Hansard

I, too, congratulate Dave Thompson on his motion and on securing the debate. I also add my thanks to Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, to the British Heart Foundation for its briefing, and to the Scottish heart failure nurse forum for circulating its review to members.

The review’s findings confirm that the service delivery model varies across the country, reflecting different geographic considerations and resource availability. However, it underscores that, in too many instances, boards are failing to deliver what is expected and required of them. Unlike Jackie Baillie and Dave Thompson, I can take absolutely no satisfaction from the situation in my board area, as I note that I am the member for the only board area—Orkney—where there is no specialist heart failure nurse.

I commend Bill Braby and the local heart support group in Orkney for raising the issue with me over recent months, and for their efforts in prosecuting the case for the reinstatement of a heart failure nurse in Orkney. As others have said, Dave Thompson set out very well the explanation behind the differences between heart failure, heart attacks and other cardiac conditions, as well as the increase in the prevalence against the backdrop of a reduction in the whole-time equivalents of heart failure nurses. That is a cause of concern for all of us, irrespective of how our boards are performing.

Specialist heart failure nurses can help patients to develop self-management strategies, as Nanette Milne said, so it is not surprising that the nurses are popular with patients and their families. Dennis Robertson talked about the importance of improved patient care. Specialist nurses also enable patients to be more independent and less isolated. In Orkney, as in many rural areas, that is exceptionally important.

Specialist nurses reduce unplanned hospital admissions and the length of hospital stays. In Orkney, where many patients must travel off island, that reduces transport costs and limits the number of arduous journeys that patients must undertake. Therefore, I was hugely concerned to hear that the post in Orkney ceased to exist after British Heart Foundation funding ended in 2010.

I acknowledge the excellent work of the cardiac specialist nurse in Orkney—Amanda Manson does phenomenally good work. I also acknowledge the work of the heart failure liaison service. As a result of the efforts of Bill Braby and his colleagues, and as a result of discussions with NHS Orkney, progress of sorts has been made in recent months. More administrative support has been put in, to allow Amanda Manson and her colleagues to focus on front-line delivery, and I understand that there is recruitment of a consulting GP with expertise in cardiology, although the post will not come into effect until October.

However, questions remain. What procedures will be able to take place in Orkney as a result of the recruitment of the cardiology specialist? What is happening in relation to replacing the retired cardiology lead in Orkney? There remains a lack of resilience in the liaison and cardiology services in relation to covering illness and holidays. All that points to the continuing need for a specialist heart failure nurse in Orkney.

Dave Thompson talked about the findings of the Public Audit Committee. I was unaware of Derek Feeley’s remarks in December about the establishment of a heart failure short-life working group. Like Dave Thompson, I very much hope that the group has met—indeed, I expect that it will have done so, if the deadline was spring 2013. I encourage the minister to ensure that the group considers how the specific issues that relate to Orkney might be addressed.

I congratulate Dave Thompson on securing the debate, and I look forward to hearing what the minister has to say.

18:07