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Chamber

Plenary, 05 Mar 2008

05 Mar 2008 · S3 · Plenary

Item of business

Wheelchair Users <br />(Human Rights)

Baillie, Jackie Lab Dumbarton Watch on SPTV

I join others in congratulating Trish Godman on securing the debate. Wheelchair services have been the subject of motions—Trish Godman has run with several in the past—petitions and even a Government review. However, like her, I do not think that we have gone far enough in achieving what can be described as even just a good service.

I associate myself with Trish Godman's remarks that the debate should unite the chamber. It is neither about having a go at the minister nor about looking again at what the problem is. We have had the review and identified the problem; the debate is about fixing the problem and providing solutions.

The independent review of NHS wheelchair services identified the clear need to invest more resources, to reduce waiting times and ultimately to improve the service. The previous Executive invested £1 million to reduce waiting times for this year. I understand that the Government has invested £4 million for next year and £6 million thereafter, and the money is welcome. Questions have been raised about whether that is enough, but I believe that we need to monitor how effectively the money is used to make the right changes in the service.

I echo Johann Lamont's call for a national strategy. Only when we bring the focus that the minister will bring to the issue will we see the change on the ground that we desire.

Let me put the debate into some context. People in all our constituencies have had a less than positive experience. The waiting times have been inordinately long, and I agree with Trish Godman that waiting time targets might just bring a much-needed focus. I invite the minister to consider that.

Let me give members a couple of real examples. The wife of one of my constituents is wheelchair bound. Her husband describes her wheelchair and the assessment process for procuring her wheelchair or any accessories as a disgrace. He tried for more than a year to find a suitable head rest and neck brace to support her. He was given the runaround about whom to contact for what: the neck brace was the responsibility of one organisation, while the head rest was the responsibility of another. Meanwhile, his wife remained in pain. He is also in a wheelchair, and he has now resolved to buy and repair his own wheelchairs. Clearly, that is not acceptable.

In another example, a mother encountered distressingly long waiting times for a wheelchair for her son, who has cerebral palsy. She ordered the chair, which arrived just under a year later. As they had waited for so long, the chair was too small. It then took another seven months for them to receive another wheelchair after an additional request. It sat in the offices at WESTMARC—the west of Scotland mobility and rehabilitation centre—for all that time due to a lack of staff to fit her son in the chair. Again, that is clearly not acceptable. What quality of life was there for that young boy?

What is happening is a fundamental breach of people's human rights, so I would be grateful if the minister would consider a national strategy, monitoring to ensure that the additional resources that are being made available are making a difference and finding additional resources on top of that if required.

The Parliament is at its best when we put aside our differences and focus on the key issues that matter. This is one such issue. For the sake of wheelchair users throughout Scotland, I invite the minister, with the Parliament's support, to fix the problem.