Moray SNP News

BEREAVED PARENTS AND MORAY MSP MEET WITH CABINET SECRETARY FOR HEALTH

On Wednesday 29th June, bereaved parents of Keiran McKandie, Sandra and Gordon McKandie, along with MSP for Moray, Richard Lochhead, met with the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Health, Shona Robison, to raise first-hand the events surrounding their son’s tragic death when he was struck by a car on 20th March while on his mountain bike.

The couple approached Mr Lochhead who met with Mrs McKandie in a surgery and arranged for the meeting with the Health Secretary to allow Mr and Mrs McKandie the opportunity to raise their concerns about the response times of the emergency services at the time of their son’s accident.

Mr Lochhead will also meet in July with the Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service to discuss ambulance cover in Moray and response times.

Following the meeting, Mr Lochhead commented:

"All our hearts go out to Mr and Mrs McKandie following the untimely loss of their much loved and popular son, Keiran. I commend them for showing determination at this very difficult time to pursue a number of issues to ensure that others can be helped in Keiran's name.

"I arranged today's meeting with Health Secretary Shona Robison after being contacted by Mrs McKandie to discuss response times of the emergency services at the time of Keiran's accident.

"Mr and Mrs McKandie wanted to me to take up a number of issues that emerged following the tragedy and the Health Secretary very helpfully agreed to meet my constituents at short notice.

"The meeting was very helpful with Ms Robison pledging to take the concerns seriously. 

"As well as agreeing to investigate Mr and Mrs McKandie's concerns over the response of the emergency services, Ms Robison praised their campaign to have defibrillators installed in every police vehicle in Scotland to save lives  and offered to work with them on delivering what they rightly view as an important part of Keiran's legacy. 

"As well as Mr and Mrs McKandie, other constituents have contacted me in connection with ambulance cover in Moray and I have also arranged a meeting with the Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service that will take place in Moray in July."

Mr and Mrs McKandie added:

“Gordon and I would like to thank Richard Lochhead and Shona Robison the health secretary for meeting with us to discuss, and move forward our concerns regarding the response times from the ambulance service, in relation to our beloved son Keiran’s accident.

Ms Robison expressed that she would raise our concerns with the appropriate services  investigate appropriately and communicate with us regarding outcomes. 

“Ms Robison firmly supported our campaign to install defibrillators into police cars and pledged to help us in the most appropriate route to take this forward as a legacy for Keiran.

“Keiran is and always will be our reason for living and it is unbearable for Keiran not to be part of our lives physically anymore. Keiran is our best friend and only child and  the pain of Keiran’s accident will be with us until the day we die, we will not allow him to be forgotten and will strive to ensure he has a legacy which will be carried forward into the future.  We will campaign in his name for improvements  and change to be implemented to ensure that  lives are saved. We appeal to  the people of Moray and Scotland to  support us with Keiran's legacy.

“If you have donated to Keiran’s fundraiser's, just giving page or personally Gordon and I would like to express our sincere gratitude on behalf of Keiran.

“If you have not donated and you wish to do so, please go to www.justgiving.com and search Keiran Mckandie where you can pledge your donation or you can contact us direct on 01343 551392."