Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 29 May 2013
29 May 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Chronic Pain Services
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 family of four generations, with a great-grandmother, grandfather, father and son, it is fair to say that we are regular customers of the health service in one form or another.
The 2012 report, “Update Report on Scottish Pain Management Services” from Healthcare Improvement Scotland states that
“... pain is not consistently managed across the whole health and social care system at present”.
I was shocked to read that, according to the report, the average waiting time in Scotland for the first referral appointment is 11 weeks. Even that is not the full picture.
Based on my personal experience of waiting for appropriate treatment for several months, it is extremely debilitating if that is the real fact of the matter, given that some patients are sent from pillar to post and are often confused about what to do and where to go for real help. Patients can feel that their problem is not being taken seriously. In my case, I felt uncomfortable being given higher and higher doses of medication, while a proper solution to my problems was not being addressed—as I felt—immediately.
At one stage, a doctor suggested that I consider going private. As a member of the Labour Party, I was astonished that an NHS doctor would make such a suggestion. The doctor to whom I was speaking knew that I am a socialist and would never consider that option. I put that point to him and added, “You do appreciate that I’m a Muslim; despite that, if the press got hold of this, they would crucify me.” The doctor appreciated my dilemma and sought other ways in which he could help me.
I am glad that the Scottish Government has begun to deal with the issues around the inconsistency of chronic pain services. However, these are the early stages: the first steps. I genuinely wish the Government well, because a lot of people are suffering unnecessarily.
The postcode lottery in the provision of chronic pain services needs to be addressed. A lot of people use the phrase “postcode lottery” and assume that everybody understands. However, I think that the people who suffer really understand when they see the indifference that exists in communities, which can create a lot of ill-feeling. Not only is one suffering, but perhaps one also feels not as well looked after as other members of the community are.
Waiting times for access to chronic pain services need to improve. That has been demonstrated and we are aware of that.
I thank Jackson Carlaw for the description that he drew today of people who suffer from migraine. My wife suffered from migraine for years and until today I had not realised how badly I have treated her. I have never taken her ailment seriously. Today I will apologise to her, now that I realise how badly she suffers. When she moves around the house like somebody in outer space, I will now be able to understand why. I thank the member for that description, which I take on board.
I want to say to the cabinet secretary: sir, the Labour Party’s amendment is very reasonable. Our suggestion is not one that will challenge the cabinet secretary in accepting it, so I genuinely hope and wish that he will take it on board before the end of business. The issue is not party based; it is about caring for communities. I am a sufferer, and many others in the chamber today have shared their experiences. We are not looking at reports, or at the fancy graphs that consultants produce; we are talking about real people with real issues. We are speaking from experience and from our hearts. We wish the cabinet secretary well in what he is trying to do, and hence I cannot emphasise enough how important the amendment really is. I hope and wish that members will take on board our amendment.
15:54
The 2012 report, “Update Report on Scottish Pain Management Services” from Healthcare Improvement Scotland states that
“... pain is not consistently managed across the whole health and social care system at present”.
I was shocked to read that, according to the report, the average waiting time in Scotland for the first referral appointment is 11 weeks. Even that is not the full picture.
Based on my personal experience of waiting for appropriate treatment for several months, it is extremely debilitating if that is the real fact of the matter, given that some patients are sent from pillar to post and are often confused about what to do and where to go for real help. Patients can feel that their problem is not being taken seriously. In my case, I felt uncomfortable being given higher and higher doses of medication, while a proper solution to my problems was not being addressed—as I felt—immediately.
At one stage, a doctor suggested that I consider going private. As a member of the Labour Party, I was astonished that an NHS doctor would make such a suggestion. The doctor to whom I was speaking knew that I am a socialist and would never consider that option. I put that point to him and added, “You do appreciate that I’m a Muslim; despite that, if the press got hold of this, they would crucify me.” The doctor appreciated my dilemma and sought other ways in which he could help me.
I am glad that the Scottish Government has begun to deal with the issues around the inconsistency of chronic pain services. However, these are the early stages: the first steps. I genuinely wish the Government well, because a lot of people are suffering unnecessarily.
The postcode lottery in the provision of chronic pain services needs to be addressed. A lot of people use the phrase “postcode lottery” and assume that everybody understands. However, I think that the people who suffer really understand when they see the indifference that exists in communities, which can create a lot of ill-feeling. Not only is one suffering, but perhaps one also feels not as well looked after as other members of the community are.
Waiting times for access to chronic pain services need to improve. That has been demonstrated and we are aware of that.
I thank Jackson Carlaw for the description that he drew today of people who suffer from migraine. My wife suffered from migraine for years and until today I had not realised how badly I have treated her. I have never taken her ailment seriously. Today I will apologise to her, now that I realise how badly she suffers. When she moves around the house like somebody in outer space, I will now be able to understand why. I thank the member for that description, which I take on board.
I want to say to the cabinet secretary: sir, the Labour Party’s amendment is very reasonable. Our suggestion is not one that will challenge the cabinet secretary in accepting it, so I genuinely hope and wish that he will take it on board before the end of business. The issue is not party based; it is about caring for communities. I am a sufferer, and many others in the chamber today have shared their experiences. We are not looking at reports, or at the fancy graphs that consultants produce; we are talking about real people with real issues. We are speaking from experience and from our hearts. We wish the cabinet secretary well in what he is trying to do, and hence I cannot emphasise enough how important the amendment really is. I hope and wish that members will take on board our amendment.
15:54
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...