Richard Simpson MSP

Hello and welcome to my website. Thank you for taking the time to visit. I hope you will find it both useful and informative. My name is Dr Richard Simpson MSP and I represent the region of Mid Scotland and Fife as a member of the Labour party. Being brought up in Perth and having lived in the Stirling area for most of my adult life, I know the areas I represent very well. This local knowledge allows me to represent the people and their interests to the best of my ability.

I was previously a psychiatrist, with a specialist interest in drug and alcohol addictions. Between 2003 and 2007 I worked in Addiction medicine, dealing with treatment of patients with drug and alcohol addiction problems, first within Glasgow then as a Consultant Psychiatrist in charge of the Drug Addiction Team of West Lothian. I was also a General Practicioner for over 25 years and was a founder member and chair of the Strathcarron Hospice. I was an advisor to the Samiritans and worked with Women Offenders in Corntonvale Prison and was the medical advisor to 3 Local Authorities in Central Scotland on Adoption and Fostering. I hold an Honourary Professor Post in Pyschology at Stirling Univeristy.

I am a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the British Medical Association, and Scottish Association for Mental Health as well as a member of the Scottish Drugs Forum. These ongoing links to the world of health allow me to keep up to date and well informed on current issues. I am still highly active within these groups, and have a particularly keen interest in psychiatric areas, developed from my previous experience in this field.

With my experienced medical background, I have a keen interest in health issues and am currently a member of the Health and Sport Committee. I hold the role of Co-convenor in the Scottish Parliament Cross -Party groups on Drug and Alcohol Misuse and on Mental Health, as well as being a member of the Epilepsy, Golf, Palestine, Tobacco Control and Visual Impairment groups.

Outside of the Parliament, my hobbies are golf, gardening and watching rugby, (which I also used to play).

I am married with two children.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or if you wish to see my Scottish Parliament webpage then please click here.