Scotland's 'Fair Share' of Refugees
Mark Griffin has supported calls in the Scottish Parliament to call for greater action in response to the refugee crisis. This will include calling for Scotland’s ‘fair share’ of refugees to be accommodated to increase from 1,000 to 2,000.
Mark said:
“The plight of refugees had shocked the world and it is so important that we offer the hand of friendship and solidarity with those in such desperate need.
"I was pleased that the Scottish Government confirmed that they were willing to take 1,000 refugees, but given the scale of the situation, and with the UK as a whole increasing the number of refugees it is taking, it is only right that the figure increases here in Scotland too.
“Scotland has led the UK in our reaction to the refugee crisis; we must continue to do so."
Too Many Waiting Too Long in A&E
Too many patients are waiting too long in A&E wards in Lanarkshire according to Mark Griffin MSP.
Figures released today show that 27 patients waited over 8 hours in Accident and Emergency in the week ending 6th September, with 24 people waiting more than 8 hours at Wishaw General Hospital. As a consequence, NHS Lanarkshire alone accounts for 40% of all A&E patients who waited more than 8 hours in Scotland.
A few weeks ago NHS Lanarkshire classed staffing at the three A&E departments in NHS Lanarkshire as either ‘high risk’ or ‘very high risk’
.
Mark said:
“The Scottish Government have presided over cut, after cut to local NHS services in our communities, which has heaped pressure on hospitals like Monklands, Wishaw an Hairmyres, which are already facing a staffing crisis.
“We are barely out of summer and an unacceptable number of patients are waiting too long in A&E. I have long called for the Scottish Government and NHS Lanarkshire to reinstate services we have lost locally. This will ease the pressure on A&E and other vital services which have been centralised at the acute centres.
"The Scottish Government needs to get a grip on this before more patients are made to suffer."
MSP Celebrates Scottish Apprenticeship Week
Wardpark-based sports turf company Souters Sports Ltd received a special visit on Monday 18 May from Mark Griffin MSP, who joined employees to celebrate Scottish Apprenticeship Week, which runs from the 18th to the 22nd of May.
Souters Sports is one of the UK’s leading specialist sports turf contractors providing sports ground construction and sports pitch renovation services; the company is currently training 4 apprentices, having taken 14 through their programme over the last 5 years.
Mark and the apprentices were joined by Souters Sports Managing Director Stewart Aird, Operations Manager John Rushforth and Pauline Burns from Skills Development Scotland.
Mark said:
“I was delighted to visit Souters Sports on Monday.
“Scottish Apprenticeship Week gives us all the opportunity to highlight the value that Modern Apprentices bring to local companies in Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and across Scotland.
“Apprenticeships set young people on the right track, giving them that all-important first chance. Souters Sports is an excellent example of a local company doing just that, but we need more companies to follow their lead and take the chance on young people, supporting them to develop skills and opportunities not just vital to their business, but to Scotland’s wider skills sector.”
Skills Development Scotland Chief Executive Damien Yeates added:
“Modern Apprenticeships work for employers of all sizes, from family firms to global companies. Scottish Apprenticeship Week celebrates Modern Apprentice employers and the achievements of apprentices, who play a vital and valuable role in Scotland’s economy.”
Consultation on GP Phone Numbers is ‘Too Little Too Late’
A Scottish Government consultation into GP telephone numbers has been branded ‘too little, too late’ by Mark Griffin MSP and Gregg McClymont MP.
For over 3 years, Mr Griffin and Mr McClymont have raised concerns about the costs being charged to local residents trying to arrange appointments at Kilsyth Medical Partnership. Calls made to GP practices that have 084 numbers are expensive when called from mobile phones, as these are not often included in call plans. Despite Mr Griffin and Mr McClymont securing an agreement from NHS Lanarkshire to have a cheaper local number established when the new medical centre in Kilsyth opens its doors, problems still exist in the current practice.
Mark said:
“The fact that the Scottish Government finally realises there is a problem in this area is a relief, but frankly it is too little, too late, especially for people in Kilsyth, who have been forced to rake up large bills when trying to secure an appointment at Kilsyth Medical Partnership.
“I have been raising this issue for years with the Health Secretary and the Health Board, and it is unacceptable that it has taken the Government so long to see sense. They must act now to legislate in this area."
Gregg added:
“People should never face the prospect of being unable to get in touch their GP because they cannot afford to make a phone calI. Sadly, this has been the case in our area for several years now.
“The Scottish Government sat on their hands for years on this issue, at a real cost to local people.”
Mark and Alfie ‘Chip In’ Support for Dog Policy
Mark Griffin MSP has welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government to introduce compulsory micro-chipping of dogs.
Mr Griffin, a supporter of micro-chipping, took his new dog Alfie along to Westfield Community Centre on Monday to get him chipped by Dogs Trust.
The event was a great success, with local residents encouraged to bring their four legged friends along to take advantage of the free micro-chipping service on offer. A whopping 94 local dogs were chipped on the day while Dogs Trust representatives were also on hand to offer advice and answer any general queries about responsible dog ownership, reminding dog owners of the importance of keeping their dog’s microchip database details up to date.
Mark said:
“I have long supported the introduction of compulsory micro-chipping, and I am pleased that the Scottish Government is now going to take action in this area.
“There are clear benefits from micro-chipping; from helping return dogs to their owners, tackling theft, and easing the burden of stray dogs on councils and animal charities like Dogs Trust and the SSPCA.
“Dogs Trust does excellent work, including traveling across the country to educate and offer assistance to dog owners. I was delighted so many local people took the opportunity to seek advice and get their dogs chipped on Monday and I encourage other dog owners to do the same.”
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