The Scottish Liberal Democrats have today issued a statement of support for the ‘Pay Student Paramedics’, campaign launched by a group of paramedic science students.   

Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton has today praised Edinburgh Zoo following the success of their dedicated “Shielding Hours” that took place over the weekend.  On both Saturday and Sunday, Edinburgh Zoo opened an hour earlier to allow families of which a member has been classed as clinically vulnerable to enjoy the Zoo, without the anxieties that come with re-entering public spaces.

Speaking ahead of the Committee exploring the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints taking evidence from Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans, committee member Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: 

Speaking after revelations in the Sunday Post about COVID-positive patients being discharged from hospital into care homes at the start of the crisis, the health spokesperson for the Scottish Liberal Democrats Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

As Parliament returned yesterday, Edinburgh Western MSP  Alex Cole-Hamilton continued in his efforts to gain support for Edinburgh Airport. Following a Ministerial Statement on Covid-19, Mr Cole-Hamilton asked the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to meet with the aviation sector to discuss testing as an alternative to quarantine. Mr Cole-Hamilton also took the opportunity to stress the value of the domestic air market to Edinburgh Airport, by asking the Cabinet Secretary to rule out the possibility of a quarantine for those arriving into Scotland from England.

Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton has today backed calls from the British Dental Association for additional financial support for mixed and private dental practices.

New figures from the British Dental Association (BDA) Scotland reveal that over 90% of mixed dental practices, which provide care for both NHS and Private dental patients, are not confident of maintaining their current staff levels in the coming year.

These findings come after dental practices were forced to shut for three months as part of measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

BDA Scotland’s figures also provide real cause for concern for the future of NHS dental care. They revealed that over half of practices carrying out majority/exclusively NHS procedures anticipate a comparative reduction in procedures during the next twelve months.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today called on the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to set out when Scots suspected of having Covid-19 will have access to new 90-minute testing machines.

Speaking on the continued role for Alex Salmond at Kremlin-funded broadcaster RT, the Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton has today called on the Scottish Government to outline the support it will provide for the aviation industry, as a matter of urgency. Edinburgh airport, which lies withing Mr Cole-Hamilton’s constituency, announced earlier today that they are faced with having to cut up to two thousand of the seven thousand jobs that the campus directly provides.

Mr Cole-Hamilton commented:

As lockdown eases and people increasingly socialise, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has highlighted the need to drink responsibly and said new statistics showing 90,000 ambulance call-outs since 2016 registered alcohol as a factor "emphasise once again the thanks we owe to hardworking NHS staff".