Calls to scrap air departure tax cut

Summary

Nicola Sturgeon is pressed on currency plans and cuts to Air Departure Tax during FMQs
MSPs pass the Health and Care Staffing Bill

Live Reporting

Louise Wilson and Craig Hutchison

Background: Further rise in NHS Scotland consultant vacanciespublished at 15:27 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
Image source, Getty Images
Last year we reported the number of NHS Scotland consultant posts vacant for over six months rose by almost a quarter in the last year, according to official figures.
The NHS Scotland workforce report, external shows there are 422 unfilled posts across the country.
More than half of those have remained vacant for more than six months.
Then Health Secretary Shona Robison said NHS Scotland's workforce had increased to "historically high levels" under the current government.
Read more.
Common staffing method amendments...published at 15:25 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
On group 10: Duty to follow common staffing method for health care...
Tory MSP Miles Briggs says it was never his intention that a stage 2 amendment mean the common staffing method cannot be used for other aims, including the redesign of services.
David Stewart says his amendment seeks to alter the wording of a stage 2 amendment, which sought to ensure the impact on other staff groups were taken into account.
A further raft of amendments to section 4 of the bill are agreed.
Group 9: Application of duties in Bill to Special Health Boardspublished at 15:22 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
The health secretary explains her amendments will put a duty on special health boards.
These are:
- State Hospital Board for Scotland
- Scottish Ambulance Service
- NHS 24
- National Waiting Times Centre Board
The amendments from the minister and Alison Johnstone are agreed to.
Background: Royal College of Nursing Scotland in nurse staffing levels callpublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
Image source, Getty Images
The public are being urged to back a campaign for tougher legislation to ensure there are enough nurses to deliver high-quality patient care.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland said the latest NHS workforce data, external showed the highest number of nursing vacancies ever reported.
It said its members were at "breaking point" and it was "time for change".
The Scottish government said the number of nurses and midwives had increased by 5.7% since 2007.
The NHS workforce figures were published by ISD on Tuesday and showed the nursing and midwifery vacancy rate was now at 5.3% - that is 3,311.2 whole time equivalent (WTE) unfilled posts.
Postpublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
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Background: MSPs back principles of NHS staffing billpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
Image source, SPL
The general principles of legislation aiming to ensure health and social care providers are providing adequate numbers staff have been supported by the health committee.
However, MSPs also asked for more detail on how staff numbers and care quality will be assessed, monitored and reported following their scrutiny of the Health and Care (Staffing) Bill.
They have also raised concerns about a danger of resources being skewed towards the hospital sector in order to meet the initial requirements set out in the legislation.
MSPs concluded there needs to be greater accountability with named accountable officers in all settings to make clear that it is the provider that should be responsible and not those who are delivering the care.
Read the report here., external
Staff must be given time to trainpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
Ms Johnstone explains this section of the bill ensures enough training places are available to ensure there are sufficient numbers of healthcare professionals.
She says the amendments reflect different geographies and ensure enough time is given to training.
Amendment 13 is agreed.
Greens: Senior charge nurses must be non-case holding where appropriatepublished at 15:12 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Green MSP Alison Johnstone
Still no division in this consensual perusal of Stage 3 amendments to the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Bill, external.
- Here's the marshalled list of amendments, external
- Here's the Groupings of amendments, external
We turn now to Group 7: Clinical role and advice in Health Board governance.
Miles Briggs explains his amendment provides for an internal reporting procedure for senior clinical professionals to inform the board and will ensure boards must seek clinical advice.
The Tory MSP calls for support for his alternative approach in amendment 63.
The health secretary agrees the professional voice must be heard and she agrees amendment 63 strengthens the bill.
She speaks to her own amendment 18 which she says recognises the role of all clinical team leaders and welcomes Alison Johnstone's amendments.
The Green MSP explains her amendments were drafted with the help of the RCN, the RCM and the Scottish government.
Ms Johnstone says senior charge nurses must be non-case holding where appropriate.
All lead professionals must have time to carry out their role, she explains.
Image source, Scottish Parliament
Postpublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
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Postpublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
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Staffing assessment and risk escalation amendmentspublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
The next group is on staffing assessment and risk escalation.
Ms Freeman welcomes all the amendments in this group, describing her own as technical in nature.
David Stewart explains many of his amendments make minor changes to strengthen assessment and escalation processes.
Amendment 62 seeks to add to provision in place by ensuring the tools are not used for on-the-ground firefighting and instead create a mechanism to respond to continuous and repeated risks.
A raft of amendments are then agreed.
Amendment on agency workers agreed topublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Labour MSP Anas Sarwar
Labour MSP Anas Sarwar explains his amendment 47 is to save money as agency staff cost four times more.
Mr Sarwar says it would state that agency staff wages should not go above 150% of what a whole time equivalent member of NHS staff would get.
Ms Freeman argues the bill, as drafted, will reduce the use of agency staff.
The health secretary appreciates the intention behind Mr Sarwar's amendment but says there are some difficulties with its drafting.
She says these can be fixed by statutory instrument and backs the amendment which is duly agreed to.
Amendment on staff wellbeingpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
The next group of amendments related to staff wellbeing.
Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton explains his amendments seek to increase staff safety without impinging on reserved elements of health and safety.
Ms Freeman explains her amendments avoid unnecessary duplication.
Amendments 7, 8 and 9 are agreed.
Group 3: Reporting on staffing by care servicespublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
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Image caption,
Labour MSP Monica Lennon
We now move to Group 3: Reporting on staffing by care services.
Ms Freeman explains the amendments will put a duty on ministers to report on staffing in care services.
The health secretary says she will not press amendment 6 in her name.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon remains of the opinion that some reporting should be required of local authorities.
Green MSP Alison Johnstone speaks to her amendment in the group which would require ministers to inform how future workforce planning would be achieved in the care sector.
Ms Freeman withdraws amendment 6.
Amendment 45 is agreed to, as is 46.
Background: What will the bill do?published at 14:42 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
Image source, Thinkstock
The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Bill seeks to place an existing workforce planning tool onto a statutory footing.
It will also see staff planning methods be used on social care settings, such as care homes.
Health boards are responsible for assessing the needs of their own populations using a set of 12 tools, which have existed since 2004. These are focused on nursing and midwifery.
Should the legislation pass, the tools will become mandatory for health boards and social care providers to use - though it is not yet clear what would happen if they did not meet their duties.
Read more about the bill in the SPICe briefing., external
Commissioning of care servicespublished at 14:36 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
Image caption,
Labour MSP David Stewart
Turning to the group titled "commissioning of care services", Ms Freeman says her amendment will ensure care service providers will be obliged to take note of the legislation.
Labour MSP David Stewart explains his amendment seeks to place a duty on commissioners of care to ensure providers are given appropriate resources under contract.
Ms Freeman highlights this is already in the bill and Mr Stewart confirms his intention to withdraw.
The cabinet secretary's amendment is agreed.
Background: MSPs back NHS staffing billpublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
Image source, Science Photo Library
MSPs unanimously backed the general principle of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Bill on 6 December 2018.
The proposed legislation seeks to place an existing workforce planning tool onto a statutory footing.
It will also see staff planning methods be used on social care settings, such as care homes.
Health boards are responsible for assessing the needs of their own populations using a set of 12 tools, which have existed since 2004. These are focused on nursing and midwifery.
Should the legislation pass, the tools will become mandatory for health boards and social care providers to use - though it is not yet clear what would happen if they did not meet their duties.
And we're off.....................published at 14:30 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
Image source, bbc
We begin with amendments relating to the guiding principles for health and care staffing.
The health secretary moves amendment one and speaks to the other amendments in the group.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon speaks to her amendment 42 to ensures all care service providers are taken into account.
MSPs agree to amendment 1....only 81 to go!
42, 2, 3 and 4 are all agreed to.
Postpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
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Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 amendmentspublished at 14:18 British Summer Time 2 May 2019
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MSPs will now debate and vote on the Stage 3 amendments to the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Bill, external.
- Here's the marshalled list of amendments, external
- Here's the Groupings of amendments, external