Bill Wilson MSP

Dr Bill Wilson MSP (West of Scotland, SNP) visited the staff at the King Street Surgery in Paisley. The large GP surgery is host to many different people involved in healthcare, from the doctors and district nurses to the administration team and students.

Dr Wilson said, “I was warmly greeted by the Practice Manager, Margaret Banks, who gave me a tour of the facility. The building, which has grown in size over the last 20 years due to the building of an extension and the taking over of an upstairs flat, has around 9,200 registered patients.

“Dr Christine Murray, Senior Partner at the surgery showed me how the new computer system has dramatically improved patient care by providing all sorts of helpful features. I was shown how the triage system operates, how appointments are made, how prescriptions are requested and processed, and how consultations are recorded.

SNP MSP, Dr Bill Wilson, has written to the manager of the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme (SPPS) urging her not to invest MSPs’ pensions in the tobacco industry.

Dr Wilson said, “The Scottish Parliament voted to ban smoking in public places some time ago and this year MSPs overwhelmingly supported the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 to further restrict smoking.  I am confident, therefore, that, like me, most of the other 127 MSPs who use the SPPS would not want their money to be invested in the tobacco industry.

“I understand that our money is currently invested in British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco and Japan Tobacco (respectively 1.33, 0.98 and 0.47 % of the total portfolio, according to Baillie Gifford Life Limited’s quarterly report dated 31 March 2010).  I have written to the Fund Manager, Mrs Eleanor McKee, asking her to consider changing this, and, if she thinks it necessary, to consult my fellow MSPs on their opinions.  It might not be practical for pension funds to be individually tailored to suit us all perfectly, but I do not think the undesirability of this particular investment will be controversial.”

The Scottish Parliament has given its support to sufferers of Parkinson’s disease.

Holyrood’s Public Petitions Committee took evidence from 70 people with Parkinson’s and received a 7,500-signature petition calling on MSPs to urge the Scottish Government to take action and ensure NHS boards support people with the disease. 

Dr Bill Wilson MSP said, “The Committee’s findings show that too many people are not receiving their medication in time. I have been told of the extreme discomfort and terror people of Parkinson’s can suffer if they do not receive their medication promptly.

Dr Bill Wilson MSP (West of Scotland, SNP) has congratulated the New South Wales (Australian) Department of Education and Training for employing advisors to help develop social norms-based resources to tackle alcohol abuse amongst secondary school pupils.  The motion he has lodged in the Scottish Parliament to this effect also refers to the successful European Drug Addiction Prevention Trial and calls on the Scottish Government to consider implementing similar projects.