TALKING POLITICS High praise for public servants

In the 20 years I have spent working as an MSP I have met a wide range of first-class public servants.

Often working with a shortage of resources, the vast majority of nurses, health visitors, doctors, hospital porters, social workers, teachers, classroom assistants, civil servants and many others provide dedicated support to the people they serve.

They do not often get the recognition they deserve but without them we would all be much worse off.

Those who want to cut back on our public services are being short-sighted and stupid.

Our economy could not function without good teachers and college and university lecturers.

Businesses would experience many more staff sick days if it were not for the professionalism of our National Health Service workers.

As individuals, we would all find it harder to function without many local council services.

The taxes we pay to fund these crucial services generally provide good value for money.

Unfortunately, there are times when some public services do not come up to scratch.

For example, excessive pay- offs to senior public sector managers isn’t an acceptable use of the public’s money; and this is something that the Scottish Parliament’s Audit Committee is currently looking into with a view to stopping such practices.

Another example of poor leadership in the public sector is the contemptuous way some health boards treat public opinion with regard to big decisions, such as where best to site new hospitals.

While decisions cannot be based solely on opinion polls, the views and concerns of people affected by such decisions need to be given much more weight than is sometimes the case.

One service that needs root- andbranch reform is social work. As with most other public services, the vast majority of social workers are good people who work hard and are totally dedicated to helping others.

There are a few, however, who think they can play God with other people’s lives.

This kind of attitude is not acceptable; it brings social work into disrepute. Action needs to be taken to ensure this does not happen.

It is now time to closely review social work services, including the parameters within which councils can operate when granted guardianship powers by the courts.

We need to ensure that social work practices and practitioners are in line with the demands of the 21st century – at all times.

We also need to ensure that social workers get the resources they need to do a difficult job properly.

Couldn’t do without them Mr Neil has hailed the “dedicated support” provided by public service workers, including nurses