Migration nightmare for NHS in Scotland
June was another busy month down at Westminster and in the constituency.
I was proud to speak in a debate on improving life for those living with dementia, highlighting the great work of the Prestwick and Troon Dementia Friendly teams and the fantastic initiatives they have undertaken to help those with dementia stay active in our communities for longer.
I also spoke in a number of other debates, including those on NHS pensions, vaccination and public health, universal credit and debt and the SNP- led debate on post- Brexit immigration policy.
In the latter I raised the issue of Scotland’s declining working age population and how we need to attract people to settle here and make Scotland their home. There has been a 90 per cent drop in EU nurses coming to the UK since the Brexit referendum and the UK Government’s post- Brexit immigration proposals will make it harder to maintain NHS and social care services, particularly in rural areas. This is why Scotland needs its own immigration policy which addresses our particular demographics.
Locally, I was delighted to pop down to Prestwick Promenade and join the Dementia Friendly Prestwick team who were giving trishaw rides along the front to mark Dementia Awareness Week.
It was an overcast and breezy day so it was lovely to see the sun come out the following weekend for the Troon Gala and the Harbour Blessing, both of which were, once again, well supported by the local community.
I was also pleased to have the chance to meet up with the children who have come over to Ayrshire as part of the annual visit organised by Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline in Ayrshire. The charity provides support to school age children living in the shadow of Chernobyl, some with severe disabilities or illnesses, and every year they bring over a group to spend four weeks living with a Scottish family to provide some respite from the contaminated area in which they live.