Mark Calls on Health Secretary to 'Call In' Health Changes
Scottish Labour's call won by 64 votes to nil with all SNP MSPs abstaining on the issue.
Mark said:
“SNPs MSPs in Lanarkshire sought elected office on a guarantee to protect Monklands Hospital from cuts, yet they shamefully chose to sit on their hands on a vote aimed at protecting services the hospital provides.
“For years vital health services have been withdrawn from our community. This has placed immense pressure on patients and hard-working NHS staff. The SNP Government must take action to stop further cuts and reinstate the provision we have lost.
Mark Secures Public Meeting on NHS Changes
NHS Lanarkshire will host a public meeting on local health changes in Cumbernauld, following pressure from Mark Griffin MSP.
NHS Lanarkshire was set to hold public meetings in Wishaw, East Kilbride and Airdrie – but North Lanarkshire’s largest town was set to miss out. The meetings are aimed at getting the opinions of members of the public on NHS Lanarkshire's Healthcare Strategy and includes proposed changes to services at Monklands.
Mr Griffin called on NHS Lanarkshire to hold a public meeting in Cumbernauld as part of its consultation into proposed changes at local hospitals and the Health Board have agreed to the request.
Mark said:
“I am pleased that NHS Lanarkshire has listened and that a public meeting will now take place in Cumbernauld.
“Monklands Hospital serves many people in Cumbernauld and any change to the services delivered at the hospital will have an impact on them.
“For years, vital health services have been removed from our community and local people rightly want the opportunity to have their say on this proposed healthcare strategy.
“This public meeting will allow residents to hear the proposals and put their questions and concerns to NHS Lanarkshire officials.”
A date for the meeting has still to be confirmed.
Tax Credits Go Unclaimed
More than 100,000 people in Scotland have not claimed the tax credits they are entitled to, based on research undertaken by Mark Griffin MSP.
This has resulted in £428 million in working and child tax credits going unclaimed
Mark said:
“Making sure, in law, that cash goes to the people who are entitled to it could make a huge difference. Thousands of families across Scotland are one big unexpected bill away from really struggling. Too many are having to choose between putting money in the gas meter or feeding their kids. We can change that.
“Local Government and third sector welfare rights organisations do a huge amount of work to help lift household incomes but are struggling in the face of hundreds of millions of pound in cuts. Councils need the funding and support to carry on delivering these services and help boost the incomes of families across Scotland.
“I call on Nicola Sturgeon to make it a legal requirement that government does everything it can to make people aware of all the support they are entitled to.”
Mark Urges More To Sign Up On Organ Donation Week
Mark Griffin MSP has urged people across Scotland to consider signing up as organ donors.
Mr Griffin, who aims to introduce a Members' Bill changing the law to a 'soft opt out' system of organ donation, has highlighted that lives are lost because of a lack of donors across the country.
Mr Griffin has also welcomed the work being undertaken by North Lanarkshire Council, which will host the British Transplant Games in 2017, in highlighting the importance of organ donation.
Mark said:
"More than 400 people in Scotland had their lives changed from organ transplants last year, however close to 550 people with life-threatening illnesses are still on the Transplant Waiting List. People are needlessly dying because of the lack of available organs for transplant.
"During this Organ Donation Week, it is important that people across Scotland give consideration to adding their name to the donor list.
"I am grateful to councils like North Lanarkshire, host of the British Transplant Games in 2017, for the work they are doing to promote an increase in organ donation among staff and local residents.
“I am in the process of developing a Members' Bill that will seek to change the law to create a ‘soft opt-out’ system in Scotland. Evidence suggests that this move could lead to an increase in donation rates of 25-30%. Taking the most recent figures, this could mean an increase of between 24 and 29 donors per year."
Inquiry Needed on Mossend Railhead
Mark Griffin MSP has quizzed Scottish Government Ministers on a planning development in the Bellshill area following a damning judgement from the Court of Session.
The development, opposed by local residents and rejected by North Lanarkshire Council in 2014, was granted by Ministers after overturning recommendations by the Scottish Government Planning Reporter. Following an appeal by North Lanarkshire Council, the Court of Session has slammed Ministers' decision.
Mark said:
"If approved, this development will have a detrimental impact on people living in the Hattonrigg area of Bellshill, increase air and noise pollution, decimate the last area of greenbelt land locally and devastate local wildlife.
"North Lanarkshire Council, who supported local residents and rejected the planning application, have been vindicated in taking this matter to the Court of Session.
"The judgement of the Court of Session is damning for Scottish Government Ministers and states they did not provide "Proper, Adequate or Intelligible" reasons for their decision and effectively "ignored" local residents' concerns.
"I have lodged a number of Parliamentary Questions on this matter and have asked Nicola Sturgeon to launch an inquiry into the reasons Ministers reached their flawed decision on such weak grounds."
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