Stevenson Hails Benefits of Local Healthcare In Parliament

Speaking in a parliamentary debate on ‘Making the NHS Local’ Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has stressed the benefits of local healthcare provision.

In his speech Mr. Stevenson highlighted the recent case of threatened maternity units in Banff and Fraserburgh and commended the Health Minister Andy Kerr on his decision to maintain birthing units in the local hospitals.

Speaking in the debate Mr. Stevenson said;

"This useful debate was started with the phrase 'as local as possible, and as specialised as necessary.'

"This is the central tenet of what we are all trying to do and the central summary of the Kerr report.

"I thank the minister for his support on maternity services by intervening to correct what would have been a serious wrong for essential local delivery of services in my constituency.

"Community care units are an important part of future provision; indeed, we should have more of them. They may well even serve a useful purpose by being co-located with accident and emergency units.

"In today's debate, members have illuminated many of the challenges that remain, talked about some of the successes and touched on areas in which further progress is essential. However, the bottom line is that the debate in the chamber is a lot less important than the debates that local communities are having about the health services that they require in their local areas."

to read the complete speech click on Stevenson Speeches