Chamber
Plenary, 11 Mar 2004
11 Mar 2004 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Pensioner Poverty
I will speak about the latest stealth tax that has been imposed on pensioners in the Highlands. They are being forced to pay for chiropody care that they received for free in the past. Conservatives believe that if people pay their taxes and wish to pay for private treatment, that is their choice. However, we do not believe that people should be forced to go private when no regard is had to ability to pay.
In the past two years, NHS Highland has reviewed chiropody care. That has resulted in cuts in chiropody care for people who are in care homes; for people who have Alzheimer's disease and cannot state their needs or communicate their pain; for elderly people who have diabetes; for people who are registered blind; and for people who have arthritis and cannot even hold scissors, who are told that they must take care of their own foot care. Many people have been removed from the treatment list and the number of appointments for those who receive chiropody care has been halved at best.
I commend Alex Bochel of Nairn, who was 82 this week. Many elderly people feel very vulnerable and do not wish to speak out, because they are frightened that they might be picked on. They are frightened of going back to the NHS as they feel that they might be victimised.
Another war veteran—a Normandy veteran—came along to my surgery in Nairn this week. Like Alex Bochel, he has worked all his life. He fought in the war and paid his taxes and national insurance. He desperately needs chiropody care to be mobile and independent; to prevent him from falling; to save the health service from providing him with community care; and to reduce the need for him to receive NHS acute care in hospital. Nairn is a very social place and offers a good life for those who play bridge and golf. That gentleman told me that in one week, he had spoken to about 50 people who have had their chiropody care cut or have been removed from the list altogether. He said that they are being forced to go private, irrespective of their ability to pay.
Mark Ballard talked about radical solutions. NHS Highland came up with a radical solution for that gentleman. In the vein of Marie Antoinette, it was suggested that he and his friends should have a party. He was told, "Never mind bringing your own bottle. Why don't you all bring your own toenail-clippers?" That shows the arrogance and complacence in NHS Highland's treatment of elderly people. I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate and to describe the respect that the Executive has for our war veterans and many others. It asks people who have Alzheimer's disease or diabetes, who are registered blind or who have arthritis to have a toenail-clipping party. That must be the height of arrogance, complacence and heartlessness. The fact that NHS boards are being forced down that road reflects much of the Lib-Lab Executive's direction.
I thought that I had two minutes for my speech, but I was given four minutes, so I will finish early.
In the past two years, NHS Highland has reviewed chiropody care. That has resulted in cuts in chiropody care for people who are in care homes; for people who have Alzheimer's disease and cannot state their needs or communicate their pain; for elderly people who have diabetes; for people who are registered blind; and for people who have arthritis and cannot even hold scissors, who are told that they must take care of their own foot care. Many people have been removed from the treatment list and the number of appointments for those who receive chiropody care has been halved at best.
I commend Alex Bochel of Nairn, who was 82 this week. Many elderly people feel very vulnerable and do not wish to speak out, because they are frightened that they might be picked on. They are frightened of going back to the NHS as they feel that they might be victimised.
Another war veteran—a Normandy veteran—came along to my surgery in Nairn this week. Like Alex Bochel, he has worked all his life. He fought in the war and paid his taxes and national insurance. He desperately needs chiropody care to be mobile and independent; to prevent him from falling; to save the health service from providing him with community care; and to reduce the need for him to receive NHS acute care in hospital. Nairn is a very social place and offers a good life for those who play bridge and golf. That gentleman told me that in one week, he had spoken to about 50 people who have had their chiropody care cut or have been removed from the list altogether. He said that they are being forced to go private, irrespective of their ability to pay.
Mark Ballard talked about radical solutions. NHS Highland came up with a radical solution for that gentleman. In the vein of Marie Antoinette, it was suggested that he and his friends should have a party. He was told, "Never mind bringing your own bottle. Why don't you all bring your own toenail-clippers?" That shows the arrogance and complacence in NHS Highland's treatment of elderly people. I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate and to describe the respect that the Executive has for our war veterans and many others. It asks people who have Alzheimer's disease or diabetes, who are registered blind or who have arthritis to have a toenail-clipping party. That must be the height of arrogance, complacence and heartlessness. The fact that NHS boards are being forced down that road reflects much of the Lib-Lab Executive's direction.
I thought that I had two minutes for my speech, but I was given four minutes, so I will finish early.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S2M-1020, in the name of John Swinburne, on pensioner poverty, and on three amendments to that...
John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP):
SSCUP
All political parties are starting to worry. The hitherto placid pensioners are on the move. Grey power is sending out the message, and pensioners are starti...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I call Mary Mulligan.
The Deputy Minister for Communities (Mrs Mary Mulligan):
Lab
I will move the amendment formally and make comments after I have heard the debate. I move amendment S2M-1020.3, to insert at end:"and congratulates the Scot...
Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP):
SNP
I welcome this morning's debate and thank John Swinburne for bringing such an important topic to the Parliament. John Swinburne has already outlined some sta...
Mrs Mulligan:
Lab
It is estimated that the council tax raises £1.8 billion and that the local income tax that the SNP proposes would raise only about £1.5 billion. How would t...
Shona Robison:
SNP
The minister should read our policy for herself instead of believing the spin that comes out of her department. Our proposal would replace, penny for penny, ...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I suspect that the reason why I was asked to open this debate for the Conservative group is that I am its youngest member and therefore the furthest away fro...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
The member mentioned several statistics to back up his argument. Is he aware that it is estimated that only 52 per cent of pensioners claim pension credit, w...
Murdo Fraser:
Con
That is a fair point from Mr Rumbles.
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
Unusually.
Murdo Fraser:
Con
My colleague ungraciously said "Unusually", but I will not share in that comment.We must reduce means testing and consider pensions being paid as of right. A...
Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Murdo Fraser:
Con
I am sorry. I am very short of time this morning.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
It is a tight debate.
Murdo Fraser:
Con
As Mr Swinburne acknowledged, it is interesting that the Adam Smith Institute, the free-market think tank, yesterday proposed a substantial increase in the s...
John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD):
LD
I must declare an interest in the topic at the outset because, like many other people, I am a pensioner. I congratulate John Swinburne on bringing forward th...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Mr Munro, I think that you are beginning to stray into this morning's second debate.
John Farquhar Munro:
LD
The problem stems from the lack of skilled technicians to do the work. Like everywhere else in Scotland, there is a shortage of trained plumbers, electrician...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Time for the open debate is very tight. We have time only for a short speech from Mark Ballard.
Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green):
Green
Like others, I congratulate John Swinburne on initiating the debate. Nobody should doubt the severity of pensioner poverty in Scotland. We should recognise t...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
That brings us to winding-up speeches.
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I will speak about the latest stealth tax that has been imposed on pensioners in the Highlands. They are being forced to pay for chiropody care that they rec...
Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
Like many others, I congratulate John Swinburne on initiating not only this debate, but the subsequent debate, because they concern important issues. I share...
Mrs Mulligan:
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to speak this morning on this issue and I am glad that John Swinburne chose it for debate.The Executive is delivering changes that ...
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
Will the minister acknowledge that this year the Executive will claw back £259 million in Scotland because of means testing? In the United Kingdom, the figur...
Mrs Mulligan:
Lab
I will come on to form filling and how we can assist with that. Through means testing, we are able to tackle the problems of the poorest, the most vulnerable...
Mary Scanlon:
Con
Will the minister give way?
Mrs Mulligan:
Lab
No—I do not have time.We will continue to invest £30 million a year for three years to tackle the problem of delayed discharge and we will provide 1,000 comm...
Mrs Ewing:
SNP
The minister has mentioned £125,000 that will be given to Age Concern Scotland, which all members welcome. Has an assessment been made of how many people the...