Chamber
Plenary, 06 Jan 2010
06 Jan 2010 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing
I recall the strong evidence that we received from Professor Law.
The visit emphasised for me the real need to ensure not only that adequate services are made available but that those who work with young people have the skills and training to allow them to identify issues at an early stage. Other members mentioned that. As Christine Grahame said, even the pre-school stage is important if we are to prevent problems from developing further down the line. Clearly, as we heard in evidence, early intervention is a key priority in trying to deal with the issue.
We have to recognise the challenges in trying to make early interventions at the pre-school stage. My children go to pre-school, and I am not sure how I would react if a nursery nurse were to tell me that my son was presenting with emotional problems. If pre-school staff are to take on this role, we need to recognise the dramatic change that it may make in their relationship with parents. It would be extremely important to ensure that we train staff not only to recognise things but to do so to a deep and meaningful degree. There may be a need for measures to be instigated in programmes that pre-school establishments have in place. Also, if we expect staff to pick up and highlight issues to parents, it is crucial that the correct infrastructure is put in place to support them.
Much has been said on the need for professionals to pick up on issues, but we cannot get away from the fact that the first port of call in picking up on any children's mental health issue is the child's parent or carer. We should not expect health visitors or anyone else always to have to pick up on these things; parents have that responsibility. I took from the inquiry the need to ensure that parents have a better understanding of the issues around attachment and the emotional problems that can arise as the child develops, so that they can take action to address them when possible.
The framework addresses many of the fundamental problems that the committee highlighted in our inquiry report. I recognise fully the minister's personal commitment to the issue and that the Government is taking forward implementation of the framework. Although local authorities and health boards have the responsibility to take forward the framework in their local areas, I am concerned by the evidence that we heard about who exactly is in the driving seat. I am conscious that health boards and local authorities have different priorities at times and that it can be difficult to get them to agree. We should look to take forward interim measures that allow us to see whether progress is being made. I note the minister's comments and that she will work with the committee to address the matter.
The committee's report provides a detailed and considered focus on some of the deficiencies that exist in services for children and adolescents who have mental health problems. It is clear that those deficiencies have developed over a considerable period, and it is fair to say that the minister has been dealt a difficult hand in trying to sort out many of the issues. The minister and the Government have given priority to the framework. We are travelling in the right direction, and I hope that we will continue to give priority to the framework in the future so that we can make real change.
The visit emphasised for me the real need to ensure not only that adequate services are made available but that those who work with young people have the skills and training to allow them to identify issues at an early stage. Other members mentioned that. As Christine Grahame said, even the pre-school stage is important if we are to prevent problems from developing further down the line. Clearly, as we heard in evidence, early intervention is a key priority in trying to deal with the issue.
We have to recognise the challenges in trying to make early interventions at the pre-school stage. My children go to pre-school, and I am not sure how I would react if a nursery nurse were to tell me that my son was presenting with emotional problems. If pre-school staff are to take on this role, we need to recognise the dramatic change that it may make in their relationship with parents. It would be extremely important to ensure that we train staff not only to recognise things but to do so to a deep and meaningful degree. There may be a need for measures to be instigated in programmes that pre-school establishments have in place. Also, if we expect staff to pick up and highlight issues to parents, it is crucial that the correct infrastructure is put in place to support them.
Much has been said on the need for professionals to pick up on issues, but we cannot get away from the fact that the first port of call in picking up on any children's mental health issue is the child's parent or carer. We should not expect health visitors or anyone else always to have to pick up on these things; parents have that responsibility. I took from the inquiry the need to ensure that parents have a better understanding of the issues around attachment and the emotional problems that can arise as the child develops, so that they can take action to address them when possible.
The framework addresses many of the fundamental problems that the committee highlighted in our inquiry report. I recognise fully the minister's personal commitment to the issue and that the Government is taking forward implementation of the framework. Although local authorities and health boards have the responsibility to take forward the framework in their local areas, I am concerned by the evidence that we heard about who exactly is in the driving seat. I am conscious that health boards and local authorities have different priorities at times and that it can be difficult to get them to agree. We should look to take forward interim measures that allow us to see whether progress is being made. I note the minister's comments and that she will work with the committee to address the matter.
The committee's report provides a detailed and considered focus on some of the deficiencies that exist in services for children and adolescents who have mental health problems. It is clear that those deficiencies have developed over a considerable period, and it is fair to say that the minister has been dealt a difficult hand in trying to sort out many of the issues. The minister and the Government have given priority to the framework. We are travelling in the right direction, and I hope that we will continue to give priority to the framework in the future so that we can make real change.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-5453, in the name of Christine Grahame, on the Health and Sport Committee's report, "Inquiry into child a...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Your rebuke is noted by me. I was en route and I apologise.First, I take this opportunity to thank all who gave oral and...
That the Parliament notes the conclusions and recommendations contained in the Health and Sport Committee's 7th Report, 2009 (Session 3):
Report on the Inquiry into child and adolescent mental health and well-being (SP Paper 309).
The Minister for Public Health and Sport (Shona Robison):
SNP
Happy new year to all health colleagues.I thank the committee very much for bringing the important issue of child and adolescent mental health services to th...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I want to ask specifically about an issue that Christine Grahame rightly raised: that universal screening appears to end at eight weeks. That is not even the...
Shona Robison:
SNP
A new chief executive letter is about to be issued that will make it clear that there must be flexibility around the guidance. The guidance is simply guidanc...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
You have about a minute.
Shona Robison:
SNP
The promotion of mental health among infants, children and young people is one of our six strategic priorities that are set out in "Towards a Mentally Flouri...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I declare an interest as a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a member of SAMH.The whole area of children's services has been characterised ove...
Shona Robison:
SNP
Will the member give way?
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I am afraid that the member is about to sit down—even though he may not know it.
Dr Simpson:
Lab
Perhaps the minister can address the point that she was going to make when she sums up at the end of the debate.To conclude—
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Quickly, please.
Dr Simpson:
Lab
The framework is excellent; the timing is wrong. We need greater urgency on this matter, which must become a higher priority.
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I am sorry to start the year on a negative note but, having listened carefully to the minister, I must say that I was disappointed in what she said. If there...
Shona Robison:
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I have only 10 seconds left.My granddaughter received the measles, mumps and rubella jab at 15 months and her parents were told to bring her back at the age ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I am afraid that the member is stretching my patience a little bit.
Mary Scanlon:
Con
The Governments of Wales and Northern Ireland have in place national strategies for school counselling and its implementation, backed by ring-fenced funding ...
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
Clearly, not being a member of the committee presents me with a slight difficulty. As members know, I am more used to making a winding-up speech than an open...
Shona Robison:
SNP
Does the member acknowledge that the vast majority of children are referred much more quickly than that? The HEAT target is designed to ensure that there is ...
Jamie Stone:
LD
I note what the minister says.As I said just before the minister intervened, we need to ensure that children have timely access to mental health services no ...
Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
In the short time available to me I will concentrate on two matters that are covered in the committee's important report, which, sadly, received little publi...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab):
Lab
As the committee's excellent report and the accompanying evidence make clear, there is a great deal of continuity in mental health policy from the previous A...
Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP):
SNP
As a couple of members have said, mental health services are often called the Cinderella of our national health service. During the inquiry, I was struck by ...
Dr Simpson:
Lab
Professor James Law of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists said that it was bad not only that the number of referrals from health visitors wa...
Michael Matheson:
SNP
I recall the strong evidence that we received from Professor Law.The visit emphasised for me the real need to ensure not only that adequate services are made...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
The American declaration of independence declares that people have "certain unalienable Rights"and"that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
I can give Cathy Jamieson about four minutes.
Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab):
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer, for giving me the opportunity to make a brief contribution to the debate. I will focus on adolescents, but first I thank the co...