Poverty, Mental Health and healthcare provision

My week had an unintended rural theme. Firstly my flight was unable to take off from Sumburgh on Tuesday morning due to fog. I made it south that evening though which meant I was able to attend the Rural Affairs committee in person on Wednesday morning to discuss the progress of the Scottish Government towards enacting the Griggs Review recommendations for salmon farming.

This was followed by asking the Scottish Government what additional support it can provide to rural and island GP practices. I highlighted the Hillswick practice which has an unfulfilled vacancy for an additional GP despite six months of advertising the post. You can see my question here.

On Thursday I spoke in the rural mental health debate highlighting the barriers to mental health care in rural and island areas, as well as the unique challenges and pressures on mental health faced by rural communities. You can see my full speech here.

In the debate I also took the opportunity to raise the work of the Cross Party Group on Poverty, of which I am Deputy Convener, and its current inquiry into rural poverty. Anyone with an interest - individuals, businesses and organisation – can contribute to add their experience or views. More about the inquiry can be found on the Poverty Alliance website here.

I also responded on behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats in the justice debate on Tuesday. The debate was around plans to reform the justice system to ensure trauma victims are not re-traumatised or further alienated from the justice system. My full speech can be seen here.

Along with other meetings, and a local advice surgery on Friday, I also questioned the Scottish Government on holistically tackling the gender pay gap. You can see my question here.

I also asked whether Social Security Scotland waiting times for the Adult Disability Payment were misjudged with the originally anticipated maximum timescale becoming the average. You can see the question here.