Seòmar agus comataidhean

That was my final question.

Thank you. I will move on to my last question, given that we are desperately tight for time, as always. Our last witnesses gave some evidence about some of the changes that are required here and now. What changes could we make here and now so that things become better? What changes can we not make now for the betterment of people who receive or deliver care, such that the bill is the only way to do it?

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, which records that I am a practising national health service general practitioner.

At last week’s meeting, we heard from the unions, who said that they felt that this bill was “unique” in uniting most of civic Scotland against it. How do you respond to those comments? Do you agree with them?

I refer to my entry in the register of members’ interests as a practising NHS GP. I thank the witnesses for coming today. I have a number of questions surrounding how you feel the bill could improve the working lives of the people who work in care. I will start with Edith Macintosh: in relation to your inspections, what material change do you think there will be after the bill passes, if it does indeed pass?

I declare an interest as a practising NHS GP. Does anything in the bill mean that we could improve both the care that is delivered to people and the wellbeing of staff?

In its written comments on the amendments, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists talks about

“multiple pressures facing the bodies providing the services. The NCS must ... turn the tide on these structural and systemic pressures”.

Will you elaborate a little bit on the “multiple pressures” facing the body for occupational therapists?

We will be coming on to that, and I do not want to steal anyone’s thunder.

Does the proposed NCS address what you have just said?

Thank you.

Simon Macfarlane mentioned the £38 million that has been ripped away from the national care workforce; indeed, Carol Mochan has already asked about that. Will the NCS address that and put the £38 million back into the workforce?

I declare an interest as a practising NHS GP.

I have a question about social workers. A recent Government bill—which is now the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024—requires something like 150 social workers to make it work. Do you have enough social workers to deliver the things that you would like them to deliver at the moment?