Scott unimpressed by minister’s assurances

During question time in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday Robison tried to assure Scott that changes to health boards would only be implemented if it would result in improved patient care.

But Scott said the minister had not properly answered his question, which had been ‘why concentrate on the structure of health boards when the crisis we face not just in Shetland but across the whole of Scotland is the lack of GPs?’

He said that any review was destructive and would take officers’ minds off the day job.

Speaking in parliament, the health secretary said: “We will begin work in this parliament to examine the number, structure and regulations of health boards as well as the relationship with local authorities.

“In taking this review forward I want to reduce bureaucracy and remove any barrier that affects patient care.

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“So what I say to Tavish, and give him this guarantee, is that absolutely any review of health boards and changes to health boards will be on the basis of patient care. That will be the starting point of the review and no other consideration.”

Scott responded by saying the government needed to decide what they were about and “address the real challenge” of GP recruitment.

“It will be like the reform of the police, it will be incredibly distracting from the core business of delivering the best health care they can possibly achieve in the islands,” he said.

“I don’t know why our government has this constant desire to play around with structures rather than address the real challenge – which is why have they not sorted the crisis in GP recruitment after having been in government for nine years.

“I thing they have to address the main responsibilities they have, and I don’t see what tinkering around with the structures of health boards can achieve to address these matters.”