Sue Webber
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute, albeit briefly, to today’s debate on the legislative consent motion on the Railways Bill. As colleagues know, the bill represents a significant reshaping of how rail services and rail infrastructure will be overseen across Great Britain.”
“On the subject of public money, the entire premise of the climate plan is that the renewable investment that is outlined happens only because of subsidies from bill payers across the UK. I want to speak about transport.”
“Evidence that was considered by the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee made it clear that open-access operators remain unconvinced that the new arrangements will protect their ability to compete on a level playing field.”
“Those are sensible steps. However, our party has a long-standing commitment to a rail system that grows instead of restricts choice, competition and freight capacity, which brings me to the principal issue that prevents me from supporting the LCM today.”
“We are committed to doing what we can, particularly in relation to the EV charging network—which, as an EV driver, I know has improved dramatically in the past five years and which is set to improve even more.”
“Any framework that risks weakening that model, whether unintentionally or through lack of safeguards, must be approached with caution. Similarly, on freight, Scotland has ambitious growth aspirations, but growth depends on confidence that freight paths will be protected, that investment will be worthwhile and that decisions affecting Scot…”
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“The blame for that lies squarely with SNP ministers, who have put the final nail in the coffin of the once world-leading shipyard. Fiona Hyslop: Will the member give way? Sue Webber: I am afraid, cabinet secretary, given the timings for the debate, I do not have the opportunity to do so. Fiona Hyslop: The language! Sue Webber: Fine—I will give way. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Ladies, please. Fiona Hyslop: I ask the member to be very circumspect in talking down Ferguson’s at a time when it is seeking commercial contracts. Sue Webber: I am not sure what I do in this chamber that gets under the skin of SNP ministers. Yesterday, my legitimate questions were treated with equal disdain by the Deputy First Minister.”
“This week, we have learned that Ferguson Marine has lost the contract for the small vessel replacement programme. The ferries procurement agency, CMAL, has instead named a Polish firm as the preferred bidder for the programme. The contract was a key part of Ferguson Marine’s five- year business plan, following delays and cost overruns in the construction of the two much larger ferries for CalMac. The announcement is devastating for Ferguson Marine and could prove to be the death knell for the yard. It should be a given that a nationalised shipyard could win a Scottish Government contract, but it is a measure of how badly the SNP has mismanaged Ferguson’s that ferries that should be built in the west of Scotland are instead to be made in eastern Europe.”
“The SNP ferries scandal has lasted for more than a decade and has cost us millions. The cost of the MV Glen Sannox and the MV Glen Rosa has spiralled from an initial £97 million to £360 million. Not only are taxpayers in Scotland funding a publicly owned yard on the Clyde, but those incredible costs are compromising the ability to invest in new infrastructure and to maintain affordable ticket prices. The procurement process for the ferries was launched on 15 October 2014, and the ferries were meant to be delivered in late 2017 and early 2018. MV Glen Sannox only set sail in January and it has a leaky hull three months later. It remains unclear whether MV Glen Rosa will be completed by the promised deadline of September this year. Just when we think that the ferries scandal cannot get any worse, the SNP manages to outdo itself.”
“I will speak to the amendment in my name and make it clear that we will be supporting the Labour motion before us this afternoon. Scotland’s ferry network has been run into the ground by the Scottish National Party, with timetables being cancelled and long-promised vessels repeatedly delayed and running over budget by millions. Islanders have been left stranded by the SNP Government, and its failure to deliver lifeline ferries is damaging communities and businesses. The social and economic impact of ferry disruptions is causing significant harm to Scotland’s islands. The ferries are a lifeline service for communities, which rely on them to access vital medical care and education and to visit their friends and families, yet SNP ministers have let them down time and again, with repeated delays and spiralling costs.”
“She will know that extensive analysis and legal advice indicated that a direct award of the current SVRP contract to Ferguson Marine would have introduced substantial risk that might have led to the worst of both worlds, with the boats not being delivered to islanders and Ferguson Marine not getting the contract because the matter ended up in the courts. We tried to avoid that by agreeing to an open procurement process.”
“The constant negativity from the Conservatives—with words such as “catastrophic” being used—does nothing to help the yard to secure work on the open market, so it is extremely frustrating to hear such comments. The bottom line is that Ferguson Marine is focused on completing the Glen Rosa. We await, as does the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, an update from the yard on the timescales. Ferguson Marine’s second focus is its commercial strategy, which was never predicated on only one contract, because that would not be a commercial strategy. It has additional work coming in, which we hope will be secured in April, and it is very hopeful that it will secure other contracts shortly, as David Dishon referred to in his comments yesterday. There are also opportunities relating to phase 2 of the small vessel replacement programme.”
“The Scottish National Party’s catastrophic mismanagement of Ferguson’s means that it looks as though ferries that could have been built on the west coast of Scotland will, instead, be made in eastern Europe. Phase 2 of the small vessel replacement programme is a long way off, so, in the light of what has happened, what action is the Scottish Government taking to ensure that the Glen Rosa is delivered on time? Will the Deputy First Minister deliver a statement to the Parliament on the future of Ferguson Marine and the hundreds of jobs that depend on it? Kate Forbes: The hundreds of jobs have been protected only because of the actions of the Government.”
“I move amendment S6M-16755.3, to leave out from “believes” to end and insert: “notes that the Scottish Government fully upholds the Equality Act 2010, and requires all public bodies to comply with the law, and welcomes the role of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission in providing codes of practice and guidance.” The Deputy Presiding Officer: I have tolerated a degree of reaction, but I remind members that it is up to the member who is on their feet whether they take an intervention. 15:11”
“Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention? Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing equality and improving the lives of trans people in Scotland. Stephen Kerr: What an embarrassment. Shirley-Anne Somerville: Trans and non- binary people are a small, marginalised group that represent 0.4 per cent of Scotland’s population. They are often misunderstood and misrepresented, and they receive disproportionate levels of attention. It is vital that we continue to work collaboratively to support one another. Today’s debate is an important opportunity to reiterate the Government’s commitment to the Equality Act 2010 and to welcome the role of the EHRC in enforcing the act and in providing codes of practice and guidance that support all public bodies to comply with the law in Scotland.”
“Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention? Shirley-Anne Somerville: The debate on single-sex spaces can focus on front-line services that are crucial in providing support and safety for the survivors of violence against women and girls. The needs of survivors of rape and sexual assault must be the utmost priority of support services, and that is why we strongly support the exemptions in the 2010 act and are clear that access to separate or single-sex provision for survivors is a legitimate and proportionate response when providing support to rape survivors.”
“Broken down, that includes almost 56,500 diagnostic procedures, which exceeds the original plan to deliver 40,000 of those procedures by almost 41 per cent and has reduced the size of the waiting lists for imaging and scopes. As I said, gynaecology appointments and patients were prioritised last year and they will be prioritised again this year. Gynaecology patients will be benefiting from the improvement in performance.”
“Sue Webber: Minister, for how much longer must women in Lothian endure unnecessary suffering while waiting for life-changing medical treatment? The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair. Maree Todd: I agree that some women are waiting too long for intervention and, as I have already stated, we are working to improve the situation. I apologise to women who are having to wait and to cope with a painful and debilitating condition. There are some green shoots that the member can pass on to her constituent. To the end of January, health boards reported that they had delivered 75,500 appointments and procedures, against a plan of 64,000.”
“With regard to gynaecological waits, that investment may be there on paper, but it comes down to the reality on the ground: women in Scotland are currently waiting on average eight years for an endometriosis diagnosis. Following diagnosis, things do not get any better. Here in NHS Lothian, one of my constituents, Jenny Macfarlane, has been waiting for urgent surgery since July 2023. She told me that she has been informed that, after already waiting for 81 weeks, her surgery will now not take place until the end of 2025. Due to that time lapse, she will also likely need another expensive MRI scan. That news has a detrimental impact on her mental health and, as she put it, on her will to live. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Question.”
“If the Scottish Government is serious about improving the statistics and the lives of those who are affected by drugs, it needs to be bold and innovative and to act on every one of the people’s panel’s recommendations. 16:23”
“Instead of investing in recovery, the SNP continues to advocate decriminalisation, which will only flood our communities with more drugs. The SNP Government’s priority continues to be harm reduction, but let us remember that harm reduction alone does not reduce addiction. Relapse rates remain high, and interventions such as supervised consumption rooms aim to prevent immediate harm but do not provide a pathway to recovery. Neil Gray: Will the member give way? The Deputy Presiding Officer: It is too late. The member is just about to conclude. Sue Webber: I am afraid that I cannot take the intervention—I am in my dying seconds.”
“That was clearly reflected in the people’s panel’s findings. There was very little talk of doing something more, different or innovative, despite a culture change and the requirement for “brave and bold” action to tackle the “public health emergency” that has been created by drug use in Scotland. As a Conservative MSP, I say that that action should include passing the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill, which has been backed by front-line experts and would enshrine in law the right to receive life-saving drug addiction treatment. We do not support the decriminalisation of drugs, and none of the report’s recommendations advocates that. Decriminalising class A drugs will not help to tackle Scotland’s drug deaths and could make it more difficult for the police to stop the supply of drugs getting to our streets.”
“The panel was “shocked to learn about the lack of urgency and implementation, given the scale of the crisis”, and it said that “the same conversations keep happening, with the same actions being agreed but not ... implemented”. The panel was concerned that “the evidence they have heard has been previously presented by experts yet has not been acted upon by the Government. There is no stability for service providers and users and no consistency of approach.” Carol Mochan also made those points in her opening speech. As I listened during the panel’s session, one of my main concerns was that the people who stood up and presented were the same voices as usual, but no action was being taken on those issues. We need to hear new voices—those who are involved directly and who have lived experience of the recovery community.”
“It is little wonder that alcohol and drugs partnerships, which tackle drug misuse at the local level, say that they are underfunded and have no confidence in the SNP Government’s leadership. Seventy-two per cent of ADPs say that the amount of funding that they receive is not enough to deliver the national mission. The SNP must listen to the people’s panel. It must take responsibility and finally act with urgency to stop Scotland’s national shame. The panel was clear that the Government has not acted, despite being aware of the evidence. It said that the same conversations keep happening without any change in results. Having attended one of the panel’s sessions, I agree with two things in particular that it said in its report.”
“That does not feel fair at all. I am pleased to have the chance to speak in this afternoon’s debate. I was lucky enough to attend one of the people’s panel sessions last year. Let us remember that, as Annie Wells outlined in her opening remarks, under the SNP, Scotland has had the worst drug deaths rate in Europe for the sixth year in a row. Our country’s drug death rate is 2.7 times higher than the rate in England and Northern Ireland, and it is 2.1 times higher than the rate in Wales. The number of drug deaths has increased by 158 per cent since the SNP came to power—there were 455 drug deaths in 2007, compared with 1,172 in 2023. Every life lost is a tragedy, and those figures are truly unacceptable. Despite that, the SNP Government has cut the alcohol and drugs policy budget for 2025-26 by almost £1 million in real terms.”
“Lessons have to be learned. There will be reporting on the cause of the particular fire, but I was extremely impressed by everyone who was involved in ensuring safety, and I put on record my thanks to them. On the replacement of fleets, I will be able to update Parliament appropriately. It is important that we progress that to ensure that we have the train services that we require for the modern age.”
“Last week, 70 passengers were evacuated from a ScotRail intercity train, and trains between Edinburgh and Aberdeen were suspended, after a power car caught fire near the Tay rail bridge, which caused disruption for hours. In the light of that, what actions are being undertaken to foster resilience in the ScotRail fleet, particularly at a time when key routes often rely on older trains? Will the cabinet secretary provide a timeline for when the new inter7city fleet will be procured? The Deputy Presiding Officer: I assume that the focus of that question is on cancellations. Fiona Hyslop: As a result of that incident, there was clearly an impact in terms of cancellations across the network. I take the opportunity to compliment the professionalism of everybody who was involved in dealing with that incident and the safe evacuation.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions economy ministers have had with ministerial colleagues regarding what steps it is taking to improve regulatory clarity and reduce compliance costs for self-catering accommodation businesses. (S6O- 04382)”
“Given the pressures that our services are under—in particular, the blocked beds and delayed discharges in acute hospital settings—I hope that the Scottish Government will provide the clarity and support that are needed to keep the ARBD unit in Edinburgh open. 18:05”
“in due course”.—[Official Report, 11 September 2025; c 13-14.] In October, I raised the issue in the chamber once again, after the decision to close the ARBD unit in Edinburgh was paused while options were being assessed. However, there is no other ARBD-specific residential rehab unit in Scotland, and evidence shows that treatment for people with ARBD in non-specialist units is often unsatisfactory. I am still waiting for an update from the Scottish Government on whether that vital life-saving unit in Edinburgh will remain open. It is disappointing that the issue has dragged on for so long without any further updates.”
“The ARBD unit that is run by Penumbra at Milestone house in Edinburgh saves lives, yet it is facing the withdrawal of funding. Given that the service reduces the number of hospital bed days in NHS Lothian by nearly 2,000 a year, it is clear that there would be a very negative impact if the service was to close. I know that decisions on funding and service provision are made at a local level by NHS Lothian but, in responding further to my question, the minister said that the Scottish Government was “working with members of our expert residential rehabilitation development working group to assess whether the ARBD unit meets the” correct definition of what counts as “residential rehabilitation”, and stated that it would “provide an update ...”
“Again, Carol Mochan spoke about the lack of expertise and specialists in this clinical field. In Edinburgh, however, we are fortunate in having a specialist ARBD service. I have raised issues surrounding ARBD in the chamber several times, and I have written to the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Jenni Minto, specifically regarding issues with the NHS Lothian alcohol-related brain damage unit in Edinburgh. In September, I questioned the Scottish Government about its response to “Dr Stephen Smith’s evaluation of the alcohol-related brain damage residential rehabilitation service in Edinburgh”. The minister replied to say that the SNP Government was “reviewing the evaluation”. Earlier, in an intervention, Paul Sweeney mentioned the Penumbra service in the west of Scotland.”
“I, too, thank Carol Mochan for bringing the debate to the chamber. Alcohol-related brain damage is a serious issue, and one that is perhaps not as widely recognised as it should be. Carol Mochan clearly outlined the symptoms and how they directly impact those with ARBD, and referred to the role of diet and vitamin B1, or thiamine. In 2023, 1,277 people tragically lost their lives to alcohol. That is a 15-year high, and it is quite shocking. That is 1,277 people who have lived with years of poor health and who have left behind families and friends; the effects are felt by so many. The number of people accessing alcohol services is now 40 per cent lower than it was a decade ago. When people do access those services, they are much older and, as a result, have increasingly complex problems.”
“That is why the delays to and uncertainty around the project to dual the A9 from Perth to Inverness and the Scottish Government’s temporising on dualling the A96 are alarming and anti-growth. Rural communities who depend on the A96 deserve better.”
“Whether it is ferries, trains, roads, potholes or public transport, it is clear that the SNP is failing to deliver on key services that are vital not only for the people of Scotland but for the economy. Public sector investment in infrastructure is essential, as it facilitates the movement of goods and people, enabling businesses to operate efficiently, access wider markets and contribute to overall economic growth by increasing productivity, attracting investment and creating jobs. The need for investment in our roads has been glaring for years. The improvement of roads such as the A9, the A96, the A77 and the A75 is essential for sustainable economic growth as well as the protection of the communities on those routes.”
“There is a risk that a lack of policy alignment across other areas of Government will undermine that clear message. Rent caps are a good example. The damage done to the build-to-rent housing sector by the Scottish Government’s rent cap schemes is severe—£3.2 billion of private rented sector investment has been halted since rent control measures were put in place. Rents in Scotland have increased faster than anywhere else in the UK as a result. Concerned constituents here in Edinburgh constantly write to us about that very fact and the crippling impact that it has on them. Transport is key to tackling inequalities across our country. Good transport links connect communities to schools, colleges, general practitioners, hospitals, dentists, shops, leisure facilities and people’s jobs.”
“The budget this week should have cut taxes for hard-working Scots and businesses; instead, the SNP’s proposals will stifle the economic growth that is vital to the future of public services in Scotland. After Labour’s crippling national insurance jobs tax, we needed a budget based on common sense and sound finances. Investment is linked to the availability of skilled labour, yet the SNP has made Scotland’s income tax rates the highest in the UK, limiting industry access to skilled workers and undermining investment and economic growth. Economic growth should be front and centre of the policy agenda, and tone matters when investors are looking at where to put their capital. Lorna Slater: Will the member take an intervention? Sue Webber: No.”
“The Scottish Conservatives will always support increased investment in Scotland and believe that it can be enhanced through our commonsense plans to drive economic growth and cut taxes for workers and businesses. However, the SNP’s high-tax, low-income budget continues its 17 years of failure. Those failures are endless and range from a failing economy, a decline in education standards and a national health service that is in permanent crisis to the highest drug deaths rate in Europe. Investment is key to Scotland’s future, but businesses are about to be hammered by the UK Labour Government’s national insurance hike and hindered by the SNP’s high-tax, low-growth agenda.”
“The price rise will affect all services that are operated by ScotRail, and it will mean that an any-time return ticket from Glasgow to Edinburgh will now cost £32.60. We heard that a flexipass might reduce the cost to £21, but that is still an eye-watering price.”
“Fiona Hyslop: I think that Sue Webber would acknowledge that there has been a great deal of hybrid working, with people who have been working from home not using any form of travel. Does she recognise the figures that I have just given? There has been a 4.5 per cent increase between 2024 and 2025, whereas the figures that she quoted are from back in 2022-23, when we were recovering from the pandemic. Sue Webber: I am certain that, if we had fair and less expensive fares, passenger numbers would be even greater. Despite the reduced number of passenger journeys, ScotRail is increasing its ticket prices by almost 4 per cent in the forthcoming financial year. That is on the back of an 8.7 per cent increase last year, which means that there will be a more than 12 per cent increase over two years.”
“In return for supporting the SNP’s Scottish budget, the Greens secured a number of transport concessions—such as a year-long regional trial of bus fares being capped at £2 and free interisland ferry travel for young island residents—that fail to deliver for hard-working Scots and allow the Greens to continue their attack on road users. I think that we can all agree that cheaper rail fares in Scotland would contribute to net zero goals, provide better connectivity and help the ailing economy. In the cabinet secretary’s recent draft transport plan, there are boasts that ScotRail has been brought into public ownership and that “6 new stations have opened up across Scotland since 2020.” However, there were 34 per cent fewer passenger journeys in 2022-23 than there were in 2019, which suggests that many people have shunned ScotRail.”
“We know that an efficient transport network that delivers value for money for taxpayers is essential for economic and social development across Scotland. However, under the Scottish National Party, public transport has become unreliable and far too expensive. Unless considerable action is taken, our public transport network will only continue to decline. Given the topic of the debate, we would be forgiven for thinking that the Scottish Greens had pushed for cheaper rail fares in their budget negotiations with the SNP. However, a few seconds ago, the cabinet secretary assured us that those discussions did not take place, so it is notable that rail fares were not mentioned in the negotiations.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the housing minister has had with ministerial colleagues regarding what action is being taken to tackle homelessness in relation to care experienced individuals. (S6O-04338)”
“I do not understand why we could not have had sight of the framework earlier so that we could have really discussed it and celebrated something on which we might look forward to making Scotland the best in class.”
“I hope that the minister will provide us with a dashboard that shows progress at health board level so that we can see how each board is stepping up to the mark and delivering on the new framework. I am glad that we now have the progesterone pathway. However, it is nothing new, and I do not understand why it has not been made available to us until today. It was in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance that was published in 2019 and revised in 2023, which recommended offering “vaginal micronised progesterone 400 mg twice daily to women with an intrauterine pregnancy confirmed by a scan, if they have vaginal bleeding and have previously had a miscarriage.” There is nothing new in what you have presented to us this afternoon, minister.”
“Where any abnormality is suspected, further imaging with 3D ultrasound, at a different site or with an agreement with another NHS Board, or MRI should be offered.” I really hope that there will be resources for the 18 things that are needed immediately, because we will never make the change that is needed if there is not money to fix things. The 10 actions that are classified as M, or medium-term requirements, include out-of-hours access to support, which previous speakers have discussed. The actions that are required within 15 to 24 months also include a series of steps with regard to what happens when a woman has a second miscarriage. Again, resources must follow those actions.”
“The delivery framework, which was embargoed until this debate started, references 34 key actions that are needed and classifies them as N, meaning now, for things that need to be addressed within six months; S, meaning short term, for things that need to be implemented within 12 to 15 months; or M, meaning medium term, for things that need to be implemented within 15 to 24 months. Eighteen of the actions are classified as needing to be looked at within six months, and they range from bereavement care to what needs to happen when women have had three miscarriages. I draw members’ attention to action 27, which says: “Where 3D ultrasound is not available, 2D ultrasound should be offered after a 3rd miscarriage.”
“Furthermore, the report said that the training and skills of healthcare staff who provided miscarriage care varied across health boards and that specialist training was often centralised in one or two units within a health board. As we know, sadly, under the SNP, workforce planning always takes a back seat. I ask members to consider these words from a midwife who responded to a survey from the Royal College of Midwives: “I cannot remember the last time we had safe staffing within our unit. On a daily basis, we are struggling to provide a decent standard of care to our women and their families.” Staff shortages are impacting not just on recruitment and retention, but on training, which is too often failing to take place because of staff shortages. The inconsistencies across the different health boards in Scotland need to be fixed.”
“Across all health boards, there appears to be no clear process that provides miscarriage care, routine assessment and referral to mental health and bereavement support services or counselling. In 2023, the Scottish Government published “Miscarriage Care and Facilities in Scotland: Scoping Report National Overview”, which evaluated miscarriage services across Scotland. That report acknowledged that not all health boards had a separate room for women who are miscarrying and that four health boards lacked dedicated early pregnancy units, forcing women to seek care in general emergency departments where specialised miscarriage support may not be available.”
“I was a member of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee in 2022, when it took evidence on its inquiry into perinatal mental health, so I welcome the chance to speak in this debate. I was grateful at the time that the inquiry addressed the impact of baby loss, which is often a taboo subject, as we have heard, and is not spoken about until it affects us personally or those who are closest to us. Miscarriage and stillbirth have a devastating impact on women and their families. It is an important issue, and I extend my condolences to all those who have been impacted. As we have heard, miscarriage care in Scotland still faces serious challenges. Women in Scotland are struggling to access mental health support post-miscarriage.”
“I move, That the Parliament recognises the devastating impact that miscarriage and stillbirth can have on women and their families, and extends its condolences to all those who have been affected; acknowledges the importance of good stillbirth care and that improvements continue to be made by NHS boards and through the stillbirth national bereavement care pathway; notes that, although miscarriage care in Scotland is generally considered to be of high quality, there is still more to do to standardise and end the variation in the care and support delivered across Scotland; welcomes efforts from NHS boards to further improve miscarriage care following recommendations in The Lancet series, Miscarriage Matters, and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and NICE guidelines around the use of progesterone; thanks hardworking NHS staff and all those who have contributed to the progress to date for their care and professionalism when caring for women experiencing miscarriage; welcomes the publication of the Delivery Framework for Miscarriage Care in Scotland and the Progesterone Pathway as key steps in implementing a graded model of care that will ensure that women receive tailored support from their first miscarriage; supports the provision of dedicated facilities for women experiencing unexpected pregnancy complications, miscarriage or still birth, and believes that it is vital that everyone in society, including employers, works together to break the stigma surrounding miscarriage and stillbirth to ensure that women and their families can access the information, care and support that is right for them.”
“I hope that, in coming together today and speaking openly about miscarriage in our national Parliament, we can help to break down the stigma, send a message to people that they are not alone and, importantly, drive improvement for those who access miscarriage care.”
“I then had the privilege of visiting its premises to chat again with its chief executive, Nicola Welsh, staff members and bereaved parents, and I was pleased to confirm £60,000 of funding for the project for this year and the next. We have also launched a memorial book of pregnancy and baby loss prior to 24 weeks, because we know that, for many people, recognition of their loss provides some comfort and validation during an incredibly painful time. I have said many times previously how immensely proud I am to hold the position of Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health. Today, as I open this important debate, is no exception.”
“There was a real warmth in the room, which might seem to be a strange thing to say, but it was clear that everyone there, no matter their personal circumstances, wanted to support others and share experiences to improve things for others. We continue to work closely with Sands. As well as funding and supporting the development of the national bereavement care pathway programme, we continue to fund Sands to support boards with implementation of all five pathways for pregnancy and baby loss. Last year, I attended a round-table meeting that was hosted by Held In Our Hearts and Bob Doris to hear about the innovative hospital-to-home project.”
“We know that miscarriage can be devastating for partners, who often feel a great sense of helplessness. We also know that many dads and partners believe that they need to put their feelings to one side to support their partner. That is just one example of why tackling stigma is so important. We need to break the silence that too often goes alongside miscarriage and stillbirth to ensure that everyone who needs support receives it. I am pleased that we in the Parliament are playing our part in speaking out today. One of my first engagements as a minister was to the Sands and Scottish Government national bereavement care pathway conference. The powerful speeches and atmosphere of that event will stay with me always.”
“Following the publication of the framework, we will work closely with Tommy’s and Held In Our Hearts to develop a patients charter that sets out clearly the care and support to which women are entitled and how they can access it. I will ensure that people with lived experience and health professionals are involved in the development of the charter. To ensure that all women and their partners receive the support and care that they need, we must have a more accurate picture of the number of miscarriages in Scotland. We commissioned Public Health Scotland to collect that data, initially concentrating on establishing data collection for miscarriages in which women present to early pregnancy units and services. I am pleased to announce that a data set has been agreed and that Public Health Scotland is now testing it in boards.”