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When you have had your budget deliberations, have you talked at all about moving towards collective sectoral bargaining? The trade unions say that that one change could make a significant difference to retaining staff, and that would help with budgeting across social care.

The convener asked some general questions at the start about the allocation of pay in the budget. I would like to drill down into nursing and social care pay.

At the committee on 15 November last year, Colin Poolman of the RCN said:

“Social care pay in the health service is, frankly, upsetting”.

He also said:

“It is no surprise that we have a crisis in the social care workforce as well as in the health workforce.”—[Official Report, Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, 15 November 2022; c 11.]

Responding to the cabinet secretary and the First Minister’s briefing yesterday, Mr Poolman said that the RCN’s

“previous warnings have not been listened to.”

He reiterated the point that fair pay is fundamental to the retention of the current workforce and to attracting a workforce for the future. For the sake of the NHS and social care, can the cabinet secretary afford not to listen to the serious and real concerns of nurses, given the number who are turning away from the profession? Does he think that nurses are being unreasonable?

I have one final question. When you look at your finances and budgets, what consequences do you think there may be from having to fund the introduction of the national care service? How will that affect pay, terms and conditions in the short and slightly longer term?

May I come back in on social care?

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, during freezing temperatures in December, ambulances were called out to 800 people with hypothermia. (S6T-01077)

The cabinet secretary will be aware that allied health professionals have unique skills that help with discharge from hospital. They are essential in making that happen and returning people home safely, which undoubtedly helps with pressures on acute beds. AHP services are currently under pressure, with vacancies across the country. What discussions has the Government had to ensure that the increase in bed capacity also gives patients access to that essential group of staff?

I am sure that the Government understands that there are people in this country who have been switching off their heating almost entirely throughout the winter so far, due to fear that they simply cannot afford it. It is clear that the Tories are the architects of this dreadful cost of living crisis. The sooner that they are replaced with a UK Labour Government, the better.

It is important, though, to focus on what we can do in this Parliament. I am aware of the fuel insecurity fund, which was increased to deal with the challenges faced by our most vulnerable. However, will the Government review the fund and assess whether the money that is available for families and older people in our communities is actually getting to them—we have heard from constituents that that may not be happening in good time—and whether it is close to enough, when the lowest temperatures since 2010 have been recorded in parts of Scotland?

I reiterate my agreement that the Tories at Westminster have created this cost of living crisis. My point would be that they will pay for that at the ballot box next year, which will help to address the crisis.

Following yesterday’s briefing from the First Minister and the cabinet secretary, it is clear—if it was not already—that the Scottish National Party has lost control of the health service. Record numbers of people are waiting more than 12 hours at accident emergency and, crucially, nurses and social care workers are feeling the strain of poor pay and underfunding of services. Patients are suffering as a consequence.

Our national health service is our proudest possession. Staff and patients are concerned. How can the cabinet secretary be confident in the slightest that, when the temperatures drop again to dangerously low levels, vulnerable individuals suffering from hypothermia will even be able to receive treatment and attention as quickly as they need it?

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prepare for any potential surge in avian flu cases over the winter. (S6O-01712)

Members will be pleased that some of the points that I had intended to make have already been made, so I will be quite brief. I thank Douglas Ross for bringing the debate to the chamber. One of the first speeches that I made in Parliament, in June 2021, was on a motion lodged by Douglas Ross that called for action to deliver locally based maternity services for women in Moray. I think that we can all agree that it is a concern that we are here again, some 18 months later, debating the same topic.

I was going to discuss the issues that exist in my South Scotland region, which Finlay Carson talked about. The fact that women are having to travel from Stranraer right across to Dumfries is wholly unacceptable. Anyone who has been on that road would accept that point. I hope that the cabinet secretary has something to say about it.

As members will know, I have raised the issue of a women’s health champion many times in the chamber. Unfortunately, that issue is yet another example of the Scottish Government falling short on women’s health. It is clear that a women’s health champion is needed to spearhead many women’s health-related campaigns and issues. The situation with regard to maternity services is a clear indication that we need to get such a champion in place. I have been asking since June when an appointment can be made, and I ask the cabinet secretary to ensure that it is one of the first appointments made in 2023.

We need to have someone who can push on issues such as maternity services, scrutinise what is being done, go back to the Government and report to us so that we have the information that we need. That would benefit the women in Moray, whom we are discussing in this debate, and those in my region, and I am sure that there are examples of other areas in which women would benefit from the appointment of a women’s health champion. Therefore, it is really important that we get that done.

I pay tribute to the campaigners who have consistently stood up for the services that they want. It is our responsibility to keep bringing the issue back to the chamber and to push the Government harder and harder on it. I will not stop asking for a women’s health champion to be put in place, because I fully believe that having such a champion will help us to address some of the issues.