Chamber
Plenary, 04 Oct 2000
04 Oct 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Local Health Councils
I welcome the debate and congratulate Patricia Ferguson on bringing this issue, which is important in an evolving Scotland, to the chamber. I offer my wholehearted support and that of my colleagues to the work of local health councils.
I ought to declare an interest, as my wife was a member of a health council until we moved house in the summer and was a member of the Scottish Association of Health Councils. I therefore have first-hand knowledge of the work they do and of the opportunities that we face in this Parliament for securing their future.
I support what Shona Robison and Patricia Ferguson said about finance. It would be helpful if the minister could clarify the ideas of the Executive—not necessarily what will happen in practice.
Sometimes, I feel that health councils are an unsung hero. Many members of the public seem to be unaware of the important role they play as keepers of the public conscience on the work that is done for people who are sick. Something needs to be done on recruitment to ensure that capable people come forward who can take on this unpaid role and give this vital task the time it requires. I remind members that it is important that we have an apolitical approach to the membership of these bodies. We need a broad range of experience. It is important that one group or another does not have undue influence over community health councils—or local health councils in Scotland. There must be a broad range of opinion.
One issue that needs to be discussed is that the health councils do not have the right to turn up and view a facility. I agree that people should not be allowed to walk into an accident and emergency department or a surgery, but there must be a debate about how health councils can gain access, without notice, to see many of the activities in the health service.
Another issue that we need to sort out is health councils' relationship with health boards. Some health boards are good, but many have a statutory meeting only once or twice a year when only a few members turn up.
We need to have a debate on the opportunities for involving health councils in the local design of health care. They have proved their worth and it is incumbent on this Parliament to ensure that they get an opportunity to develop further. I wish them every success for the future and I hope that the chamber agrees with me.
I ought to declare an interest, as my wife was a member of a health council until we moved house in the summer and was a member of the Scottish Association of Health Councils. I therefore have first-hand knowledge of the work they do and of the opportunities that we face in this Parliament for securing their future.
I support what Shona Robison and Patricia Ferguson said about finance. It would be helpful if the minister could clarify the ideas of the Executive—not necessarily what will happen in practice.
Sometimes, I feel that health councils are an unsung hero. Many members of the public seem to be unaware of the important role they play as keepers of the public conscience on the work that is done for people who are sick. Something needs to be done on recruitment to ensure that capable people come forward who can take on this unpaid role and give this vital task the time it requires. I remind members that it is important that we have an apolitical approach to the membership of these bodies. We need a broad range of experience. It is important that one group or another does not have undue influence over community health councils—or local health councils in Scotland. There must be a broad range of opinion.
One issue that needs to be discussed is that the health councils do not have the right to turn up and view a facility. I agree that people should not be allowed to walk into an accident and emergency department or a surgery, but there must be a debate about how health councils can gain access, without notice, to see many of the activities in the health service.
Another issue that we need to sort out is health councils' relationship with health boards. Some health boards are good, but many have a statutory meeting only once or twice a year when only a few members turn up.
We need to have a debate on the opportunities for involving health councils in the local design of health care. They have proved their worth and it is incumbent on this Parliament to ensure that they get an opportunity to develop further. I wish them every success for the future and I hope that the chamber agrees with me.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
The members' business debate today is on motion S1M-1140, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of local health coun...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes that the year 2000 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Scotland's local health councils, congratulates the staff and...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab):
Lab
As members are aware, the motion congratulates members and staff of local health councils who have served the public over the past 25 years. Some of them are...
Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I commend Patricia Ferguson for securing this important debate to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Scotland's local health councils. I pay t...
Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I welcome the debate and congratulate Patricia Ferguson on bringing this issue, which is important in an evolving Scotland, to the chamber. I offer my wholeh...
Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD):
LD
I echo what others have said before me and thank Patricia Ferguson for introducing this debate. It is good that we have an opportunity to commend the excelle...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab):
Lab
We should all be grateful to Patricia Ferguson for raising this important subject.This debate is an opportunity to look back and to pay tribute to everything...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
Green
I speak from the experience of being a member of Lothian health council in the early 1990s. I was thoroughly impressed by the dedication of my colleagues on ...
Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD):
LD
I add my congratulations to those that have already been given to Patricia Ferguson in securing this debate, which is very welcome. I also welcome Mr John Ta...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
I thank members for keeping their speeches tight, so ensuring that all members who wished to speak were called.
The Deputy Minister for Community Care (Iain Gray):
Lab
I am grateful for the opportunity to record both Susan Deacon's and my thanks and appreciation for the support that the health council movement has given to ...
Meeting closed at 17:29.