Holyrood Pocket book by Rhoda Grant
In the summertime of 2019 I used to be contacted by constituents actually involved concerning the lack of orthodontic providers in Caithness, highlighting that oldsters and carers had lengthy journeys into Inverness for the only of remedies.
The service was reliant on one locum guide, however NHS Highland informed me {that a} trainee orthodontist and using 3D know-how was going to be introduced in to ease the state of affairs.
Native dentists have been additionally going to be skilled to ship some providers akin to brace becoming.
Then Covid hit and plenty of of our considerations over rural well being points have been placed on the backburner to permit the NHS and front-line workers to deal with the elevated stress and, in fact, Covid vaccinations and testing adopted.
Nonetheless, there was some excellent news from Caithness well being campaigners, CHAT, which has raised the difficulty once more with NHS Highland’s chief government, Pam Dudek.
Households of youngsters needing orthodontic therapy at Raigmore weren’t having the ability to declare bills, which was extraordinarily unfair as adults needed to take break day work and kids break day faculty, generally over quite a few appointments.
Additionally, households on breadline budgets couldn’t afford these 200-mile spherical journeys and so this was resulting in inequality for a service which must be accessible for all.
Ms Dudek has now determined to permit bills for many who want such appointments because the service isn’t accessible domestically in Caithness. A smart determination.
The chief government has additionally promised to look into the broader challenge of the service not being accessible in Caithness and that is the place it isn’t going to be simple to resolve on account of a scarcity of orthodontic consultants.
This truth needs to be mixed with the well being authority’s earlier insistence that it didn’t find the money for to make use of one other guide and that needs to be right down to the dearth of funding that’s coming from the Scottish Authorities.
My prediction for the longer term is that SNP MSPs, who’re a part of the federal government, will attempt to shift the blame again to the well being authority when there’s a public outcry relating to lack of native rural well being providers.
It’s a tactic that’s used about schooling, concerning the state of the roads and so forth. Campaigners could have received one battle however the conflict to revive rural providers goes on.
I’m coming as much as Caithness this month to see members of Caithness Roads Restoration and examine the harm to the roads for myself.
It’ll be good to get out and about within the constituency once more after such a very long time behind a pc.
I do know the NC500 will probably be busy, however I’m longing to see our stunning countryside once more and see faces exterior a Zoom display, albeit that it is likely to be a bumpy journey.
Following the election in Might, I’ve been appointed as Scottish Labour’s spokesperson on Land Reform and the Islands, in addition to Chief Whip. I sit up for taking up this function and addressing key points akin to transport hyperlinks, connectivity and funding and assist in Group Land possession and improvement.
Moreover, I plan to push for a Invoice on the Proper to Meals which might give each Scottish citizen the fitting to acquire wholesome, nutritious meals.
I’m of the view that no-one on this nation must be hungry or malnourished and I hope to make sure that is enshrined in legislation inside this parliamentary time period – I’ll maintain you posted on developments.
- Rhoda Grant is a Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands.
