Chamber
Plenary, 05 Jun 2008
05 Jun 2008 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Remote and Rural Health Care
Indeed. However, my point is that if the community had not brought forward that initiative, there would be no joint funding. It was the community that raised the money, pulled forward the initiative and then drew down the money from both the national health service and local government to make it work. Getting the two services to work together to provide similar services in other areas has proved difficult, and I suggest that communities be given that amount of input to services that are delivered locally. Indeed, the services that are delivered in places such as the Howard Doris centre could be added to telemedicine and the like to ensure that local people could attend clinics remotely and would not have to travel to centres.
The report talks about ambulance service technicians undertaking planned home visits to carry out risk assessments. Ambulance staff form part of the emergency service, so I imagine that it is difficult—if not impossible—for them to play a part in planned health care. Patient transport service staff could do the job more easily. Unfortunately, patient transport staff are thin on the ground in rural areas—indeed, the service depends on volunteers who are not properly compensated for their time and expenses. That is a false economy, as the patient transport service has been forced to use taxis, which is hardly a good use of public money.
I welcome what the report says about education, and I pay tribute to union learning reps who identify training needs in remote and rural areas. I also pay tribute to the university of the Highlands and Islands, which offers education up to degree level in rural health care. I suggest that that is a suitable institution to develop remote and rural health care education and training.
I recently became acutely aware of the challenges of providing health care in remote and rural areas when members of my family were unwell. What is a worrying time under normal conditions takes on a whole new dimension when one is struggling with distance. In providing services in remote and rural areas, we must ensure that the needs of the patient are central. In implementing the report, we must force out services on the ground—that must be our priority.
The report talks about ambulance service technicians undertaking planned home visits to carry out risk assessments. Ambulance staff form part of the emergency service, so I imagine that it is difficult—if not impossible—for them to play a part in planned health care. Patient transport service staff could do the job more easily. Unfortunately, patient transport staff are thin on the ground in rural areas—indeed, the service depends on volunteers who are not properly compensated for their time and expenses. That is a false economy, as the patient transport service has been forced to use taxis, which is hardly a good use of public money.
I welcome what the report says about education, and I pay tribute to union learning reps who identify training needs in remote and rural areas. I also pay tribute to the university of the Highlands and Islands, which offers education up to degree level in rural health care. I suggest that that is a suitable institution to develop remote and rural health care education and training.
I recently became acutely aware of the challenges of providing health care in remote and rural areas when members of my family were unwell. What is a worrying time under normal conditions takes on a whole new dimension when one is struggling with distance. In providing services in remote and rural areas, we must ensure that the needs of the patient are central. In implementing the report, we must force out services on the ground—that must be our priority.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson):
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S3M-2056, in the name of Nicola Sturgeon, on remote and rural health care. I remind members th...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Nicola Sturgeon):
SNP
I am happy to open yet another health debate. I suspect that there are members here this morning who have not been home since last night's member's business ...
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD):
LD
I have heard that mantra on many occasions. It is, however, disingenuous. Although the baseline grant has not been affected for this year, boards such as Bor...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Jeremy Purvis came in right on cue when I was talking about irresponsible members. What I said is not a mantra; it happens to be the truth. No health board w...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
No—I have to move on and discuss the Liberal Democrat amendment. The amendment is sensible, because a funding formula should not be static. It should be kept...
Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab):
Lab
On what I hope is a consensual note, I begin by saying that Labour feels that this is certainly a welcome debate on an important issue. Health care in remote...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I am more than happy to engage in debate, but debate usually involves suggesting solutions as well as making criticisms. Does Margaret Curran agree that she ...
Margaret Curran:
Lab
I think you should pay attention to the exact details of what I said. My argument is not about the amount but about the share, and you know that full well, c...
The Minister for Public Health (Shona Robison):
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Margaret Curran:
Lab
No. I did Nicola Sturgeon the courtesy of taking an intervention, but she did not do me the same courtesy. I would prefer it if you would allow me to pursue ...
Shona Robison:
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Margaret Curran:
Lab
No, thank you.We are talking about the range of resources from funding for ambulance services to funding to ensure equal access to major Government commitmen...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Margaret Curran makes an important point, but will she acknowledge that the appointments in NHS Western Isles that have attracted much criticism were made un...
Margaret Curran:
Lab
I say with the greatest respect that the cabinet secretary has missed the point. The point is not party political. Laughter.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Order.
Margaret Curran:
Lab
The point is not political. It is about the NHS's management. The NHS's appointments procedures are governed not by politicians, but by its administration. W...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
Margaret Curran talked about Western Isles NHS Board. On behalf of all of us and for the sake of NHS staff and patients in the Western Isles, I hope that peo...
Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD):
LD
I am delighted that we are having a debate on rural health care, as this is the first occasion since the new Government was formed on which I have been able ...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
Will the member give way?
Ross Finnie:
LD
No—I will press on, because I want to make a point about the purpose of our amendment that I hope will be helpful to Mary Scanlon and other Conservative memb...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
We move to the open debate. Speeches should be around six minutes, please.
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I welcome the temperate and considered speech that my colleague on the Health and Sport Committee, Ross Finnie, has just made.The foreword to "Delivering for...
Margaret Curran rose—
Lab
Christine Grahame:
SNP
I want to move on. I have only six minutes in total.On staff issues, we should consider the delays in implementing the agenda for change. That is not a Scott...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
I am pleased to take part in this debate on remote and rural health care and I welcome the report. The cabinet secretary is pleased to endorse its recommenda...
Shona Robison:
SNP
The member has just said that the report referred to the minimum level of service that we would expect. Where there are more comprehensive services, we would...
Rhoda Grant:
Lab
I am grateful to the minister for that reassurance. I am sure that the people of Caithness will be grateful for it, too.The report states that there has been...
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
The Howard Doris centre is funded jointly by NHS Highland and Highland Council. Does Rhoda Grant agree that there is a question mark over Highland Council's ...
Rhoda Grant:
Lab
Indeed. However, my point is that if the community had not brought forward that initiative, there would be no joint funding. It was the community that raised...