Dave Thompson MSP

ONE HUNDRED years ago, healthcare in the Highlands and Islands was radically transformed. Today in Parliament, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Dave Thompson commemorated this historical achievement in a private members’ motion.

The Dewar Report, commissioned by Sir John Dewar, MP for Inverness, was published in 1912. It portrayed the poor state of health in the Highlands and Islands.  In response, the Highlands and Islands Medical Service was established. This was the first state-funded health service in the world and a model of rural healthcare. The new service was the blue print for the NHS in Scotland. Dave Thompson said, “I am delighted to recognise the outstanding accomplishment of the Highlands and Islands Medical Service 100 years on. The Dewar Report focused on providing comprehensive and accessible care to an impoverished and rural region that had largely slipped off the Government’s radar.

“Today, the benefits of health care in the Highlands and Islands, such as local GPs, can be traced back to the principles and methods of Dewar’s health service. We can be proud that this model was exported to the rest of Scotland, the United Kingdom and indeed the rest of the world.

“The centenary provides us with the opportunity to look back and celebrate Dewar’s accomplishment. Most importantly, it encourages us to use the foundations of the past and build a health service that is fit for purpose in the Highlands and Islands of the 21st century.

Dr Steve McCabe, GP in Portree Medical Service, said, “I think it's fantastic that, a century later, something as monumental and profound as The Dewar Report is being recognised by the Scottish Parliament.

“The issues that Dewar identified and the remedies that he recommended are still relevant today. It is very important that we recognise his contribution to the well-being of the Scottish people, both directly to the people of the Highlands and Islands and indirectly to every man, woman and child living in Scotland today. The Dewar Report was the blue print for a State-funded, free at the point of access, universal health service.

There is a series of events and a touring exhibition throughout the year to commemorate the centenary.

Notes:

More information can be found at http://www.dewarcentenary.org.uk/

S4M-02016 ? Dave Thompson () (Scottish National Party):
That the Parliament congratulates the Dewar 2012 Committee on organising a programme of events and a touring exhibition to commemorate and raise awareness of the centenary of the publication of the Report of the Highlands and Islands Medical Service Committee, or the Dewar Report, by Inverness MP, Sir John Dewar; notes that the report shocked contemporary politicians with its portrayal of the inadequate provision of health services in the Highlands and Islands; recognises that the report resulted in the establishment of the Highlands and Islands Medical Service (HIMS), which it considers transformed the medical service in the Highlands with its commitment to high quality health care, its bottom-up structure and its careful consideration of the needs of rural health care; considers that HIMS was the first model of state-funded healthcare in the world and provided the blueprint for the NHS in Scotland, and commends the Scottish Government on what it considers is its adherence to the core values of accessibility, continuity and comprehensive care that were enshrined in HIMS and for building on this solid foundation to ensure that Scotland, in its view, remains at the forefront of radically good healthcare.