Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 05 November 2013
05 Nov 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Person-centred Healthcare
If I was Mr Findlay, I would make sure that I was speaking in the right debate when I said things. What he raises is more a procurement issue than an issue about the person-centred approach that we are debating today. This debate is about the individual and about making sure that we can deliver the approach that they want. I suggest that he brings his issue up at a later date when we talk about procurement.
In talking about person-centred healthcare, members will not be surprised if I mention multiple sclerosis, because everyone will be aware that my wife Stacey has MS. In Scotland, the incidence of MS per head of population is greater than it is anywhere else in the world. This year the Multiple Sclerosis Society published the report, “A lottery of treatment and care—MS services across the UK”, which we discussed in the chamber during MS awareness week. The report showed that there are things in Scotland that we are particularly good at, but also things that we still need to work on.
The positive thing is that after the debate, the Multiple Sclerosis Society wanted to work with us to create a cross-party group on MS for the first time in Parliament’s history, so that it could work with the Parliament, the Government and everyone else to see what we could do to make things better. We do not want to come along with a list of complaints every MS awareness week, but instead to work with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and people in the medical profession to make a difference, so that we are not just shouting from the sidelines but are taking an active approach. MS is a condition that is specific to the individual. Every patient is individual. A person-centred policy is perfect for someone who suffers with MS, because, as the minister said, it means that we are dealing with the person, rather than the condition. We have to make sure that we listen to the individual and not just look at their diagnosis or condition.
Regardless of the conditions, there are so many things that we can do. Keeping people healthy within their communities is really quite important. Earlier in the year, my mother was diagnosed with cancer and eventually died. During that period we considered giving her the opportunity to be at home—at one stage it was to be for a year or two years. Her plan was to make sure that she was with her family and within the community in order to make things better. Things did not work out for us, because her health got worse during that period. That is where the person-centred approach comes in. Of course, in that situation we have to consider the family and make sure that patients are with their families and in their communities at those difficult times. It is not just financially prudent; it is the right thing for us to do.
As a number of people have said, we face challenges with regard to our ageing population. The integration of health and social care for adults will help with that. Siobhan McMahon mentioned situations where there was not joined-up communication when an elderly person was coming out of hospital to return home, which meant that care was not available. The integration of health and social care will give us the opportunity to make sure that we can provide a complete rounded service for people and their families. There have been times in the past when we as politicians have had to intervene. That should never happen. Things should never get to that stage; it should always be part of the service.
The Scottish Government has protected health budgets. I was listening to some of the things that Mr Findlay said, and what he described is not the NHS that I recognise; it is not the NHS that is out there. The way he talked about some workers in the NHS in Scotland was negative. My wife has MS—a long-term condition. Other people who are genuinely engaged with the NHS on a regular basis do not recognise Mr Findlay’s belief about what the NHS is. The Scottish Government is to be commended for making investment in the NHS a priority. The increase in the resource budget to a record £11.8 billion in 2015-16 just tells us exactly how important the NHS is to the Scottish Government.
On the NHS, how we care for our people defines who we are. The Scottish Government has shown a commitment to the NHS. The person-centred approach is very welcome. If we do not support the people we serve, how are we relevant to them in the long term? I support the initiative and applaud the Scottish Government for its continued support for our national health service.
15:19
In talking about person-centred healthcare, members will not be surprised if I mention multiple sclerosis, because everyone will be aware that my wife Stacey has MS. In Scotland, the incidence of MS per head of population is greater than it is anywhere else in the world. This year the Multiple Sclerosis Society published the report, “A lottery of treatment and care—MS services across the UK”, which we discussed in the chamber during MS awareness week. The report showed that there are things in Scotland that we are particularly good at, but also things that we still need to work on.
The positive thing is that after the debate, the Multiple Sclerosis Society wanted to work with us to create a cross-party group on MS for the first time in Parliament’s history, so that it could work with the Parliament, the Government and everyone else to see what we could do to make things better. We do not want to come along with a list of complaints every MS awareness week, but instead to work with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and people in the medical profession to make a difference, so that we are not just shouting from the sidelines but are taking an active approach. MS is a condition that is specific to the individual. Every patient is individual. A person-centred policy is perfect for someone who suffers with MS, because, as the minister said, it means that we are dealing with the person, rather than the condition. We have to make sure that we listen to the individual and not just look at their diagnosis or condition.
Regardless of the conditions, there are so many things that we can do. Keeping people healthy within their communities is really quite important. Earlier in the year, my mother was diagnosed with cancer and eventually died. During that period we considered giving her the opportunity to be at home—at one stage it was to be for a year or two years. Her plan was to make sure that she was with her family and within the community in order to make things better. Things did not work out for us, because her health got worse during that period. That is where the person-centred approach comes in. Of course, in that situation we have to consider the family and make sure that patients are with their families and in their communities at those difficult times. It is not just financially prudent; it is the right thing for us to do.
As a number of people have said, we face challenges with regard to our ageing population. The integration of health and social care for adults will help with that. Siobhan McMahon mentioned situations where there was not joined-up communication when an elderly person was coming out of hospital to return home, which meant that care was not available. The integration of health and social care will give us the opportunity to make sure that we can provide a complete rounded service for people and their families. There have been times in the past when we as politicians have had to intervene. That should never happen. Things should never get to that stage; it should always be part of the service.
The Scottish Government has protected health budgets. I was listening to some of the things that Mr Findlay said, and what he described is not the NHS that I recognise; it is not the NHS that is out there. The way he talked about some workers in the NHS in Scotland was negative. My wife has MS—a long-term condition. Other people who are genuinely engaged with the NHS on a regular basis do not recognise Mr Findlay’s belief about what the NHS is. The Scottish Government is to be commended for making investment in the NHS a priority. The increase in the resource budget to a record £11.8 billion in 2015-16 just tells us exactly how important the NHS is to the Scottish Government.
On the NHS, how we care for our people defines who we are. The Scottish Government has shown a commitment to the NHS. The person-centred approach is very welcome. If we do not support the people we serve, how are we relevant to them in the long term? I support the initiative and applaud the Scottish Government for its continued support for our national health service.
15:19
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-08155, in the name of Alex Neil, on person-centred healthcare.14:12
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Alex Neil)
SNP
I thought that it would be useful for us to have a fairly wide-ranging debate on health and social care in Scotland, given where we are—particularly as we ar...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Before the cabinet secretary moves off the subject of GPs, will he address the system of GP appointments? In some practices, people have to take a ticket as ...
Alex Neil
SNP
We are already looking into it, and a number of pilot schemes have been carried out in Midlothian. In one GP surgery, the patients preferred not to have an a...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I begin by declaring an interest, in that my wife and daughter work in the NHS.I say at the outset that Scottish Labour shares and supports the good intentio...
Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
I take on board what the member is saying, but as he will know there have always been and will always be individual examples of people whose care does not me...
Neil Findlay
Lab
That might be the case from a survey, but I tend rather to speak to people on a daily basis who come to my surgery, email me and talk to me. I am sure that m...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I ask you to move your amendment, Mr Findlay.
Neil Findlay
Lab
I move amendment S4M-08155.1, to insert at end:“; commends the hard work and dedication of those working in Scotland’s health and care services, and calls on...
Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD)
LD
I, too, welcome the opportunity to participate in this afternoon’s wide-ranging debate.In 2010, when the Deputy First Minister introduced the Patient Rights ...
Alex Neil
SNP
I explain to the member that one reason why there are so many more vacancies is that there are many more jobs because we have doubled the number of consultan...
Jim Hume
LD
I am grateful for that, but the situation is worse with nurses and midwives. In June, there were 1,672.9 whole-time equivalent vacancies. The number of vacan...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Despite certain parts of the previous two speeches, I think—and hope—that the debate is likely to be another fairly consensual one on health. None of us can ...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
Is the member aware of the fact that the guidance that was issued on the quality outcomes framework in May this year, one month after it came in, ran to 224 ...
Nanette Milne
Con
I confess that I was not aware of that, but it is interesting information—I thank Dr Simpson.When my husband did GP locums after retiring from full-time prac...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Before we move to the open debate, I remind members that those who participate in the debate must be in the chamber for closing speeches at the end of the de...
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
I am delighted to speak in today’s debate on person-centred care. As deputy convener of the Health and Sport Committee, I often meet stakeholder groups in he...
Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Last week, I and a number of colleagues from Lanarkshire met Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s review team. During what I thought was a productive meeting, t...
Aileen McLeod (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate on a fundamental principle in the delivery of safe, effective and world-class care for the people of Scotla...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
The Scottish Government’s ambitious plans for person-centred healthcare are to be welcomed. The Scottish Government introduced its healthcare quality strateg...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Maybe I could mention the other side of self-directed support. People come to us from third sector organisations that provide person-centred support and they...
George Adam
SNP
If I was Mr Findlay, I would make sure that I was speaking in the right debate when I said things. What he raises is more a procurement issue than an issue a...
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The Royal College of Nursing tells us that person-centred care is one of its eight principles of nursing practice. It is a holistic approach based on mutual ...
Alex Neil
SNP
Our capital budget has been cut by 26 per cent this year alone. That cut originated from Alistair Darling. It is impossible to meet all the original commitme...
Margaret McCulloch
Lab
We support the protection of front-line services; that is not happening under the SNP’s watch.Meanwhile, plans for minor injuries units in places such as Cum...
Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
The ambition to have person-centred healthcare is not new, as I know from my many years as a health service librarian. More than 20 years ago, I worked in pa...
Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
We have heard much about what person-centred healthcare and support are. A 2011 Joseph Rowntree Foundation report entitled “Transforming social care: sustain...
Neil Findlay
Lab
I am sure that the member will be gracious enough to acknowledge that, because the Government could not meet the targets, the cabinet secretary had to change...
Mark McDonald
SNP
It is good to see that Mr Findlay does not accept the progress that the Government has been making on accident and emergency waiting times.During Mr Findlay’...
Dr Simpson
Lab
We passed an excellent Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 with a new complaints system that includes the four Cs: compliments, comments, concerns and complai...