Chamber
Plenary, 25 Nov 1999
25 Nov 1999 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Carers Strategy
I welcome the minister's comprehensive speech and, like all the other members who have spoken today, the strategy for carers.
It is good that we have moved the hidden army of 500,000 carers to centre stage today. I welcome Mr Gray's comments that that is where they will remain—certainly throughout the life of this Administration. That hidden army allows us to have a semblance of community care in this country.
Some have attempted to quantify care in terms of money—that is a crude way of doing it. However, Bill Aitken's comments, which related the issue to the social care budget, showed starkly how much we rely on carers and where we would be without them. People throughout Scotland are struggling to care for their relatives, friends and— as Richard Simpson said—their neighbours. Those people have their own lives to live. They have livings to earn. Children who are carers have rights as children—the right to education and the right to be able to go out to play.
People have the right to leisure. That is why respite care is fundamental; I am pleased that the Executive is finding extra money, particularly for respite care. Other members have said that respite is not about having one week or two weeks off. Respite means having regular time away. That will make all the difference, so I am pleased about what has been announced today.
Many carers are struggling on their own with little or no assistance from public services. We must identify carers much earlier in the process, support them and learn from them what their needs are and how we can assist them.
Through personal experience as a representative, and through speaking to people at surgeries, I know that caring has an impact on the health of many carers. That is why assessment of them, as well as assessment of the people for whom they are caring, is essential. That is particularly the case for those who are caring for people with degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease or mental health problems. I know from constituents that such factors have a real impact on the health of carers. If they try to take respite care, they often feel guilty, which we should do something about.
It is crucial that carers' involvement in the services has been moved to centre stage, that the minister has met carers groups and representatives before today's debate, that carers will have a say in the services that are delivered by local authorities with the extra money that has been announced today, and that, in the coming months, carers will be involved in the working group that will produce draft legislation. I welcome those elements of best practice; I hope that they will be seen in action.
Carers tell me that they want to have a say in the services that are available to them and to the people for whom they care. Of course they want access to greater resources, but some of the things that they want are very simple. They want their voices to be heard and they want access to information. As Iain Gray said, they do not want to have to stumble on the best information and care only when they are lucky enough to bump into somebody.
Like other members, I welcome the fact that we are highlighting the role of young carers. As an Edinburgh councillor for several years, I came into contact with the Edinburgh Young Carers Project. We should be doing everything that we can to support projects such as that throughout Scotland. There is no point in tackling the problems that an individual has if we are allowing their carer to slip into a lifetime of difficulties with education and the ability to hold down employment in later life.
It is important to remember that the support that carers need can be simple. Many carers have to give medication, lift people or give some other form of health care, as the chief medical officer's bulletin in July rightly highlighted. That may be where primary care people can play their part.
Like other members, I welcome the strategy. It is only a first step, but it is a good first step. Many of the things that the minister and others have said today, and the way in which they have been said, are to be applauded and supported.
It is good that we have moved the hidden army of 500,000 carers to centre stage today. I welcome Mr Gray's comments that that is where they will remain—certainly throughout the life of this Administration. That hidden army allows us to have a semblance of community care in this country.
Some have attempted to quantify care in terms of money—that is a crude way of doing it. However, Bill Aitken's comments, which related the issue to the social care budget, showed starkly how much we rely on carers and where we would be without them. People throughout Scotland are struggling to care for their relatives, friends and— as Richard Simpson said—their neighbours. Those people have their own lives to live. They have livings to earn. Children who are carers have rights as children—the right to education and the right to be able to go out to play.
People have the right to leisure. That is why respite care is fundamental; I am pleased that the Executive is finding extra money, particularly for respite care. Other members have said that respite is not about having one week or two weeks off. Respite means having regular time away. That will make all the difference, so I am pleased about what has been announced today.
Many carers are struggling on their own with little or no assistance from public services. We must identify carers much earlier in the process, support them and learn from them what their needs are and how we can assist them.
Through personal experience as a representative, and through speaking to people at surgeries, I know that caring has an impact on the health of many carers. That is why assessment of them, as well as assessment of the people for whom they are caring, is essential. That is particularly the case for those who are caring for people with degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease or mental health problems. I know from constituents that such factors have a real impact on the health of carers. If they try to take respite care, they often feel guilty, which we should do something about.
It is crucial that carers' involvement in the services has been moved to centre stage, that the minister has met carers groups and representatives before today's debate, that carers will have a say in the services that are delivered by local authorities with the extra money that has been announced today, and that, in the coming months, carers will be involved in the working group that will produce draft legislation. I welcome those elements of best practice; I hope that they will be seen in action.
Carers tell me that they want to have a say in the services that are available to them and to the people for whom they care. Of course they want access to greater resources, but some of the things that they want are very simple. They want their voices to be heard and they want access to information. As Iain Gray said, they do not want to have to stumble on the best information and care only when they are lucky enough to bump into somebody.
Like other members, I welcome the fact that we are highlighting the role of young carers. As an Edinburgh councillor for several years, I came into contact with the Edinburgh Young Carers Project. We should be doing everything that we can to support projects such as that throughout Scotland. There is no point in tackling the problems that an individual has if we are allowing their carer to slip into a lifetime of difficulties with education and the ability to hold down employment in later life.
It is important to remember that the support that carers need can be simple. Many carers have to give medication, lift people or give some other form of health care, as the chief medical officer's bulletin in July rightly highlighted. That may be where primary care people can play their part.
Like other members, I welcome the strategy. It is only a first step, but it is a good first step. Many of the things that the minister and others have said today, and the way in which they have been said, are to be applauded and supported.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S1M-317, in the name of Iain Gray, on the Executive's commitment to the introduction of a carers strategy, an...
The Deputy Minister for Community Care (Iain Gray):
Lab
I welcome to the public gallery carers who have travelled from all over Scotland to be here today. Given the caring responsibilities that they have, that rep...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I can now give an interim answer to the point of order that was raised by Kay Ullrich. I understand that the parliamentary question was asked by Lewis Macdon...
Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
welcome the sentiments that the minister has expressed. I am sure that carers across Scotland will join me in regarding this as a first step in the long-over...
Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con):
Con
We welcome today's motion. I congratulate the minister and Kay Ullrich on their contributions to an evocative and important matter. The minister is also to b...
Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Mr Aitken says that the matter is not a question of finance and goes on to highlight the shortcomings in local government and the need to plough more money i...
Bill Aitken:
Con
Of course it is a question of finance, but it is also a question of enabling the people who might be on the periphery of making a contribution to do so. I do...
Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD):
LD
On behalf of the Liberal Democrats, I join in the plaudits to the deputy minister, who has produced a good paper and brought it before the chamber in an unde...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
A number of members want to speak in this afternoon's debate. I ask members to keep their speeches as close as possible to four minutes.
Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome today's debate. It is essential that our discussion of this issue is informed and constructive. We must move the carers agenda forward. The Scottis...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
Does the member for Airdrie and Shotts agree that the doubled allocation of resources for the provision of carers services, including respite care, displays ...
Karen Whitefield:
Lab
Yes, I agree.It is especially important that priority has been given to young carers. It is estimated that there are around 5,000 young carers in Scotland, a...
Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I, too, welcome the fact that we have highlighted young carers today and I wish to confine my remarks to that subject. I am glad that young carers are being ...
Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab):
Lab
I must begin by declaring that I still act as a medical adviser to foster carers in the former Central Region, now Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire. Th...
Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to debate this extremely important issue in Parliament. I will use my time to draw attention to the needs of the valuable people wh...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
There is time for one more speaker. I call Kate MacLean; you have three minutes.
Kate MacLean (Dundee West) (Lab):
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I will try to be brief. Iain Gray said that one of the first events he attended as a minister was a carers event. I wonder whet...
Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
On a point of order. Might it be noted when we have important debates such as this in future that ministers should not make statements prior to the debate? P...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Thank you. I understand the point of order.
Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
I welcome the minister's comprehensive speech and, like all the other members who have spoken today, the strategy for carers. It is good that we have moved t...
Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP):
SSP
On a point of order. It has been the practice for the Presiding Officer to indicate the number of members who wanted to speak in the debate but were unsucces...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I am not aware that that is a practice, Mr Sheridan. For your information, I believe that the number is three.
Tommy Sheridan:
SSP
Thank you.
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
Much of what I wanted to say has been said. I am delighted that there is such consensus on this issue. I would like to think that, whether in a small or in a...
Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I welcome the tone and substance of this debate. Members from all parts of the chamber have made good speeches. I am sure that the Minister for Health and Co...
Iain Gray:
Lab
Will Mr Hamilton give way?
Mr Hamilton:
SNP
I will not give way.The £5 million is a relaunch of money that has already been allocated. Welcome though that money is, let us not go down the track of sugg...
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon):
Lab
Let me say at the outset how genuinely pleased and proud I am to be standing here today shoulder to shoulder with Iain Gray and other members of the Executiv...
Kay Ullrich:
SNP
When the minister met representatives of local authorities, did they assure her that they were receiving adequate funding to provide community care services?
Susan Deacon:
Lab
Perhaps this is the appropriate point at which to address the SNP amendment. Amendments such as the one that has been moved today are dishonest and disingenu...