First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that she has referred herself to the panel of independent advisers on the Ministerial Code.
The panel will look at the First Minister’s actions during an investigation into Alex Salmond.
Nicola Sturgeon made phone calls and had meetings with Mr Salmond while claims of sexual harassment – which he strongly denies – were being investigated.
Continue reading First Minister refers herself to standards panel over Salmond investigation
Letter calls for MPs to support new referendum on EU membership in ‘crucial week for future of Scotland.’
Continue reading Holyrood urges MPs to dismiss UK Brexit options
Scottish Conservative Health Spokesman and Lothian MSP Miles Briggs, has hit out at SNP Ministers over waiting times for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) in NHS Lothian.
Latest figures from ISD Scotland, for quarter ending 30 September 2018, have revealed that only 81.6% of patients have been seen within three weeks to start their first treatment, a drop of 2.5% from 84.1% in the previous quarter ending 30th June 2018.
NHS Lothian has not met the national target of 90% of patients seen within three weeks in any of quarters over the last year, and patients are forced to wait longer for first alcohol and drug treatments at Lothian ADPs than any other health boards across Scotland.
For the latest quarter, ending 30 September 2018, Midlothian ADP had by far the lowest percentage of patients seen within three weeks for first treatment than of any ADP across Scotland, with only 61.7% of patients seen within three weeks and only 66.7% of patients seen within five weeks.
For the previous quarter, ending 30th June 2018, West Lothian ADP had the longest waiting times in Scotland for Drug and alcohol treatment, with 66.2% seen within 3 weeks and 71.6% seen within 5 weeks.
In November, the Scottish Conservatives launched their new drug strategy that would halve the number of drug deaths in 5 years and increase the number of problem drug users accessing treatment from just 40% to the UK average of 60%.
Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative Lothian MSP, said: “These figures show that previous cuts by SNP Ministers to Alcohol and Drug partnerships have had a detrimental impact in NHS Lothian.
“Patients in Lothian are being forced to wait longer than anywhere else in Scotland for Alcohol and Drug treatment, which is completely unacceptable.
“It is critical that patients who need treatment for alcohol and drugs are not having to wait months to get the support that they need, but this is what some are having to do.
“I have written to the Scottish Government to again raise my concerns over waiting times for treatment at Lothian ADPs and asking what actions are being taken to improve waiting times.”
Scotland’s construction sector is being placed under the microscope by a Holyrood committee. Continue reading Holyrood committee to examine the construction industry
SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald has challenged political opponents to back the Scottish Government’s draft budget that will secure “substantial” funding for the Capital.
Continue reading Edinburgh College and Universities to benefit from extra funding
Scottish Ministers are on course to invest over £125 million in 2018-19 to mitigate against the worst impact of UK Government welfare reforms and to protect those on low incomes. Continue reading Scottish Government commits £125 million to combat UK austerity
Scottish GPs are still facing a crisis according to the latest figures released yesterday. Continue reading Slight increase in GP numbers “too little, too late”:
The 2019-20 Scottish Budget will seek to strengthen Scotland’s economy and deliver long term investments to transform public services, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has said. Continue reading Safeguarding Scotland? Budget to support ‘transformation of essential public services’.
Leith-based project Multi-Cultural Family Base marked its 20th anniversary with an event at the Scottish Parliament named Transitions into Primary School last month.
The event, hosted by Angela Constance MSP, was an opportunity to hear about the experiences of migrant and refugee children starting school as well as showcase MCFB’s work in a new documentary film called “Dreaming, Perseverance, Resilience – the story of Multi-Cultural Family Base”, created by film company duo, Written In Film. Continue reading News from Multi-Cultural Family Base
Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board have reported an overspend of 4.7m for the period to the end of July 2018, and that this is projected to rise to £11.9m by the end of the financial year. Scottish Conservatives are urging the Scottish Government to step in ease the pressure on Edinburgh’s IJB. Continue reading Edinburgh faces social care financial crisis
