Chamber
Plenary, 06 Jan 2010
06 Jan 2010 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing
Happy new year to all health colleagues.
I thank the committee very much for bringing the important issue of child and adolescent mental health services to the attention of the Parliament. The committee's interest in the subject accords with the Scottish Government's commitment to improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.
As Christine Grahame said, it is well recognised that a large part of the pattern for our future life is set during our earliest years—and even pre-birth. That is why we developed our early years framework, at the heart of which is parenting. We must ensure that parents have access to appropriate support to help them to understand their responsibilities, and so that they can develop the skills that are needed to provide a nurturing and stimulating home environment. The focus of the framework is on developing a prevention and early intervention approach in the early years that moves away from dealing with crises only when they arise.
The determining factors in securing good mental health are complex, but a good start in life even before a person is born must be a major factor. That is why good antenatal care is vital. For that reason, we are tackling antenatal inequalities and developing good care pathways for vulnerable families through building on the getting it right for every child approach.
I want to mention in particular the family nurse partnership project that NHS Lothian is taking forward. That approach has proved to have benefits for the most vulnerable families in the United States over the past 25 years, and I look forward to the same outcomes in Scotland.
However, we want to bring a greater focus to parenting skills and capacity, and to develop care pathways in order to ensure that parents with different types and levels of need are given the right kind of support. By creating a family-centred approach that builds capacity in communities, we can give families, parents and children the opportunity to find their own solutions using high-quality public services.
I want to talk about health visitors, and to respond to the question that Christine Grahame asked. I cannot place enough value on the role of health visitors, who provide a central and unique role in children's services by identifying and supporting children and families who are at risk. They are the lynchpin in the team approach that is necessary to ensure that the most vulnerable people receive the necessary support when they need it. They have responsibilities, including screening and surveillance responsibilities, by which they can potentially identify mental health problems at the earliest stage. The recently established modernising community nursing board will work with NHS boards and stakeholders to ensure that a modern approach to community nursing care is taken. In addition, the impact of the introduction of the new community health nurse role on both staff and patients in the three pilot sites will be evaluated and included in the final report, which we expect to receive in the summer. The evaluation and report will provide useful evidence that will contribute to the new board's work and future decision making. I assure Christine Grahame that I am happy to keep the Health and Sport Committee apprised of that development as we take forward decisions on the future of the community health nurse role.
I thank the committee very much for bringing the important issue of child and adolescent mental health services to the attention of the Parliament. The committee's interest in the subject accords with the Scottish Government's commitment to improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.
As Christine Grahame said, it is well recognised that a large part of the pattern for our future life is set during our earliest years—and even pre-birth. That is why we developed our early years framework, at the heart of which is parenting. We must ensure that parents have access to appropriate support to help them to understand their responsibilities, and so that they can develop the skills that are needed to provide a nurturing and stimulating home environment. The focus of the framework is on developing a prevention and early intervention approach in the early years that moves away from dealing with crises only when they arise.
The determining factors in securing good mental health are complex, but a good start in life even before a person is born must be a major factor. That is why good antenatal care is vital. For that reason, we are tackling antenatal inequalities and developing good care pathways for vulnerable families through building on the getting it right for every child approach.
I want to mention in particular the family nurse partnership project that NHS Lothian is taking forward. That approach has proved to have benefits for the most vulnerable families in the United States over the past 25 years, and I look forward to the same outcomes in Scotland.
However, we want to bring a greater focus to parenting skills and capacity, and to develop care pathways in order to ensure that parents with different types and levels of need are given the right kind of support. By creating a family-centred approach that builds capacity in communities, we can give families, parents and children the opportunity to find their own solutions using high-quality public services.
I want to talk about health visitors, and to respond to the question that Christine Grahame asked. I cannot place enough value on the role of health visitors, who provide a central and unique role in children's services by identifying and supporting children and families who are at risk. They are the lynchpin in the team approach that is necessary to ensure that the most vulnerable people receive the necessary support when they need it. They have responsibilities, including screening and surveillance responsibilities, by which they can potentially identify mental health problems at the earliest stage. The recently established modernising community nursing board will work with NHS boards and stakeholders to ensure that a modern approach to community nursing care is taken. In addition, the impact of the introduction of the new community health nurse role on both staff and patients in the three pilot sites will be evaluated and included in the final report, which we expect to receive in the summer. The evaluation and report will provide useful evidence that will contribute to the new board's work and future decision making. I assure Christine Grahame that I am happy to keep the Health and Sport Committee apprised of that development as we take forward decisions on the future of the community health nurse role.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-5453, in the name of Christine Grahame, on the Health and Sport Committee's report, "Inquiry into child a...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Your rebuke is noted by me. I was en route and I apologise.First, I take this opportunity to thank all who gave oral and...
That the Parliament notes the conclusions and recommendations contained in the Health and Sport Committee's 7th Report, 2009 (Session 3):
Report on the Inquiry into child and adolescent mental health and well-being (SP Paper 309).
The Minister for Public Health and Sport (Shona Robison):
SNP
Happy new year to all health colleagues.I thank the committee very much for bringing the important issue of child and adolescent mental health services to th...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I want to ask specifically about an issue that Christine Grahame rightly raised: that universal screening appears to end at eight weeks. That is not even the...
Shona Robison:
SNP
A new chief executive letter is about to be issued that will make it clear that there must be flexibility around the guidance. The guidance is simply guidanc...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
You have about a minute.
Shona Robison:
SNP
The promotion of mental health among infants, children and young people is one of our six strategic priorities that are set out in "Towards a Mentally Flouri...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I declare an interest as a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a member of SAMH.The whole area of children's services has been characterised ove...
Shona Robison:
SNP
Will the member give way?
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I am afraid that the member is about to sit down—even though he may not know it.
Dr Simpson:
Lab
Perhaps the minister can address the point that she was going to make when she sums up at the end of the debate.To conclude—
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Quickly, please.
Dr Simpson:
Lab
The framework is excellent; the timing is wrong. We need greater urgency on this matter, which must become a higher priority.
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I am sorry to start the year on a negative note but, having listened carefully to the minister, I must say that I was disappointed in what she said. If there...
Shona Robison:
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I have only 10 seconds left.My granddaughter received the measles, mumps and rubella jab at 15 months and her parents were told to bring her back at the age ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I am afraid that the member is stretching my patience a little bit.
Mary Scanlon:
Con
The Governments of Wales and Northern Ireland have in place national strategies for school counselling and its implementation, backed by ring-fenced funding ...
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
Clearly, not being a member of the committee presents me with a slight difficulty. As members know, I am more used to making a winding-up speech than an open...
Shona Robison:
SNP
Does the member acknowledge that the vast majority of children are referred much more quickly than that? The HEAT target is designed to ensure that there is ...
Jamie Stone:
LD
I note what the minister says.As I said just before the minister intervened, we need to ensure that children have timely access to mental health services no ...
Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
In the short time available to me I will concentrate on two matters that are covered in the committee's important report, which, sadly, received little publi...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab):
Lab
As the committee's excellent report and the accompanying evidence make clear, there is a great deal of continuity in mental health policy from the previous A...
Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP):
SNP
As a couple of members have said, mental health services are often called the Cinderella of our national health service. During the inquiry, I was struck by ...
Dr Simpson:
Lab
Professor James Law of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists said that it was bad not only that the number of referrals from health visitors wa...
Michael Matheson:
SNP
I recall the strong evidence that we received from Professor Law.The visit emphasised for me the real need to ensure not only that adequate services are made...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
The American declaration of independence declares that people have "certain unalienable Rights"and"that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
I can give Cathy Jamieson about four minutes.
Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab):
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer, for giving me the opportunity to make a brief contribution to the debate. I will focus on adolescents, but first I thank the co...