Gillian Mackay
Scottish Green Party · Scotland
“There are lessons to be learned from this situation, but that will be of little comfort to the staff and patients who are dealing with an old hospital. Right now, it is 30°C in some parts of Monklands hospital, wall trims are held on with duct tape and there are historical issues with asbestos in the building.”
“Since we raised the issue of hyperscale data centres with the First Minister last week, more than 6,000 people have written to him to back the Scottish Greens’ call for a moratorium. Hundreds of those people gathered outside the Parliament yesterday to make their voices heard.”
“I am more than happy to meet staff and union representatives. In the interest of expediency and time, I will write to the member in more detail, because there are detailed concerns here and now about Monklands, and they need to be addressed.”
“Facts and figures are important and help us to understand the issue, but the finance secretary will forgive me for a moment for highlighting the human costs, because I know that she already gets the impact on people. Gillian Mackay is right. Our offices across Europe and elsewhere have done a fantastic job.”
“We all know how damaging Brexit has been to our economy and our democracy. I am pleased to hear the minister highlight the human costs, because I think those are tangible things that everybody can realise we have lost. At a time when global relations are so unstable, we need to work more closely with our European allies.”
“I follow others in wishing Steve Clarke, the Scotland men’s team and the tartan army a safe and productive journey in the US. The racist violence that we have seen on the streets of Belfast, as well as in Glasgow and elsewhere in Scotland this week, has been utterly shameful.”
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“I am clear that it is a route to provide greater confidence for the public, and for members of this Parliament and others, as to the current safety of the Queen Elizabeth hospital. I am confident of that, but I recognise that there needs to be greater assurance provided.”
“I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of his statement. The creation of the safety and public confidence oversight group is a welcome development, but will the cabinet secretary provide more detail about the group’s membership? He mentioned that there will be active engagement with patients, families, the wider public, staff and whistleblowers, but will he confirm whether there will be patient and staff representatives on the group? Neil Gray: As I set out in my statement, such involvement in that area would be welcome. I am happy to set out in writing—I plan to write to all Opposition spokespeople—the details of that and how potential representatives can interact with me and with the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as to the workings of the group.”
“I want to be clear that the Greens will not oppose the business motion, but I want to raise the late notice of changes and its wider impact. Over the past few weeks, we have had a series of very late decision times, which have impacted those of us with caring responsibilities or other responsibilities at home. I hope that, as we go through the rest of the session, we will remember that we need to take the decisions in a timely manner and remember the impact that late changes have on everybody across the Parliament. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call the minister. 14:47”
“His sudden loss will be keenly felt by colleagues in the Parliament, and I extend our condolences in particular to our colleagues in the Liberal Democrats. Most of all, I send my condolences to Jim’s friends and family. I sincerely hope that they take comfort in the universal affection and respect that have been expressed by MSPs across all parties. 14:33”
“That resulted in Ross’s personal highlight of the conference: forming a temporary double act with Jim for a guest lecture at Trinity College Glasgow about faith and small-g green politics. That experience illustrated Jim’s commitment to public service, his love for his country and how his deeply held personal faith influenced his political life. In this Parliament, we should remember the committed and dedicated voices who came before us and the wonderful legacies that they leave. We should be inspired by Jim Wallace’s work and should try to conduct ourselves in the manner in which he conducted himself. A long-serving Liberal Democrat MSP, Deputy First Minister, acting First Minister and Moderator of the General Assembly, his commitment to public service can never be in doubt.”
“Jim was only the second person who was not a Kirk minister to take on the role of Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland since the 16th century. Moderator is clearly a non- partisan, party-neutral role. Jim did what he had to do and resigned his membership of the Liberal Democrats for the year of his tenure—it was a commitment on his part that his public service was above party politics. My co-leader Ross Greer was grateful to know a deeply thoughtful man with an unparalleled commitment to serving Scotland through both politics and the Kirk. His term coincided with Glasgow hosting the 26th United Nations climate change conference of the parties—the COP26 climate summit.”
“Jim Wallace was one of the founders of devolution. Without him, our Parliament would be a weaker and less ambitious place. I did not know Jim Wallace on a personal level as well as many others did but, the few times that I met him, he was warm, funny and quick to offer genuine advice to a very new MSP who had a lot to learn. I regret that I have not had the pleasure of working with him or serving in this Parliament with him. In preparing my remarks, I spoke to colleagues who had worked with Jim. Their view, as has been the case so far across the chamber, was unanimous. They describe an unwaveringly decent and kind person who took Parliament seriously and took Scotland seriously. When he worked, it was with integrity. When he disagreed with colleagues, it was always in a spirit of respect.”
“The bill covers activities that do not happen in Scotland, and there is so much that we should be doing that it does not cover, and that is where my concern lies. Therefore, we need to look hard at ensuring that the next Parliament brings forward comprehensive legislation on animal welfare. That could really make a difference to greyhounds as well as to every other breed that is sought after for various reasons. I hope the next Government will look at the issue and make sure that animal welfare legislation is consolidated, as well as added to. The Deputy Presiding Officer : I call Jamie Halcro Johnston to close on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. 16:41”
“All those issues have to be dealt with. Davy Russell talked about the cost of vet care, and it is spiralling out of control. People who buy dogs illegally from other countries are often buying dogs that need huge amounts of veterinary care, and that can be very difficult for them to provide. We need to discourage people from importing dogs illegally, and we also need to look to help people to afford veterinary care. Too often, we hear of families having to put to sleep the family pet, which is very much part of their household, just because they cannot afford to get the animal the care that it needs. There are many animal welfare issues that we need to deal with that probably should be put in legislation beyond this bill.”
“I agree that we need a consolidation act, because anybody who is trying to enforce the legislation wants to find it in one place, not higgledy-piggledy here and there. Rhoda Grant: I absolutely agree with Christine Grahame that we need to pull the current legislation together into one act. However, we also need to add to it, because I believe there are things missing from the current legislation. It does not cover issues such as housing, or breeding, which is a big issue, especially when animals are imported. One of the matters that we also discussed was the illegal importation of dogs into the UK, including Scotland. Many of those animals come into the country ill and have been bred in poor conditions. People pay huge amounts of money for them, but they might be buying a dog that is not going to survive.”
“I have done so, so I did not wish to diminish what she has done. However, I think that she, and most people, would agree that we need a comprehensive bill that deals with dog welfare— indeed, animal welfare with regard to pets. We have had a number of members’ bills, which represents a piecemeal approach towards the welfare of dogs. We have had Christine Grahame’s bills. Christine Grahame: First of all, I thank you for your kind words, Ms Grant. We have worked together for many years on a parliamentary and personal level, so thank you for that. I support what you say—I think that we need a consolidation act— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always through the chair, Ms Grahame. Christine Grahame: I beg your pardon. I am always doing that, convener. I mean Presiding Officer. It has been a long week.”
“Research has shown that the turns or bends of an oval racetrack provide unique risks for racing dogs for a number of reasons, including asymmetric training and racing, centrifugal force and congestion. The risk of death and injury is built into how the tracks operate. The bill will help greyhounds across Scotland. It will help them to live full, fulfilling lives, as every dog deserves to do. So, for Bluesy, Bob, Kass and the always wonderful Bert, it is time to back the bill and end greyhound racing for good. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Rhoda Grant to close on behalf of Scottish Labour. 16:37 Rhoda Grant: I will first apologise to Christine Grahame. I certainly did not mean to diminish her role in introducing legislation on dog welfare. I understand how difficult it is to introduce a member’s bill.”
“Regulation cannot protect greyhounds from the inherent risk of injury and death or address wider welfare concerns. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s data shows that the number of trackside deaths has increased annually since 2022. Injuries also remain far too high. Some injured dogs are made to race, compounding their injuries and making it harder for them to heal. According to Dogs Trust and the Blue Cross, injuries and long-term conditions include fractures, muscle, ligament and tendon injuries, ruptured skin wounds and osteoarthritis. The evidence is clear. Without a ban, greyhounds will continue to suffer excruciating injuries that impact the length and quality of their lives.”
“In its report on the welfare of greyhounds used for racing, the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission listed “several causes of welfare concern, particularly the risk of injury or death at the track … the conditions under which they are reared, a significant part of a dog’s life that may be spent in kennels with restricted social contacts, and risks of neglect and poor veterinary care once their racing careers are over.” That same report concluded that “Greyhound racing is not inherently dangerous for the dogs involved.” The report also cited the oversupply of puppies as a significant harm. It is estimated that around 6,000 greyhound puppies are culled in Ireland each year as a result of overbreeding. That is heartbreaking—these are dogs, not commodities. An end to racing is the only way to ensure that the suffering ends.”
“Some contributions this afternoon have been outright confusing. Rhoda Grant simultaneously claimed that the bill is unnecessary because there is no racing and because anyone who wanted to open an oval track would have other barriers to overcome, and that the bill does not go far enough because it does not include other tracks that would also have to overcome those same barriers. How on earth Davy Russell can say that the bill will not improve welfare is incredible, when there is clear evidence on how often these dogs are injured. These dogs make incredible pets and they should be treated kindly and humanely.”
“I will begin, as other members have, by extending my thanks to my wonderful friend and colleague Mark Ruskell for introducing the bill. Mr Ruskell has been a long-time champion of this issue, and it is wonderful to see his efforts and the efforts of many tireless campaigners coming to fruition. Having been through the member’s bill process myself, I know that it cannot be overstated how this process can take over a member’s entire life. A huge thanks should also be extended to the campaigners, the non-Government bills unit and Mark Ruskell’s staff team, who have processed hundreds of responses to his consultation. Many members will know how personally committed Mark Ruskell is to the welfare of greyhounds, and no wonder. For too long, greyhounds have suffered cruelly and unnecessarily in the name of gambling.”
“We owe it to those families to get to the bottom of what happened, to not use this as a political football but to shine a light on the inquiry, pay heed to its findings and keep asking questions of the Government and the health board about how we can ensure that this never happens again.”
“As a parent, having a child admitted to hospital because they are unwell is frightening enough, but to have the weight of the fear of another infection hanging over you must be unbearable. Tragically, that mother and another mother whose child caught an infection say that they still live with survivor’s guilt due to the fact that their children are alive while others died. No parent should have to carry that burden. After having experienced such pain, fear and trauma, having then to campaign to get the truth about what happened to your child is unthinkable.”
“NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde admitted in its closing submission: “A patient diagnosed with such a condition, and the families supporting them must have confidence in the buildings and the systems within them. They should be able to devote all of their attention to their treatment, not concerns about the environment in which that treatment takes place.” Unfortunately, as we all know, that was not the case for some patients at the Queen Elizabeth university hospital. In a recent article on the BBC News website, one mum, whose daughter contracted an infection when she was little, said: “A hospital is supposed to be your safe place where you go to ask for help”. She said that she still feels traumatised and lives in fear that her child will relapse and have to go back into hospital.”
“Having to fight to have their voices heard and to go through a long public inquiry has also been traumatic. I cannot imagine how it must feel for them to be watching what is going on in the Parliament. Clearly, things have gone wrong and there have been issues with water and ventilation, as well as issues around decision making. The question now is how we demand accountability and start to rebuild the trust that has been so horribly fractured by the episode. In order to understand the impact that the incidents have had on trust, we need to examine the testimonies of those who have been affected. Cancer diagnoses are life-changing, traumatic events. Patients and their families should not have to worry about the safety of the hospital where they are being treated.”
“As others have, I begin by paying tribute to the tireless efforts of the families who have campaigned so hard to shine a light on what went wrong at the Queen Elizabeth university hospital. They have often faced shocking treatment and have been labelled as troublesome or difficult when they were just trying to get justice for their loved ones. The focus of my contribution will be on the impact on the families, the current and future patients and the staff who are working at the hospital, all of whom may be suffering extreme distress while the revelations about who knew what and when are made public. Having to go through what the families have gone through, let alone seeing one’s family stories and grief played out in public, is something that I am sure none of us can even imagine.”
“There is often very little that unites football fans. However, in recent weeks, supporters of Celtic, Falkirk and Motherwell have displayed banners backing my calls for a £25 cap on away tickets. Those calls have also been backed by the Scottish supporters collective. Football is meant to be for everyone, but at a time when the cost of living is ever rising, some fans are being priced out of attending. Price caps are in place in England and in many other European countries. We know how important attending games is for people—it reduces loneliness, and that is not to mention the wonderful work that the clubs do for the wider community. Clubs would be nothing without their fans. Will the First Minister join me in making calls to cap away ticket prices?”
“To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that future farm policy aligns with Scotland’s climate and biodiversity targets, in light of the concerns raised by environmental stakeholders regarding the agricultural reform process. (S6O-05390)”
“The First Minister’s Government has long aspired to Scotland’s being an independent Nordic nation. However, right now, our Nordic neighbours need our help. Yesterday, in the White House, Donald Trump repeated his threat to—in his words— “conquer” Greenland. That is no empty threat and comes directly off the back of his immoral and illegal invasion of Venezuela. Scotland must stand up to Trump and his contempt for international law, and reassure the people of Greenland that we will not be complicit in any part of an attempted annexation. Can the First Minister commit to ensuring that the United States military will be banned from using Scottish infrastructure and assets, including all our publicly owned airports, if the US launches operations against our Nordic allies?”
“As I said to Ross Greer in some of those discussions, we need a wider review of the delivery models for childcare to ensure that there is more flexibility and that we can extract better value from the investments that are being made. However, that is a longer-term issue that this Parliament will have to look at. I am glad that Gillian Mackay welcomes the wraparound provision. The roll-out of the breakfast clubs will start this year with £15 million of investment and it will tick up next year, in 2027-28, to ensure that every primary school child and children in special schools are able to get that breakfast offer on a universal basis. I am happy to provide further details to”
“We were disappointed that the Scottish Government did not find the funding to roll out truly free at three early years childcare, which the Scottish Greens and organisations such as Pregnant Then Screwed asked for. However, we also discussed wraparound provision and more free meals for schoolchildren, and we are glad that those proposals have been accepted. Can the cabinet secretary confirm who will be eligible for the breakfast clubs? Will they be free for every child? If not, how many children will they benefit? Shona Robison: Gillian Mackay’s first point was about the childcare provisions that she asked for, which we are not able to meet at this time due to cost implications.”
“It has been actively putting together a report, which will look at how the project can deliver improved and affordable flood resilience for Falkirk and Grangemouth residents and local communities. The task force will submit that report to ministers and to Falkirk Council leaders shortly, and I look forward to engaging with it on some of the solutions that it has found.”
“If the building of the flood protection scheme in its current form is approved, it will take 10 years to deliver the entire project and 12 to 18 months to reach a planning decision. At least £23 million has been spent on it, but no homes are any safer from potential flooding now than they were. What is the Scottish Government doing practically to speak to Grangemouth home owners about how flood prevention is being progressed in the meantime, while they wait for the scheme to conclude? Gillian Martin: I thank Gillian Mackay for that question; I recognise her long-standing interest in the scheme that has been proposed by the council. As I have said, the scheme is exceptional in scale. I mentioned the task force: the task force has not been sitting back and waiting for a decision from the Scottish Government.”
“I worked in the NHS for 20 years, and I have to say that I welcomed the support, skill and talent of the many people with whom I worked who came from other parts of the world. We talked about anti-racism work at this morning’s meeting. NHS Grampian has a great piece of anti-racism work, and I would be more than happy to meet Gillian Mackay to talk more about what our health and social care system is doing to make sure that those staff know that they are welcome here and that we value them.”
“As well as preventing more migrant workers from coming here, the announcement this week will undoubtedly make those who are already here worry about the anti-migrant rhetoric that is rising across the UK. What work is the Government undertaking to prevent those staff from moving away from Scotland and to support them at a time when the toxic narrative around migration appears to be growing? Maree Todd: Gillian Mackay is absolutely correct to highlight the impact of the toxic narrative around migration on people who are already here—in fact, on people who have been here for generations. It is being felt very painfully. This morning, I had a meeting with NHS chairs, each of whom talked about the impact on the workforce.”
“Despite that, services are potentially being cut, so the Government needs to work with IJBs in that regard. I echo Roz McCall’s comments on psychological support for people who have had a stroke. At the cross-party group on stroke, we have heard people describe how, following their stroke, some survivors find themselves coming to terms with their new life while disliking pastimes and even food that they used to like. Families find themselves coming to terms with a new person who has come home following their stroke. The Stroke Association has a brilliant report on that, if anybody wants to see it. Awareness matters, but it is only the starting point. To build a fairer system, we must listen to those who are directly affected and commit to creating services that are properly resourced, responsive and equitable. 17:41”
“They also underline the scale of the challenge that lies ahead and the transformative change that will be required if we are to meaningfully reduce such stigma and discrimination. The importance of community extends to recognising the impact on carers and families. The Scottish Huntington’s Association has, I am sure, shared powerful examples with many members. The condition affects physical, cognitive and mental health, and it places enormous strain on family members who provide care. For 35 years, families in Scotland have been supported by Huntington’s disease specialists from the Scottish Huntington’s Association. That proactive and community-based support has been shown to prevent crises and reduce the number of hospital admissions. It is precisely the kind of service that we should be protecting.”
“During the debate on the programme for government, I mentioned that, although we should encourage workplaces and education settings to put support in place, regardless of people’s diagnoses, we cannot rely on those settings to do the right thing, and nor can we underestimate the positive impact that a diagnosis can have for some people. We need the pathways that we have lost to be reinstated. Initiatives such as See Me Scotland highlight that their research clearly demonstrates the need for on-going investment and a sustained focus on addressing stigma and discrimination in Scotland, especially on how those factors affect the experiences and outcomes of people who live with mental illness.”
“The Scottish Government must act urgently to work with IJBs, local authorities and health boards to ensure that community mental health provision is maintained and sustainably funded to meet the needs of our communities. I want to turn members’ attention to the challenges that the system faces in meeting diverse needs across the population. Services that were designed for people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are now also expected to handle rising demand for neurodevelopmental condition assessments, such as those for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which now affect about one in 10 people. Around the country, we are seeing the removal of some of those pathways for people with autism or ADHD diagnosis needs.”
“Primary care remains a crucial route for accessing mental health support. SAMH welcomes the increase in the primary care mental health workforce, with 356 new full-time equivalent posts being funded through action 15 of the Scottish Government’s mental health strategy. However, community link workers are meant to be a core part of those services. They play an essential role in helping people to access wider community support and to address the underlying causes of their distress. Important work continues to be needed, such as committing to long-term multiyear funding for community link worker provision across the country, with continued work with partners to standardise the community link worker role.”
“As SAMH points out, although the Scottish Government’s mental health and wellbeing strategy rightly emphasises early intervention and prevention, the reality on the ground is that access to local services remains inconsistent. Too many people can access help only once they have reached crisis point, and statutory services that are designed to support the most complex needs are overwhelmed. The number of people who report a mental health problem has more than doubled since 2011, and 11.3 per cent of people who responded to the 2022 census said that they had a mental health problem, compared with 4.4 per cent in 2011. In a way, that should absolutely be welcomed. Enabling people to recognise that they are struggling is a hugely important part of raising awareness and tackling stigma.”
“I, too, extend my gratitude to Roz McCall for securing the debate. Since 2001, mental health awareness week has marked a time to challenge stigma and push for action. The week’s events, which this year run from 12 to 18 May, are led by the Mental Health Foundation and aim to raise awareness and to advocate meaningful change. As the members who spoke prior to me have pointed out, this year’s theme is community. That should serve as an important reminder of how connection, belonging and mutual support can strengthen mental wellbeing. Community is not just about where we live; it is also about our feeling supported and valued by others around us, which reminds us that we are not alone. There is some way to go to improve mental health support in Scotland.”
“I have rapidly run out of time. I would have liked to have touched on a good few other issues including the work that needs to go on in Grangemouth to secure the future of industry, the lack of any mention in the programme for government of improving terms and conditions for social care workers, and the very welcome scrapping of peak rail fares. We have to see the Government turn those promises into tangible achievements with the impacts that Scotland needs. 16:39”
“The additional funding for mental health services reverses previous cuts, but we also have a looming crisis with the lack of pathways for those who are looking for an autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis. I note that the Government believes that we should be providing people with the support that they need regardless of whether they have a diagnosis. Although we should be striving for that, we cannot rely on all workplaces or learning environments to take that approach without a diagnosis. Beyond that, we should never underestimate the validation and relief that a diagnosis provides for individuals. I appreciate that a waiting list for those with severe and enduring mental health conditions may not be the right place for people who are looking for such a diagnosis, but a pathway is clearly needed.”
“I hope that it will include work that responds to my call earlier in the year, and that of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, to increase the patient information that pharmacists can have, which would enable the full potential of pharmacy first to be realised. Although the test to prevent secondary stroke is a good step forward, there are other treatments that we should be funding, too. The transformational potential of thrombectomy to prevent and reduce disablement after a stroke cannot be overstated. Currently, we have a mostly Monday-to-Friday, 9-to-5 service, and people have to be lucky enough to have their stroke during working hours. Not enhancing that service is costing both money and people’s health.”
“For those with long-term conditions such as diabetes, the ability to input blood glucose levels for review by a clinician would prevent some out-patient appointments from being needed, saving individuals from travelling to hospital for review, as well as freeing up appointment times. That is just one example. I hope that those things are being taken into account in order to improve efficiency. Although it is not mentioned in the programme for government, I hope that the proposal for an app implies that we will see a single health record, at the very least to underpin the app. The Scottish Greens have called for that for a long time. The expansion of the pharmacy first service is hugely welcome.”
“Although enhanced or more regular appointments for certain health conditions may be a good idea, there is nothing in the programme for government to improve and protect the health of the nation, which is key to keeping people well and preventing the need for some of those appointments in the first place. The launch of an initial version of a health and social care app could be a huge step forward. There are already examples—good and bad—of digital interaction with patients to learn from. I believe that the Badger Notes app for maternity care would be a good place from which to start pinching ideas. It allows patients to see appointments, blood tests and blood pressure monitoring and it enables them to message their midwives, who often reply the same day.”
“Patients and GPs alike value quality of care, yet the programme for government remains silent on that. Beyond the 100,000 enhanced service GP appointments for those with key risk factors, how many more people are going to see their GP? Will all the proposed enhanced appointments require a GP? Blood pressure monitoring is often carried out by practice nurses. Diverting that to GPs will reduce GP capacity rather than increase it. What is an enhanced service GP appointment in the first place? Training and retaining more GPs has to be a core part of any expansion in primary care, and that requires more money across the board.”
“The health announcements in the programme for government are small snippets of NHS reform and, as a whole, they do not deliver the wide-scale change that is needed in how we use the health service and treat ill health. The national conversation that was previously suggested seems to have disappeared. There are good moves, such as the Government’s recognition that we must vastly increase the number of people who are seen in the community at an earlier point. However, I have some real concerns, as does the Royal College of General Practitioners, about the timescale for and sustainability of the proposal. Increasing the number of GP appointments is a laudable goal but, given our current GP workforce and the pressures that they face, a focus on quantity alone risks backfiring.”
“It is time to commit to stronger action to protect the health of those who are affected and for us to invest in a healthier future. 13:14”
“The new medicines that we are seeing are likely to launch soon. Some of them are treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that can be transferred to asthma care. They mark a major step towards reducing the environmental impact of inhaled medicines while ensuring that patients, especially the most vulnerable, still get the treatments that they need. Allowing patient choice is hugely important. Not everyone wants to, or is able to, use a powder inhaler, for example. Some will have used a conventional inhaler for a long time. Encouraging companies to consider the environmental impact of their medicines is in everyone’s interests. It is essential to recognise the on-going challenges that people who live with asthma face. More investment in research and better support for innovative treatments are crucial to improving lives.”
“A crucial factor is that we now face the loss of clinical leadership in the area. Without such specialist leadership, it will be much harder to make progress on vital aspects such as data collection and pulmonary rehab. Moreover, the national centre for sustainable delivery has developed its own plan, but its implementation is on hold because of unresolved funding issues. We must not lose sight of the importance of properly funded research and services that lead to better treatments and wider access for everyone. In previous debates on world asthma day, I have raised the issue of the environmental impact of inhalers. Many of them, in particular the older types, use propellants that contribute to increased emissions. Like Emma Harper, I was encouraged to see the innovations that are coming in that space.”
“In 2021, the Scottish Government published its respiratory care action plan, with a vision to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and support for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions. As we have heard, the plan included 12 commitments, with a particular focus on the transition from child to adult services, providing better access to pulmonary rehabilitation, and making improvements to the gathering of data on respiratory conditions. Four years on, progress on much of that has been slow. That is not to say that there have not been some positive developments, such as the introduction of restrictions on selling tobacco and vapes, and steps towards improving care for young people who are moving into adult services. However, it is undeniable that the plan’s implementation has stalled.”
“Too many people still face obstacles, ranging from limited availability of treatment to prescribing issues, misdiagnosis and lack of follow-up care. That is especially the case in the UK, where lung conditions kill more people than they do anywhere else in western Europe. In Scotland, that trend tends to affect the most deprived households disproportionately. An estimated 2.3 per cent of the population who are registered with a GP—roughly 360,000 people—have a diagnosis of asthma. That serves as a further reminder of the importance of doubling down on our efforts to raise awareness. Several organisations, such as Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, and Asthma and Lung UK, have been in touch with me to pass on valuable data and pressing concerns. I will briefly highlight some of the urgent actions that they wish to see.”
“If it might help to break their deadlock over the impact of LEZs on health issues, I highlight a study that the University of York conducted in 2022, which said: “LEZ decreased the probability of having health problem that limits activity by 1.2 percentage points. Compared to the baseline mean, this corresponds to a 7% reduction in the health problems.” Although that study related to LEZs in England, I thought it worth noting from my very quick search. As we have heard, the theme for world asthma day 2025 is “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL”. That should serve as a strong reminder that getting the right medications should never be a luxury. Inhaled treatments are vital for managing asthma every day and for reacting quickly to dangerous attacks.”