Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today marked 500 days since the Scottish Government allowed their suicide prevention strategy to lapse and called on ministers to apologise to the hundreds of families whose relatives have committed suicide since the strategy expired.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has reacted with indignation to the “horrendous” new findings of a survey published today in BJPsych Open and led by the University’s Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory. The study showed 1 in 9 young adults in Scotland have attempted to commit suicide. The research also reveals 1 in 6 young people have self-harmed.

Speaking ahead of two opposition debates on health today, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented:

Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP and Daniel Johnson MSP will today hold a meeting to consider proposals for a statue of renowned Scottish doctor and suffragist, Dr Elsie Inglis, to be placed on the Royal Mile near where she established her first hospital, The Hospice, at 219 High Street. 

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today said that disappointing new health statistics bolster the case for a change at the top of the health department.

Following the publication of the Scottish Government's overdue primary care section of the 2017/18 National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented:

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton has today lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament calling for the age at which someone can stand as a candidate in elections to be lowered to 16, saying it is "strange that you can vote for other people’s political ideals at 16 but you can’t stand for your own".

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today warned that clinical staff are “increasingly looking for an early exit” as he revealed that the number of staff retiring has more than doubled since 2010/11.

Responding to BMA Scotland's warning that doctors in Scotland are "under pressure like never before", with "patients suffering" and "services deteriorating" because resources aren't keeping up with demand, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented:

Responding to claims made by the Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Lothian, Jim Crombie, in the Health and Sport Committee this morning that the health board requires £31m to return services to 2017 levels, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: