Mr Sarwar says NHS staff in Scotland have been forced to attend food banks.

The Labour MSP says that nurses pay has fallen by 13% in real terms.

SNP MSP Ivan McKee intervenes to say the he asked Spice about the figures and his are different. 

Mr Sarwar says he is referring to starting salaries. 

The Labour MSP says that he cannot understand why the SNP are jumping to argue about figures when he has laid out the challenges for NHS staff.

Image source, Getty Images

The Royal College of Nursing is consulting members across the UK over whether they should take industrial action over pay.

The RCN, the largest nursing union, said a combination of pay freezes and caps on rises meant there had been an effective pay cut of 14% since 2010.

The Scottish government said it had applied the pay increases recommended by the independent NHS Pay Review Body.

It said it had also brought in measures to assist the lowest paid.

The latest review of public sector pay announced a 1% rise.

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar uses his motion to say that the Parliament believes that the NHS pay cap should be scrapped and that NHS staff should be given a real terms pay rise. 

Here is Labour MSP Anas Sarwar's motion.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, bbc

Scottish Labour's health spokesperson Anas Sarwar says NHS staff should be respected and rewarded for the work they do.

Mr Sarwar says: "Good will only goes so far".

He says there are a record number of vacancies in the NHS.

The Labour MSP says there are 2,500 nursing vacancies and staff are reporting there are not enough staff to do the job properly.

Mr Sarwar says there are "too few nurses, doing too much work, for too little a reward".

He says nurses are clearly underpaid.

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar we all have personal stories on how the NHS has touched us and that it is the greatest institution in the UK.

Mr Sarwar says his niece's heart stopped when she was born and the family sadly lost her, he says he was elected to the parliament the next day and then his son was born a few days after that.

The Labour MSP says that without the NHS his family never would have gotten through that period.

"Thank you for caring," he says. 

Image source, bbc

Labour will now lead a debate calling for the NHS pay cap to be scrapped..

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill asks what the government's policy is on the provision of minor injuries units in communities.

Want to live longer? Reduce your risk of cancer? And heart disease? Then cycle to work, say scientists.

The biggest study into the issue linked using two wheels with a halving of the risk of cancer and heart disease.

The five-year study of 250,000 UK commuters also showed walking had some benefits over sitting on public transport or taking the car.

The team in Glasgow said cycling took no willpower once it became part of the work routine - unlike going to the gym.

Tory MSP Gordon Lindhurst asks what action the government is taking to improve public health through cycling. 

Tory MSP Brian Whittle asks what Ms Robison would say to GPs that have had to resign their practice or that are under threat of having to resign their practices. 

Ms Robison says there are a number of short and long term support measures available. 

Image source, bbc

Health Secretary Shona Robison says there has been an increase of funding in primary care of £500m by 2021. 

Ms Robison says there will be direct support to general practice. 

Mr Macpherson asks what funding will be provided in Edinburgh in particular. 

Ms Robison says the Edinburgh Health and Social Care partnership is using government funding to improve services/ 

SNP MSP Ben Macpherson asks what support the government is providing to general practice.  

Tory MSP Alexander Burnett asks if more noise monitors will be installed. 

Ms Campbell says she will keep the member updated on the outcome of the action plans. 

Image source, bbc

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell says noise mapping and action plans have been put in place and are due for publication in the summer.

Mr Ruskell says noise is the second largest cause of ill health after air quality.

The Green MSP asks why Edinburgh Airport plans have been allowed to go ahead without this being investigated.

Ms Campbell says she will look into this and keep Mr Ruskell updated on the noise maps. 

Green MSP Mark Ruskell asks what action the government is taking to address the effects of noise pollution on public health.

Image source, bbc

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell says the responses are being independently analysed. 

Mr Doris says he voted against the opt-out system because of the lack of detail in legislation, he asks if more detail will be given.

Ms Campbell says the government has given funding for seven new specialist nurses in organ donation. 

The public health minister says resources have been targeted in areas that could make a real difference.

Image source, dbc

A consultation on increasing the number of organ and tissue donors was launched by the Scottish government in December.

People are being asked to give their views on measures including the introduction of a soft opt-out system for organ donation.

Under an opt-out system, organs could be removed from a dead person if they had not registered or expressed an objection during their lifetime.

People have to opt in, under the current system.

That includes signing up to the Organ Donation Scotland, external.

Ministers have said they would consider introducing an opt-out system if it had wide support and could be introduced in a way that did no harm.

While progress has been made in increasing organ donation and transplantation in Scotland, there are still insufficient donors to meet the number of organs needed.

In 2015-16, despite 183 deceased and living organ donors and 415 people receiving transplants, there were still 542 people on the active transplant waiting list.

The consultation follows a previous bid to change the law by Labour MSP Anne McTaggart, which failed when Holyrood voted by 59 to 56 against her Transplantation Bill in February.

The Scottish Government described the Bill as well-intentioned but "seriously flawed".

A record number of Scots received a life-changing organ transplant last year, figures have shown.

The year 2016-17 also saw the highest ever number of cases where people's organs were donated after their death.

A total of 133 people who died in Scottish hospitals became organ donors, up from 99 the previous year, said NHS Blood and Transplant.

That meant that 348 people who were waiting for a transplant were able to have the surgery they needed.

A further 82 people received a new kidney from a living donor in 2016-17.

SNP MSP Bob Doris asks whether the government will provide an update on progress with the analysis of responses to its recent consultation on organ and tissue donation and transplantation.