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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 22 November 2024
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Displaying 976 contributions

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Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Session 6 Priorities

Meeting date: 16 November 2021

Emma Harper

Thanks, convener—it is very short.

I believe that cognisance will be taken of an approach dealing with rural areas such as Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders in my South Scotland region. Am I right in thinking that? This can be a yes-or-no answer.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Session 6 Priorities

Meeting date: 16 November 2021

Emma Harper

I know that we have asked our NHS and social care staff to work through these unprecedented times, often in unfamiliar settings, and that many have been asked to learn new skills and to work in new roles and in unfamiliar teams, for instance. Are we tracking how staff might be retained so that we can address all of that and not lose staff because of poor mental health?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Session 6 Priorities

Meeting date: 16 November 2021

Emma Harper

As a registered nurse, I have been participating in the vaccination programme. Colleagues have told me about how they have been coping or not coping with their mental health. I know that a lot of work has been done, for example through the national wellbeing hub and programmes such as clear your head, to support staff in healthcare and social care. How are we monitoring and evaluating the way in which people engage with those programmes?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Session 6 Priorities

Meeting date: 16 November 2021

Emma Harper

We have our winter preparedness plan for 2021-22, and there is a parallel health and social care winter overview. We have in front of us a short list of the challenges this winter: recruitment and retention, which links back to my previous question; nursing staff in care homes; infection control in care homes; staff wellbeing; services and support for unpaid carers; and delayed discharges.

I know that there are challenges, and that there are complexities in how we manage our health and social care system. Could you could give us a brief overview on how the plan will practically assist providers and social care services in meeting the challenges in the sector over the winter?

10:30  

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Session 6 Priorities

Meeting date: 9 November 2021

Emma Harper

Yes. I am interested in the best start plan and I know that we have problems with maternity services on my patch.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Session 6 Priorities

Meeting date: 9 November 2021

Emma Harper

The bill was laid on 7 October and will be scrutinised by the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee. However, given that nutritious diet and access to healthy food are integral to our public health agenda, this committee is interested in it, too. How will the Government work to ensure that public health priorities are integral to the bill?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Session 6 Priorities

Meeting date: 9 November 2021

Emma Harper

I know that the bill is a framework bill and is, therefore, not as prescriptive as other types of legislation. How will the Government work with local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that the bill has the ability to guide everyone to take the good food nation plan forward?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Session 6 Priorities

Meeting date: 9 November 2021

Emma Harper

Research is under way on cervical cancer screening by self-sampling. I know that in NHS Dumfries and Galloway, 25 per cent of the 6,000 women who previously defaulted on screening appointments have taken that up. That means that 1,500 women are now self-screening. Can you give a short response on where we are with that research?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Session 6 Priorities

Meeting date: 9 November 2021

Emma Harper

You have outlined a lot of what is being presented by the Scottish Government such as the child support payments and so on. I am interested in how the best start plan is working in rural and remote areas. As the convener said, she represents a rural area, as do you and I. How are we supporting the people who live in rural and remote areas?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Session 6 Priorities

Meeting date: 9 November 2021

Emma Harper

I will be quick, because I am conscious of time. I am interested in an update on the respiratory care action plan and how that will address air quality issues. I ask because I am the co-convener of the cross-party group on lung health.