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NHS belongs to the people themselves

By John Stevenson, SiU Editor

Health Minister Susan Deacon stepped into the heart of the beast as the first Scottish Executive member to address UNISON Scottish Council on 12 February.

"I see people in this hall I've worked with for 20 years to bring the devolved Scotland. It is worth remembering how far we have come", Susan told delegates. "We have an enormous opportunity to make the best possible use of it".

"I don't forget those roots", said Susan as she pointed to the "Scottish value of collectivism".

But she didn't face an easy ride from those roots. She was challenged by NEC member Chrissie Carmouche on local government funding effects on community care, by Robert Rae on pay and by Health Chair Charlie Egan on the fact that the NHS would be judged on "the quality of care and treatment".

But whether it was the genuine warmth of colleagues in the labour movement, the support she gave health workers over the attacks by anti-abortion groups, or just the new 'grown-up' political climate in Scotland, even the criticisms were delivered in a polite, measured and well argued way.

Susan paid tribute to the role of the trade union movement in winning the parliament with a special mention for UNISON's work.

She acknowledged the parliament was always bound to have a 'rocky start' but called for an end to focussing on the "trivial and personal when we need to focus on the real issues and challenges".

She acknowledged that UNISON members wanted more but said that the parliament had done more to repair services and build fairness in the first 6 months than the tories had in 18 years.

Susan said her principles were the same as UNISON's Serving Scotland campaign:

- giving people a say in their services.

- choosing quality services

- choosing teamwork.

"If the new parliament means anything, it means more time focussing on what we can agree on and less on where we disagree", she said. "We now have more of a consensus on how we move forward than there has ever been before".

Turning to the theme of inclusion, Susan made the clear statement that, "Every person in Scotland has the right to play their part".

Scottish society had to be inclusive and that was why Section 28 had to go.

"It is wrong to have a law that discriminates against any group", said Susan. She also paid tribute to UNISON's role in standing up against the tactics of some anti-abortion groups.

"Everyone has a right to a view and to express an opinion. But health workers also have rights. The right to deliver support and services free from fear, intimidation and harassment".

Those rights are the same for people who use the services.
Turning to health and community care, Susan stressed that care was not just delivered in hospitals "but in the community or at home across Scotland".

She pointed to a £300million investment this year and the abolition of the 'internal market'.

"Millions are squandered in increasing and divisive bureaucracy. The pattern of spend in private business has no place in the Health Service. It is thing of the past and we will continue to make it a thing of the past", she said.

She also signalled an examination of the pay of senior managers.

Susan also outlined plans to shake up health boards, looking to appoint people who reflect the communities they serve.

And she paid tribute to the role of health workers throughout the flu crisis.

"Health service and social care services saw unprecedented levels of activity over the winter period. It was coped with due to the commitment of the staff in those services and the NHS working in partnership. That could not have happened in the internal market", she said.

And finally, she reminded us, "The NHS belongs not to me, to government or to politicians, but it belongs to the people themselves".