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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 4 April 2025
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Displaying 1148 contributions

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Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Scrutiny of NHS Boards (NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Borders and NHS Forth Valley)

Meeting date: 21 March 2023

Emma Harper

Sure—I will be quick. I have two questions, but we could park for later the question about the use of the long Covid pathway, rather than the long Covid clinics that have been established in the NHS Borders area. I am interested in knowing about the best way to look after long Covid patients.

The other issue goes back to what Ralph Roberts said on Friday, which was that making progress on recovery has required working with registered social landlords to look at housing and wider aspects of supporting people in order to practise reablement. We do not use that word a lot, but it simply means supporting people to get the best care and to get them home. Is that part of what you are doing to make progress on recovery?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Female Participation in Sport and Physical Activity

Meeting date: 21 March 2023

Emma Harper

I know. It used to be called murder ball and now it is wheelchair rugby.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Female Participation in Sport and Physical Activity

Meeting date: 21 March 2023

Emma Harper

Thanks.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Female Participation in Sport and Physical Activity

Meeting date: 21 March 2023

Emma Harper

No—I am okay, convener.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 March 2023

Emma Harper

We heard from Dr Henrietta Hughes, the Patient Safety Commissioner for England, who produced a report reflecting on her first 100 days in the role, which considered what the remit could be and what could be explored more widely. Could that approach be used as a way to measure how we take the role of the patient safety commissioner forward in Scotland? The report could be made to Parliament.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 March 2023

Emma Harper

I am sure that the role will evolve, because different projects will be undertaken and problems will be solved. For instance, an approach that works in one session of Parliament might be different to what works in another session.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 March 2023

Emma Harper

It was interesting to read that the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body said:

“The process is complicated, but we are moving into a period in which it is becoming regarded as a casual thing to suggest and implement the establishment of another commissioner”.—[Official Report, Finance and Public Administration Committee, 10 January 2023; c 20.]

That is not the language that I would have used, because I think that ensuring patient safety and addressing and preventing harm are absolutely reasonable. I say that as a former nurse who worked in situations in which there were issues in operating theatres. I am interested in knowing what you would say about the evidence that was submitted to the Finance and Public Administration Committee about the establishment of a new parliamentary commissioner or new commissioners becoming “a casual thing” that takes insufficient account of the associated budgetary consequences for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. I ask that on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Female Participation in Sport and Physical Activity

Meeting date: 14 March 2023

Emma Harper

The report is interesting. I have a couple of questions. One is about the report’s recommendations regarding the fun side of sport. Not all women want to be elite athletes. If they do, we give them support to develop. There is a difference between being competitive and engaging with or participating in sport. What did you find out about competition versus participation for fun?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Female Participation in Sport and Physical Activity

Meeting date: 14 March 2023

Emma Harper

My other question is about the types of sport that are offered to young women and girls. Were you able to determine—by local authority, for instance—whether there was a wide variety in the sporting activity on offer? Jenni Snell mentioned that some facilities might only be in Edinburgh or Glasgow. For instance, the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena seems to be increasing in popularity, and a lot of schools have climbing walls and things like that. However, in Dumfries and Galloway, where I am from, which is rural, people have to go to Carlisle or Edinburgh to compete, or even just to have fun.

I am interested in whether you carried out an audit of the sports offer. There is such a variety of sports, such as track and field, cross country, team sports, individual sports and gymnastics. I have had an opportunity to experience kayaking, which I absolutely love, although it is a bit scary on the water. Did you conduct an audit of the offer for young women and girls?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 March 2023

Emma Harper

The minister will know that I am interested in the remit of the patient safety commissioner as far as it covers advocating for people and groups of people. For 20 years now, people in the south-west corner of Scotland have had to get radiotherapy in Edinburgh instead of going to Glasgow, and that means unnecessary travel. I am interested to know whether that might be something that a patient safety commissioner could pick up on by advocating for and listening to people who are really upset after 20 years of asking, “Why am I driving past the Beatson and going to Edinburgh for my radiotherapy treatment?” Could a patient safety commissioner advocate for, listen to and support a specific group of people such as the one that I have just described?