Dave Thompson MSP

I had the recent misfortune of breaking my leg playing football in the garden with my grandson, so I was unable to attend my planned surgeries in Fort William and Caol.

My sincere apologies to those who were intending on coming along but as I was under doctors’ orders not to move and in a rigid cast my mobility was limited.

However, at the time of writing I can positively report that I have a fancy new boot on the offending leg, the pain is subsiding and I hope to be on the road to proper recovery in the next couple of weeks.

I used a debate in the Parliament to welcome the Scottish Government’s Dairy Action Plan, which following my representations, now includes a commitment by the Scottish Government to work with local authorities to increase the consumption in schools of Scottish cheese, butter, yoghurt and other dairy products. I welcome the plan, which is vital to Scotland’s farming and food industry.

This coincides with my campaign to make dairy breaks a routine component of Primary School life for our pupils.

Dairy breaks in schools featuring a range of dairy products would be beneficial to our children both physically and mentally, as well as bringing a much needed boost to the dairy industry, therefore I will continue to advance this campaign in the coming months, to get the best deal for kids and for our dairy industry.

Apparently, in the year 2013/ 2014 21 of our 32 Local Authorities claimed a subsidy that would allow Primary School Children access to free milk, but Highland Council was not one of them. I have written to them and would encourage them, in keeping with the Dairy Action Plan, to consider taking up the subsidy, which is administered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). This action will form another dimension to my campaign.

I met with Members of Patients First Scotland (PFS) and Shona Robison, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport in the Scottish Parliament on 31st March, 2015.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the desire of PFS to encourage the Scottish Government to adopt the Freedom to Speak Up Review, an investigation into the treatment of NHS Whistleblowers, by Sir Robert Francis QC –who previously led the inquiry into the Mid Staffs Hospital.

At present health professionals who raise concerns over patient safety are in danger of being bullied and their issue being turned into an employment problem. This can result in severe mental health problems, loss of career, financial insecurity, unemployment, and even marriage breakdown.

I first met Annie of Patients First Scotland (PFS) at a surgery of mine in Caol in 2012. She had experienced bullying in the workplace and was in need of some assistance. As part of helping Annie with her case, it led to her being instrumental in bringing PF to Scotland, an initiative that was already active and successful in England.

In attempting to change the culture of our NHS we need to focus on reconstructing outmoded attitudes to create an atmosphere where name calling, bullying, intimidation and any form of victimisation has no place, and this is why I am behind Patients First’s call to help making that change.

I am heartened by the news that West Highland College UHI has recently announced two firsts.

The first of these is the arrival of their very first PhD student, Ms Jelena Farkic', from Serbia. Jelena will be reading for a social-sciences based doctorate under the guidance of Dr Peter Varley, the Director of the Centre. She will be studying the area of tourism experiences in the outdoors and the ways in which these can be facilitated and enhanced by highly skilled guides.

The second is the announcement of the new BA (Hons) Marine and Coastal Tourism degree. This is due to be validated next month and is the first degree qualification of its kind in the UK, focusing on activities, environment, customers and policy, with Scottish, UK and International perspectives.

It is further great news for the College that there are also a record number of students studying there this year, proving that the institution continues to go from strength to strength.

The various recent extraordinary polling for the upcoming General Election is indicating that Ian Blackford, who has been selected as the SNP candidate for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, is leading current Westminster incumbent, Charles Kennedy, in the election race.

This is wonderful news, but I know through years of tough campaign experience that the only poll that matters is the election itself. Therefore, I am confident that SNP activists will not rest on their laurels and will continue to work hard convincing folk right up until the vote that a strong SNP means a stronger voice for the Highlands at Westminster, which is long overdue.