Meeting of the Parliament 16 January 2025
I, too, thank Tim Eagle for securing the debate.
Access to health and social care in the Highlands and Islands is poor, which is borne out by the Scottish Human Rights Commission spotlight report that we debated earlier today. The availability of social care is declining. Since 2022, 218 social care beds have been lost in the Highland Council area alone, and the lack of social care is putting pressure on primary care when people await discharge to suitable accommodation. The lack of suitable support or accommodation means that people are trapped in hospital and, because of that, hospitals cannot admit other people for treatment, which leads to lengthening waiting lists all over the place.
Back in 2021, the Feeley review recommended a human rights-based approach, whereby people are aware of and can advocate for their rights, and can easily access and maintain the care that they need. That recommendation has not been met and, sadly, things have simply got worse. The situation is even more distressing for those who are in their final days. Time that should be spent at home, surrounded by loved ones, is spent trapped in hospital.
The Scottish Human Rights Commission recommends human rights-based budgeting that provides services that fit the needs of the people who access them. The lack of access to gynaecological services and maternity care in rural areas is unacceptable.