Chamber
Plenary, 21 May 2008
21 May 2008 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Insulin Pumps
Speaker
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That the Parliament notes the considerable benefits that insulin pumps have for diabetics to help them to manage their condition; notes with concern the current restrictive criteria for eligibility for the use of insulin pumps which have contributed to insulin pump usage in Scotland being among the lowest in western Europe, with only around 0.75% of people with Type 1 diabetes using pumps in Scotland, compared with 15% to 20% in the United States of America and Germany; is concerned at the extreme regional disparity in uptake of insulin pumps across NHS boards, with only two patients receiving insulin pump therapy in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, compared with 42 in NHS Tayside in the most recent figures, despite all NHS boards having received funding for access to insulin pumps; supports the campaign of Diabetes UK to increase access to insulin pumps and welcomes the review being undertaken currently by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) of the eligibility for use of pumps in the NHS, and believes that further steps should be taken to ensure that new NICE guidance that seeks to relax access criteria is adopted swiftly in Scotland, to support all NHS boards to increase access to insulin pumps for patients with diabetes and to enable more training for health practitioners to support patients in moving to the use of pumps where it is clearly of benefit in the management of their diabetes.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S3M-1888, in the name of David Stewart, on increasing access to insulin pumps. The debate ...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes the considerable benefits that insulin pumps have for diabetics to help them to manage their condition; notes with concern the curr...
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to debate increased access to insulin pumps specifically, but also the bigger picture of diabetes and its role in health care manag...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I am pleased to take part in the debate and I commend David Stewart on lodging the motion. Since I entered Parliament five years ago, my focus and that of ma...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I am sorry—I do not want to be a spoilsport, and I should have said this earlier—but applause from the public gallery is not permitted.
Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to speak in this evening's debate and congratulate David Stewart on securing a members' business debate on this important topic.Som...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I, too, congratulate David Stewart on securing this debate. I am slightly disappointed that there are not more members in the chamber—indeed, one party is no...
James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to take part in this evening's debate on the provision of insulin pumps and congratulate David Stewart on bringing the issue to the...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Nicola Sturgeon):
SNP
I thank David Stewart for bringing the issue to the chamber, and I thank those in the public gallery who have attended to hear the debate. Like other members...
Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab):
Lab
We heard during the debate of the poor figures for Ayrshire and Arran. Given that, does the cabinet secretary feel it appropriate to get in touch specificall...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I am always happy to follow up issues individually with health boards, and I will return to the issue of variability across boards in a minute.As members are...
Meeting closed at 17:42.