Doc Alan
18th August 2014, 23:00
Former Scottish health minister and Labour politician Sam Galbraith has died today ( 18 August ) aged 68. Condolences to his widow and their three daughters. He had also held the post of education minister in Scotland’s first devolved government.
He had been a brilliant neurosurgeon, and was one of the world’s longest surviving lung transplant patients ( for a chronic scarring condition of the lungs, in 1990, at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital ).
Sam was a strong supporter of Scottish devolution, but had recently expressed fears that cross-border access to specialist health care could be threatened by a “ Yes “ vote in next month’s referendum. Some of his thoughts :-
On his condition and treatment :-
• " There were no forms to fill in, no money to be considered."
• " It was all just done because people needed it done."
• " I fear for that under a separate Scotland."
• " I worked for the NHS, I looked after it as a minister, and then I experienced its benefits first hand as a patient. "
• " I was really desperately ill – days from death – and the British NHS kept me alive."
• " Throughout all this I had lots to worry about but I never had to worry about who was paying for it or where. When you’re dealing with a foreign country, it is different. And when you go to a foreign country you can be sure there will be forms and money will have to change hands. " ( SO true of the Philippines :doh ).
On the SNP :-
• " It’s always seemed odd to me that they want separation but everything will stay the same."
• " There’s a bit of a conundrum there. Some things will continue but it will not be the same."
• " It’s not just for my treatment. There is terrific co-operation between Glasgow and Newcastle."
• " It’s about other things, like training. We all intermingle, that’s how these relationships get started."
• " We train together, our students move around, and it works really well."
I’m not expecting loads of responses to this thread :NoNo: - but I have a personal reason for sadness today.
Sam Galbraith was a student in my year at Glasgow University and we shared our first posts as junior doctors at Glasgow’s Western Infirmary. Not only was he a brilliant student and doctor, but made the transition to politics – which I could never have done :smile: !
An inspiration to me and many others :xxgrinning--00xx3:. He will be missed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28843095
He had been a brilliant neurosurgeon, and was one of the world’s longest surviving lung transplant patients ( for a chronic scarring condition of the lungs, in 1990, at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital ).
Sam was a strong supporter of Scottish devolution, but had recently expressed fears that cross-border access to specialist health care could be threatened by a “ Yes “ vote in next month’s referendum. Some of his thoughts :-
On his condition and treatment :-
• " There were no forms to fill in, no money to be considered."
• " It was all just done because people needed it done."
• " I fear for that under a separate Scotland."
• " I worked for the NHS, I looked after it as a minister, and then I experienced its benefits first hand as a patient. "
• " I was really desperately ill – days from death – and the British NHS kept me alive."
• " Throughout all this I had lots to worry about but I never had to worry about who was paying for it or where. When you’re dealing with a foreign country, it is different. And when you go to a foreign country you can be sure there will be forms and money will have to change hands. " ( SO true of the Philippines :doh ).
On the SNP :-
• " It’s always seemed odd to me that they want separation but everything will stay the same."
• " There’s a bit of a conundrum there. Some things will continue but it will not be the same."
• " It’s not just for my treatment. There is terrific co-operation between Glasgow and Newcastle."
• " It’s about other things, like training. We all intermingle, that’s how these relationships get started."
• " We train together, our students move around, and it works really well."
I’m not expecting loads of responses to this thread :NoNo: - but I have a personal reason for sadness today.
Sam Galbraith was a student in my year at Glasgow University and we shared our first posts as junior doctors at Glasgow’s Western Infirmary. Not only was he a brilliant student and doctor, but made the transition to politics – which I could never have done :smile: !
An inspiration to me and many others :xxgrinning--00xx3:. He will be missed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28843095