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In a previous evidence session, Matthew McClelland talked about direct links between safety, care and compassion, and thought that the patient safety commissioner could play a role in encouraging grown-up conversations about the risks and benefits of medical interventions and so on. At the same session, Dr Chris Williams from the Royal College of General Practitioners said that safety needs to be the focus of the commissioner, at least initially, so that we can target the safety issues rather than the issues that I have described.

Thank you.

Okay. We have six commissioners and an ombudsman. With the potential for future commissioners, does the Scottish Government need to look at how we can ensure that a more strategic approach is taken to resourcing and establishing additional commissioners? Is work being done now to look at that?

Does the way that we measure and gather data need to be flexible because of the technology and because some products are not yet licensed for emissions reduction in dairy cattle? Am I right to say that everything has to be flexible and must be allowed to evolve as the science, technology and support enable emissions reduction by farmers?

I know that we are conscious of time, so I can stop there.

I know that I am not a regular attendee of the committee—I am here as a substitute—but I would like to comment. In the notification, it says that the SI is to

“adjust the level of European seabass that may be caught within British fishing limits”.

I am aware that only one licence has been issued for catching sea bass in Scotland, so, when the notification talks about adjusting, does that mean both up and down?

I want to pick up on Jim Fairlie’s questions and ask about emissions in other countries. In debates in the chamber, we have talked about how much water it takes to produce a litre of almond milk. It takes about 101 gallons of water to make a cup of almond milk, which is not even made in this country. In comparison, we grow grass really well in this country, and that can support our diet.

At the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Alice Stanton, an expert witness, talked about the misinformation that consuming red meat causes cancer, as there is now evidence that that information is not quite accurate.

How can we support food production and emissions reduction? How do we compare with other countries on those issues?

I will be really quick because a lot of information has been covered already.

I am thinking about data management and collection. Jackie McCreery said that two thirds of dairy farms have done a carbon audit. However, I am thinking about measuring other emissions reduction. There are biostimulants, such as those produced by Tricet, such as Pro-Fortis and Pro-Soil. There are also other products for emissions reduction, such as yeast-based products for ruminants like Biocell. Then there are other products such as Slurrycell, which helps to reduce nitrogen emissions in slurry.

Do we measure that kind of stuff? Do we know what farmers are using Slurrycell or Biocell? Do we know who is using biostimulants, which are not organic but are regenerative and will help to reduce nitrogen?

I will direct that question to Andrew Moir first and then Jackie McCreery.

I asked the previous witnesses about the commissioner not focusing only on safety, because care and compassion are at the heart of how we support a patient’s journey—whatever care they are in receipt of—and determine whether harm has occurred. Do you have any comments on whether we should focus only on safety aspects or whether we should consider the whole patient journey in relation to care and compassion?

I know the work that Dr Gordon Baird and the Galloway community hospital action group have done to get the petition to the Parliament, and I know that local people feel powerless. I know that Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie is interested in how Australia’s National Rural Health Commissioner works—Australia is also a big rural country. I also know that a centre of excellence for remote and rural medicine is being created, but it does not have an advocacy role. That is what Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie said when he gave evidence.

The proposed agency is not about picking up individual casework. That is not what Dr Gordon Baird was after when he asked for an agency to be created. It is about advocating for and giving a voice to people who feel powerless and who do not know that, for example, they should be offered a choice of care that might be closer to home. That is one of the challenges.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway committed to addressing cancer care pathways and then Covid came along. Therefore, when the board comes in front of us, we will need to ask specific questions about where it is with altering cancer care pathways and what steps it has taken. This is not about addressing all the challenges overnight. I know that there are real challenges—everybody does; I was a healthcare clinician as well.

I am keen to ensure that, whatever pathway we take, Dr Gordon Baird is permitted or invited to give evidence about the challenges for remote and rural healthcare and advocacy for patients.