Meeting of the Parliament 07 January 2020
I apologise to the Presiding Officer and to Tom Arthur for missing the first couple of minutes of Tom Arthur’s speech. During decision time, I realised that I had left my notes in my office, and I sprinted—I stress that I sprinted—all the way to the third floor to get them, and sprinted back down again. As I approached the chamber and my vision blurred, I had never been so relieved to be involved in a debate and to recognise that there are more defibrillators in the vicinity now than there were when we previously debated the subject.
I add my thanks and congratulations to Tom Arthur for securing time in the chamber for the debate. We often say that members’ business debates give MSPs the opportunity to highlight some of the good things that are happening in our constituencies and around the country without the shackles of party politics. This is certainly one such opportunity.
I acknowledge that Stuart McMillan has been a big supporter of and campaigner for installation of defibrillators in public places, following the harrowing experiences of Jayden Orr’s family in his constituency, and that he has had strong support from across the chamber in his efforts on behalf of his constituents. I am happy to include myself in that support.
The motion, which is on the fantastic efforts of the Levern Valley Defibrillator Community Partnership, which is spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Barrhead, gives me the added opportunity to highlight the importance of the third sector in our communities. Members will know that I am a great advocate of increased support for the third sector. The work is a great example of how the third sector is able to take positive action, where it is needed, without the red tape of legislation and without politics. The partnership saw a community issue and just went about solving it by collaborating with local businesses and East Renfrewshire Council.
From having no public access defibrillators across Barrhead, the partnership has raised and invested £25,000, and has installed 23 devices, which are now available 24 hours a day. Moreover—and just as important—LVDCP is offering free “Heartstart” defibrillator awareness courses to any people in the local area who would like to learn CPR and how to operate PADs.
That relates to a petition that was recently lodged with the Public Petitions Committee calling for CPR to be taught in the classroom to all pupils. It is great news that that will become a reality, with the support of the British Heart Foundation Scotland’s “Nation of lifesavers” campaign. The confidence that being able to save a life will give school pupils cannot be overstated. That skill and the achievement of passing the course are valuable. Members have heard me say that there are skills that are learned outside the classroom that are invaluable in academic achievement: that is one such skill. To have that sense of achievement, and confidence in that achievement, can have a positive impact on a pupil’s outlook.
I am not saying that learning how to save a life through CPR or how to operate a PAD could help a person to pass their maths exam. Actually, that is exactly what I am saying, because overcoming fear and grasping the opportunity—a colleague mentioned fear earlier on—is a learned mindset that can be applied across life. We can and should encourage that. All that we have to do is offer such opportunities.
The work is a great example of a community coming together for the betterment of people in it, and the people involved should be very proud of what they have achieved so far. It also speaks to the desire to bring healthcare closer to communities and to the drive for more personal responsibility in community health. People did it without help from Parliament. Perhaps there is a lesson there for all of us.
Once again, I thank Tom Arthur for bringing the debate to the chamber and for giving us the opportunity to congratulate a community on stepping up and making the change.
17:30