MAJOR DECISIONS MUST BE DELAYED UNTIL FRAMEWORK IS DEVELOPED
Following the announcement this week that a National Framework for the NHS in Scotland will be introduced, local SNP MSP and Shadow Deputy Health Minister
Stewart Stevenson has backed calls for all decisions on any major service reviews to be delayed so that the framework can be developed. Commenting Mr Stevenson said:
"I have been calling for a national strategy for some time now because we have witnessed for too long Health Boards taking decisions in isolation from the regional or national picture, or indeed public opinion.
"Finally we now hear that there will be an expert group to develop a national framework for service change. However, this is rather too little too late.
"I would have thought that this national strategy should have been in place first, before Health Boards throughout Scotland embarked on centralising services.
"While this is better late than never, what we must now have is a delay in decisions, or imminent major service reviews by Health Boards, to allow a national framework to be developed. Otherwise these decisions may run counter to the 'strategic national focus' recommended by the expert group over the coming months."
Commenting on the judgement issued in the Barlinnie Prison slopping out case,
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson said:
"The judgement that slopping out amounted to degrading treatment and breached human rights legislation should come as no surprise to anyone. It was in some ways inevitable.
"The Scottish Executive can't say it wasn't warned. As recently as last year, the Prisons Inspector Andrew MacLellan, said it had to end. But he wasn't the first - his predecessor had been saying it for years.
"This case was only ever going to go one way and now the Executive face hundreds of claims for compensation from other prisoners. Because of a failure to invest in prison conditions, they now face having to make compensation payments to convicted prisoners. If similar payments were made to Peterhead prisoners that would amount to £¾million. That is quite extraordinary and I believe no taxpayer will find palatable.
"Locally, prison officers came up with their own solution to end slopping out at Peterhead Prison which could have been implemented some time ago. It is quite telling that prison chief Tony Cameron and the Scottish Prison Service have chosen to drag their heels on this matter, preferring it would seem to continue in their desire to do down Peterhead and the work carried out there.
“This is unacceptable and I have already spoken to the Justice Minister on the matter. It is time for the Prison Officers’ Association scheme to provide night sanitation to be implemented as a first step to a new build at Peterhead.”
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson will be visiting New Byth Primary School tomorrow (Friday) at 9.00am as part of MPs’ Back to School Day, organised by the Global Campaign for Education, a worldwide coalition working to end the injustice where approximately 100 million children throughout the world get no school education.
The Global Campaign for Education includes the Scottish Education Trade Unions and charities including Oxfam in Scotland and Save the Children, as well as many other trade unions and organisations from around the world.
Speaking before the visit, Mr Stevenson said:
“It is important for our young people to realise the importance of education and the implication of a life without the chance to learn. MPs’ Back to School Day is connecting them with local democracy and with children worldwide to make a difference.
“Basic education is a human right. It is scandalous that so many children have never had the chance to go to school. World leaders have promised to tackle this problem but until they pledge the necessary funds, too many children will continue to miss out
“The message to world leaders is clear – Get all children into school!”
Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
