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Jean McGivern Turner (born 23 December 1939) is a Scottish medical doctor and former Independent politician. She was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency from 2003 until 2007.

Early life and education

Turner was born in Glagow on 23 December 1939. She attended Hillhead High School before going on to study medicine at the University of Aberdeen, graduating with an MBChB in 1965.

Career

Medical career

After qualifying as a doctor, she worked as an anaesthetist registrar at the Southern General Hospital, then for 25 years as a general practitioner in the Springburn area in Glasgow.

In August 2007, she was appointed as chief executive of the Scotland Patients Association.

Political career

In 2001, a range of services at Stobhill Hospital were under threat and a "Save Stobhill" campaign had emerged. In March 2001 the constituency MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Sam Galbraith announced his resignation for health reasons, triggering a in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden Holyrood by-election of 2001. By April 44,000 had signed a petition. At the age of 61, having recently retired as a general practitioner, Turner entered the by-election as the independent "Save Stobhill" candidate. In that race, she finished second with 7,572 votes or 18%. She also campaigned against Labour's treatment of the NHS.

In October 2002, she confirmed that she would stand as candidate at the elections the following year. In the 2003 Scottish parliamentary elections, she stood again in Strathkelvin and Bearsden on the same platform she used in 2001. This time, Turner won the seat with 10,988 votes or 31%. She finished ahead of Labour's Brian Fitzpatrick, who was previously head of policy in Donald Dewar's policy unit.

She sat on the Health Committee during her time as a MSP.

In February 2007, Turner announced she would stand for re-election at the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, but lost her seat to the Labour candidate, David Whitton.

See also

Other doctors elected on similar platforms:

• Richard Taylor
• Kieran Deeny

References

1. ^ "New post for former MSP". Kirkintilloch Herald. 1 August 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
2. ^ "Kindly GP terrifies the opposition Independent candidate's bedside manner proves a winner on the stump in forgotten by-election". The Herald. Glasgow. 7 June 2001. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
3. ^ "Hospital campaign shakes by-election". BBC News. 8 June 2001. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
4. Turner, Jean Mcgiven. Oxford University Press. 2017. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
5. "One year on, our Save Stobhill campaign is as strong as ever". Kirkintilloch Herald. 3 January 2002. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
6. "Doctor set to contest Labour seat". The Scotsman. 7 October 2002. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
7. "GP in hospitals election fight". BBC News. 7 October 2002.
8. "UK | Scotland | Independents head to Holyrood". BBC News. 2 May 2003. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
9. "Campaigning doctor stuns Labour". The Scotsman. 2 May 2003. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
10. "Previous MSPs: Session 2 (2003-2007): Jean Turner". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
11. Dinwoodie, Robbie (12 February 2007). "Independent MSP Turner to stand again". The Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
12. "Labour reclaim Strathkelvin and Bearsden". Kirkintilloch Herald. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2017.

External links

• Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Jean Turner

• 1939 births
• Living people
• Politicians from Glasgow
• Independent MSPs
• 20th-century Scottish medical doctors
• Scottish general practitioners
• Scottish anaesthetists
• Female members of the Scottish Parliament
• Members of the Scottish Parliament 2003–2007
• People educated at Hillhead High School
• Alumni of the University of Aberdeen
• Springburn
• 20th-century Scottish women medical doctors
• Women anesthesiologists