Carol Mochan
Scottish Labour · Scotland
“I think that we could take a different approach in that area. A number of older people have been convicted of terrible crimes, but their risk to the general population is much lower than it used to be because of their age and circumstances.”
“Industrial conditions such as those that my constituents were exposed to show what the approach of big business and the insurance giants has been.”
“I am interested in the point about upstream measures, and I am particularly interested in women, because we know that they should not always enter the criminal justice system and prisons in particular. Perhaps there is more that the cabinet secretary could do in that area, because there is a lot of research on it.”
“Those who were members during the previous session of Parliament will know not only that Richard Leonard was a passionate and committed campaigner but that his speeches were also very passionate—as passionate as his beliefs. I thank him for his time in the Parliament, for his guidance and for his commitment to economic justice.”
“I support the Cape must pay campaign, which calls on the former asbestos manufacturer Cape plc, now Altrad, to donate £10 million to mesothelioma research. As my colleague Jackie Baillie said, that is a small amount to expect. Such companies and the state owe a great deal to individuals, families and communities.”
“For a number of years, I was a director of Turning Point Scotland, which is Scotland’s biggest social welfare charity, although I am not any more. Fifteen years ago, we commenced an initiative called housing first, which is primarily a way of dealing with homelessness.”
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“I thank Maggie Chapman for bringing this important debate to the chamber, and for her powerful speech. It is paramount that we treat people arriving in Scotland as we would wish to be treated ourselves, and I hope that the debate will go some way towards achieving that. People are unable to claim adequate benefits for basic survival because of immigration status, in many cases through a system that we have set up—by “we”, I mean human beings; it is human beings who set up these systems—in such a way that it means, as we have heard this evening, that they are unable to work. We put people in that position, which shows that there is a responsibility on us all to act on the recommendations that are made in the legal briefing by Professor Jen Ang. That applies at all levels of Government.”
“I am happy to take away the point that Carol Mochan puts to me to determine the steps that can be taken to improve the flow of data that will assist in the planning of such treatment. Islamophobia 6.”
“Although endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological condition in the United Kingdom, the level of data collection on it by health boards is extremely limited. Does the Government recognise that capturing more data on general practitioner referrals for endometriosis and waiting times for consultation would create greater transparency about how long it is taking to diagnose and treat endometriosis? The First Minister: I recognise that those are important steps that could be taken to assist the situation. The emphasis on improving the information that is available to us about individual conditions is part of the approach that is envisaged in the women’s health plan for Scotland.”
“The cabinet secretary’s response to the question that I asked in the chamber was: “I say once again that those regulations are also included in the Government’s belief that all public bodies should fulfil their obligations under all pieces of legislation with reference to this issue.”—[Official Report, 25 February 2025; c 15.] If the cabinet secretary is saying that that is the Government’s belief, I think that, possibly, the Government should be doing more. I will end by asking the minister whether the Government can give us assurance that it will take some responsibility and look to assess the current situation in our NHS and other organisations, particularly ones to which the Government provides public funds. Gathering that information should not be difficult, but I think that it is essential. 18:04”
“I agree with my colleague Claire Baker and others who have said that the Government needs to have more engagement with us on those matters so that we can get the information that is required. To go back to the questions that I asked the cabinet secretary and the minister, the issue is about engagement. I asked three separate questions—one in the chamber, to the cabinet secretary, and two written questions—on the provision of single-sex toilets. However, I feel that the Government was unable to give me full answers about the way in which it is ensuring that the laws are being applied in Scotland, and I feel that it is important for the Government to take responsibility in that regard.”
“Recently, we have heard about patients having to wait in corridors and the strain that the NHS is under. Given that, we can see why people are asking the Government to engage with them in light of the “How safe are our Scottish hospitals?” report. We can all agree that the report’s findings are particularly worrying. For 20 years, the Scottish Government, first under Scottish Labour and now under the SNP, has required health boards to eliminate mixed-sex accommodations in hospitals. However, as my colleague Jackie Baillie indicated, at the moment, we think that only two health boards comply with that: NHS Dumfries and Galloway and NHS Orkney. That is unacceptable, and I believe that the Government must take some responsibility for it.”
“I thank Tess White for bringing the debate to the chamber. I welcome the speeches by members who have already spoken on this really important matter. I will make a short contribution, following on from questions that I have asked the cabinet secretary and the minister about the provision of single-sex toilets. For context, as others have said, single-sex spaces that are based on biological sex are protected under the Equality Act 2010. Women and girls have a right to feel safe in our public buildings such as schools and hospitals. They are often in those places when they are at their most vulnerable and, further, they require to attend those places, so Government has a responsibility to ensure that those places are safe and comply with the law.”
“During the inspections, which are to last between one and three days, HIS inspectors will look at care, speak to staff and senior managers, talk to mothers and families, and review information about staffing levels, culture and leadership in the units. I am happy to correspond further with Carol Mochan if she requires any further details on the work that HIS is doing to provide additional assurance. The Presiding Officer: That concludes the urgent question. Business Motions 17:17”
“I also thank the cabinet secretary for his answers. Last year, a report on neonatal deaths recommended the review of maternity units to help to assess how care for mothers and babies can be improved. As the cabinet secretary said, following that, it was recommended that Healthcare Improvement Scotland carry out inspections of maternity units from January 2025 in order to provide assurances on the care that women and babies can expect to receive. Will the cabinet secretary provide an update to the Parliament on the progress that has been made on those inspections? Neil Gray: I thank Carol Mochan for her question. I can provide an illustrative update. The first inspections have happened, and we are expecting reports on them later this year.”
“Carol Mochan: The member makes my point: we can talk about systems and examples in bits and pieces, but the reality is that, at this time, we should be much further advanced. That would make an incredible difference to our practitioners. I know that the member is a practitioner, so she will hear that at times when she works within the NHS. All the staff speak to me about that. I know that I need to conclude. We support the Government in making the changes. The opportunities are endless. However, if we want to keep up with the rest of the UK and the world, we must be honest about where we are so that we can move forward and support our staff and our patients in realising this opportunity. 16:21”
“That can be done only if there is leadership from the Government. I hope that the Government welcomes the Labour amendment’s call for “a shared care record system and empowering patients through an NHS app.” Clare Haughey: Does Carol Mochan recognise that quite a lot of work has already been done in the NHS to get systems to speak to each other? There is the EMIS system, whereby various clinicians can access each other’s records; there are the social work systems, which now allow healthcare staff to access those records; there is also the hospital electronic prescribing and medicines administration—HEPMA—system, which allows people throughout the hospital to see what a patient has been prescribed.”
“The use of different IT systems creates administrative burdens, while issues in accessing patient records create major barriers to effective care. Brian Whittle: The member makes an incredibly important point about the collection of data. Scotland’s healthcare service has phenomenal data-gathering capability, but it does not have the ability to scrutinise and utilise that data. Does the member agree that having different platforms that do not speak to each other is the problem? Carol Mochan: I welcome the member’s intervention. That absolutely is the case. Practitioners on the ground, no matter what their profession, tell us every day that data systems being able to speak to each other would make a such a difference to patient experience and patient outcomes. There has to be an ambition to upgrade NHS systems and equipment.”
“We need to address the day-to-day technological challenges that are faced. We have magnetic resonance imaging and CT scanners that are decades old and theatres that lie empty due to poor scheduling. Technology could help with that. As we have heard, it is common for doctors and nurses to use pagers, despite there being much more efficient ways of communicating. No one disputes that our NHS needs urgent action—the cabinet secretary himself is saying that. We need to keep pace with the technologies, but, at times, it is hard to imagine how we can get to that point. The basics, such as data gathering, are a challenge across the NHS. Scotland has a population of around 5.5 million, yet its 14 health boards collect data in different ways and the systems cannot speak to each other.”
“This Government debate on recognising the significant health and economic benefits of supporting and adopting innovation in our NHS is welcome. It can be seen from the Labour amendment that we support the Government in enabling that. However, on the ground, the motion must feel as though it is only warm words, because the issue is action and the implementation of the fantastic things that have been spoken about. As we know, thousands of patients are stuck on NHS waiting lists and are waiting for tests and to be diagnosed. We need to do all that we can to embrace innovation and explore the potential of new technology not only to speed up treatment but to make best use of the accuracy in diagnosis and offer the best treatment plans. The reality is that our NHS is stuck in what can be described only as an analogue age.”
“I am glad to hear from the cabinet secretary about the improvements and investments in technology that are being made. The member who spoke before me gave excellent examples of how technology can be used. There are, indeed, great examples, and we welcome how technology is being used, but the point is that we need to embed that in what we do in the NHS across Scotland. It is fair to say that, having been in government for 18 years, the SNP has had ample opportunity to keep pace with innovation and bring forward the technological changes that our NHS has needed for many years and that it desperately needs now. That is possibly the part that was missing from the cabinet secretary’s excellent speech—the recognition that we have not kept pace.”
“Motion moved, That, under Rule 8.14.3, the debate be extended by up to 30 minutes.—[Paul O’Kane] Motion agreed to. 13:27”
“As politicians, it is our responsibility to work together to ensure that that happens, so that young carers feel confident in the support that is available to them and their loved ones. I commit to doing that. I hope that the debate spurs us all on to do more together in response to the needs of our young carers in Scotland. It is incumbent on us to do that. I thank everyone who has spoken or is about to speak in the debate. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Before I call the next speaker, I advise members that, due to the number of members who wish to speak in the debate, I am minded to accept a motion without notice, under rule 8.14.3 of standing orders, to extend the debate by up to 30 minutes. I invite Paul O’Kane to move such a motion.”
“Sara Jackson, the young carers manager at the Dumfries and Galloway Carers Centre, works directly with young carers and explained in correspondence with me that the damaging impact of a lack of support and burnout means that many young carers are often at breaking point and their reality can be quite difficult. What stood out for me in her correspondence was the suggestion that, although young people need a break through getting straightforward respite from their caring responsibilities, they also need a break in that they must be given equal opportunities to thrive, as others have touched on. That is why Carers Trust Scotland is urging schools, trusts, colleges and universities to step up. It would be great to hear about that from other members, as well as getting a commitment from the minister to work across Government on that.”
“As we know, young carers often do not recognise themselves as carers, and many do not think twice about what they do. We owe them a great deal of gratitude. Dumfries and Galloway Carers Centre, in my region, wrote to me to ask for my support for young carers action day 2025, which I am delighted to give. The theme, “geezabreak”, focuses on the importance of providing breaks and respite for young carers and, as others have said, the need for schools and employers to better support them in school and work. From previous debates and my meetings with young carers, I am aware that the reality for many young carers in Scotland is that caring responsibilities can dominate their lives. Young carers often do not realise that and continue without support.”
“Again, I thank Paul O’Kane for giving us the opportunity to talk specifically about young carers today. Other members have mentioned the data and statistics, so I will not go over those again. I simply highlight that, with more than 30,000 young carers under the age of 18, it is incumbent on us to support them. I thank Carers Trust for the work that it does in gathering all the information. As others have said, it is important that we have that information, to ensure that we understand the issues, and that we use it to guide us on the solutions that we need in order to provide adequate support to all our invaluable carers, particularly our young carers. The debate is in response to young carers action day, and I commend young carers for the contribution that they make to our society when they are caring for their loved ones.”
“I, too, thank all the young carers in the public gallery. It is a delight to have them with us today. I give a special shout-out to the South Ayrshire young carers I met outside. They were really kind to spend some time with me—it was much appreciated. I thank my colleague Paul O’Kane for bringing the debate to the chamber. It is absolutely right that we make time in this place to discuss such an important issue. Paul O’Kane has been a champion for carers in the current session of Parliament, bringing the issue to the chamber and working cross-party and outwith the Parliament in the way that other members, including Willie Rennie, have spoken about, as well as working with many organisations and charities to raise the voices of carers and ensure that we see lasting change.”
“To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on how the Scottish Government is working to improve healthy life expectancy. (S6F- 03900)”
“As a result of the ceasefire agreement this year, some were able to reunite, but, with the recent action by Israel further hindering Gaza’s ability to provide clean water and food for its numbers of children, pregnant women and breastfeeding women, malnutrition is a problem. The figure for those affected was sitting at about 4,000, but, clearly, it is expected to increase. Across the world, women need us to shout and raise our voices, because it is women who suffer hugely when there is war and devastation in their country. I know that I am running out of time, but I just want to mention that there is hope. When we bring women together, we can all work towards positive outcomes. If we raise our voices in the Parliament and in our communities, we can make a difference. 17:58”
“There is a real national need for education. I am trying to bring together some of the previously raised points, on which we agree, about educating men and young boys on how they should relate to women, their attitudes and their actions. Some of our male colleagues in the Parliament are real champions in that respect. It is also important for me to discuss international women’s day on a global scale, focusing on the impact of the displacement and devastation being experienced by millions of women and girls not just throughout the world but, in particular, through the violence in Ukraine and Palestine. One could not be more accurate in saying that those women need acceleration and action. Families have been ripped apart in Palestine.”
“Because women often put others before themselves, it is difficult for them to attend appointments, and the closer an appointment can be to a woman, the more likely they are to attend. As we all know, women are more likely to experience poverty and gender-based violence. That is a reality. We have spoken about it previously in the chamber, and all members are absolutely determined to change it. Domestic abuse rates are rising, and we need to do more to tackle violence against women and girls. According to the annual statistics on domestic abuse for 2022-23, the police reported that 83 per cent of victims of domestic violence were female and that four in five incidents involved a female victim and a male suspected perpetrator. It is important that we do more work on that; indeed, we have had debates on it previously.”
“It is important that we get the opportunity to raise such issues in the chamber. Women from the most deprived areas are still less likely to attend breast or cervical screening appointments, with at least an 11 per cent difference in uptake—not to mention the fact that female life expectancy varies drastically from the most to the least deprived areas. Although that is improving, it continues to create inequality among women, and I think that all of us will want to work tirelessly to overcome that challenge. There is something in the idea of community- based provision of women’s health services going to the individual, instead of services depending on the individual to be able to go to them. I bring that up, because I have spoken to a lot of women, as I am sure we all have, during the weeks running up to international women’s day.”
“I, too, thank Audrey Nicoll for bringing the debate to the chamber. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the importance of international women’s day 2025, with its theme, as we have heard, of accelerate action. The motion highlights some incredibly important points, with the focus on building momentum and urgency to address the unequal barriers and serious challenges still being faced by women in this country and around the world. The health inequalities that women face are widespread and deeply frustrating. This is not a new issue, especially for women from deprived areas, and it is an issue that members have heard me speaking about before. Such inequalities are unacceptable. When we think about health outcomes for women, we hear women’s voices saying that they are not always understood or believed when they approach services.”
“It is not that the Government does not recognise the issue; rather, the problem is with the Government’s implementation of effective action. The Government’s response to the report indicates that it understands that there is a problem, but it is not moving to action. The report notes that that is the case. It is clear from the report that there is a lack of urgency when it comes to delivery on the part of the Government. Due to pressures of time, I will stop there. 16:03”
“The report contains a collective statement and 19 recommendations across five themes. The conveners have spoken about many of those themes already. In the interests of time, I will not go over them, but I hope that other members might pick out some specific points. For my part, I will discuss some feedback from participants and make some general comments. Feedback from participants highlighted the benefits and effectiveness of deliberative engagement, and it was welcome to hear that, overall, people felt that the experience was informative and allowed for collaborative discussion. The report acknowledges the frustration of those on the ground with the fact that the problem is not about recognising the issue.”
“The Scottish Government must acknowledge that and give assurances that the recommendations in that regard will be met urgently. We cannot discuss this topic without acknowledging the fundamental truths behind the figures. We see vast inequalities in drug deaths, with people in Scotland’s most deprived communities 15 times more likely to die from drug misuse than those in the least deprived areas. Drug misuse disproportionately affects those who are already experiencing disadvantages in the underlying social determinants of health, including poverty, homelessness, trauma and stigma. The panel recognised that all those issues have an impact, but it also recognised that those issues are wider than its remit. I recognise that there is no simple solution, but I welcome the panel’s report, which offers a fresh perspective on this complex issue.”
“If we are to understand the situation that we are in, we must acknowledge that Scotland continues to have the worst rate of drug-related deaths in Europe, with 1,172 people dying of drug misuse in 2023. That is a stark reminder of the public health challenge that we are facing, and a stark reminder to the Government that it is currently failing Scotland on the issue. As the report puts simply, Scotland faces a significant drug and alcohol problem, and it is important that addiction services, for both drugs and alcohol, are adequately funded and supported. The report also highlights important points on funding and accountability, which were raised by the previous speaker. At the moment, there is no stability for service providers and no consistency of approach.”
“I believe that it wants the situation to change but, unfortunately, it has lacked the ability to deliver. It is fair to say that the report from the people’s panel confirms that. Society’s approach to drug addiction must be evidence based and should be one that shows compassion and kindness, and any solution must include the voices of those with lived experience. Therefore, my party and I support the engagement with the people’s panel and the recommendations to fully include those with lived and living experience in further work that is done. To move Government to a position of action, I think that we in Opposition have a responsibility to be clear and honest. I will repeat the figures that the cabinet secretary raised—an act that showed his commitment to that approach, too.”
“Voices of those beyond just those in the Parliament must scrutinise and push the Government on the issues, and the people’s panel is a robust way to do that. I know that every member in the Parliament believes that every individual who has lost their life through drug dependency has been lost before their time. It must always be remembered that behind every statistic is a friend or family member who has lost a loved one. I pay tribute to all the friends and families who campaign across Scotland on the issue. Despite that work, and despite the national mission, Scotland remains in the grip of a drug deaths health emergency, with figures remaining stubbornly high. I recognise that that is not due to the Government’s lack of will to tackle the issue.”
“I welcome the opportunity to open the debate on behalf of Scottish Labour. The people’s panel on reducing drug harm and deaths has produced some excellent work that analyses the current action to tackle drugs and what more can be done to reduce drug deaths and tackle problem drug use, which we all agree are prominent public health issues. The people’s panel was set up to make recommendations and to answer the question, “What does Scotland need to do differently to reduce drug related harms?” That is an important question, because Scotland remains in the grip of a drug deaths health emergency, with lives being lost needlessly. The tragic rise in drug-related deaths is a clear sign that the Government’s plan to tackle the crisis is not working.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported view of the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland that proposed changes to legislation on religious observance diverge from the recommendation by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to allow young people to independently opt out of religious observance at school. (S6O-04396)”
“From my discussions with clinicians who are interested in this field, I am aware that the lack of expertise in, for example, general practice, accident and emergency departments and general wards can result in opportunities for diagnosis and treatment being missed.”
“People can also have difficulties in controlling impulses and managing emotions, and ARBD often results in changes in personality. It is likely that many people who are suffering from ARBD are not diagnosed. One symptom of ARBD is a lack of insight into the problems that it causes, which means that many patients do not recognise that there is anything wrong and do not seek medical help. In addition, importantly, there is a lack of understanding among clinicians. The numerous forms and presentations of the condition mean that, in order to make a diagnosis, clinicians need to be aware of the variations of ARBD. It can be difficult to distinguish between the long-term effects of alcohol on the brain and the short-term effects of intoxication or withdrawal.”
“Alcohol-related brain damage, which is often shortened to ARBD, is a subject that does not receive the attention that it deserves. Although the subject is mentioned in the chamber on occasion, it is right that we have time tonight to debate it properly. Those who are listening to or watching the debate at home may not entirely understand what ARBD is, so I will briefly explain it. ARBD is a condition in which there are changes to the structure and function of the brain as a result of long-term heavy alcohol use. Alcohol especially damages the frontal lobes of the brain— the brain’s control centre—and symptoms therefore include struggling to plan, make decisions and assess risk. In addition, people might have difficulty in concentrating and finding motivation to do things, even daily tasks such as eating.”
“I thank members for supporting my motion and for the cross-party support that has allowed me to bring this important subject to the chamber. I pre- emptively thank members who will contribute to the debate; I am sure that many of them will have local stories to tell that relate to this desperately complex, life-changing and stigmatised condition. It is important that those experiences are given a platform. I welcome guests to the public gallery: Grant Brand, who is a social work lead for ARBD in Glasgow; and, from Ayrshire, Dr Ben Chetcuti and Leanne MacPherson. Both are healthcare professionals who have been instrumental in sparking my interest in this area and helping me to understand the real and significant need to raise the profile of the condition and understand the treatment requirements for it.”
“The minister previously stated that the Government continues to explore other avenues, alongside self-sampling, that may improve the uptake level of cervical screening programmes, including consideration of better use of digital technology and more personalised communication. Can the minister give any further update on the detail of that? Jenni Minto: As Carol Mochan will know, we are awaiting a recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee regarding HPV self-sampling, and we expect it in spring. As I said, we have started preparatory work for the implementation. If implementation is recommended, we will ensure that it is done as efficiently and effectively as possible. The Presiding Officer: Question 7 is from”
“Professionals in the network often discuss the importance of training and how we should ensure that people are aware of and can spot the various conditions or build-up across the spectrum to ensure that we can signpost and have appropriate resources. I am aware of the time, but I want to make it clear that I have been impressed by the speeches in the chamber tonight. I hope that we can continue to have this conversation, because that is what tonight’s debate was about. 18:26”
“We need to raise awareness, fight for funding for research and scrutinise the Government’s delivery of full implementation of the plans for eating disorder services. I know that other members have asked the minister to respond to that. One of the review’s recommendations was to establish a national eating disorder network to oversee implementation of the Government’s plans, and its terms of reference were published in July last year. The network is responsible for co- ordinating training and research implementation, along with improving links between primary and secondary care services. I am very interested in that point. Members will know that I worked in the national health service as an allied health professional, so I am aware of the importance of training and the link between primary and secondary care.”
“I also highlight the issue of age at diagnosis, because that can sometimes be misunderstood. We know that most eating disorders develop during adolescence; however, there are cases of eating disorders developing in very young children and in adults, including examples of adults who develop such disorders well into their later years. That might be shocking but it acts as a reminder to us all that eating disorders are prominent and serious across our whole population, and that they still have a taboo surrounding them. We know that that is particularly true when men are involved and they feel that they cannot speak about it. Again, that is very important for today’s debate. As Beat has indicated, it is essential that we, as MSPs, take our role seriously.”
“Would she agree that social media is an issue that can contribute to the increased prevalence of eating disorders? Stigma, social media and various other aspects are all tied in and are leading to an increase in the numbers of young children and adolescents with eating disorders. Carol Mochan: I thank the member for that intervention—it is a very important point. As the parent of a teenage daughter, I am concerned about some of the things that we see on social media. We all have a responsibility to talk about that so that we can address it. As we have heard, eating disorders are not uncommon: one in 50 people in Scotland, and many people across the wider UK, are affected by them. We know that, tragically, the impacts can be fatal, and that is why we must raise these issues whenever we can.”
“In seeking to better understand these complex mental illnesses and abolish stereotypes, I thank Beat for its survey, which shows that four out of five respondents “thought that greater public awareness would make them feel more comfortable to talk about their eating disorder.” That is an important point, and we in the chamber can contribute to that awareness. We know that eating disorders affect not only the person with the condition but their friends and family, who can become carers and are often forced to watch their loved one struggle with that battle. Having open conversations can relieve the stigma for families, too, so it is important that we ensure that we have those conversations and reduce the stigma to allow the discussions to continue. Emma Harper: Carol Mochan mentions stigma, which is important.”
“I thank Emma Harper for bringing this important debate to the chamber again this year. I also welcome the guests in the public gallery—it is great to have them here. Like other parties, Scottish Labour supports the aims and objectives of eating disorders awareness week 2025 and its goal to raise awareness of how eating disorders can affect anyone. I ask people who need support to seek it, if they can, as the motion says, by contacting their GP surgery, or by phoning the Beat helpline or contacting that organisation through its website.”
“Is the cabinet secretary confident that all health and safety workplace regulations are being complied with and that all public bodies have single-sex toilets clearly marked as male and female? In her answer, I ask her to give us evidence of how that data was collected and, if it is not available, to commit to obtaining such information. Shirley-Anne Somerville: Carol Mochan quite rightly points to the fact that there are other regulations on top of the ones that I mentioned in my original answer—for example, those that refer specifically to the workplace. However, I say once again that those regulations are also included in the Government’s belief that all public bodies should fulfil their obligations under all pieces of legislation with reference to this issue.”
“My colleague Monica Lennon has done so much work on that, and she will possibly touch on it. I again thank everybody for coming along and speaking in the debate. 15:55”
“I will look at the framework to see how we ensure that that is embedded in what we do. I am very aware of the time but, like Brian Whittle, I want to touch on the devastating psychological impact of miscarriage for women and the wider family. Psychological services should be available to ensure that people have care right through afterwards. People will perhaps have seen the Engender briefing, which highlighted that such services were not available during the Covid period, which really affected people. There was definitely a link with women not having their family support around them at that time. Should there be any time in the future when we need to think about how we provide services, it is absolutely clear that women require that support. I wanted to touch on the space that women have, although I do not have a lot of time left.”
“Inequalities are a barrier for many families, and it is our responsibility to ensure that services recognise that and have firm policies in place to ensure that all services are provided with that in mind. I will look at the framework in that regard. We know that people from our poorest communities access services less readily or much later than more affluent families. Addressing that must be part of any Government strategy. Disparities due to geography remain far too prevalent; I do not think that it is unfair of me to say that. We talk in the chamber about the journeys that patients have to make, and I am sure that members recognise that issue. In Scotland, we have pockets of extreme rurality. We must seek to workforce plan and have the skills available to attend women, rather than the other way round.”