To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consideration of the impact of the change in subsidised air service provider between Uist and Stornoway on access to services, including health services, for people with reduced mobility. (S6O-03650)

Before I call the cabinet secretary, I advise members that question 5 was withdrawn.

I am aware of the difficulties that Rhoda Grant mentions and I have been working with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to continue to understand those challenges, which is why we are working on possible solutions in collaboration with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and NHS Western Isles. I am also keenly aware of the need for solutions to be developed and owned by local partners. I will shortly convene a meeting in Uist to support that process. The local MSP, Alasdair Allan, has also corresponded with me to request that. The Scottish Government is also working closely with NHS Western Isles to ensure that health patients continue to have full access to services.

The provision of air services within the Western Isles is for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to decide on, and it is therefore for that council to ensure that it has made a suitable assessment of the impacts. However, we will look at what we can do in collaboration between the health portfolio and the transport portfolio to support it in those endeavours.

I look forward to receiving an update about the meeting between the council and the health board. However, the issue is even more pressing due to the lack of availability of health services in the Uist and Barra hospital, many having been pulled back to the Lewis hospital in Stornoway. Will more services be available locally, so that those who cannot access the new aeroplane can get health treatments and chemotherapy closer to home?

I of course commit to making sure that Rhoda Grant is kept up to date. My understanding is that there are difficulties with the Uist and Barra hospital due to clinicians not being able to travel to the site, and that the alternative option will be the transfer of services to the Western Isles hospital and NHS Near Me clinics. We will continue to work with NHS Western Isles and with the local authority, as I have set out, to improve the situation for people in the Western Isles. As I said, we are working together on that across Government, as we recognise the challenge that impacts local residents.

The cabinet secretary will be aware that the Islander aircraft has been the workhorse of the lifeline air services in Orkney for many years. However, growing numbers of constituents with mobility issues, on islands such as North Ronaldsay that do not have a roll-on, roll-off ferry, are missing hospital appointments or other medical appointments due to the inaccessibility of the Islander aircraft. I have spoken to the cabinet secretary about those concerns, but can he confirm that he will agree to meet me and representatives of NHS Orkney, Orkney Islands Council, Loganair and other stakeholders when he is in Orkney during the summer, so that we can look at finding a resolution to the issue—which will only get worse, given demographic trends?

Mr McArthur will know that I have an awareness of the situation that he outlines, having been a passenger on the ferries serving the northern isles and on interisland aircraft. I have given a commitment to meet Mr McArthur to discuss the matter when I am on my family leave in Orkney later in the summer, and I look forward to that discussion to see what more we can do to provide support on a cross-Government basis.