Hansard

I am pleased to speak today about the mental health and wellbeing of people in Scotland who undergo cell therapies, including stem cell transplants and CAR-T treatment. I put on record my thanks to Bill Kidd for bringing the debate to the chamber, and I note, as he did, the significant cross-party support that the motion has received.

The cell therapies to which the motion refers represent some of the most advanced care that is delivered anywhere in the world. For people in Scotland who are living with blood cancers or rare blood disorders, the therapies can offer life-saving treatment and renewed hope. Our specialist centres, clinicians, researchers and nursing staff provide that care with expertise and dedication, often under significant pressure, and their contribution to Scotland’s health service is considerable. However, alongside those medical advances, there is an essential part of care that requires greater focus: the psychological experience of patients and their families through the cell therapy pathway. Bill Kidd outlined that very well.

The Anthony Nolan report provides clear evidence of the emotional impact of those treatments and offers insights that are directly relevant to Scotland. Cell therapy can involve lengthy hospital stays, intensive treatment regimes and extended periods of isolation. For many patients, that means time spent far from home, particularly for those living in rural and island communities who must travel to specialist centres. Separation from family, disruption to work and caring responsibilities, and uncertainty about outcomes place a significant emotional burden on patients. Many people experience anxiety, low mood and trauma-related symptoms during treatment and recovery, and adjusting to life after treatment can bring further challenges, including on-going health concerns and changes to identity and independence. Those experiences shape recovery and quality of life long after hospital discharge.

Families, carers and donors are deeply affected, too. Partners might take on caring roles while balancing employment; parents might support children through treatment far from home; and donors might carry an emotional weight that is connected to outcomes that they cannot control. Their wellbeing influences the patient journey and deserves recognition in our healthcare system.

The report highlights variation in access to psychological support across cell therapy services. Specialist mental health input is available in some settings and limited in others, as Bill Kidd has outlined, and routine screening for psychological distress is not consistently embedded in care pathways, which creates unequal experiences for patients across different parts of Scotland. That is an issue that I will take up directly with NHS Lanarkshire following the debate. The fact is that mental health care strengthens clinical care. Psychological support helps patients engage with complex treatments, manage uncertainty and navigate recovery, and early identification of distress allows for timely intervention and contributes better to long-term wellbeing.

The report offers practical recommendations that align well with Scotland’s commitment to person-centred care. First, specialist clinical psychologists should be integrated into all transplant and cell therapy teams within NHS Scotland. Their presence supports patients throughout treatment and recovery and enhances multidisciplinary working.

Secondly, staff across all disciplines should receive training to recognise and respond to psychological distress. That will build confidence, encourage compassionate conversations and support continuity of care.

Thirdly, peer support should be developed and supported across Scotland. Patients consistently value opportunities to connect with others who share similar experiences, and peer support can be particularly meaningful for those returning to communities where specialist services are less visible.

Fourthly and finally, families and donors should have access to appropriate psychological and practical support. That should also provide for guidance concerning the end-of-life period and bereavement.

Scotland has made clear commitments through its mental health strategies and with its approach to personalised care. Cell therapy pathways provide an opportunity to translate those commitments into action in one of the most intensive areas of modern medicine. By embedding psychological care alongside advanced treatments, NHS Scotland can improve patient experience, support families across urban, rural and island communities and promote recovery that addresses both physical and emotional wellbeing. Such an approach reflects the values of a health service that recognises the whole person and which supports people through every stage of treatment and beyond.

Cell therapies save lives, and with integrated mental health support, they can also help people across Scotland live well during treatment and in the years that follow. I encourage the Parliament in this session and, indeed, the next one to support the continued development of psychological care as a component of cell therapy services in Scotland. I look forward to the minister’s response to the points that have been raised this evening, and I again thank Bill Kidd for bringing the motion to the chamber.