Chamber
Plenary, 12 Dec 2007
12 Dec 2007 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Health Strategy
I, too, thank the cabinet secretary for the advance copies of her statement and the action plan. I put it on the record that the Scottish Conservatives acknowledge and appreciate the continuing commitment of all NHS staff.
We welcome much in the statement but, as we have had only an hour to read it and the action plan, we will need more time to read it more thoroughly. We welcome the reintroduction of the patients charter, which the Conservatives introduced in 1991, when it was not roundly accepted by every other political party in Scotland. I trust that the cabinet secretary will build on the excellent practice that the Conservatives set out in the patients charter all those years ago.
I welcome the increased role for community pharmacists and the identification of lead maternity care professionals.
Any measures to tackle MRSA and reduce hospital stays are welcome, but we would like more information on the evidence base for the MRSA proposal.
We welcome the additional spending on alcohol and drug treatments, but we are concerned about the evidence base on what works and is most effective. How will the cabinet secretary allocate funding to ensure value for money, achieve the best outcomes and—an issue that I have raised many times before—tackle any underlying mental health condition at the same time?
The additional funds to tackle obesity are welcome but, given the patchy service throughout Scotland and the fact that the Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network guideline on obesity is largely ignored, how will the considerable need that exists be met, and how will a consistent service be rolled out throughout Scotland?
I am concerned that two forms of local authority funding for mental health services have been abolished and that we will not know the local authority outcome agreements for mental health spending and outcomes until January. Will the cabinet secretary give a commitment that a driver or incentive will ensure that the money follows the patient for mental health services?
The cabinet secretary did not mention the importance of early intervention. In many cases, treating people for mild depression means that the condition does not become severe, chronic and enduring. Will she make a commitment on early intervention?
We welcome much in the statement but, as we have had only an hour to read it and the action plan, we will need more time to read it more thoroughly. We welcome the reintroduction of the patients charter, which the Conservatives introduced in 1991, when it was not roundly accepted by every other political party in Scotland. I trust that the cabinet secretary will build on the excellent practice that the Conservatives set out in the patients charter all those years ago.
I welcome the increased role for community pharmacists and the identification of lead maternity care professionals.
Any measures to tackle MRSA and reduce hospital stays are welcome, but we would like more information on the evidence base for the MRSA proposal.
We welcome the additional spending on alcohol and drug treatments, but we are concerned about the evidence base on what works and is most effective. How will the cabinet secretary allocate funding to ensure value for money, achieve the best outcomes and—an issue that I have raised many times before—tackle any underlying mental health condition at the same time?
The additional funds to tackle obesity are welcome but, given the patchy service throughout Scotland and the fact that the Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network guideline on obesity is largely ignored, how will the considerable need that exists be met, and how will a consistent service be rolled out throughout Scotland?
I am concerned that two forms of local authority funding for mental health services have been abolished and that we will not know the local authority outcome agreements for mental health spending and outcomes until January. Will the cabinet secretary give a commitment that a driver or incentive will ensure that the money follows the patient for mental health services?
The cabinet secretary did not mention the importance of early intervention. In many cases, treating people for mild depression means that the condition does not become severe, chronic and enduring. Will she make a commitment on early intervention?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson):
NPA
The next item of business is a statement by Nicola Sturgeon on the Scottish Government's health strategy. The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Nicola Sturgeon):
SNP
I am delighted to publish today our new action plan for health and well-being. "Better Health, Better Care" sets out a clear vision for the national health s...
Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab):
Lab
I thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement.I have one note of significant disappointment—although there are perhaps a few others—that minister...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank—or at least I think that I should thank—Margaret Curran for those questions. It is slightly depressing that although I have just published a wide-ran...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I, too, thank the cabinet secretary for the advance copies of her statement and the action plan. I put it on the record that the Scottish Conservatives ackno...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank Mary Scanlon for her questions and for asking them positively. I accept that all members will want more time to read the action plan—on recent eviden...
Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD):
LD
I, too, thank the cabinet secretary for the advance copy of her statement and action plan. Like others who received them, I thought that the 3,328 words of t...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Before I call the cabinet secretary to reply, I remind members that they may refer to her in many ways—as "cabinet secretary", as "minister" or as "Nicola St...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
That is better than how members sometimes refer to me outside the chamber—at least, it is better than how Margaret Curran sometimes refers to me.Ross Finnie ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
A large number of members have pressed their request-to-speak buttons, so questions should be brief and focused. I call Christine Grahame.
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I do not know why that is always said just before I get up to ask a question, but there we are.Quite rightly, the cabinet secretary stressed the commitment t...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank Christine Grahame for asking perhaps the most important question that could be asked about the action plan. She will recall that when the Cabinet Sec...
Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab):
Lab
The cabinet secretary has focused on making waiting times shorter for people to get into hospitals, but I have evidence of a sudden increase in patient waiti...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I assure the member that this Government gives absolute priority to tackling delayed discharges. Indeed, we have spent a long time discussing the topic in th...
Helen Eadie:
Lab
Absolute nonsense.
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Order.
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
That administration then set a budget to bring the overspend down to nil. That is the reality of what the new administration in Fife inherited—Interruption.
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Order.
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I know that the member might not like hearing the truth, but she might do well to listen. That is the reality of what the new administration inherited, and i...
Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
It is clear from the cabinet secretary's speech that the Scottish Government is looking for an NHS that is responsive to people's needs and available at the ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Order.
Ian McKee:
SNP
What I would like to say—if I am allowed to—is that, as a former GP, I am interested in and agree entirely with the cabinet secretary's proposal to extend GP...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank Ian McKee for those questions. I would have to come into the chamber wearing earmuffs in order not to hear the moans and groans of the Labour Opposit...
Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab):
Lab
The cabinet secretary's 25-minute statement to Parliament contained little more than we already knew, apart from new words for the principle—already accepted...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
There should be a question, Ms Craigie.
Cathie Craigie:
Lab
When will the Government initiate a debate on health? The SNP supported Bill Butler's member's bill on direct elections to NHS boards in the previous parliam...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
The member has spoken for long enough. Minister, will you answer, please?
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Cathie Craigie is absolutely right that my party supported Bill Butler's bill on direct elections. Unfortunately, her party did not, which is why the bill fe...
Cathie Craigie:
Lab
No, you haven't.
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Let me give her a few highlights of what we have done on health since the election in May.