The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 986 contributions
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 18 April 2023
Emma Harper
What are your thoughts on that from personal experience? How would you like to see that taken forward?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 18 April 2023
Emma Harper
I often talk about the instruments that we approve regarding food additives, food flavourings and novel foods; indeed, I am interested in the issue and I have mentioned it previously. I just want to raise awareness of it, because it is important that people are aware that novel foods exist. It is not just about eating insects—it is about additives, flavourings and food enhancing with dietary supplements. This instrument, for example, refers to vitamin D2 mushroom powder, which is an interesting dietary supplement, because of the claims that it can enhance focus, reduce anxiety and help people be calm. I just wanted to say that it is an interesting subject that is worth highlighting.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 18 April 2023
Emma Harper
Good morning to everyone in the room—and to the folks online, too.
I am interested in media coverage. A recent BBC survey of elite sportswomen found that media coverage had improved but was still not what it should be.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 28 March 2023
Emma Harper
My question comes on the back of Stephanie Callaghan’s question. Does the Scottish Government enable and support you to do bespoke local delivery? We have Pamela Dudek here from NHS Highland, which is rural; we have urban representation from NHS Golden Jubilee National Hospital and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde; and, last week, we had a witness from NHS Borders. Does the Government support you to deliver local plans that work for your areas?
10:00Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 28 March 2023
Emma Harper
I have a question about other research, but I can always ask it later.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 28 March 2023
Emma Harper
I am interested to hear about Covid recovery in all three areas. We hear from the health boards that come before us and we know that healthcare is really complex. As a nurse, I worked during the pandemic giving vaccines, and I saw how busy, committed and professional the staff were. I am thinking about acute care, mental health care, emergency care and elective care. Jane Grant said that one size does not fit all, when trying to address Covid recovery. I would be interested to hear about any actions that have been taken to progress recovery from Covid. What is working? What isnae working?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 28 March 2023
Emma Harper
I suppose that the issue is competing priorities, when acute care beds are occupied by people who are not well. When it comes to acuity, patients are getting sicker before they are even in the hospital. When beds are being juggled, it is very clear that there are challenges. For example, use of the Golden Jubilee and the sequestering of beds for elective surgery or the national treatment centre, for instance, should support the management of elective treatment so that we do not have competition between bed priorities. Is that what we need to look at?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 28 March 2023
Emma Harper
Do you use social media, too?
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 28 March 2023
Emma Harper
I have a quick question for Gordon James. You talked about prescribing, which I know is not just medication but includes diabetes tech—things such as pumps and Abbott Libre and Dexcom monitors. My question is about weighing the balance between the diabetes technology and making sure that we avoid poor blood glucose control. I know that there is a campaign called “Diabetes tech can’t wait”, and I am interested to know how you weigh up avoidance of complications of type 1 diabetes—I declare an interest as a type 1 diabetic pump user—against prescribing and the costs of all of that.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Meeting date: 28 March 2023
Emma Harper
I will be succinct, convener. My question is for Jane Grant. I am looking at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s website, and there is loads of information on staff support and wellbeing—there is information on peer support, self-referrals, mental health, stopping smoking and speaking up. The website says that you are listening. Put simply, how is that marketed to staff? How do they know that they can access those services, from an education standpoint?