Official Report search · Parliament Workbench

Committee

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee 24 February 2026 [Draft]

24 Feb 2026 · S6 · Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Item of business

Neurodivergence

Arthur, Tom SNP Renfrewshire South Watch on SPTV

:Those are very important points. I will ask Robby to come in, but first I reiterate the point about situations in which assessment and diagnosis are undertaken by someone acting in a private capacity who also works in the NHS naturally leading to the kind of comments that you very reasonably put forward. I will also offer the balancing point about assessments that are not undertaken in a way that we would regard as robust and so cannot provide that assurance. I reiterate the importance of ensuring that, when assessments are undertaken, they are holistic, rounded and consider the full range of potential issues, challenges, conditions or circumstances that pertain to that individual—Robby can speak to that in a professional capacity—and that we are in a position where we have that assurance.It may have been a witness from the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland who used the perhaps blunt expression,“if you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”—Official Report, Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, 20 January 2026; c 15.That is an important point in relation to risk around single-condition assessment. However, I recognise and reiterate your point that there will be those who are undertaking assessments in a private capacity who also work in the NHS.I am conscious of a range of views with regard to what the degree of utilisation of private capacity across healthcare should be. Clearly, there are very strong principles, and there is broad political consensus, which the Government is absolutely committed to, that the NHS should be free at the point of use. However, the issue of utilisation of private capacity has been raised. There are those who advocate it on the basis that it is a practical and pragmatic use of the capacity that is there, and there are others who raise what I think are fair and legitimate concerns around equity and fairness in the system. It is not always as straightforward as simply having an assessment and diagnosis outwith the NHS; it is about the on-going care and support that are required beyond that.I add those nuances of complexity, but that is in no way to dismiss the points that have been brought forward. I recognise that that view is widely shared, and I reiterate my reassurance to the committee that we are engaging seriously on the issue, but we recognise that there are challenges.Particularly in relation to what are described as shared care arrangements, but which are technically voluntary arrangements, it is not for ministers to seek to interfere in the decisions of the lead clinician or the general practitioner on whether to enter into any such agreement. However, I am conscious of the calls that have been made to the Government for greater clarity and consistency around policy. It is a complex area, and I assure the committee that we are giving it serious consideration. Would you like to add anything further, Robby?

Search Hansard contributions

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee 24 February 2026 [Draft]

In the same item of business