Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-06779, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on improving care and services for people with chronic pain. I invite...

The Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport (Maree Todd) SNP

I welcome today’s opportunity to discuss our commitment to support the health and wellbeing of people in Scotland who live with chronic pain. We can all expe...

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Lab

I welcome the input of the voluntary sector, which is so important in relation to self-management. However, people are obviously keen to know what resources ...

Maree Todd SNP

This year, we have already invested more than £700,000 in direct support of pain management services and the improvements that we set out in the plan. That i...

Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

How many follow-up appointments were provided within the target period? How long did people have to wait for follow-up appointments? The minister suggests th...

Maree Todd SNP

I know that there is a challenge with identifying follow-up appointments in the data that is collected. One of the commitments in the framework is to improve...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I advise members that we have no time in hand, so I must ask all members to stick to their speaking allocations or even to undercut those allocations, if tha...

Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con) Con

I want to describe a situation that many of us have experienced, and I would like members to imagine it—dental pain. The pain often comes on suddenly and is ...

Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP) SNP

The member can speak for his area, but I have been following up on the issue with NHS Forth Valley, and I am pleased to report that I have seen evidence of s...

Sandesh Gulhane Con

I would be happy to, but what I am calling for is a network of long Covid clinics, because that is how we will get treatment and help to patients who suffer ...

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Lab

I welcome the opportunity to debate this issue. The cross-party group on chronic pain has been calling for the Scottish Government to hold a debate on chroni...

Maree Todd SNP

Just to be clear on waiting time numbers, the numbers of people who are waiting to be seen are actually lower than before the pandemic and there has been a 7...

Jackie Baillie Lab

I always welcome good news. However, I will share with the minister figures that I have that show that chronic pain waiting times were just as bad before Cov...

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

I apologise for my brief absence from the chamber during the debate’s opening speeches. I had to attend to a call from my son’s school. I am pleased to spea...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

We move to the open debate. I remind members that there is no time in hand. Therefore, interventions must be absorbed within members’ speaking time. I call ...

Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to speak in this much-needed debate on chronic pain, and I hope that it will benefit patients who are dealing with that terrible life-diminishin...

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

We have all experienced pain, suffering or discomfort at some point in our lives but, for most of us, it does not—thankfully—last long and, after taking a co...

Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take a wee quick intervention?

Finlay Carson Con

I am sorry; I do not have time. What is provided might include treatment from a specialist physiotherapist, a specialist pain consultant or a psychologist, ...

Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) SNP

It is a pleasure to speak in the debate. I acknowledge the fundamental challenges in the provision of chronic pain services; there seems to be agreement acro...

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I have the privilege of being a co-convener of the cross-party group on chronic pain, alongside Rona Mackay and Miles Briggs. Like them, I am grateful to our...

Maree Todd SNP

As members will understand, at this time the cabinet secretary is spending every waking moment trying to resolve the issues that our NHS is facing in terms o...

Monica Lennon Lab

I thank the minister. I think that we are all keen to make the most of the time in the chamber today. We know about the long delays and the postcode lotteri...

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP

I send my regards and best wishes to my former colleague Dorothy-Grace Elder, who has campaigned without pause on the issue of chronic pain since at least 19...

Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland) (Green) Green

As many others have said today, chronic pain encompasses a wide range of conditions. For some, there are well-known progression and treatment options, but fo...

Kaukab Stewart (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the debate, which marks another step forward in the delivery of health and care services that understand and support people with chronic pain. I ha...

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con) Con

I will also start by paying tribute to the work that members of the cross-party group on chronic pain have done over the past 23 years and, in particular, by...

Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain are among the most common long-standing illnesses in Scotland. More than 29 per cent of the population, or 1.5 mi...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Emma Roddick, who will be the final speaker in the open debate. 16:29

Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP

It can be very difficult to access services for chronic pain, and in my experience, women find it particularly hard to be taken seriously by some healthcare ...