RHODA GRANT: Challenges over rural health care must be addressed
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Holyrood Notebook by Rhoda Grant
Last week we saw four petitions pertinent to Caithness come to the Scottish Parliament health committee for discussion.
These four petitions highlight the real inequality that is experienced in rural communities compared to urban areas. This urgently requires to be addressed – especially in health.
Repeatedly, we have seen the centralisation, depletion of health and other public services in Caithness. This is something that is acutely felt and it is, with the help of these petitions, getting harder for the Scottish Government to prosecute unhindered.
I am encouraged that the committee is going to write to NHS Highland, inviting them to attend a committee meeting and following that they will invite the Cabinet Secretary for Health to address the committee as well. I hope it forces the Cabinet Secretary, Humza Yousaf, to wake up to the problems people face.
Recently, there was also a harrowing story of a newborn baby suffering brain damage while in NHS Highland’s care. This was a story that would have resonated with many Caithness women who have experienced, or fear travelling, a similar lengthy journey while in labour.
Clearly mistakes were made by NHS Highland and I have since written asking for clear detail on what they are going to do to implement the Scottish Ombudsman recommendations.
When considering these two Caithness issues together, I see a clear ignorance by the Scottish Government on the rural challenges that exist.
Caithness is a unique area, with regard to geography and transport challenges, but similar challenges are experienced throughout rural Scotland. Thus, I am frustrated that the Scottish Government appear determined to apply urban solutions to the whole population.
Following on from this, I am concerned about the care provision in Highland. Not only have I seen an increase in worrying casework regarding the care sector and care at home, but I have seen that both NHS Highland and Highland Council have revealed fears of “potential collapse”.
Although they do not reveal where these services are most at risk, I do fear for our most remote areas in Highland and this is something I am investigating.
The Scottish Government’s response is centralisation, to move the procurement of care services from local to national control which will not improve services at all. They call it a National Care Service, portraying it as on a par with the NHS – it is not, it is simple centralisation.
It would be impossible to finish this column without mentioning the national political picture. It has been a turbulent number of months in politics. Recently we have seen the resignation of two Prime Ministers and have seen the coronation of replacements – one making history as the shortest serving Prime Minister.
Hearing our new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, state that the UK is facing a “profound economic crisis” in his first address is incredulous, as it was his party that created this emergency. The country doesn’t need a new Tory Prime Minister or Cabinet, it needs a change in government. That is why we need a general election now.
- Rhoda Grant is a Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands.
