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Local Linlithgow Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop, has voiced serious concerns in the Scottish Parliament about the actions of West Lothian Integrated Joint Board. During a Member’s Debate about the future of St Michael’s Hospital in Linlithgow, on Wednesday May 10th, Fiona took the opportunity to raise the issue of their recent proposals to out-source residential care for the elderly and care at home.  Fiona highlighted some of the IJB’s recent decisions, including their announcement of proposals to outsource West Lothian care services for residential care of elderly people and care at home for disabled people and elderly people. Notably, these proposals are being considered partly because of West Lothian Council’s reduced funding for the IJB - despite the fact that West Lothian Council received the second biggest increase to their overall budget…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, used a speech in Parliament to highlight the problems currently facing her Constituents who want regular, reliable, accessible bus services during a recent Access to Bus services debate in Parliament.  Fiona called for a radical approach to help people use bus services, with park and bus rides at Heartlands M8 and the new Winchburgh Junction at M9 and town services for commuters to cut car use in order for us to reach Net Zero. She also highlighted Brexit causing a severe shortage of bus drivers and praised the pressure from the public for forcing West Lothian Council to emergency-fund the extension to the 21 service, to provide a connection between Blackridge and Bathgate via Armadale, to mitigate the impact of the changes announced…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has lodged a motion in Parliament highlighting the official opening of the West Lothian Cycle Circuit on Saturday, 27th May and congratulation the Linlithgow Community Development Trust for their work in creating and completing this excellent site. The 1KM floodlit Cycle Circuit began construction in September 2022 and will be ready and open in time for the UCI World Cycling Championships taking place in Scotland this summer. “I have been a keen supporter of the new cycle circuit since plans for the site at Kettlestoun were first announced, and I was pleased to convene a meeting of national funding bodies to help them see the potential in this community led initiative, which also received Scottish Government Funding as part of the upcoming…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop MSP, met with Linlithgow based Sebastian Kobelt to congratulate him on winning the Patisserie Chef of the Year Award at the Scottish Excellence Awards 2023. The Awards recognise and reward the highest standards in hospitality, food service and tourism across the country. Fiona visited Sebastian’s workshop at the Mill Road Industrial Estate in Linlithgow Bridge and had a go at making some chocolate shells – under his expert instruction. Following the visit, Fiona said, “It was a pleasure to meet Sebastian and to congratulate him on his recent Award win. “The passion that he has for his craft is clear to see in the beautiful, elegant and creatively designed chocolates he creates, and as well as selling those in his online shop,…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, raised the closure of the Youth Navigator Service at St John’s Hospital in Livingston at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday 11th May in the Scottish Parliament. Youth Navigator is a youth service run by Medics against Violence to support young people presenting to health care services. NHS Lothian will be withdrawing funding from the service resulting in the closure of the service in June. Commenting Fiona said: “Youth Navigator provides vital support for young people, aged 12-16, as they access health care services. Hospital presentation by vulnerable young people is often when other underlying and pressing needs are identified.   "Scotland's Children and Young People's Commissioner has stated that NHS Lothian should review its children's rights impact assessment of the decision to…

Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency led a debate in the Scottish Parliament calling for St Michael’s Hospital to be retained and re-opened for the purpose it was intended on Wednesday 10th May. Fiona’s debate was selected for Member’s Business after it had received cross party support. Fiona also took the time to commend and thank the hard work undertaken by the Friends of St. Michael’s over the years to support patients and their families, a number of whom were in the gallery to hear the debate. Speaking after the debate, Fiona commented, “I am pleased that this important debate was able to take place at the Scottish Parliament and want to thank MSPs across all parties who signed my motion allowing for it to happen. It is now…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop raised the continuing concerns about the closure of Linlithgow Palace in the Scottish Parliament Debate: ‘Historic Environment Scotland (Site Closures)’, on Wednesday 3rd May in a Members Debate.  The debate brought by Sharon Dowey MSP focussed on the value of National Heritage sites to local tourism and businesses and the need to reopen many of these significant historic sites and was replied to by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture.  Speaking after the debate Fiona said: “This was an important debate, and I was pleased to be able to highlight the historic, cultural but also economic value of Linlithgow Palace as a national heritage not only to our town but nationally. “Concerns about high masonry safety concerns has seen the Palace closed post pandemic from May 2021…

“I share the concerns of many of my Constituents about the potential closure of important leisure facilities across West Lothian, which includes two within my own Constituency - Xcite Armadale and  Broxburn Swimming Pool. Although West Lothian has better swimming pool provision than elsewhere in Scotland the lack of buses mean that it is unreasonable to expect people to travel distances to swim – for example it is counter productive to active health and well-being for older people in Broxburn who don’t have cars to be expected to travel to Winchburgh for a swim. “I understand that West Lothian Leisure are facing a significant budget short fall as a consequence of West Lothian Council’s budget decisions which included a requirement for West Lothian Leisure to become self-funded over the next 5…

Fiona Hyslop, MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, has secured a Member’s debate in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, May 10th to highlight the importance of St Michael’s Hospital in Linlithgow and to ensure it is retained as a hospital facility. In August 2021 the decision was taken by West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership to close St Michael’s temporarily using emergency powers, under pressure of short-term staff shortages across West Lothian. In June 2022, a report to the West Lothian Integration Joint Board contained two recommendations – that St Michael’s should remain closed, or a public consultation be held with all relevant parties to review future bed space requirements at St Michael’s. Fiona’s debate will be held on Wednesday 10th May after Decision Time at 5pm, subject to agreement…

Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has spoken in a debate in Parliament on Climate Change and the Just Transition last week (20th April). The debate reiterated the scale and the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for Scotland to show continued global leadership in a Just Transition to Net Zero and highlighted the Scottish Government’s draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan which sets out a just and fair pathway to maximise the opportunities. Fiona spoke in the debate about the importance of community led transition and highlighted the work of Blackburn in her Constituency, who were selected as one of the 7 Scottish Government’s Climate Action Towns. Fiona commented, “I welcome the fact that Blackburn has  been selected by the Scottish Government as one…