Chamber
Plenary, 26 May 2005
26 May 2005 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
National Health Service<br />(Age Discrimination)
First, I make it clear that Ms Robison has given her excuses to the Presiding Officer for not being here for the conclusion of the debate.
I preface my main remarks with a recognition that the vast majority of staff in our hospitals are decent, caring people, who frequently work under pressure and in understaffed conditions. That hits home most when older people are involved. They require that most precious commodity of all: time—time to help them with their meals; time for staff to toilet them; and time to stop and talk. That has been recognised by many members, including Stewart Maxwell.
I acknowledge what Carolyn Leckie said. The debate is not an attack on staff in hospitals; however, it is about what is happening to some—to many—of our people. This is where I take issue with some of what the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care said, although I acknowledge and welcome the comments that she has made and the steps that she is taking following the two tragic cases that we have been discussing. I cannot agree that the problems are not systemic. I simply do not know whether what happened to Mrs Dick and Mrs Irons is or is not part of something systemic. There are too many such examples. I will not go through the case of my own mother, which I covered in a members' business debate, but just about everybody sitting in the chamber has an example to give. It is when a tragedy takes place that we focus on the issues. People are being neglected: they are unable to feed themselves and they are not being looked after. Their cases might not become tragedies, but they are being treated in that way because they are elderly, and people do not have time to look after them.
I will put the matter into context. I say to Richard Baker that there are, indeed, instances of direct discrimination. He said that there is no such policy, but there is. Historically, clinical trials and medical research tend to exclude older patients, yet they can be given medication that has not been tested on them. Screening programmes for breast cancer apply to women aged between 50 and 70, who are called regularly, but after the age of 70, women are not called and must apply, despite the fact that the chances of developing breast cancer increase as women get older. Help the Aged's very helpful briefing paper states:
"One estimate has suggested that 1500 lives could be saved annually if the programme was extended to older women".
Therefore, there are policies that directly affect older people.
I want to concentrate on the indirect discrimination that has been described in some speeches. The use of the term "bed blocker" stigmatises older people. They are talked about as if they are a category, like furniture. In fact, older people are individuals. They are as quirky as Mike Rumbles.
I preface my main remarks with a recognition that the vast majority of staff in our hospitals are decent, caring people, who frequently work under pressure and in understaffed conditions. That hits home most when older people are involved. They require that most precious commodity of all: time—time to help them with their meals; time for staff to toilet them; and time to stop and talk. That has been recognised by many members, including Stewart Maxwell.
I acknowledge what Carolyn Leckie said. The debate is not an attack on staff in hospitals; however, it is about what is happening to some—to many—of our people. This is where I take issue with some of what the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care said, although I acknowledge and welcome the comments that she has made and the steps that she is taking following the two tragic cases that we have been discussing. I cannot agree that the problems are not systemic. I simply do not know whether what happened to Mrs Dick and Mrs Irons is or is not part of something systemic. There are too many such examples. I will not go through the case of my own mother, which I covered in a members' business debate, but just about everybody sitting in the chamber has an example to give. It is when a tragedy takes place that we focus on the issues. People are being neglected: they are unable to feed themselves and they are not being looked after. Their cases might not become tragedies, but they are being treated in that way because they are elderly, and people do not have time to look after them.
I will put the matter into context. I say to Richard Baker that there are, indeed, instances of direct discrimination. He said that there is no such policy, but there is. Historically, clinical trials and medical research tend to exclude older patients, yet they can be given medication that has not been tested on them. Screening programmes for breast cancer apply to women aged between 50 and 70, who are called regularly, but after the age of 70, women are not called and must apply, despite the fact that the chances of developing breast cancer increase as women get older. Help the Aged's very helpful briefing paper states:
"One estimate has suggested that 1500 lives could be saved annually if the programme was extended to older women".
Therefore, there are policies that directly affect older people.
I want to concentrate on the indirect discrimination that has been described in some speeches. The use of the term "bed blocker" stigmatises older people. They are talked about as if they are a category, like furniture. In fact, older people are individuals. They are as quirky as Mike Rumbles.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
We move, rather behind the clock, to the next item of business, which is a debate on motion S2M-2861, in the name of Shona Robison, on age discrimination in ...
Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the many families throughout Scotland that have written to me about the experience of their elderly relatives. It is because of their concerns that t...
The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Rhona Brankin):
Lab
I welcome today's debate on the standards of care for older people in the NHS. We have published standards that are both high and equitable and we all expect...
Shona Robison:
SNP
I accept, as I am sure the minister does, that there are lots of documents that say what should be done. However, does she agree that the problem is that wha...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Clearly, there is no point in having standards if we do not ensure that those standards are met. That is the challenge that we face. NHS QIS was established ...
Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
Today's debate comes at an appropriate time in the wake of yesterday's publication of the Kerr report, which indicates a way forward for the NHS for the next...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
Coming a day after the publication of Professor David Kerr's report, this debate is opportune. After all, Professor Kerr's very first proposal is for"All NHS...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
We now come to the open debate. Time is very tight indeed and I ask members to make speeches of strictly four minutes.
Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
It is a sad day when, despite the hard work of many decent and caring staff in the service, we have to debate the indignity and lack of care that some older ...
Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP):
SSP
It is absolutely right that we should have a debate about age discrimination in the NHS. It is well known that the NHS is plagued with inequalities and has b...
Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab):
Lab
The provision of a high standard of health care is important to everyone in Scotland but particularly to our older people. The starting point for this debate...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Richard Baker:
Lab
I am sorry, but I have only four minutes.Older people are the most frequent users of NHS services. Day in and day out, hundreds of thousands of older people ...
John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP):
SSCUP
I welcome the debate on Shona Robison's motion. Sadly, it reflects the lack of basic respect for the elderly that exists in our society and which manifests i...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
When we see discrimination against older citizens in the NHS, we often see a reflection of broader, societal discrimination against older people. I make no p...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab):
Lab
In 25 years' time, there will be more people of retirement age in Scotland than there will be children. The biggest growth will be in the number of people wh...
Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green):
Green
Two separate and yet connected issues have been referred to in the debate: age discrimination and neglect of the elderly. As various members have pointed out...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
We move to winding-up speeches. I call Donald Gorrie and advise him that he has a tight four minutes.
Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
I apologise for missing the first part of the debate. The pressure on members in trying to get agreement on amendments to legislation is unrelenting. There a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
You must finish now, Mr Gorrie.
Donald Gorrie:
LD
That would help to reduce the problem and change people's attitude. They would see how much older people can contribute.
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
It is sad indeed that we are discussing problems relating to the elderly, given the number of debates that we have held in the Parliament and the amount of l...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
We have all listened carefully to the debate. The issue is emotive and hugely important and, as I said in my opening speech, there is absolutely no room for ...
Mary Scanlon:
Con
Will the minister give way?
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I am sorry, but I do not have time.Let me respond to some specific points that were raised in the debate. Shona Robison referred to "Frontline Scotland" and ...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
First, I make it clear that Ms Robison has given her excuses to the Presiding Officer for not being here for the conclusion of the debate.I preface my main r...
Stewart Stevenson:
SNP
Surely not.
Christine Grahame:
SNP
They are as quirky as Andy Kerr and they are as different as Stewart Stevenson. By the way, he has now delivered his 200th speech. I do not know whether to w...