9. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. (S4O-04902)

Ministers and Government officials regularly meet representatives of all health boards, including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

I warmly welcome the Deputy First Minister’s announcement last week that the European funding classification issue has been finalised and that the new Inverclyde care home project can progress. That is welcomed by many constituents. Can the cabinet secretary provide assurances that Inverclyde Royal hospital has a sustainable future ahead of it and that it is firmly in the plans of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to provide services in Inverclyde for many years to come?

I, too, welcome the progress that has been made on the Inverclyde care home and I assure the member that Inverclyde Royal hospital has a bright future. The hospital is a valued local facility and is very much part of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s plans for the future. I am sure that the health board would be happy to meet Stuart McMillan to apprise him of its plans for the hospital.

During the cabinet secretary’s meetings with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, has she discussed the Scottish public finances update, which ended the unnecessary and distressing delay to the Ravenscraig older care unit construction programme? Will the cabinet secretary confirm that any increases that are due to increased construction costs will be met in full by the Scottish Government and will she ensure that there are no further unnecessary delays to this very important project in my constituency?

The project is indeed an important one in Duncan McNeil’s constituency, and I am glad that he welcomes the progress that is being made. He will be aware that there is robust financial planning for the project, and I am happy to keep him informed of progress. The robust financial planning will deliver the project on time and on budget.