Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 06 January 2015
06 Jan 2015 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Mental Health
As I said in my opening speech, I welcome the consensus that is emerging for action on mental ill-health today. The debate has also highlighted some of the concerns around treatment and service availability. I am glad that the minister wants all boards to meet their HEAT targets within a year, but of course that might be difficult to do, with the loss of beds and the cuts to the numbers of experienced and specialist staff. We must recognise some of the weaknesses as well as the ambitions. If we do not, we will fail to make progress, which we cannot afford and none of us wants.
I was a wee bit disappointed in the Conservative and Labour amendments because they perhaps do not go far enough. They accept that there is parity between physical and mental health ill health, which I do not think is the case. The RCN says that it is not the case and the evidence is that GPs are not referring people to talking therapies because they know about the pressure on services.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-11975, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on mental health. As soon as Mr Hepburn is on his feet and ready, we...
The Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
I was nearly ready, Presiding Officer. I welcome my first opportunity as the minister with responsibility for mental health to debate improving Scotland’s m...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Do I have time, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You do not have much time.
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I will take a brief intervention.
Mary Scanlon
Con
Given that only one health board in mainland Scotland has achieved the 18-week target for CAMHS, when does the minister expect that all health boards will be...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I made the point that I expect all health boards to achieve the target this year. That is my expectation. We set the target for a reason and we expect the he...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I draw members’ attention to my interests as a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, a member of the British Medical Association and a chair in psych...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I welcome the minister to his new portfolio. There is considerable scope to do much more to improve mental health services. Mental health is one of those iss...
Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD)
LD
I congratulate Jamie Hepburn on his first Government motion and welcome him to his new post—I am pleased that mental health is included in his title. We will...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
On parity, the UK Government’s Health and Social Care Act 2012 provides that “The Secretary of State must continue the promotion in England of a comprehensi...
Jim Hume
LD
There is a difference, because south of the border the Government has provided in legislation that there is parity. The Government motion makes no great ref...
Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the minister to his new post. I sincerely hope that he and I can have a dialogue about mental health. There is a stigma around mental ill health. ...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I also welcome Jamie Hepburn to his job, in particular to his role as the minister for mental health, a role that I know he will give his full attention to. ...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the minister to his post, and I also welcome the many developments that have taken place in mental health since 1999. There has been a great deal o...
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
You need to bring your remarks to a close.
Malcolm Chisholm
Lab
I had a lot more to say about young people and mental health, but I am being told to stop, so I shall.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you. 16:51
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
We last debated mental health on 28 October, when we discussed a motion that Linda Fabiani lodged. It is good that we are returning to the subject today in G...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You need to bring your remarks to a close.
John Mason
SNP
At the weekend, I spoke to a Canadian who has worked all over the world and is currently working in Mozambique. He said that one thing that we must not forge...
Linda Fabiani (East Kilbride) (SNP)
SNP
Of course, this is a big subject. I know that Mary Scanlon feels that it is not given enough time, but it is a subject that affects so many people that we co...
Paul Martin (Glasgow Provan) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, welcome the minister to his new post. He should take in good spirit the robust exchanges that we have heard from a number of members, which should en...
Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the minister to his new role and welcome the tone that he struck in opening the debate. Broadly speaking, it has been a constructive debate. I wil...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We move to wind-up speeches. Jim Hume has four minutes. 17:07
Jim Hume
LD
As I said in my opening speech, I welcome the consensus that is emerging for action on mental ill-health today. The debate has also highlighted some of the c...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Will Jim Hume take an intervention?
Jim Hume
LD
I have only three minutes left, so I am sorry, minister. I am glad that Richard Simpson mentioned human rights because I am concerned that guardianships are...
Mary Scanlon
Con
I begin by addressing a couple of the points that Jim Hume made. We support the Government’s motion because of the level of interest that the Government has ...