Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 29 May 2013
29 May 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Chronic Pain Services
I have great pleasure in speaking to my motion on chronic pain. In doing so, however, I want to pay tribute to those who have campaigned long and hard on the matter, some of whom are in the public gallery today. I hope that they will be cheered by what I have to say about the substantial progress that I believe we will make on chronic pain. I particularly mention Jacquie Forde, Susan Archibald—who led the petition to the Public Petitions Committee on the issue—and Dorothy-Grace Elder. All have campaigned very vigorously on behalf of the 800,000 or so people in Scotland who suffer from chronic pain.
I think that I am right in saying that the only other debate that we have had on the subject since the Parliament was established in 1999 was a members’ business debate that Dorothy-Grace Elder secured when we were in the other place up the road—I remember that the public galleries were full to the gunwales for that debate. I am delighted that we are having another debate not just because it means that we are talking about the subject but because we are acting in a number of ways to address it.
As I said, we estimate that about 800,000 people in Scotland suffer from chronic pain, of whom a quarter suffer from possibly life-long chronic pain syndrome. Also among that number are 70,000 children who suffer from what is by any standard a debilitating illness. Today, I will spell out the progress that has been made and, more important, look to the future with regard to our plans for taking matters forward.
Early on—indeed, about five or six years ago—we recognised chronic pain as an illness in its own right that required a dedicated solution, dedicated care and dedicated services, and the budgets to go with them.
I start by making absolutely clear the situation with regard to residential facilities. As we know, an average of 20 people every year have to go down to Bath to receive the specialist treatment that is available for sufferers of the most severe chronic pain. We intend to end that situation by ensuring that those facilities are available in Scotland.
We will consult on that because there are different ways of delivering such a service. First, we could establish a centre to serve the entire country; secondly, we could have a mobile service; and, thirdly, we could have a range of services in different parts of the country. However, as with all such services, we will consult patients and other stakeholders before we make a final decision on the most appropriate model. I give the guarantee that, once we take that decision and the facilities are in place, there should be no need for anyone to travel to Bath to get the support and services that they need.
I think that I am right in saying that the only other debate that we have had on the subject since the Parliament was established in 1999 was a members’ business debate that Dorothy-Grace Elder secured when we were in the other place up the road—I remember that the public galleries were full to the gunwales for that debate. I am delighted that we are having another debate not just because it means that we are talking about the subject but because we are acting in a number of ways to address it.
As I said, we estimate that about 800,000 people in Scotland suffer from chronic pain, of whom a quarter suffer from possibly life-long chronic pain syndrome. Also among that number are 70,000 children who suffer from what is by any standard a debilitating illness. Today, I will spell out the progress that has been made and, more important, look to the future with regard to our plans for taking matters forward.
Early on—indeed, about five or six years ago—we recognised chronic pain as an illness in its own right that required a dedicated solution, dedicated care and dedicated services, and the budgets to go with them.
I start by making absolutely clear the situation with regard to residential facilities. As we know, an average of 20 people every year have to go down to Bath to receive the specialist treatment that is available for sufferers of the most severe chronic pain. We intend to end that situation by ensuring that those facilities are available in Scotland.
We will consult on that because there are different ways of delivering such a service. First, we could establish a centre to serve the entire country; secondly, we could have a mobile service; and, thirdly, we could have a range of services in different parts of the country. However, as with all such services, we will consult patients and other stakeholders before we make a final decision on the most appropriate model. I give the guarantee that, once we take that decision and the facilities are in place, there should be no need for anyone to travel to Bath to get the support and services that they need.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-06746, in the name of Alex Neil, on ensuring access to high-quality sustainable services for people livin...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Alex Neil)
SNP
I have great pleasure in speaking to my motion on chronic pain. In doing so, however, I want to pay tribute to those who have campaigned long and hard on the...
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
May I potentially short-circuit the cabinet secretary’s consultation by saying that I think that we would welcome all three approaches?
Alex Neil
SNP
If the member got his Government to reverse its cuts, I might be able to afford all three.As there are at least three possible scenarios, I cannot accept Lab...
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
The cabinet secretary will be aware that chronic pain is often unseen and that, as such, it often goes unrecognised. Constituents have told me of their exper...
Alex Neil
SNP
Absolutely. We will publish a document fairly soon on the pros and cons of each model. We will then go out to consultation, and everybody will be free to hav...
Margo MacDonald (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
I thank the cabinet secretary for giving way, particularly when he was in full flow.I welcome the cabinet secretary’s remark about stakeholders, because folk...
Alex Neil
SNP
Margo MacDonald makes a very fair point. One of our clear objectives is to raise awareness in the medical profession of not only chronic pain but what can an...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate, not just on behalf of my party but as one of three co-conveners of the cross-party group on chronic p...
Alex Neil
SNP
Does the member accept that I am delivering on her manifesto commitment?
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I encourage the cabinet secretary to read the rest of our manifesto. If he delivered on all our manifesto commitments, I might have more praise for him.The c...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
Is there an agreed standard for the severity of chronic pain among the health boards? Is it staged and so on? How do the health boards judge the requirement ...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
There will indeed be standards, and the health boards will have a system that they operate. However, those are matters for clinical judgment rather than the ...
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I, too, welcome the many volunteers to the Parliament. I will not add to the flattery, because they have had 10 years of that and have found that it does not...
Aileen McLeod (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate on the important issue of chronic pain. I am pleased to see so many people in the public gallery to listen ...
Jayne Baxter (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
As we know, chronic pain has been the subject of parliamentary discussion for more than 10 years. The number of reports that have been produced on chronic pa...
John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the cabinet secretary’s motion on chronic pain. I come to the debate with the background of being one of the three co-conveners of the cross-party ...
Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The NHS faces many challenges, to which it often responds by delivering positive outcomes. However, chronic pain has been and still is the ghost in the machi...
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
I note that Mr Pearson’s speech seemed to be a speech of two halves, and that the tone of the first half was just a little bit wrong. I do not understand how...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You should draw to a close, please.
Bob Doris
SNP
As we move towards health and social care integration, health boards and local authorities should be looking to disinvest some of their funds in favour of su...
Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate from both a personal and a general perspective. I speak from a personal perspective in that, having suffered...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
He never told me.
Gil Paterson
SNP
I believe that the stigma that is attached to chronic pain and the lack of understanding of it have been reduced drastically over the past years. However, I ...
Hanzala Malik (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to talk about access to services for people living with chronic pain. I have personal experience of the issue. As I come from a fam...
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, welcome the campaigners to the gallery, particularly the petitioner Susan Archibald. I had the great pleasure of hearing Susan speak at the recent de...
Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Joan McAlpine
SNP
No—I want to make progress.I am fortunate in not having suffered serious illness in my life; indeed, I have experienced severe pain on only two or three occa...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
I appreciate that the member wants to make headway, but I note that two or three members have already referred to going to Bath as if it were like going to M...
Joan McAlpine
SNP
The member makes a reasonable point; indeed, I was just about to address the substance of her comment.I welcome the fact that the cabinet secretary will cons...