Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 01 March 2023 [Draft]
01 Mar 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Dementia Strategy
It is now almost four years exactly since my mother passed away with dementia. The minister has mentioned this point once, and perhaps he will go on to elaborate. Obviously, it is very important that the individual who has dementia is given appropriate care—that is mentioned in the feedback summary that we have received today—but my sister and I did not really know how to deal with my mother’s dementia. In effect, she faded away in front of us; it was a hollowing-out of our much-loved mother.
What I am asking the minister to bear in mind is the fact that families who have family members with dementia need proper professional support, too. I hope that that will be baked into the future strategy.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-08053, in the name of Kevin Stewart, on dementia strategy. I invite members who wish to speak in the deba...
The Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care (Kevin Stewart)
SNP
I am very grateful for the opportunity to lead today’s debate on the progress that we have made in developing a new dementia strategy for Scotland. That incl...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
It is now almost four years exactly since my mother passed away with dementia. The minister has mentioned this point once, and perhaps he will go on to elabo...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
I said at the beginning that every one of us in the chamber has probably been touched by a family member or friend who has had to live with dementia, which i...
Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
Dementia is the on-going decline of brain functioning, typically presenting as memory loss, the slowing of thinking speed, the loss of mental sharpness and t...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
I hope that Sandesh Gulhane appreciates that all politicians in this Parliament will get real. We have just concluded a budget process in which lots of parti...
Sandesh Gulhane
Con
The national care service would be a great place to start. One of the SNP’s leadership candidates is making promises about money that he is going to find fro...
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am sure that most, if not all, members in the chamber have been impacted by dementia in some way. When I was a student, I worked in a care home as an activ...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
I recognise what Mr O’Kane said about accessing post-diagnostic support in certain places. The Government has put in an extra £3.5 million per annum to ensur...
Paul O’Kane
Lab
I recognise what the minister said about that investment, but I think that it is fair to say that that money was the restoration of previous cuts. Also, we h...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I am pleased to speak for the Liberal Democrats in this important debate. As we have heard, dementia is a devastating and often tragic condition that exacts ...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Does Alex Cole-Hamilton agree that there must also be respite for families, as it allows those suffering dementia to stay in the home but is also important i...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Absolutely. Martin Whitfield is right to bring the attention of the chamber to the fact that much of the unpaid care force in this country is exploited by th...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I am afraid that Mr Cole-Hamilton is in the closing part of his speech.
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
The Government’s motion correctly highlights the vital importance of care in our communities. One may wonder, then, why it is intent on disempowering the pro...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Cole-Hamilton, could you please conclude?
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
I will end here, Presiding Officer. Although the Government still has a lot to do, we will support the efforts that it is making.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Before we move to the open debate, I note that some members who, I believe, wish to speak have not yet pressed their request-to-speak buttons. I invite them ...
Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
I take this opportunity to highlight the growing need to improve support for those with dementia. Alzheimer Scotland advises that, worldwide, the number of a...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
The way that we talk about dementia is extremely important, and one of the things that has come out loud and clear from the panel is the use of language. Alr...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Minister, we are really tight for time. Ms McNair, I can give you the time back.
Marie McNair
SNP
The issues to be addressed by the strategy also include the gaps between policy and practice, the postcode lottery impact on the provision of support—which h...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I advise members that there is no time in hand, so any interventions will have to be incorporated into your allocated time, which will also need to be adhere...
Tess White (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
My wife and I were carers to two elderly parents with dementia. I have experienced the condition from both sides—as someone with caring responsibilities and ...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I very much welcome a debate on preparing a new dementia strategy, because it is a miserable, cruel disease that impacts on so many people, and it is increas...
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Our population is, on average, becoming older with each passing year. We must come to terms with the increased prevalence of dementia and related illnesses. ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to conclude.
Carol Mochan
Lab
We are not asking for much. We are just asking for the Government to live up to its own commitments. 16:50
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the debate and, indeed, the Scottish Government’s upcoming dementia strategy. My first job after I left school was in a care home, and my first pl...