Shetland Times Column 20th June 2025

The working week doesn’t usually start with opera, so I was delighted to accept an invitation from Scottish Opera, who are in Shetland this week.

Scalloway School was the venue for a performance by around 100 primary pupils from Scalloway, Dunrossness, Cunningsburgh and Sandwick schools who performed Robert Burns’ The Tale o’ Tam o’Shanter. It was a delight to watch the eager active participants who were clearly engaged and enjoying themselves.

It was quite a contrast to the education concerns I heard last Saturday at surgeries in Aith and Walls. The subject that dominated was Shetland Islands Council’s £1.3 million plans for ‘enhanced provision’ at the Aith school.

Following media reports about cupboards being re-purposed for use by children with severe complex needs, I heard directly from families with children who would be affected by the changes, and from members in the wider community who support the parents. 

It has been said that there has been some miscommunication around the issue, but it is unclear what meaningful engagement took place with parents about the ‘enhanced provision’ before plans were drawn up last summer.  Those plans include communal areas that are defined as “learning plazas”, though look more like a corridor where lessons like music might take place.

Shetland often holds itself up with pride at how well it looks after the most vulnerable people in our community.  It therefore beggar’s belief that such a vitally important piece of work has been dealt with in such a cack-handed manner that resulted in the distress and anxiety I saw first-hand on Saturday. 

I have written to the council to ask that these plans are paused until there has been full and proper consultation with parents and an open and transparent evaluation of all the concerns that have been raised. I await the outcome with interest. 

Last Thursday, I sponsored in the Scottish Parliament on behalf of the Stroke Association a drop-in session for MSPs on Thrombectomy: What it is and why it matters.  It is the mechanical removal of a blood clot from the brain that not only saves lives but can significantly reduce the risks of disability if performed in time.

At the drop-in guests from stroke organisations and clinicians attended with key information and hands-on thrombectomy demonstration kits so MSPs could learn more about what the Stroke Association considers should become a normalised part of Scotland’s stroke pathway.

Despite stroke being the leading cause of adult disability, only 1 in 7 patients eligible for thrombectomy in Scotland got one in 2023. This is largely based on where and when you have your stroke. It is not available in Shetland although there is a pathway to treatment in Dundee.

I share the Stroke Association’s view that this postcode lottery across Scotland needs to change and have raised the matter with the Cabinet Secretary for Health.