Chamber
Plenary, 14 Nov 2001
14 Nov 2001 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Mental Health Law
I will address two matters, one of which is advocacy, to which others have referred. Individual advocacy has been discussed, and I do not doubt that the minister will respond on that today or on publication of the bill. I would like to raise the issue of collective advocacy. The Millan report seems to have been diluted in the Executive's response, and I have some concerns about that. I will highlight that by dealing with the issue as it affects the area that I represent.
In Grampian, a move has been made to establish a patients council in Aberdeen, but resources are an issue. Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust is responsible for the council, which is part of its priorities, but it is an insufficiently high priority for the trust to find funding. If we leave the situation as it is, the Executive's response will mean that patients will continue to have only the right to have a council as a priority and will not have a council established. That should be a duty.
We should support user groups along the lines of those that have been established in the Highland area, perhaps based on local authority boundaries or other suitable boundaries. However, we will have to find resources for them. Unfortunately, when local decision making is left to local health authorities, there is no guarantee that such groups will be created, as long as the decision is discretionary. Advocacy must be clearly established as a priority and not as something that simply ought to happen. That should be in the bill.
I will also talk about reciprocity. If we are to compulsorily treat individuals, greater care must be taken of them. As I understand it, the Millan committee recommended that people who are compelled to take medicine should have the cost of that medicine covered by the state. As far as I can see, that requires an extension of the legislation. In the past, I have raised concerns with the minister about cases involving individuals with on-going mental health problems who choose not to take medication because they cannot afford to do so. The minister is aware that, when people who suffer from manic depression do not take their medication, the risk of suicide is greatly increased. The bill gives an opportunity to rectify that by extending the list of prescription exemptions for those who suffer from enduring and severe mental illness. I ask the minister to give some consideration to that suggestion.
In Grampian, a move has been made to establish a patients council in Aberdeen, but resources are an issue. Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust is responsible for the council, which is part of its priorities, but it is an insufficiently high priority for the trust to find funding. If we leave the situation as it is, the Executive's response will mean that patients will continue to have only the right to have a council as a priority and will not have a council established. That should be a duty.
We should support user groups along the lines of those that have been established in the Highland area, perhaps based on local authority boundaries or other suitable boundaries. However, we will have to find resources for them. Unfortunately, when local decision making is left to local health authorities, there is no guarantee that such groups will be created, as long as the decision is discretionary. Advocacy must be clearly established as a priority and not as something that simply ought to happen. That should be in the bill.
I will also talk about reciprocity. If we are to compulsorily treat individuals, greater care must be taken of them. As I understand it, the Millan committee recommended that people who are compelled to take medicine should have the cost of that medicine covered by the state. As far as I can see, that requires an extension of the legislation. In the past, I have raised concerns with the minister about cases involving individuals with on-going mental health problems who choose not to take medication because they cannot afford to do so. The minister is aware that, when people who suffer from manic depression do not take their medication, the risk of suicide is greatly increased. The bill gives an opportunity to rectify that by extending the list of prescription exemptions for those who suffer from enduring and severe mental illness. I ask the minister to give some consideration to that suggestion.
In the same item of business
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NPA
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Lab
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The Presiding Officer:
NPA
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Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP):
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Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab):
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Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
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Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab):
Lab
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SNP
From now, speeches are down to four minutes.
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Con
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Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
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Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab):
Lab
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