NHS Tayside should provide detailed information about bonuses paid to high earners in the NHS. My family are able to use the services provided by NHS Tayside but it is clear to me that budgets are under pressure. Concerns have been expressed to me by people in Angus about their local service provision.

It seems there is a breakdown in the relationship between GPs and the Angus Community Health Partnership over the consultation process on hospital provision in North Angus. Residents are concerned about the loss of GP beds at Brechin and Montrose infirmaries. Worries about future hospital provision are centred on budgets.

For example, in Montrose, the replacement for the maternity unit has been put on hold. Another worry centres on Arbroath: the date has still to be indicated for the new car park at Arbroath Infirmary, and given the budgetary pressures, there are concerns that this might be delayed.

There have quite rightly been complaints about the bonuses paid to bankers. However it is also increasingly evident that a bonus system exists for consultants in the NHS. I have written to Professor Tony Wells of NHS Tayside, asking him to provide the public in Angus with detailed information about the system. I have put the following questions to the Chief Executive:

1. What is the justification for the Merit Awards / Discretionary payments (i.e bonus system) in NHS Tayside?
2. Can doctors nominate themselves for awards?
3. Who judges whether or not someone gets an award?
4. At what level of job are these awards given? Is it only consultants and above?
5. How much is an award worth?
6. What is the difference between the merit and the discretionary award?
7. Are these one-off awards or are they a permanent addition to salary?
8. What effect does an award have on the recipient’s pension?
9. What is the hourly rate of pay for out-of-hours doctors?

With threats to NHS budgets due to the recession, it is vital that we ensure that salaries and bonuses within the NHS are fair and open at all pay levels, from nurses and administrators, through to consultants and surgeons.

Bonuses, Fat Cats, Health, NHS

I am calling on the Scottish Government to follow through on its fitness manifesto and help to finance a new swimming pool for Forfar.

I visited Forfar’s current swimming pool with local independent Councillor, Colin Brown and met with the staff at the pool. I was very impressed with Forfar’s swimming pool and have heard excellent reports of the service given by staff. The existing pool offers the best facilities it can, given the age and size of the current building.

However, it is clear that the pool cannot meet the needs of all Forfar residents going forward, including the youngest in the community. As a father of a four year old, I myself know how important it is to allow toddlers to get confident around water by making learning to swim fun. Forfar families could really do with a pool tailored specifically for their kids’ needs.

A new facility would allow young and old, fitness fanatics and leisure swimmers alike, to go swimming together. Pools can be an excellent meeting place for the whole community.

Angus Council is aware of the need for a new pool in the town. However, with the council’s allocation from central government set to be slashed, the Scottish SNP Government needs to follow through on its fitness manifesto and invest in health at the heart of Angus and Forfar.

Forfar, Health, Leisure, SNP, Sport