Austerity is a Political Choice

I have spoken out against the news of further proposed cuts to public spending – the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, worsened by an inept Tory government cannot be landed on the shoulders of those least responsible and most affected by its impact. I have lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament restating my earlier […]

A&E Performance Getting Worse

The numbers of people not being seen within the target times for visiting Accident and Emergency has increased again, leading to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) issuing a statement stating, “The situation as we enter winter is dire. Month-on-month, more and more patients face longer and longer waits – that we know are […]

Care Home Residents are Being Fleeced

I raised the issue of self-funding care home residents facing ever increasing charges – self-funders are being fleeced and are at the mercy of care home owners. Care home residents are self-funders when they have savings and or a capital asset and have been assessed as having to pay for their own care home fees. […]

ME/CFS Campaigners at Scottish Parliament

I have called for the Scottish Government to fully implement their NICE Guideline on Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) after meeting campaigners for ME awareness at the Scottish Parliament. The campaigners from ME Action were representing their #MILLIONSMISSING campaign, calling for more ME specialists in the NHS to ensure people are being diagnosed appropriately […]

We Should Have a National Mileage Rate for Carers

I have asked the Scottish Government to introduce as an emergency measure a National Mileage Rate for all carers across the social care sector. I have spoken to many social care workers and employers and was shocked to find out that many carers are only paid around 25p per mile in the private sector, compared […]