Miles Briggs – Conservative MSP for Lothian

At Christmas it is a good time to look back and pay tribute to all the people who work so hard and do such a good job in our public services, schools, hospitals, GP practices, transport services, nurseries, social care, police force, armed forces and emergency services.

In West Lothian, there are many excellent charities and I would also like to thank everyone who volunteers their time and energy to befriending, veteran, homelessness, children, health and elderly charities and the Samaritans.

This year hundreds of families have had to travel back and forth to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, due to St John’s children’s ward being closed to out of hours services.

I will continue to campaign for the children’s ward to be open to out of hours patients and hopefully it will be reopened in the New Year.

The main message I would give this Christmas period is to look out for those who might be isolated this Christmas.

Whilst many of us will be spending time with friends and family, not everyone is so fortunate.

Many people across West Lothian suffer from social isolation and loneliness and this can become particularly felt at this time of year.

I encourage everyone reading this message to think about what they can do to help, whether it is a visiting an elderly friend, calling in on an older neighbour who lives alone or inviting an older person round for a coffee or meal over the Christmas period.