Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 March 2011
17 Mar 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Chronic Pain Services
Knowledge of the problem that faces us can never be ignored. Therefore, an audit of chronic pain and other conditions is desirable.
Although I do not know offhand the number of Scottish patients involved, the figures in the motion regarding costs and so on imply that they constitute a tiny percentage of the 20 per cent who experience severe chronic pain in Scotland. If that is so, the establishment in Scotland of a similar centre to the one in Bath would be a very expensive way to deal with the problem—an argument that holds little water with people who are in severe pain, as I can perfectly understand—and, which is much more important, it almost certainly would not deal with enough referrals a year for its staff to maintain the expertise that is needed for such a centre to be successful.
Cross-border traffic goes two ways: English patients come to Glasgow for paediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation—ECMO treatment. I would have hoped that a good unionist such as Mary Scanlon would see the benefits of that sort of co-operation.
Once more, Presiding Officer, I congratulate Mary Scanlon on obtaining this important debate, and I give you, your officials and others in the chamber my very best wishes for the future. Thank you for helping me to make my short parliamentary career so enjoyable. [Applause.]
Although I do not know offhand the number of Scottish patients involved, the figures in the motion regarding costs and so on imply that they constitute a tiny percentage of the 20 per cent who experience severe chronic pain in Scotland. If that is so, the establishment in Scotland of a similar centre to the one in Bath would be a very expensive way to deal with the problem—an argument that holds little water with people who are in severe pain, as I can perfectly understand—and, which is much more important, it almost certainly would not deal with enough referrals a year for its staff to maintain the expertise that is needed for such a centre to be successful.
Cross-border traffic goes two ways: English patients come to Glasgow for paediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation—ECMO treatment. I would have hoped that a good unionist such as Mary Scanlon would see the benefits of that sort of co-operation.
Once more, Presiding Officer, I congratulate Mary Scanlon on obtaining this important debate, and I give you, your officials and others in the chamber my very best wishes for the future. Thank you for helping me to make my short parliamentary career so enjoyable. [Applause.]
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan)
SNP
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S3M-7853, in the name of Mary Scanlon, on chronic pain services in Scotland. The debate wil...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
The previous debate on chronic pain in the Parliament was secured by Dorothy-Grace Elder in February 2002. Nine years on, now is a good time to take stock of...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I acknowledge the commitment to the issue of both Dorothy-Grace Elder and my colleague Mary Scanlon. As a pre-emptive strike, I beg a little flexibility from...
Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab)
Lab
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate. I thank Mary Scanlon for bringing the subject to the chamber and I acknowledge her long involvement...
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD)
LD
It is a pleasure to join the debate. I congratulate Mary Scanlon on her motion and I salute the work that she has done with her cross-party group on chronic ...
Mary Scanlon
Con
I should bring some balance to the debate. Having quoted Dorothy-Grace Elder saying that NHS Highland was a disgrace in 2002, I should also say that we now h...
Jamie Stone
LD
The intervention is fair and I accept the point entirely. I do not wish to denigrate NHS Highland; I simply wish to question its policy decision on the futur...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I apologise to you, Presiding Officer, and to colleagues for not being able to stay for the whole debate. I have commitments elsewhere in the building.Mary S...
Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP)
SNP
I congratulate Mary Scanlon on obtaining this members’ business debate. It is, perhaps, the last time that I will be able to contribute to parliamentary proc...
Mary Scanlon
Con
I asked for an audit to be carried out across Scotland to see whether we could justify having here in Scotland a specialised service similar to that which ex...
Ian McKee
SNP
Knowledge of the problem that faces us can never be ignored. Therefore, an audit of chronic pain and other conditions is desirable.Although I do not know off...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Thank you, Dr McKee.13:00
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I congratulate Mary Scanlon on securing the debate. She was right to pay tribute to Dorothy-Grace Elder, but Mary has taken up the role of being an advocate ...
The Minister for Public Health and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
I congratulate Mary Scanlon on securing a debate on such an important topic as chronic pain. The issue has interested her since the establishment of the Parl...
Mary Scanlon
Con
The royal college and others have said that there is no clear referral pathway in Scotland, apart from through the managed clinical network in Glasgow. Consu...
Shona Robison
SNP
Mary Scanlon’s point about the patient pathway is important. The solution is a managed clinical network. Good evidence is emerging from Glasgow on the benefi...