The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 595 contributions
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2023
Gillian Mackay
Good morning, minister. We around the table can agree on plenty that is in the bill: for example, on Anne’s law. How do we make progress towards that?
Obviously, we want national standards. Some areas have further to go than others to meet such standards. What work can be done, especially over the summer—before the legislation comes in—to have conversations with local authorities and care homes to ensure that we meet the standards that we want in the legislation, before it is in place?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2023
Gillian Mackay
That is great—thanks, minister.
I recently hosted a meeting of the cross-party group on carers with a particular focus on young carers and how they interact with this process, and what they want to see from the national care service. Are there plans to take evidence, particularly from young carers, over the summer? That is an ideal time, because young carers might not be in school or university or other places, so some—only some—of the pressures will be less. Obviously, those pressures are multifaceted, but that would seem to be an ideal time to take some of that evidence and to hear those voices. Will the minister commit to doing some of that work over the summer?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2023
Gillian Mackay
I have a question on the final theme, convener.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2023
Gillian Mackay
That is great. Thanks.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 2 May 2023
Gillian Mackay
Would witnesses highlight any areas where good progress has been made on the recovery plan, and why do you think that that is?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 2 May 2023
Gillian Mackay
That very neatly leads me on to my second question. I agree with the panel that we need to look at how we improve population health as a whole, not just to make the NHS more sustainable but to give people a better quality of life. Does the panel believe that the NHS recovery plan that we have now can act as a catalyst to change some of the way in which we are doing things and to move more attention towards the preventative health agenda, or are we at risk of focusing just on the acute pathways and repeating the old mistakes of not moving quickly enough?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 2 May 2023
Gillian Mackay
I will follow on from that, Dr Mathers. You, I think, referred earlier to the amount of information that women receive as a result of going down that pathway. How is that information followed up? Is there a standard way of communicating in writing, or is there another way to ensure that, after an initial appointment, women can digest that information in a way that is accessible for them?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 2 May 2023
Gillian Mackay
That would be useful.
I wonder whether my next question might need the same treatment. How do you communicate how women can keep themselves well and receive alternative support while they are on waiting lists? After all, many will be experiencing pain and a variety of other symptoms, and long waits will exacerbate those things and those presentations will continue. Is there a standard way in which women receive information about where to seek additional support or how to keep themselves well while waiting for appointments or surgery?
11:30Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 2 May 2023
Gillian Mackay
Yes, it does. Thank you.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 2 May 2023
Gillian Mackay
I wonder whether Jeff Ace can comment on this question, too.