we have suspected all along, the NHS in Fife is facing pressures financially due to underfunding by the Scottish Government.
The report points out that NHS Fife currently receives funding below their National Resource Allocation Committee target, despite the Scottish Government first using the formula to allocate funds in 2009/10. The report claims that this brings forward uncertainty to the NHS boards’ planning as the Government has no specific timescales for achieving NRAC parity. Continue reading
An Audit Scotland report on NHS financial performance has highlighted the growing signs of pressure on the NHS across Scotland and in Fife. The report reveals that NHS Fife are still receiving less than their target funding despite the new formula being introduce four years ago.
Whilst the NHS across Scotland has managed it finances for 2012/13 there still needs to be more focused placed on long-term financial planning and sustainability to meet with increasing demands. Audit Scotland highlighted that the demands on healthcare are rising and that the signs of pressure on the NHS are apparent. Continue reading
I have called for the Scottish Government and Police Scotland to rethink plans to close the front desk at Burntisland Police Station along with the reduction of hours for the front desk at Levenmouth.
The request comes after Police Scotland published proposals which would see over 65 front desk closures across Scotland, with several more experiencing a reduction in hours. Continue reading
I’ve called on the Scottish National Party to support the Labour Party’s pledge to freeze energy prices for two years if elected as we work towards regulating the energy market.
I’ve made the request after the pledge made by Ed Miliband was described as “completely unworkable” by Scottish Government’s energy minister Fergus Ewing. Mr Ewing was responding to a question raised by my colleague Iain Gray MSP who had asked the Scottish Government if the SNP would match our commitment in a separate Scotland. Continue reading
After a visit to Parliament from Energy Safety Trust I have backed attempts to save money on fuel costs with FuelGood – an initiative to become a fuel efficient driver with the Trust and Transport Scotland. The initiative aims to teach drivers how to drive efficiently saving fuel and money at the same time. From just simple tips to a training session and even an app, FuelGood claim that if you become a fuel efficient driver you could save an average of £250 on fuel per year.
Tips include not idling if you are stationary for more than a minute, checking your tyres regularly, staying in gear and watching the revs. A FuelGood training session is a 50 minute one-to-one lesson with an approved driving instructor to put the tips into practice.
Recently I raised ‘grave concerns’ at reports that “scores of Fife patients are dying unnecessarily” at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
The concerns were originally raised by a senior nurse at the hospital who raised a number of claims against the hospital including; inexperienced junior nurses drafted in, patients left unmonitored and patients being placed in “cupboards” due to lack of room. Continue reading