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Chamber

Plenary, 05 Mar 2008

05 Mar 2008 · S3 · Plenary

Item of business

Wheelchair Users <br />(Human Rights)

Robison, Shona SNP Dundee East Watch on SPTV

I congratulate Trish Godman on securing the debate. I assure her that I will of course take cognisance of what has been said and of members' views. The issue is important and sometimes very difficult for all those who have cause to access NHS wheelchair and seating services, as members have outlined, and who have waited too long for high-quality services throughout Scotland that meet their needs in participating fully in society.

I understand the frustration that has been expressed. Successive Administrations have promised much and delivered little improvement in the past 25 years. Reviews of rehabilitation technology services that were undertaken in 1982 and 1997 identified many of the same issues as are still with us today, including the need for the number of satellite services to be increased to bring services closer to patients; for improvements to patient transport arrangements; for efficiency savings in refurbishment procedures; for clearer definitions of the service's parameters; and for more integration with other service providers.

In opposition, we welcomed the previous Executive's independent review and the report "Moving Forward: Review of NHS Wheelchair and Seating Services in Scotland". That review was a direct result of the petition to Parliament in December 2004 by the late Margaret Scott of the Scottish wheelchair forum, whose daughter is disabled, which urged the then Executive to

"resolve the current critical problems in the provision of wheelchairs and specialist seating services within the NHS … through a review, which in consultation with users, will address minimum standards, the scope of equipment provided and the delivery of services."

The provision of wheelchair and seating services is a complex activity that impinges on social, housing and education services, as well as health services. A major challenge for all the stakeholders will be to establish an effective mechanism to achieve real change for the benefit of service users.

A further challenge will be to target areas in which changes will benefit the greatest number of users and carers, within a reasonable timescale and in ways that are cost effective to the NHS and its partners, while improving waiting times and providing services that continue to meet users' and carers' needs in the shorter term.

The disability equality duty, which came into force in December 2006, obliges public bodies, including the Government, proactively to identify and eliminate discrimination against disabled people and to promote positive attitudes to disabled people and their participation in public life. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force in 2007.

We know what we have to do. I reassure Jackson Carlaw that the review report is not gathering dust—far from it. As the review recommended, a project board has been established. The board's membership is wide and includes user and carer representation, which is important, as well as rehab technology professionals, service providers and equality representatives. The board is taking the work forward.