Visiting the Turriff Cottage Hospital in Gordon today, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen announced his plans for 2,000 extra nurses to provide faster diagnosis and treatment in the community.

Nicol StephenCommenting, Mr Stephen said:

“I want to kick-start a local healthcare revolution across Scotland.

“My priority for health in Scotland is to deliver faster diagnosis and treatment, with new local health centres and extra nurses and dentists to staff them.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats are committed to providing 2000 extra nurses for better local healthcare, with many of these new nurses based in our new local health centres.

Mr Stephen added:

“The Turriff Cottage Hospital is an example of exactly how these nurses could work in leading care services, locally.

“I have seen today how more specialisation of roles in the nursing profession can make a real difference to patients. More nurses with specialist training could better support people with serious illnesses such as cancer or heart failure. They also have a major role to play in helping people to better manage chronic conditions such as asthma or diabetes, without the need for frequent hospital trips.

“Liberal Democrats are serious about more accessible local healthcare, and we will provide the extra nurses and dentists to deliver it.”