Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 04 December 2018
04 Dec 2018 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Thyroid and Adrenal Testing, Diagnosis and Treatment
I note that point. Given that I have 30 seconds left, we will perhaps discuss that outside the chamber.
I support Elaine Smith’s important ask that the Health and Sport Committee undertake a short inquiry. It would be important to use that to follow up the conclusions and recommendations in the Public Petitions Committee’s report.
Today’s debate is an important step forward, and the Public Petitions Committee has been helpful in moving the debate forward. For the sake of all the people whom we represent, we must see real progress on the implementation of the recommendations.
15:23In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-14984, in the name of Johann Lamont, on the “Report on petition PE1463: Effective thyroid and adrenal tes...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
The Public Petitions Committee has been considering PE1463 since 2012. I only recently became the convener of the committee, but it is my privilege to speak ...
Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Does the convener acknowledge that even patients who are on the standard T4 treatment can have symptoms that they do not know are associated with the thyroid...
Johann Lamont
Lab
The evidence suggests—as do constituents who have spoken to me—that there is, across the board, a fundamental lack of understanding of the impact of the cond...
The Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing (Joe FitzPatrick)
SNP
I thank the Public Petitions Committee for securing the debate, and the convener, Johann Lamont, for moving the motion. I offer my personal thanks to the pe...
Elaine Smith
Lab
I will come to this issue again in my own speech. Would the minister expect health boards to get in line with that approach and not stop people getting T3 or...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
What people are experiencing on the ground is really important. The guidelines make it clear that, if T4 is not working for an individual, the endocrinologis...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
As Johann Lamont said, this particular petition has exercised the Public Petitions Committee for some time. I would like to thank the petitioner, Sandra Whyt...
Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I have made many speeches in this chamber over 20 years but this is one of the most important. It is quite literally a matter of life and death, including my...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you. We turn now to the open debate. 15:00
David Torrance (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)
SNP
I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to speak today, because I was on the Public Petitions Committee when the petition was lodged in 2012. Since th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
I remind people in the gallery that we do not permit applause in the public area. Thank you very much. 15:06
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
I thank Sandra Whyte for highlighting the importance of thyroid-related conditions and for working so hard to get us to this point. I also thank Elaine Smith...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
It has been more than a year since we last debated access to T3 for people who suffer from thyroid conditions. That begs the question: what has changed? I fe...
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
This has been an excellent and well-informed debate. I thank the Public Petitions Committee for its hard work. I particularly acknowledge the contribution of...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I, too, think that it is important that we pay tribute to the petitioners and thank the Public Petitions Committee for giving Parliament the opportunity to a...
Elaine Smith
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The member is in his last minute. If he does not mind losing a little time, he can give way.
Miles Briggs
Con
Okay.
Elaine Smith
Lab
Unfortunately, although two other companies produce the drug, the price is not coming down.
Miles Briggs
Con
I note that point. Given that I have 30 seconds left, we will perhaps discuss that outside the chamber. I support Elaine Smith’s important ask that the Heal...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
I am very grateful to members who have shared their experiences this afternoon, and I appreciate the work that members have put into advancing the issue on b...
Miles Briggs
Con
In the debate, the useful point has been made that there is a postcode lottery across Scotland. As Jackie Baillie suggested, will the minister commit to writ...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
I will come to that point. I re-emphasise that the Scottish Government’s position is that T3 can be prescribed by an endocrinologist if it is considered to ...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I very much welcome the minister’s confirmation, but will he monitor whether boards pay attention to him?
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
I suspect that, if boards are not paying attention to me, many members will ensure that I am aware of that. If people cannot access the treatment that we all...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Angus MacDonald to close the debate on behalf of the committee. You have a tight seven minutes, Mr MacDonald. 15:29
Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
When the Parliament last debated this issue, and the petition, in Elaine Smith’s members’ business debate, I gave her an assurance that the Public Petitions ...
Elaine Smith
Lab
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I think that the deputy convener might have misheard me, because I said earlier that the price does not seem to have ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
As a former Deputy Presiding Officer, Elaine Smith knows that that is not a point of order, but I will let it pass—I am in a good mood.