Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 29 May 2013
29 May 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Chronic Pain Services
I believe that the stigma that is attached to chronic pain and the lack of understanding of it have been reduced drastically over the past years. However, I am pleased that the Scottish Government continues to attach such importance to the issue, because almost 18 per cent of the Scottish population might have been affected at some point in their lives. I am sure that members will agree that that amounts to a large proportion of our people and makes it more than likely that nearly every family in Scotland has a member or friend who has at one time or another suffered from chronic pain.
In recent years, there has been a marked improvement in tackling pain—not only in attitude, but in action. The establishment of a national lead clinician in 2009 was an important step, as it acknowledged the impact that chronic pain has on the lives of so many people and led to today’s debate. The Scottish Government should be praised for funding that position, as we are now seeing its hard work come to fruition. The national chronic pain steering group, which was established by the lead clinician, has played a fundamental role in developing a model that will help all sufferers.
Over a number of years, the steering group has developed the Scottish service model for chronic pain, which offers a valuable approach to dealing with the varying and complex levels of the condition. To ensure the best outcomes for the care and support of people living with chronic pain, there must be a complete understanding of what chronic pain is and how best to treat it. The challenge for the service model is to ensure that that is the case. I believe that we are on the right road to improving the understanding of chronic pain as well as its prevention and management.
A recent concern regarding care for those with chronic pain is the disparity in the range of services and resources in different health boards. I believe that, with the implementation of the service model across NHS Scotland, that variation will be addressed, which will have a positive impact on sufferers across Scotland. I am pleased that the Scottish Government is fully committed to implementing the service model, but that will happen only through close co-operation between the Government, the national lead clinician, the steering group, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the health boards.
At present, a number of people have to travel outwith our country to the Bath centre for pain services. I make it clear that I would have travelled to the ends of the earth to relieve the pain that I suffered from, but it is good that the Government is taking action on that. I welcome the Government’s commitment to consult interested parties to ensure that specialist facilities are available here in Scotland. To be honest, I am not sure what the best model is. I like the idea of consulting and talking to all interested parties, as we should engage with people, rather than do it ourselves.
Since 2007, there has been a huge improvement in the provision of chronic pain services, but we must never rest on our laurels. We must continue to build on that improvement and, if members support the motion, I believe that positive progress will be made.
15:49
In recent years, there has been a marked improvement in tackling pain—not only in attitude, but in action. The establishment of a national lead clinician in 2009 was an important step, as it acknowledged the impact that chronic pain has on the lives of so many people and led to today’s debate. The Scottish Government should be praised for funding that position, as we are now seeing its hard work come to fruition. The national chronic pain steering group, which was established by the lead clinician, has played a fundamental role in developing a model that will help all sufferers.
Over a number of years, the steering group has developed the Scottish service model for chronic pain, which offers a valuable approach to dealing with the varying and complex levels of the condition. To ensure the best outcomes for the care and support of people living with chronic pain, there must be a complete understanding of what chronic pain is and how best to treat it. The challenge for the service model is to ensure that that is the case. I believe that we are on the right road to improving the understanding of chronic pain as well as its prevention and management.
A recent concern regarding care for those with chronic pain is the disparity in the range of services and resources in different health boards. I believe that, with the implementation of the service model across NHS Scotland, that variation will be addressed, which will have a positive impact on sufferers across Scotland. I am pleased that the Scottish Government is fully committed to implementing the service model, but that will happen only through close co-operation between the Government, the national lead clinician, the steering group, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the health boards.
At present, a number of people have to travel outwith our country to the Bath centre for pain services. I make it clear that I would have travelled to the ends of the earth to relieve the pain that I suffered from, but it is good that the Government is taking action on that. I welcome the Government’s commitment to consult interested parties to ensure that specialist facilities are available here in Scotland. To be honest, I am not sure what the best model is. I like the idea of consulting and talking to all interested parties, as we should engage with people, rather than do it ourselves.
Since 2007, there has been a huge improvement in the provision of chronic pain services, but we must never rest on our laurels. We must continue to build on that improvement and, if members support the motion, I believe that positive progress will be made.
15:49
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-06746, in the name of Alex Neil, on ensuring access to high-quality sustainable services for people livin...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Alex Neil)
SNP
I have great pleasure in speaking to my motion on chronic pain. In doing so, however, I want to pay tribute to those who have campaigned long and hard on the...
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
May I potentially short-circuit the cabinet secretary’s consultation by saying that I think that we would welcome all three approaches?
Alex Neil
SNP
If the member got his Government to reverse its cuts, I might be able to afford all three.As there are at least three possible scenarios, I cannot accept Lab...
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
The cabinet secretary will be aware that chronic pain is often unseen and that, as such, it often goes unrecognised. Constituents have told me of their exper...
Alex Neil
SNP
Absolutely. We will publish a document fairly soon on the pros and cons of each model. We will then go out to consultation, and everybody will be free to hav...
Margo MacDonald (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
I thank the cabinet secretary for giving way, particularly when he was in full flow.I welcome the cabinet secretary’s remark about stakeholders, because folk...
Alex Neil
SNP
Margo MacDonald makes a very fair point. One of our clear objectives is to raise awareness in the medical profession of not only chronic pain but what can an...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate, not just on behalf of my party but as one of three co-conveners of the cross-party group on chronic p...
Alex Neil
SNP
Does the member accept that I am delivering on her manifesto commitment?
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I encourage the cabinet secretary to read the rest of our manifesto. If he delivered on all our manifesto commitments, I might have more praise for him.The c...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
Is there an agreed standard for the severity of chronic pain among the health boards? Is it staged and so on? How do the health boards judge the requirement ...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
There will indeed be standards, and the health boards will have a system that they operate. However, those are matters for clinical judgment rather than the ...
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I, too, welcome the many volunteers to the Parliament. I will not add to the flattery, because they have had 10 years of that and have found that it does not...
Aileen McLeod (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate on the important issue of chronic pain. I am pleased to see so many people in the public gallery to listen ...
Jayne Baxter (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
As we know, chronic pain has been the subject of parliamentary discussion for more than 10 years. The number of reports that have been produced on chronic pa...
John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the cabinet secretary’s motion on chronic pain. I come to the debate with the background of being one of the three co-conveners of the cross-party ...
Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The NHS faces many challenges, to which it often responds by delivering positive outcomes. However, chronic pain has been and still is the ghost in the machi...
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
I note that Mr Pearson’s speech seemed to be a speech of two halves, and that the tone of the first half was just a little bit wrong. I do not understand how...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You should draw to a close, please.
Bob Doris
SNP
As we move towards health and social care integration, health boards and local authorities should be looking to disinvest some of their funds in favour of su...
Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate from both a personal and a general perspective. I speak from a personal perspective in that, having suffered...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
He never told me.
Gil Paterson
SNP
I believe that the stigma that is attached to chronic pain and the lack of understanding of it have been reduced drastically over the past years. However, I ...
Hanzala Malik (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to talk about access to services for people living with chronic pain. I have personal experience of the issue. As I come from a fam...
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, welcome the campaigners to the gallery, particularly the petitioner Susan Archibald. I had the great pleasure of hearing Susan speak at the recent de...
Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Joan McAlpine
SNP
No—I want to make progress.I am fortunate in not having suffered serious illness in my life; indeed, I have experienced severe pain on only two or three occa...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
I appreciate that the member wants to make headway, but I note that two or three members have already referred to going to Bath as if it were like going to M...
Joan McAlpine
SNP
The member makes a reasonable point; indeed, I was just about to address the substance of her comment.I welcome the fact that the cabinet secretary will cons...