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Plea for Holyrood debate into bullying at NHS Highland

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Jeane Freeman.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Jeane Freeman.

The Scottish Government’s Health Secretary has been urged to hold a Holyrood debate on bullying in NHS Highland.

Tory health spokesman, Miles Briggs, has asked Jeane Freeman to make time for the “full parliamentary debate” she promised into the issue.

Earlier this year a review by John Sturrock QC revealed hundreds of NHS Highland employees had suffered inappropriate behaviour.

His review unearthed evidence of bullied staff contemplating suicide and being driven to depression, alcoholism and drug abuse.

When Ms Freeman made a parliamentary statement on the Sturrock Review in May she agreed to a debate during government time.

Mr Briggs yesterday wrote to Ms Freeman as MSPs prepared to make their way back to Holyrood today after the summer recess.

Mr Briggs said: “I am disappointed that there has been no indication so far of when this important debate will take place.

“There is a lot of wider learning for our NHS from the Sturrock Review which MSPs from across the country should be allowed to debate.”

Bullying problems are likely to be brought up today when board chairman, Professor Boyd Robertson, and chief executive, Iain Stewart, appear in front of Holyrood’s health committee.

Documents submitted to the committee by NHS Highland ahead of their appearance said the board had drafted an action plan to “shape a new culture” for the future.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The health secretary has already committed to bringing forward a debate to Parliament at the most appropriate opportunity.”