Jenni Minto
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“I would like to reflect on Willie Rennie’s comments. Bute welcomed families from Syria, who are now an integral part of the island. In Lochgilphead, Ukrainian families have settled and helped to revitalise the town’s main street with two new businesses.”
“Mòran taing, Oifigear Riaghlaidh. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I want to start with the words of one of my constituents: “I am not a politician, nor do I ever wish to become one. I am a leatherworker, a father and a business owner.”
“Ben Macpherson: There are many initiatives and policies in this space to encourage and support our young people to ensure that they can fulfil their potential, including the free tuition that the Government has provided for students.”
“Yesterday, I met pupils at Sunnyside primary school in Glasgow, and we talked about climate change, the Celtic and Amazonian rainforests and the fact that Scotland is the proud host of a rainforest. In my constituency, Dunoon grammar school won the world’s best school prize for community collaboration.”
“If any of the Reform members had taken part in my colleague Maggie Chapman’s debate on university education, they would have heard me talk about the Scottish Association for Marine Science, which is in Oban, in my constituency.”
“He spoke about the impact that Brexit had had on his business and how, because of that vote, his order book collapsed. He had to find new ways of marketing and promoting his business to ensure that he and his family survived. He spoke about the support that he had received from the SNP to expand his business.”
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“Officials are working with all health boards, including NHS Dumfries and Galloway, and innovation leads to support development of bids that expand access to a range of weight management treatments across Scotland, which could include community pharmacy. We are also working collaboratively on the development and subsequent implementation of a quality prescribing guide for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, including a section on treating obesity. Finlay Carson: Obesity remains one of the most pressing public health challenges that we face, and access to effective treatments is vital if we are to improve outcomes and reduce long-term pressures on our NHS. However, I continue to hear from constituents in Dumfries and Galloway that access to the new medication is extremely limited.”
“We know that we need a whole-system approach to tackling obesity, with new treatments as part of a package of interventions that include prevention through making our food environment healthier. The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland issued a national consensus statement in September 2024 that recommended the introduction of obesity medications in a phased manner across national health service boards, so that people who are in greatest clinical need benefit first. I welcome the UK-wide obesity pathway innovation programme funding competition, with up to £10 million ring fenced for devolved nations.”
“What work is the Scottish Government doing to improve healthy life expectancy nationally, and what work is it doing with North Ayrshire Council and NHS Ayrshire and Arran specifically in relation to North Ayrshire? Jenni Minto: I recognise that the issue of the inequalities that exist across Scotland is one that the Government needs to look at alongside local authorities and health boards. That is why we have introduced the population health framework. As part of that, three Marmot pilots will look specifically at how areas can take a whole- community approach to supporting their communities. I was pleased to be able to visit a project—not in the member’s constituency, but in South Lanarkshire—that is looking at whole family support in areas of inequality to support a move to a better population health position.”
“To tackle those inequalities, the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have jointly published a 10-year population health framework that aims to improve life expectancy—which is an objective measure—while closing the gap between the life expectancy of the most deprived 20 per cent of communities and the national average. Katy Clark: Healthy life expectancy estimates for both men and women in Scotland have hit their lowest point since records began in 2014. There are also clear regional variations, with North Ayrshire having the joint lowest healthy life expectancy, at 52.5 years for women and 52.6 years for men.”
“The Government remains committed to supporting everyone to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. We recognise that the latest report indicates that there has been a slight decline in Scottish healthy life expectancy, which is the number of years for which people can expect to live in good health. Experts attribute the stalling of improvements and the widening of health inequalities in Scotland to successive economic shocks, which include austerity, Brexit, Covid-19 and the on-going cost of living crisis.”
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“Like Emma Harper, I pay tribute to the fantastic teams of nurses, clinicians and scientists from our NHS who support and care for those living with chronic kidney disease and, of course, the third sector organisations, many of whom are represented here. I thank Kenneth Gibson for bringing this important motion to the chamber. Meeting closed at 18:17. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit.”
“As Jackie Baillie said, that work has to be anchored within our communities. A key priority of the framework is to improve levels of healthy weight, including by ensuring that a healthy diet is accessible and affordable to all. By shifting the focus from treating illness to preventing it, addressing the root cause of poor health and targeting our efforts where they are needed most, we can ensure lasting improvements for this generation and the next. One of the most life-affirming experiences that I have had was witnessing a live kidney organ transplant and meeting families who have benefited from that amazing surgery. I was struck by their humbling appreciation and their wish to give back to society by encouraging people to register and raising awareness by sharing their stories.”
“We know that improvements to the health of our population have stalled and that inequalities have widened in recent years, which experts attribute to the combined impacts of UK Government austerity policies, Brexit, the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis, and that incidence of non-communicable disease is forecast to rise if action is not taken to prevent those illnesses. Brian Whittle regularly—perhaps in every speech that he makes regarding health—talks about prevention, and I hope that he has read and supports our recently published population health framework, which was co-authored with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and sets out our 10-year strategy to improve the wider determinants of Scotland’s health through a whole-system, cross-Government and cross- sector approach that is focused on prevention.”
“The legislation that we introduced was supposed to make organ donation easier and much more accessible. Do we have any idea why that is not the case? Jenni Minto: We need to recognise that, although one big launch does a lot, we need to continue to get that information out there, which is why I am pleased that we will be conducting a Scottish Government-led publicity campaign. As Christine Grahame says, we have done well, but we must do more. That is why, during this year’s organ and tissue donation week, in September, we will be encouraging as many more people as possible to register. That is the best way to ensure that people’s wishes in respect of donation are respected. The Government is committed to supporting everyone to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.”
“Through the actions that are set out in the “Donation and Transplantation Plan for Scotland: 2021-2026” document, the Scottish Government is committed to increasing organ donation numbers and access to life-changing and life-saving transplantation. I thank Christine Grahame for hosting, in September, a parliamentary event focused on organ donation, as we need to work to increase the number of organ donations that are made. Key to that is ensuring that as many people as possible have registered their decision on the organ donor register. Scotland has a good record on that in comparison with other parts of the UK, with 57.9 per cent of the population now having recorded their decision. Christine Grahame: Do we have any idea why the rate of organ donation has fallen?”
“As part of that programme, we have committed to supporting 100,000 patients with enhanced-service GP appointments by March 2026 for those key risk factors, with a particular focus on supporting people living in areas of deprivation. The Scottish Government is also committed to improving outcomes for people living with diabetes. Through sustained investment, innovation and strategic policy, we are transforming diabetes care to reduce complications and support long-term health. Notably, more than £42 million has been invested in the type 2 diabetes prevention framework, supporting early intervention and remission strategies such as the Counterweight plus programme.”
“In October 2024, we published the “Transport to Health Delivery Plan” document, which sets out 20 commitments across the Scottish Government and partners. We look forward to hearing from a short-life working group that was created by the chief executives of NHS boards to address the issue of transport and renal dialysis access. Once we get the outputs from that, we will consider them closely. Our cardiovascular disease risk factors programme is undertaking work in that area, with the aim of reducing avoidable CVD death by 20 per cent in 20 years by improving the identification and management of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, raised blood sugars, obesity and smoking.”
“Last year, we implemented a Scotland-wide policy of reimbursing home dialysis patients for the extra electricity costs incurred in their treatment, as Foysol Choudhury noted. That removes the financial disincentive to choose home dialysis over in-centre treatments, allowing personal choice in where and how to receive treatment, whether people are in a rural, urban or island community. I note the targets that the Nordic countries are aiming for, which Mr Choudhury mentioned, and I will take them into further consideration. I will quickly respond to Kenneth Gibson’s points about transport and, in doing so, thank Kidney Care UK for its in-centre dialysis transport report, “Left to get on with it”.”
“I also want to note where our wider Government policies deliver the asks of the motion regarding prevention, early diagnosis, equitable access to transplantation, a home-first approach to dialysis care and improving donation rates. That is important, as I agree with the points that Brian Whittle and others made about the impact that those issues can have on people and on Scotland’s economy. In the “NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan” document, which was published on 31 March, the cabinet secretary set out that we will work to ensure that people receive the right care in the right place. Home dialysis can offer many benefits to NHS boards and patients, as many members have said.”
“That will be an important aspect of how we develop the framework and the on-going action plans to improve services for people with long- term conditions, including CKD, especially in highlighting inequalities. I note the important role that the third sector has played over the years in driving improvements in condition-specific strategies. We want to ensure that kidney organisations can play that role, too. Importantly, this will be an opportunity for kidney organisations, as well as organisations representing other conditions, to come together and work collaboratively with the Scottish Government on improving care for people with long-term conditions. I very much look forward to meeting Kidney Care UK soon to discuss the framework and to attending Kidney Research UK’s summit in the next few weeks.”
“I thank Kidney Care UK, Kidney Research UK and the chronic kidney disease working group of Kidney Research UK in Scotland for contributing to the consultation on the framework, as well as thanking everyone else who contributed to our public consultation. We received 371 validated responses to that consultation and an analysis report will be published in October. We will soon announce the governance arrangements, including the role of the third sector and those with lived experience in the development of the framework’s action plans. The Scottish Government and I place a huge importance on hearing from organisations representing people with long-term conditions and hearing directly from people with lived experience.”
“I, too, thank Kenneth Gibson for his motion and thank members from across the chamber for their helpful contributions. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people in Scotland who live with long-term conditions, including chronic kidney disease—CKD—are able to access the best possible care and support and can benefit from healthcare services that are safe and effective and that put people at the centre of their own care. I thank all the organisations that are here tonight and the individuals who help and support those with CKD. I will first respond to the points made by Mr Gibson and others about the long-term conditions framework. That framework recognises that, although every condition is different, there are universal standards that everyone should expect, no matter which condition they have.”
“Published in Edinburgh by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP All documents are available on the Scottish Parliament website at: www.parliament.scot Information on non-endorsed print suppliers is available here: www.parliament.scot/documents For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Public Information on: Telephone: 0131 348 5000 Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: sp.info@parliament.scot”
“In closing, I reassure members that, through the introduction of a new payment system—which, as I have been clear in saying, was the first step— and through investment in our workforce and local tailored solutions, we have implemented a policy framework that will support NHS dental services and deliver on our ambition to ensure high-quality, sustainable and equitable public services. Meeting closed at 18:32. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit.”
“Officials are also looking at opportunities for boards to influence the provision of care in their area, including consideration of a declaration of compliance to raise awareness of dentists’ terms of service and their social and community responsibilities. They are also considering how to support boards in ensuring that dentists and dental bodies corporate adhere to those commitments. I recognise that, in some of the areas that have been discussed today—specifically Fife, which a number of contributions have focused on— overreliance on practices with certain business models can present issues when the NHS footprint is suddenly reduced. I have therefore tasked my officials with looking at the issue to better secure continuity of care for affected patients.”
“That is why we introduced payment reform in November 2023 and why we are continuing to work through the regulatory, workforce and governance issues. That touches on exactly the point that Mr Rowley made about corporates. As part of further long-term transformation, my officials are taking forward work to consider how we strengthen the existing governance model in NHS dentistry to improve the patient experience and ensure that patients can be seen and offered the appropriate care. As part of that, we are exploring options to make mandatory training for dentists, with its focus on patient safety, more efficient and flexible, to expedite recruitment across Scotland.”
“I have therefore written to UK Government ministers to urge them to reconsider those detrimental changes, which will further negatively impact our available workforce. Finlay Carson: I have no issue with agreeing that leaving the EU will have had some impact on the number of dentists in Scotland, but the elephant in the room is that, although we have seen a reduction of 4.9 per cent in the number of dentists, that pales into insignificance compared with the number of dentists who have opted out of providing NHS services. That is the main issue. Will the minister outline why she believes dentists are opting out of providing NHS services? Jenni Minto: I thank Mr Carson for his intervention. As he will recognise, dentists operate independent businesses, and it is up to them to decide on their model.”
“Jenni Minto: I will continue on this topic and then come to Mr Carson. Immigration is another matter that is reserved to the UK Government. I do not understand why the UK Government chose to remove key dental care professions from eligibility for the skilled worker visa from July 2025. That will impact on dental nurses, hygienists and technicians—exactly the roles that Claire Baker spoke about—who could help us to improve the dentistry service that we provide. I share the British Dental Association’s concerns about the significance of those changes to the capacity of dental practices and to dental treatment. The move comes amid a significant drop in the number of dental professionals relocating from the European Union to practise in the UK following the UK’s exit from the EU, which puts further strain on dental care in our communities.”
“Acting with leadership is exactly what I have been doing. As others have pointed out, the regulation of dentists remains reserved to the UK Government. I am very disappointed that, despite discussion at four- nation meetings, which I led and in which all nations spoke of their concerns for the dental workforce, the UK Government has decided not to proceed with the necessary legislative changes to enact provisional registration for overseas qualified dentists. Although that makes the delivery of our programme with NES more challenging, I remain committed to exploring all alternatives to widen our pool of available dentists in the shorter term, in addition to growing our domestic talent. I would appreciate support from Scottish Labour in speaking with the UK Government about that. Finlay Carson: Will the minister give way?”
“As NHS Fife said, it has no control over them, and they seem to pull out of providing NHS dental treatment, which leaves communities with no access to services. Jenni Minto: I will come on to that exact point, because we have talked about that in relation to the governance of dentistry. Alexander Stewart asked for there to be broad change. We are making that change. We are also looking beyond domestic capacity and working closely with NHS Education for Scotland to deliver an innovative training package that will better support dentists who qualified overseas in achieving registration as a dentist with the General Dental Council. In fact, the chief dental officer and his team met the organisation today to press it to be a bit more flexible in that regard. Carol Mochan and, I think, Willie Rennie called for my leadership on the issue.”
“As Alex Rowley said, a practice in Dunfermline with five SDAI-supported surgeries opened in August. We have also been able to approve applications in Inverclyde and in Dumfries and Galloway. Increasing the dental workforce is a priority for the Scottish Government, and I am encouraged by the progress that we are seeing, with the number of high street dentists working in Scotland increasing by 5 per cent in the past year. We have also committed to providing additional funding this year, to increase the number of domestic dental students by 7 per cent from this month. We are growing the pipeline of staff entering the NHS workforce and providing additional capacity for NHS dental services in the future. Alex Rowley: What about the issue of large companies?”
“We continue to make available a range of additional financial support to areas of unmet dental need, and we will work to better target that as part of the commitments that are set out in our operational improvement plan. This year, we have taken targeted action in Shetland and in Dumfries and Galloway through the provision of additional funding to sustain access to dental services and ensure that there is adequate patient care. Finlay Carson and Emma Harper mentioned the outreach facility that NHS Dumfries and Galloway has been operating, where 12 undergraduates are providing care. I am pleased to say that it is looking at how it can expand that. That is in addition to practice funding support that is provided through the Scottish dental access initiative.”
“Jenni Minto: That situation is very concerning, which is why we have continued to invest in Childsmile, and we have increased the budget, given the impact of the pandemic, when children were not able to see their dentist and Childsmile nurses were not able to visit children. We have ensured that that activity has ramped up again. We have a number of dental nurses who can go out and provide that education. I do not have the figures to hand, but we are seeing improvements. I am acutely aware that access continues to be challenging in some areas of Scotland. Fife and Dumfries and Galloway have been mentioned. The challenges are largely due to historical non- dentistry-specific recruitment and retention difficulties in those areas, which some members have recognised.”
“That fits within our population health framework, in which dentistry is a key aspect of health prevention work. Craig Hoy: Will the minister give way? Jenni Minto: Once I have finished my point. I was struck when one director of dentistry told me—I think that others have made this point—that a person’s mouth gives an indication of their health, which is why dental health is so important. That is why, along with the chief dental officer, I have pressed for dentistry to be included in the preventative health agenda and have increased the budget this year. Craig Hoy: If those initiatives are working, why does the minister think that, in some of the most deprived areas, the number of children who are presenting for dental treatment is falling rather than rising?”
“I remain absolutely clear that payment reform is only the first step in ensuring the sustainability of the service, which is why our recently published operational improvement plan sets out key actions to improve the NHS dental workforce and to support equity of access to NHS dental services across Scotland. That is backed by an increase of almost 15 per cent in funding in 2025-26, which takes total funding to more than £500 million for the first time. I echo Willie Rennie’s point about the support that we got from the Liberal Democrats in that area. I agree with Mr Rowley, Ms Baker and others that prevention is hugely important, as is teeth hygiene, especially in the early years, which we are addressing through the Childsmile programme.”
“I welcome the official statistics that were published last week, which show that more than 7 million courses of treatment have been delivered since the introduction of the payment reform in November 2023. That demonstrates that the significant continuing investment in NHS dentistry is supporting high volumes of patient access to NHS care and is delivering on our aims to sustain NHS dental services. In the quarter that ended in June 2025, 1.14 million courses of treatment were delivered. In the same quarter, 998,000 patients were seen by NHS dentists. As others have pointed out, 95.7 per cent of Scotland’s population are registered with dentists.”
“I, too, thank Alex Rowley for bringing the debate to the chamber. It is important that we can use this space to talk about the concerns that members hear about from their constituents, and which I hear about from mine. I very much appreciate the tone in which the debate has been conducted, and I welcome members’ valuable contributions. I reaffirm the Scottish Government’s commitment to securing equitable and sustainable access to NHS dental services. As many members have pointed out, in November 2023, we brought in a new payment reform as part of a comprehensive modernisation of the service. That prevention-based model is delivering high levels of service and has been welcomed by the profession, but I recognise that that is not the case across the board, which is why we are focusing on other opportunities.”
“That is a 25-year study, which is now in its seventh year, that follows the progress of babies who have received neonatal care, and its findings support our work across health, social care and education. I am happy to come back to Mr Griffin on the detail of his question. In the meantime, as I indicated in my first answer, from my perspective, our approach should be a collaborative one that involves multidisciplinary teams. ADHD and Autism Assessments (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) 8.”
“Mark Griffin: We know that children who are born prematurely have a higher risk of being neurodivergent. What cross-Government work takes place, particularly between the health and education areas, to support them? In each Scottish primary school class, up to three children will have been born prematurely. Will the Scottish Government commit to providing guidance for public service providers who work with children on becoming prem aware, spotting the signs of neurodevelopmental delay early and helping to ensure that appropriate support is in place for those children? Jenni Minto: I thank Mark Griffin for his work in that area. I had the pleasure of meeting Sarah Brown and Professor James Boardman to learn about the work of the Theirworld Edinburgh birth cohort research project.”
“In Scotland, babies who have been in neonatal care receive a developmental assessment at two years of corrected age, as part of a routine follow-up. Such assessment is crucial to identifying any developmental delays or potential problems early. The assessment typically happens at a face-to- face appointment and is usually conducted by a multidisciplinary team. In the national neurodevelopmental specification, the Scottish Government has set out standards for services to support children and young people who have neurodevelopmental profiles with support needs. The specification aims to ensure that children and families receive the support and access to services that meet their needs at the earliest opportunity, based on the getting it right for every child approach.”
“Removing transport barriers and other barriers will help to ensure that patients across Scotland can access the right care in the right place and at the right time. I would be happy to write to NHS Forth Valley in that regard.”
“Successive health secretaries have recognised and reinforced the expectation that that commitment must be upheld. However, many of my constituents in Clackmannanshire are deeply concerned about the recent removal of key stops on the H1 and H2 bus routes, which are lifeline services for elderly, disabled and carless patients, who rely on them to attend essential appointments. Will the minister join me in making it clear to NHS Forth Valley that it is obliged to sustain the original commitment? Will she personally instruct the board, as previous health ministers have done, to take urgent steps to ensure that no vulnerable patient is left without a reliable route to care? Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government knows that transport plays an important role in supporting patients’ health journeys.”
“The Scottish Government meets NHS Forth Valley regularly to discuss health services. We expect national health service boards to consider the needs of their communities, including ensuring access to healthcare. When an NHS board is subsidising a bus service, as it is in this case, I would expect it to work closely with the operator and the local authority to ensure that the service continues to meet the on-going needs of the community. Keith Brown: When the decision was made to site the new Forth Valley royal hospital in Larbert, NHS Forth Valley gave a clear and binding commitment that accessible public transport would be maintained for all communities. I know because I was there. That commitment was critical in securing public support at the time.”
“The Scottish Government will support “Go Blue for Meso” by lighting up in blue St Andrew’s house and Victoria Quay in Edinburgh on 4 July. I mention again and give my special thanks to the Clydebank Asbestos Group and the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce. The work of the third sector, community and social care partners, alongside that of our national health service, is critical in supporting those who are affected by meso. I thank everyone who has taken part in the debate, and I look forward to working with all of them to improve awareness, early diagnosis, treatment and clinical research, together with support for action mesothelioma day 2025. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate. 13:26 Meeting suspended. 14:00 On resuming— Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Question Time”
“Where asbestos remains, licences are required to work with it and strict control measures are used, including personal protective equipment such as respirators. As has been noted, my colleague Siobhian Brown is looking forward to meeting Marie McNair and her constituents, and I note, as she will do, the comments that have been made by Richard Leonard and Bill Kidd. I am content to meet as well, but that specific element does not fit into my portfolio. I give my sincere thanks to those who provide valuable information, help and support to anyone who is affected by meso or any other asbestos- related condition. I give my thanks to Mesothelioma UK for continuing to raise awareness each year on action mesothelioma day.”
“The Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament have a strong record of supporting those who have been negligently exposed to asbestos. The law in relation to secondary exposure has developed over recent decades, and we are encouraged to see that those who are affected are increasingly recognised. The Scottish Law Commission published several recommendations for reform of damages for personal injury in December last year, and I thank it for its work. Those recommendations included changes in the law of limitation regarding asymptomatic asbestos-related conditions. The Scottish Government supports those recommendations and has a proven track record of implementing Scottish Law Commission reports, having introduced four bills this session with a fifth to come.”
“As many speakers in the debate said, we are all aware that exposure to asbestos in the past is known to be a major contributing factor to developing meso. As well as aiming to ensure that we prevent exposure to asbestos, which has been banned in the UK since 1999, and that appropriate medical care is in place for people who have been affected by asbestos exposure, the Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring that individuals have appropriate rights to compensation. As Marie McNair, Richard Leonard, Bill Kidd and others noted, the current law on limitation, which sets time limits for raising court proceedings, can cause difficulties for people with mesothelioma. Through no fault of their own, they might find themselves time barred from raising civil proceedings and, in effect, be denied a legal remedy.”
“The EXTRA-Meso feasibility study is exploring how exercise therapy can improve symptom control, fitness and quality of life for patients with meso. Another trial, which addresses the point that Jackson Carlaw made, is examining the effectiveness of a drug that specifically targets the build-up of fluid around the lung that mesothelioma causes and aims to make breathing easier for people who are affected. In addition, a core commitment in the Scottish Government’s strategy “Genomics in Scotland: Building our Future” is the development of a sustainable and more reactive funding model so that we can expand access to genomic testing equitably across Scotland and keep pace with the rapid rate of change.”
“We know that earlier detection can improve outcomes, and we have invested in several programmes to support the earlier detection of cancers. A number of speakers noted the point that mesothelioma is diagnosed late and requires much more research, and I am pleased that there are currently four active clinical trials open to recruitment in Scotland that are related to meso. The ASSESS-Meso trial is specifically aimed at collecting more information about people with meso. It will help researchers to know more about symptoms and their impact on daily living so that we can improve care. The Meso-ORIGINS study at the University of Glasgow aims to find out how benign inflammation develops into meso in people after exposure to asbestos.”
“On behalf of the Scottish Government, I recognise all those who are affected by this type of cancer—not just the individuals themselves but their loved ones. Adjusting to a cancer diagnosis is never easy. That must be especially true for rarer cancers that leave individuals feeling isolated and worried at an already distressing time. Therefore, the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people who are impacted by a cancer diagnosis receive person-centred and holistic care. We work closely with Macmillan Cancer Support to improve the service that we offer patients through the transforming cancer care programme. Improving cancer survival is also a key aim of the Scottish Government’s cancer strategy.”
“I very much agree with Pam Gosal’s comments on the lifeline support that the Clydebank Asbestos Group provides for people—and their families—who are living with meso. Its website has a simple, direct video that explains how the group can provide great help and support to families. Jackson Carlaw raised the important point that these people built Scotland and, therefore, we have a responsibility towards them. As I might have said before in responses to other debates on the matter, I first became aware of the issue when my husband directed a film for BBC Scotland about 30 years ago that raised knowledge about it in the wider community. From my heart, I thank the people in the gallery for the powerful work that they are doing and ask them to keep holding us to account.”
“I, too, thank my colleague Marie McNair for bringing the motion to the chamber, and I welcome the opportunity to close today’s debate on mesothelioma. I recognise Ms McNair’s long-standing support for her constituents and other people who are living with the impact of asbestos. I also acknowledge the valuable contributions from my colleagues today, and I recognise the strong feeling and cross-party support that there is for Ms McNair’s motion. Richard Leonard said that this is not history and that it is happening now. It is always important to understand, as Bill Kidd and Carol Mochan took the time to explain, the underlying history of meso and its current impact on different areas of the population.”
“Jenni Minto: I thank Miles Briggs for bringing that important issue to the chamber. Clearly, we need a separation between adult and paediatric services. To that end, in September 2021, we launched “Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care: The Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland 2021-2026”. The strategy emphasises the Scottish Government’s commitment to improving services nationally and supporting a consistent approach to care and treatment across the country. The established managed service network for children and young people with cancer, which is a dedicated network of cancer specialists, will continue to support children and young people with cancer and to deliver on that strategy.”
“Miles Briggs: Even though cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in children and young people under the age of 25, members of that group often face significant barriers to a timely cancer diagnosis, either because of misdiagnosis or because they have exhibited vague or non-specific symptoms. They often have to visit their general practitioner or other health providers multiple times before being referred and diagnosed. Despite those challenges, Scottish Government initiatives to support early diagnosis, such as rapid diagnostic centres, are typically focused on older Scots and adults rather than on children and young people. Given the clear need for earlier and more accurate diagnosis of people in that age group, what action is the Government taking to address that gap?”