Figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives have shown that 1,219 ambulance journeys between St. John’s hospital Children’s ward and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary took place between September 2016 and August 2020 – an average of 25 journeys a month over the four year period.
In October this year (2020) NHS Lothian announced that St. John’s was reintroducing a 24/7 children’s ward, following years of a reduced service.
An extensive recruitment drive led to the recruitment of two consultants one locum and increased availability of Advanced Paediatric Nurse Practitioners.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, previously welcomed the recruitment of doctors and nurses, so that a 24/7 service could resume, but warned that any future recruitment challenges must be dealt with well in advance.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“I am delighted that 24/7 paediatric services have resumed this year at St. John’s hospital and it is a credit to the people of West Lothian who campaigned tirelessly to get these services reinstated.
“Far too many young patients and families have had to make the twenty miles trip to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary over the last four years .
“It is important that the workforce at St. John’s hospital is properly managed and any recruitment challenges are sorted far in advance so that we don’t go back to a situation where young patients are having to travel into Edinburgh to be taken care of.”
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has accused SNP Ministers of having second thoughts about the development of Sheriffhall junction.
Plans for the development of Sheriffhall junction stalled earlier this year when the SNP Government went back on their commitment to commence the development, following pressure from the Greens.
Last week, (Wednesday 28th October), the Lothian MSP met with Scottish Conservative Transport Spokesperson Graham Simpson and South Scotland MSP Michelle Ballentine at the junction to see first hand the urgent need for the junction to be developed.
The development is a key national infrastructure projects that is vital for commuters in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s and to meet future demand with the South East of Scotland having the fastest growing population in Scotland.
A Written Answer to Lothian MSP Miles Briggs, attached, states “should Transport Scotland be unsuccessful in removing all objections, then a public local inquiry may be required” and that “Delivery of the scheme itself can only commence if it is approved under the relevant statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable for its progress can be set”.
The junction is also a major safety hazard with 299 accidents involving injury or death at the junction over a 10 year period.
Investment in infrastructure should be a key approach to Scotland economic recovery from Covid-19 and it is disappointing the this development is being delayed.
Lothian MSP Miles Briggs commented:“This development of Sheriffhall Junction needs to be brought forward as soon as possible.For too long we have been campaigning for this and it is now time for action.
“This is a key national investment for the South East of Scotland which will reduce congestion and create jobs.
“I have written to the Scottish Government to get an update on their review to improve active travel and public transport provision.”
South Scotland MSP, Michelle Ballantyne, commented:“Sheriffhall Junction is the gateway to Edinburgh for much of south-east Scotland and thousands of residents rely upon it every day.
“We cannot afford any further delay; upgrades to the roundabout are critical for development in the region and will attract jobs and investment to Midlothian and the Borders.
“I will continue to press the Scottish Government on this important issue. South East Scotland deserves a road network that is fit for purpose.”
Scottish Conservative Transport Spokesperson, Graham Simpson, commented:“This project is badly needed and the SNP need to pull their fingers out and deliver it.
“It’s essential to Edinburgh and the wider region. Delays at Sheriffhall should be sorted – and fast.”
Pledge to recruit 433 more teachers in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Six yeas ago today Scotland voted to stay in the UK. We must spend the next six years rebuilding Scotland’s education system, say the Scottish Conservatives.
They say they will hire 3000 new teachers over the next parliament to restore local schools to where they were before the SNP came to power.
Today, the Scottish Conservatives unveiled proposals to recruit 3,000 more teachers over the next Parliament.
The plans which would cost £550 million, would end teacher shortages that have arisen since the SNP came into power in 2007.
The paper also calls for a dedicated STEM teacher to be available in every Primary school, increased opportunities for career switchers to move into teaching and a new campaign to encourage the best and brightest to take up teaching.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“Education has to be a top priority in Scotland to invest in the future, however under this SNP Government education standards have slipped.
“Recruiting more teachers would allow each pupils to have a larger choice of subjects, as well as increased one on one learning.
“It is well established that smaller class sizes are better for student learning, so having a smaller teacher to pupil ratio can only be a good thing.
“Edinburgh and the Lothians have the fastest growing population in Scotland so it is important more teachers are recruited in advance, rather than after there is a shortage.”
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross today launches his first major policy paper, an ambitious jobs and economic recovery plan to “Power up Scotland” and rebuild the economy stronger.
As the Scottish Government prepares to announce its Programme for Government tomorrow, Douglas Ross has put forward a series of proposals to support and create jobs, promote business recovery in the short-term, and build a thriving, stronger Scottish economy long-term.
The Power up Scotland jobs plan, which Douglas promised to deliver within a month of his election as Scottish Conservative leader, will be published today at a manufacturing plant in Inverness and includes the following policies:
Sector-specific Job Security Councils to help laid-off workers transition and find skilled work, based on Sweden’s hugely successful retraining programmes.
A Town Centre Rescue Plan to help small local shops adapt and free up planning restrictions.
A ‘Scotland First’ procurement strategy to have the government spend more money locally.
A Scottish education guarantee to age 18 and expanded adult learning programmes.
Community Right to Buy schemes for local pubs and other employers in fragile areas.
Scottish Enterprise reformed on regional lines and new Rural Growth deals to spread high-quality jobs and business growth across the country.
A yellow/red card system for businesses who make late payments and bid for public work.
A new research and development target with better incentives for innovation.
A Hardship Fund for businesses facing localised lockdowns.
The new Scottish Tory leader also called yesterday for accelerated infrastructure investment with proposals for a three-lane M8, a Scottish Smart Travel Card for contactless travel, faster rail links from Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness, and a joint UK-Scottish Government infrastructure vehicle.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “In the biggest economic downturn of our lifetime, the UK Government stepped up and protected nearly a million Scottish jobs. Now the Scottish Government must match that ambition.
“My proposals won’t just protect jobs over the next few months, they will power up the Scottish economy and start creating the jobs of tomorrow, today. This detailed blueprint for the next phase of recovery will help workers retrain and find new skilled work, give town centres the tools they need to rebuild, and take every part of Scotland forward together.
“I will work with the Scottish Government on these proposals wherever possible but there is a clear contrast between what we see as Scotland’s priorities.
“I don’t believe Scottish people want a government that drags us back to the division of the past and wastes time on constitutional wrangling.
“I believe people want both of Scotland’s governments to co-operate, not compete. They want us to hand power back to communities, not hoard it in Edinburgh. They want long-term strategies that build for the future, not sticking plaster proposals that prove to be second-rate.
“Most of all, I believe Scottish people want action on jobs, now. They don’t want delays and excuses.
“This is a time of crisis for Scotland – but a moment of opportunity too. If we focus on the urgent priorities of Scottish people, we can restore and rebuild our economy stronger than ever.”
It’s hardly surprising that the Scottish Conservative economic planhas the enthusiastic support of Lothian Tory MSP Miles Briggs, who said: “Edinburgh and the Lothians have huge economic potential that we need to see optimised as Scotland enters a recession.
“This is a comprehensive economic plan from Douglas Ross that has measures to improve connectivity across Scotland and pass powers back to local regions and communities.
“SNP Ministers have been ineffective in developing Scotland’s economy and maximising the potential of businesses and growing industries.
“This plan is a clear commitment from the Scottish Conservatives that the economy and people’s livelihoods will be our number one priority going into the Scottish elections next year.”
The Scottish Conservatives have called for the Scottish Government to publish a plan outlining how they will clear the backlog of operations created while the NHS concentrates on Covid-19.
The call comes as the latest figures show that the number of planned operations for March this year in Scotland has fallen over 30% compared to March last year.
In addition, the number of cancelled operations for the same month has almost doubled to 15% compared to March 2019.
The Scottish Conservatives have said that it is understandable that the NHS has been prioritising Covid patients but the Scottish Government must outline a plan to clear this backlog and ensure there isn’t any avoidable suffering beyond the pandemic.
3,429 operations were carried out in NHS Lothian during March 2020, a decrease of 1,875 from 5,304 in March 2019 – a decrease of 35%.
The percentage of cancelled operations has more than doubled compared to March 2019, with 21.3% of operations cancelled in March 2020, compared to 9.9%.
Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary said: “Our NHS has rightly diverted time and resources to tackling Covid-19 and we wouldn’t expect anything else.
“But the dramatic reduction in hospital operations is not without cost and must be reversed as soon as possible.
“The Scottish Government must put a plan in place to clear these operations or Covid could cause even greater suffering.
“Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak SNP Ministers were failing to meet their own waiting times targets.
“It is clear that for many patients the wait to get the treatments and operations they need is going to be significantly longer.
“I am enormously grateful to everyone working in our NHS right now – the Scottish Government must plan now so doctors and nurses can continue to save lives now and in the future.”
