Tory candidate: 'I'm not worried at all about Reform'
The Tory candidate in the upcoming Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse has said he's 'not worried at all about Reform'.
With just a week to go, candidates from SNP, Scottish Labour, Tories, and Reform are battling it out for votes.
The SNP and Reform have called the by-election a 'straight contest' between them, but the Conservative's Richard Nelson said he's 'not worried at all'.
'I'm here to run my own campaign,' Nelson said.
'The people at the doors are not commenting on Reform, they're commenting on the work I've done in this local community and that's what I'll continue to do.'
Nelson also confirmed he was a member of the Orange Order and the Apprentice Boys of Derry and defended his membership of both groups.
'I represent everyone despite religion or race and I'll continue to do so. The organisations I'm in are not illegal organisations – they're Christian fraternal organisations and I'm a part of them, but I represent everyone and their communities and I'll continue to do so,' he told STV News.
Nelson also said reforming the NHS was among his top priorities.
'People are telling me they can't get an appointment with their GP, they can't get an appointment at the hospital, they're waiting months for surgery – and I just think that's unacceptable,' Nelson said.
'As an NHS employee, I see first hand the way the NHS has been broken by the current SNP Scottish Government.'
'It's not about throwing continuous money at the NHS because it just disappears – it doesn't go anywhere and you don't see the benefit of it. For me it's about frontline staff, they're the people that actually need it and that's what we need to see a focus on, not the hierarchy of the NHS.'
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
24 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Robotic surgeries set to soar under NHS plans
In 2023/24, some 70,000 robot-assisted surgeries were carried out in the NHS in England, but the number is expected to rise to around half a million over the next decade. NHS officials said that by 2035, it is expected that nine in 10 of all keyhole surgeries will be delivered with robot assistance – up from one in five at present. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who had robot-assisted surgery when he had treatment for kidney cancer, said that innovative technologies will 'transform the NHS'. NHS England said that patients who have robotic assisted-surgery tend to recover quicker and are able to leave hospital sooner. Experts said that robotic surgery allows 'greater dexterity and are easier to manipulate' compared to traditional surgery. Surgeons control instruments using a console and a camera. In some othopaedic procedures, robots are programmed to perform elements of procedures. Officials said that the range of robotic-assisted procedures has widened in recent years and spans multiple areas of medicine. Speaking ahead of a speech at the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester, NHS England boss Sir Jim Mackey said: 'The NHS has pledged to return to shorter elective waiting times by 2029 and we are using every tool at our disposal to ensure patients get the best possible treatment. 'Expanding the use of new and exciting tech such as robotic surgery will play a huge part in this. 'Not only does it speed up the number of procedures the NHS can do, but it also means better outcomes, a faster recovery and shorter hospital stays for patients.' Mr Streeting said: 'Innovative treatments and technologies that help fast track better outcomes for patients is how we transform our NHS and make it fit for the future. 'I know myself how important this is, when the NHS saved my life from kidney cancer with an operation led by a world-class surgeon being helped by a robot. 'Whether it's robotic surgery, our new health data research service to accelerate the development of new medicines, or announcing new artificial intelligence that detects skin cancer, our Plan for Change is driving forward new ways to help cut waiting lists and get patients treated on time again.' John McGrath, consultant surgeon at North Bristol NHS Trust and chair of the NHSE Steering Committee for Robotic Assisted Surgery, added: 'Robot-assisted surgery is a perfect example of innovation improving patients' care and transforming the way the NHS works – the number of procedures being carried is set to rapidly grow over the next 10 years according to our analysis. 'As keyhole surgery continues to develop and scale up in the NHS, it is likely that many of these procedures will be provided with degrees of robot assistance in the future. 'Faster recovery and shorter hospital stays are not only hugely important benefits for patients undergoing surgery, if used efficiently they can have a positive impact on the rest of the system by relieving pressure on services and therefore helping to reduce waiting times.'
Leader Live
28 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Robotic surgeries set to soar under NHS plans
In 2023/24, some 70,000 robot-assisted surgeries were carried out in the NHS in England, but the number is expected to rise to around half a million over the next decade. NHS officials said that by 2035, it is expected that nine in 10 of all keyhole surgeries will be delivered with robot assistance – up from one in five at present. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who had robot-assisted surgery when he had treatment for kidney cancer, said that innovative technologies will 'transform the NHS'. NHS England said that patients who have robotic assisted-surgery tend to recover quicker and are able to leave hospital sooner. Experts said that robotic surgery allows 'greater dexterity and are easier to manipulate' compared to traditional surgery. Surgeons control instruments using a console and a camera. In some othopaedic procedures, robots are programmed to perform elements of procedures. Officials said that the range of robotic-assisted procedures has widened in recent years and spans multiple areas of medicine. Speaking ahead of a speech at the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester, NHS England boss Sir Jim Mackey said: 'The NHS has pledged to return to shorter elective waiting times by 2029 and we are using every tool at our disposal to ensure patients get the best possible treatment. 'Expanding the use of new and exciting tech such as robotic surgery will play a huge part in this. 'Not only does it speed up the number of procedures the NHS can do, but it also means better outcomes, a faster recovery and shorter hospital stays for patients.' Mr Streeting said: 'Innovative treatments and technologies that help fast track better outcomes for patients is how we transform our NHS and make it fit for the future. 'I know myself how important this is, when the NHS saved my life from kidney cancer with an operation led by a world-class surgeon being helped by a robot. 'Whether it's robotic surgery, our new health data research service to accelerate the development of new medicines, or announcing new artificial intelligence that detects skin cancer, our Plan for Change is driving forward new ways to help cut waiting lists and get patients treated on time again.' John McGrath, consultant surgeon at North Bristol NHS Trust and chair of the NHSE Steering Committee for Robotic Assisted Surgery, added: 'Robot-assisted surgery is a perfect example of innovation improving patients' care and transforming the way the NHS works – the number of procedures being carried is set to rapidly grow over the next 10 years according to our analysis. 'As keyhole surgery continues to develop and scale up in the NHS, it is likely that many of these procedures will be provided with degrees of robot assistance in the future. 'Faster recovery and shorter hospital stays are not only hugely important benefits for patients undergoing surgery, if used efficiently they can have a positive impact on the rest of the system by relieving pressure on services and therefore helping to reduce waiting times.'
North Wales Chronicle
28 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Robotic surgeries set to soar under NHS plans
In 2023/24, some 70,000 robot-assisted surgeries were carried out in the NHS in England, but the number is expected to rise to around half a million over the next decade. NHS officials said that by 2035, it is expected that nine in 10 of all keyhole surgeries will be delivered with robot assistance – up from one in five at present. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who had robot-assisted surgery when he had treatment for kidney cancer, said that innovative technologies will 'transform the NHS'. NHS England said that patients who have robotic assisted-surgery tend to recover quicker and are able to leave hospital sooner. Experts said that robotic surgery allows 'greater dexterity and are easier to manipulate' compared to traditional surgery. Surgeons control instruments using a console and a camera. In some othopaedic procedures, robots are programmed to perform elements of procedures. Officials said that the range of robotic-assisted procedures has widened in recent years and spans multiple areas of medicine. Speaking ahead of a speech at the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester, NHS England boss Sir Jim Mackey said: 'The NHS has pledged to return to shorter elective waiting times by 2029 and we are using every tool at our disposal to ensure patients get the best possible treatment. 'Expanding the use of new and exciting tech such as robotic surgery will play a huge part in this. 'Not only does it speed up the number of procedures the NHS can do, but it also means better outcomes, a faster recovery and shorter hospital stays for patients.' Mr Streeting said: 'Innovative treatments and technologies that help fast track better outcomes for patients is how we transform our NHS and make it fit for the future. 'I know myself how important this is, when the NHS saved my life from kidney cancer with an operation led by a world-class surgeon being helped by a robot. 'Whether it's robotic surgery, our new health data research service to accelerate the development of new medicines, or announcing new artificial intelligence that detects skin cancer, our Plan for Change is driving forward new ways to help cut waiting lists and get patients treated on time again.' John McGrath, consultant surgeon at North Bristol NHS Trust and chair of the NHSE Steering Committee for Robotic Assisted Surgery, added: 'Robot-assisted surgery is a perfect example of innovation improving patients' care and transforming the way the NHS works – the number of procedures being carried is set to rapidly grow over the next 10 years according to our analysis. 'As keyhole surgery continues to develop and scale up in the NHS, it is likely that many of these procedures will be provided with degrees of robot assistance in the future. 'Faster recovery and shorter hospital stays are not only hugely important benefits for patients undergoing surgery, if used efficiently they can have a positive impact on the rest of the system by relieving pressure on services and therefore helping to reduce waiting times.'
