Chamber
Plenary, 01 Oct 2008
01 Oct 2008 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Action on Thrombosis
I agree that research should be done, and that not enough has been done into the causes of DVT and its treatment. However, I still hold that it is wrong to embark on an expensive population screening programme until treatment is available that can be offered to the people whom the screening turns up. That is the general principle of screening. In the absence of the availability of such treatment, we will just frighten people without giving them any benefit.
As Trish Godman said, the general risk factors that predispose people to suffering from DVT are obesity, cigarette smoking and stasis or the slowing of circulation that can arise as a result of long aircraft flights or sitting in the chamber listening to debates for three hours, for example. It is extremely important that we emphasise to the public that those are risk factors.
There are two other measures that we should take. Most cases of DVT are diagnosed in primary care. We should make it easy for people who work in primary care to refer patients to hospital—they should not have to encounter the battery of reasons that junior hospital doctors provide for not referring a patient. In many cases, especially among the elderly, DVT is a sign that cancer is present in the body, in which case it is no good just treating the DVT and not investigating whether there is a factor in the patient's background that could be causing the problem.
In general, I am extremely pleased that we are having a debate that will highlight an important problem. I can support most of the motion, except the part of it that calls for population screening.
As Trish Godman said, the general risk factors that predispose people to suffering from DVT are obesity, cigarette smoking and stasis or the slowing of circulation that can arise as a result of long aircraft flights or sitting in the chamber listening to debates for three hours, for example. It is extremely important that we emphasise to the public that those are risk factors.
There are two other measures that we should take. Most cases of DVT are diagnosed in primary care. We should make it easy for people who work in primary care to refer patients to hospital—they should not have to encounter the battery of reasons that junior hospital doctors provide for not referring a patient. In many cases, especially among the elderly, DVT is a sign that cancer is present in the body, in which case it is no good just treating the DVT and not investigating whether there is a factor in the patient's background that could be causing the problem.
In general, I am extremely pleased that we are having a debate that will highlight an important problem. I can support most of the motion, except the part of it that calls for population screening.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The final item of business today is a members' business debate on motion S3M-2482, in the name of Trish Godman, on action on thrombosis. The debate will be c...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes with concern that, according to provisional figures from the Scottish Government, the total number of deaths from thrombosis in 200...
Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab):
Lab
Katie was 23 years old when she died of deep vein thrombosis. She had tried three times to get treatment, in two hospitals and from her general practitioner....
Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate Trish Godman on initiating this important members' debate, and I join her in extending my condolences to Katie McPherson's family. We need to ...
Trish Godman:
Lab
I hear what the member is saying, but because there are so many questions about DVT—he is asking them himself—we need money so that we can research whether t...
Ian McKee:
SNP
I agree that research should be done, and that not enough has been done into the causes of DVT and its treatment. However, I still hold that it is wrong to e...
Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con):
Con
Once again, Trish Godman has brought to members' business an important and substantial issue. Seven months ago, the issue was the human rights of wheelchair ...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I add my congratulations to those of other members on Trish Godman securing this debate and on the way in which she graphically illustrated the tragic early ...
Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab):
Lab
I, too, thank Trish Godman for securing tonight's debate. As others have acknowledged, she has made a significant contribution to raising awareness of thromb...
The Minister for Public Health (Shona Robison):
SNP
I add my thanks to Trish Godman for securing a debate on this important but complex issue. Her motion mentions the death of Katie McPherson, and the first th...
Ian McKee:
SNP
Does the minister not agree that cigarette smoking is also a lifestyle choice that leads to an increased risk of DVT?
Shona Robison:
SNP
Yes, of course. I will say a bit more about that.The other risks for DVT include pregnancy, age, underlying cancer, being on the pill or hormone replacement ...
Trish Godman:
Lab
You are saying that screening would be done in some circumstances. It seems to me that Katie McPherson's family should have some support and screening, but t...
Shona Robison:
SNP
I am just about to deal with that issue. We agree that high-risk groups should be tested, and we are clear that the adult relatives of someone with factor V ...
Meeting closed at 17:35.