Yesterday's update from NHS Dumfries and Galloway lays bare the pressures facing our local health service. Staff are working tirelessly, but too many beds are being occupied by patients who are ready to leave hospital and would be better supported elsewhere if appropriate care was available. This is not a new problem. The SNP pledged to end delayed discharge by 2015, yet communities across Scotland continue to see the consequences of that broken promise. Patients deserve better, families deserve better, and staff deserve better. The Scottish Government must urgently address the shortage of social care capacity and provide the resources needed to ease pressure on our NHS ahead of another challenging winter.

Wooooo! Couldn’t be prouder! My daughter @vickycarsonn scoring the first ever goal for @steel_queens in their very first game in the UK’s top Woman’s Ice Hockey League, the Elite League, today at Murrayfield!

Winter flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are now getting underway across Dumfries and Galloway. If you're eligible, please take up the offer when invited. Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to protect yourself against serious illness this winter. More info: nhsinform.scot/healthy-livin…

What a great afternoon at the launch of Vaso Manufacturing on Friday. It was fantastic to see first-hand the innovation taking place right here in Dumfries. VASO is developing a pioneering construction system that turns recycled glass into high-performance building panels, helping to deliver affordable, energy-efficient, low-carbon homes faster than traditional building methods. The company’s new manufacturing facility represents a major investment in the region, with the potential to create skilled local jobs, strengthen the South of Scotland's manufacturing sector, and play a role in addressing Scotland's housing challenge. A real success story for Dumfries and Galloway👏

Brain tumours remain one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among children and young people in Scotland, yet survival rates have seen little improvement over the past decade. I am proud to be the Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Brain Tumours, and today I asked the Scottish Government what specific action it will take to deliver better outcomes for young patients and their families. There is more to do, and I will continue to press for progress on these vital issues.

Yesterday, Parliament debated how Scotland responds to the growing threat of flooding. I called for practical measures to strengthen Scotland's flood resilience, including the creation of a national mitigation fund, improved public awareness and preparedness, better coordinated emergency responses, and sensible nature-based solutions that protect communities while safeguarding productive farmland. Here are a few clips from my speech ⬇️

The Minister's response:

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of bluetongue. Today, I asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the Scottish Government would support a targeted, funded vaccination campaign ahead of next year's midge season. Disappointingly, the Minister refused to back that call. We cannot afford to be complacent. Ahead of next year's bluetongue season, we must prioritise awareness, vaccine supply and appropriate vaccination to protect Scotland's livestock sector.

29 lives lost to drugs in Dumfries & Galloway in 2025. That's a 21% increase in just one year and almost five times higher than the 6 deaths recorded in 2010. Scotland still has the worst drug death rate in the UK and Europe. The SNP had the chance to back the Right to Recovery Bill and guarantee treatment for those who need it. Instead, they chose politics over action. The First Minister must make this crisis a priority and invest in rehabilitation and recovery services across rural Scotland. #RightToRecovery #Recovery #DumfriesAndGalloway