Scottish Liberal Democrat leadership candidate Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today used a visit to Future Gym in South Queensferry to set out proposals for helping people with long Covid, as he warned that Scots with the condition would be better off moving to England given how woeful provision for the condition is in Scotland.

Responding to the statement from the Minister for Drug Policy, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

New statistics published today show hospitals are having to cancel the most operations since the pandemic began

Scottish Liberal Democrats have called on the SNP to address their “legacy” of delayed discharges, as new figures show the number of patients getting stuck in hospital is creeping back up once again.

Speaking as it was confirmed that the Scottish Parliament have an opportunity to question the Scottish Government over drugs deaths tomorrow, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has written an open letter setting out a series of radical proposals to tackle the ongoing epidemic of drugs deaths.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have lodged an Urgent Question to the Scottish Government, asking for a response to concerns raised about the operation of Queens Consent in Scotland.

Responding to official statistics showing 1,339 people died of drug-related deaths in 2020, an increase of 5% from 2019, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented:

Speaking ahead of the publication of new drugs deaths statistics which are expected to show that Scotland is once again the drugs death capital of Europe, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today urged the Scottish Government to kickstart a new era of drugs policy radicalism. 

Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton spent an afternoon this week at Blackhall mosque loading bags of food staples on to vans ready to distribute to those in need in the area. The ingredients are provided by Islamic Relief UK and allow people to cook healthy meals for their families.

Responding to the publication of new Test and Protect statistics, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented:

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today warned that the rights of people with mental ill health are at risk after a new report revealed that just 4 in 10 mental health detentions were carried out with the consent of specialist staff.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton has today said that ministers must hit the phones and ensure that everyone who has not yet had a vaccine receives a phone call to offer an appointment and win over any waverers.

New statistics released by Public Health Scotland show A&E departments continue to struggle as the four-hour target time dropped again to a new lowest level since January 2018.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today set out a to-do list of areas in which the Health Secretary must take action including measures to boost vaccine uptake among young people, improve the performance of the Protect Scotland app and extra contact tracing staff.

Responding to the Health Secretary's interview on Good Morning Scotland this morning in which he denied the NHS was in crisis, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: