Chamber
Plenary, 11 Feb 2009
11 Feb 2009 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Accident and Emergency Services (Dementia)
It is never easy to be wedged between two doctors in a medical debate.
I thank Irene Oldfather for bringing this debate to Parliament. As one of the conveners of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Alzheimer's, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Irene for all the work that she has done on the issue, and for the commitment that she has shown. Given the amount of work that MSPs have, it is often difficult for us to attend meetings of cross-party groups, but they are a crucial part of our work and provide us with a great opportunity to work with service users and people who are experienced in understanding and providing services. Cross-party groups are a major part of our work that goes largely unnoticed outside Parliament, but the report is a success story for the cross-party group on Alzheimer's.
I would also like to thank Professor June Andrews, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the many others who contributed to the report. As people live longer, the problem that we are debating today is likely to become greater. Any increase in investment for training and services in order to reduce hospital admissions—emergency or otherwise—and to provide people with the appropriate care and treatment for their condition is welcome.
I met Irene Oldfather in the black and white corridor about an hour ago, and I have never seen her so happy. She was jumping for joy because all the recommendations in the report have been accepted by the Government. I know that the Government has also agreed to write to all NHS boards, attaching guidance on implementation of the six recommendations. Although I am ecstatically happy about that, it means that the rest of my speech is irrelevant, because it was all about campaigning on those issues.
I felt uncomfortable about campaigning for A and E departments to diagnose dementia, but I appreciate that that is not quite what we are asking for. From what I have read, I think that it is possible for tools to be used in order to highlight problems, and I accept that that will happen.
As Ian McKee said, the best approach has to be the preventive approach, given that 40,000 people with dementia live in the community and use general hospital services, and that a further 70 per cent of those with dementia who present at A and E departments have not received a formal diagnosis. I should also say that I endorse the point that Ian McKee made about home carers.
Delighted as I am with the Government's response, there are two points in it that we need to monitor because they concern issues that are not entirely in the Government's control. Since the Scottish Parliament was set up in 1999, we have been calling for health and social services to work together. In many communities, that partnership is excellent. However, in its response, the Government says:
"Multiple programmes should already be in place in the community".
I would say not only that they "should … be in place" but that the Government needs to check to ensure that they are in place and working.
Another concern involves cultural change, which is dealt with in point 5 in the Government's response. I appreciate that such change takes time, but there is no doubt that it can take place.
Recommendation 4 in the cross-party group's report states that better partnership working between health and social services is crucial, and that there must be better integration of information technology systems and more specialist assessments in the community. I do not think that the NHS and local authorities make best use of the IT systems that are available to them. We should not allow anything to stand in our way in that regard, because effective use of IT leads to more integrated, better informed and better quality services.
I commend the excellent—often unnoticed—work that is done by all cross-party groups in the Parliament. I acknowledge the success of the report of the cross-party group on Alzheimer's. I think that the Government's announcement of its intention to implement the report's recommendations will encourage many other groups to produce similar reports.
I thank Irene Oldfather for bringing this debate to Parliament. As one of the conveners of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Alzheimer's, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Irene for all the work that she has done on the issue, and for the commitment that she has shown. Given the amount of work that MSPs have, it is often difficult for us to attend meetings of cross-party groups, but they are a crucial part of our work and provide us with a great opportunity to work with service users and people who are experienced in understanding and providing services. Cross-party groups are a major part of our work that goes largely unnoticed outside Parliament, but the report is a success story for the cross-party group on Alzheimer's.
I would also like to thank Professor June Andrews, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the many others who contributed to the report. As people live longer, the problem that we are debating today is likely to become greater. Any increase in investment for training and services in order to reduce hospital admissions—emergency or otherwise—and to provide people with the appropriate care and treatment for their condition is welcome.
I met Irene Oldfather in the black and white corridor about an hour ago, and I have never seen her so happy. She was jumping for joy because all the recommendations in the report have been accepted by the Government. I know that the Government has also agreed to write to all NHS boards, attaching guidance on implementation of the six recommendations. Although I am ecstatically happy about that, it means that the rest of my speech is irrelevant, because it was all about campaigning on those issues.
I felt uncomfortable about campaigning for A and E departments to diagnose dementia, but I appreciate that that is not quite what we are asking for. From what I have read, I think that it is possible for tools to be used in order to highlight problems, and I accept that that will happen.
As Ian McKee said, the best approach has to be the preventive approach, given that 40,000 people with dementia live in the community and use general hospital services, and that a further 70 per cent of those with dementia who present at A and E departments have not received a formal diagnosis. I should also say that I endorse the point that Ian McKee made about home carers.
Delighted as I am with the Government's response, there are two points in it that we need to monitor because they concern issues that are not entirely in the Government's control. Since the Scottish Parliament was set up in 1999, we have been calling for health and social services to work together. In many communities, that partnership is excellent. However, in its response, the Government says:
"Multiple programmes should already be in place in the community".
I would say not only that they "should … be in place" but that the Government needs to check to ensure that they are in place and working.
Another concern involves cultural change, which is dealt with in point 5 in the Government's response. I appreciate that such change takes time, but there is no doubt that it can take place.
Recommendation 4 in the cross-party group's report states that better partnership working between health and social services is crucial, and that there must be better integration of information technology systems and more specialist assessments in the community. I do not think that the NHS and local authorities make best use of the IT systems that are available to them. We should not allow anything to stand in our way in that regard, because effective use of IT leads to more integrated, better informed and better quality services.
I commend the excellent—often unnoticed—work that is done by all cross-party groups in the Parliament. I acknowledge the success of the report of the cross-party group on Alzheimer's. I think that the Government's announcement of its intention to implement the report's recommendations will encourage many other groups to produce similar reports.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S3M-3215, in the name of Irene Oldfather, on recognising the needs of people with dementia...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes the launch of the report, People with Dementia in NHS Accident and Emergency - Recognising Their Needs, by the Cross Party Group on...
Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab):
Lab
I am grateful to all those across the political parties who signed the motion. I am particularly grateful to the members of the cross-party group on Alzheime...
Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate Irene Oldfather on obtaining this most important debate. I also commend the cross-party group for the sensible suggestions in its Alzheimer's ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I call Mary Scanlon, to be followed by Dr Richard Simpson.
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
It is never easy to be wedged between two doctors in a medical debate.I thank Irene Oldfather for bringing this debate to Parliament. As one of the conveners...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I add my congratulations to Irene Oldfather for today's result. It is a testament to the hard work that she has put in, and to the hard work of others such a...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
I begin by thanking Irene Oldfather not only for securing this evening's debate but, more important, for her tireless and tenacious work in trying to help ma...
The Minister for Public Health (Shona Robison):
SNP
I thank Irene Oldfather for bringing this important debate to the Parliament. We have led the way in making dementia a national priority. I welcome the suppo...
Mary Scanlon:
Con
In my reading and preparing for the debate, an issue that MSPs have raised over the years was once again brought to my attention. I refer to the problems of ...
Shona Robison:
SNP
Quite a lot of work has been done on the issue, particularly considering the new role of the senior charge nurse. We want to ensure that those in that leader...
Meeting closed at 17:39.