The local Cumbernauld and Kilsyth MSP has been a vocal supporter of directly-elected health boards which will enable people in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth to have more of a say over local health decisions.

However, she warns the Elected Health Board Bill is not perfect and needs more work to make health boards more open, transparent and democratically accountable.

Cathie Craigie MSP said:

"The passion of the local campaign to save Monklands A&E demonstrates that people in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth not only have strong opinions on their local heath service, but also demonstrates that they want to be part of the process of planning health care in their area, and are willing to give up their time to do so.

"There is a real thirst for open democracy and accountability over health board decisions, which direct elections would satisfy. We're now one step closer.

"However, the Bill is not in any way perfect. I am in favour of the majority of a health board being made up of those elected, which the Bill doesn't include. The Bill also gives the Health Minister the power to dismiss elected representatives on the Board, which goes against the democratic improvements this Bill seeks to introduce. There may also be a problem to in allowing 16 year-olds to take part in the vote as a difficulty could be in preparing the voters register which would require a public list of children under the age of 16 being available.

"I hope with some amendments this Bill will make positive progress in making our health boards more open, transparent and democratically accountable."