Politics: Green sector generation reaches a new peak

I have been delighted by NHS Grampian’s recent announcement it would be reopening birthing pools at the Inverurie Community Maternity Unit.

It comes after a number of constituents have been in touch regarding the issue and I know there are other women who have spoken out publicly of their concerns.

In November, I wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Michael Matheson, asking for the Scottish Government to look at the matter further with NHS Grampian.

Less than two months later and following a response from the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto, NHS Grampian announced the pools would reopen.

The birthing pools have been closed since 2020 because of installation issues.

Now, NHS Grampian has said extensive work to address the complex water quality issues has been successful and the pools are being made available to families once again.

Many families have had a long and anxious wait to find out whether they would have the option of using the birthing pools at the Inverurie Community Maternity Unit.

I am both pleased and relieved for expectant mothers that this will now be an available following extensive work by NHS Grampian to fix this issue.

We know the pandemic had a huge knock-on effect to many services including maternity and I am glad the birthing pools will be in use once again for families at such a special and exciting time in their lives.

NHS Grampian said in a statement the pools are expected to be available from Monday, January 29, with work still ongoing to fix infrastructure issues with the birthing pool room in the Midwives Unit at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. In other positive news, figures from the Scottish Government have revealed the green sector delivered more electricity in Scotland for the first time.

Renewable technologies generated the equivalent of 113 per cent of Scotland’s overall electricity consumption in 2022, new statistics show.

This is the highest recorded to date, and a 26 percentage point increase compared to 2021.

The Scottish Government is taking action to scale up renewable technologies to transform and expand Scotland’s clean energy generation sector.

It is also working to ensure Scotland maximises the economic benefits the sector will bring through commitments such as providing up to £500million to leverage private investments to support infrastructure and the offshore wind supply chain.

This is a significant milestone in Scotland’s journey to Net Zero. For the first time Scotland has produced more renewable electricity than it consumed, demonstrating the enormous potential of Scotland’s green economy. Scotland has the skills, talent and natural resources to become a global renewables powerhouse.

Our ambition is not only to generate enough green electricity to power Scotland’s homes and businesses, but also export electricity to our neighbours, supporting jobs here in Scotland and the decarbonisation ambitions of our partners.

Finally, I was pleased to hear a defibrillator has been donated from Keiran’s Legacy to Turriff Police Station.

This incredible donation of life-saving equipment will be utilised by officers operating in the local area and officers have received training to prepare for the introduction of the defibrillators and this will provide the provision of enhanced medical aid in vital minutes.