RHODA GRANT: Cancer care in Highlands and Islands shouldn't need politicians to raise treatment concerns
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Holyrood Notebook by Rhoda Grant
I often receive emails from constituents outlining horrific circumstances and asking for my help. I always commit to trying my best or signposting to a more suitable alternative help.
Not many emails come in more stark than that of Malcolm Graham.
Mr Graham is 76 and lives on the Isle of Lewis. Last year he had a tumour removed, but last month he was told the devastating news that his cancer was back in his liver and lungs.
Instead of receiving timely and appropriate care, he received a letter outlining that NHS Highland do not have an appropriate oncologist able to see him and supervise his treatment.
I read the email and, after obtaining permission, I quickly brought it to the attention of my colleague and leader Anas Sarwar and it was quickly raised directly with Humza Yousaf at First Minister’s Questions.
Since that Thursday, it has been revealed that 78 patients across NHS Highland and NHS Western Isles did not have an oncologist.
Last week, NHS Highland announced that they secured aid from other health boards and now all patients have an oncologist. This is welcome news, but the reality is that it should not have taken a politician to raise it in parliament to get it addressed.
This leans into what I wrote last month in my column. Rural areas – such as Caithness – typically face the brunt on national issues.
I hope this is the last time I hear of someone not being able to access suitable timely care within our NHS but I fear that it will not be.
As the Scottish Government battle the many damaging headlines of late, both UK and Scottish Labour continue to offer change for our country. This includes the mission to establish GB Energy, which coupled with the investments of our Green Prosperity Plan will save households across Britain up to £1400 of their annual energy bills.
So much of our politics and our history is the story of energy – where it comes from, how much it costs, what it is used for and who it benefits. With this plan, that future starts in Scotland, building on the skills, talent and expertise already abundant in the energy sector here.
So that GB Energy can benefit from the skills and insight of Scotland’s energy industry and our world-leading research institutes, Labour will headquarter it here in Scotland.
Caithness has a rich climate and geography for the energy sector, which was proudly shown to Labour leader Kier Starmer, Ed Milliband MP and Colin Smith MSP recently.
Can you imagine how incredible and worthwhile it would be to see that invested into a publicly owned energy company?
Instead of us seeing millions of pounds in profits going to stakeholders and CEOs, we would see it further invested into jobs, communities and people.
Caithness, with its history and potential, I am sure will be at the heart of that.
- Rhoda Grant is a Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands.
