Hansard

I thank my colleague Nanette Milne for securing tonight’s debate. I commend Grampian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association’s partnership with the local councils—including Aberdeen City Council—and with the Robert Gordon University, the sports centre that is mentioned in the motion, British Petroleum and the Aberdeen Petroleum Club. The association is a great example of how health is everyone’s business and not just the domain of the national health service.

The benefits of cardiac rehabilitation are undoubtedly significant, both for the patient and for NHS resources. For patients who have experienced cardiac events, cardiac rehab allows them to return to normal life and reduces by 26 per cent their chances of dying prematurely from heart disease. That is indeed significant. In 2008, less than 3 per cent of patients with angina and less than 1 per cent of patients who have suffered heart failure received cardiac rehabilitation, so much more needs to be done, obviously. As Nanette Milne said, the cost of cardiac rehab for one person is £600, whereas the cost for a heart bypass operation is £8,000, and a single day in a coronary care unit costs £1,400. Given that heart disease is the second most common cause of death in Scotland, cardiac rehabilitation not only saves lives but has a significant impact on NHS resources by cutting readmissions to hospital by 30 per cent.

The success of the Grampian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association is an example of best practice that I hope will be examined and rolled out, where appropriate, to the rest of Scotland. On its website, the GCRA states

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“In the Grampian Region area more than 16,000 people suffer from coronary heart disease. Fortunately with correct medical intervention and change of lifestyle many can and do live a normal life.”

Clearly, the voluntary sector plays an integral role in the association. With the support of the Government, more associations throughout Scotland could provide the level of support that is available in Grampian and more people who are affected even in a small way by cardiac events could benefit from such services.

That brings me to the Highlands and Islands. The geography and remoteness of many communities, together with poor transport links and a lack of suitably qualified staff, are undoubtedly challenging. Despite that, cardiac rehabilitation classes have been established, through funding from the Big Lottery Fund, the Highland News group, the British Heart Foundation and NHS Highland, and thanks to the dedication and commitment of many individuals.

Through the Highland heartbeat centre, which is based at Raigmore hospital in Inverness, it has been ensured that the majority of people can access classes within 30 minutes of their homes. Classes run from Wick in the north to Kingussie in Strathspey, and from Fort William in the west to Nairn in the east. It can be done. That will ensure that individuals can get access to experts, and advice on diet, medication, exercise and stress management wherever they are. Coupled with the classes, that provides a comprehensive and cost-effective way to rehabilitate people who have faced cardiac problems.

Community support in rural areas for people who have been newly diagnosed with cardiac conditions such as angina or heart failure remains underresourced. Brian Adam touched on that. I hope that the Scottish Government will allocate funds to support cardiac rehabilitation, particularly given the financial difficulties that face us over the next few years, which will undoubtedly impact on all public services.

Support groups such as those that exist in Grampian, which utilise the various skills of people in the voluntary sector and elsewhere, can have a positive and life-changing impact on those who have been affected by cardiac events. It is an example of putting the patient in the driving seat. Too often, patients are talked at and handed prescriptions. Initiatives such as those that we have been discussing give patients more control over their condition—it is a great example of putting money towards health benefits and the prevention of ill health.