Commenting on the Health Committee Stage 1 report into the Health Boards (Membership and Elections) (Scotland) Bill, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Ross Finnie MSP said: “I am pleased that this report makes it clear that Parliament should not be asked to agree to the principle of direct elections to health boards before pilots have been tested and evaluated.

“Liberal Democrats believe that direct elections are not the
best way of improving health board accountability. That is why
we have called for alternatives like getting local councils
more involved in running local health services.Ross Finnie MSP

“We welcome, therefore, the recommendation that the Health
Secretary should run alternative pilots to test different ways
of making health boards more accountable to the public.”