MSP slams government decision not to help MRI scanner funding
Ryan Nicolson
An isles MSP has criticised the Scottish government after they decided not to provide additional funding for an MRI scanner.
Health secretary Jeane Freeman wrote to Labour MSP Rhoda Grant to say the funding could not be justified because the scanner was estimated to only be used once a week.
Mrs Grant accused the Scottish government of badly letting down the Shetland community.
The Highlands and Islands list MSP wrote to the health secretary to ask if the government would consider providing funds towards the scanner and its running costs after the fundraising target was reached in October 2020.
But Ms Freeman wrote back last week to say although the government acknowledged the importance of the scanner to the isles, they could not justify spending money on it.
Mrs Grant slammed the Scottish government for making “the same old argument” about funds.
The health secretary said that the purchase, commissioning and staff costs of the MRI scanner would be met by “funds already in place”.
James Paton
Typical ‘ Big Party’ ( not so big these days and dwindling) electioneering band- waggonning! If she was a socialist she’d call for a public purse funded scanner in the first place. New Labour is back and will get completely trashed on 6 the May.
Today’s Scotsman indicates the Greens are the only Party now in the ascendency across Scotland. The penny is dropping, too slowly, but we will build it and they will come.