Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency (Understanding and Treatment) (PE1408)
The next item of business is consideration of five current petitions. The first petition is PE1408, by Andrea MacArthur, on the updating of pernicious anaemia and vitamin B12 deficiency understanding and treatment. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. I invite contributions from members.
I would like us to keep the petition open until the Scottish Government publishes revised guidelines.
I agree that we should keep the petition open. However, I note that we have not asked for the petitioner to be consulted on the guidance before it is issued. In the past, the committee has asked the Scottish Government to include the petitioner in the consultation process prior to guidance being issued. I would not want the petitioner to come back afterwards saying that the guidance is not fit for purpose and does not take on board some of the issues that have been raised. It would be useful to ask the Government if it could include the petitioner in its consultation.
I declare an interest in the issue as I have a very close family member who suffers from pernicious anaemia and is subject to a regime in which I know a number of patients are not allowed to participate. The issue is the need to ensure that the delivery of medical services is suitable for patients instead of simply following what may be seen as good practice on paper. At the end of the day, those services are there to serve patients rather than to promote good practice. As I said, the petitioner could be engaged in some way in the process of drawing up the guidelines.
Can we agree to action the points that have been raised?
Members indicated agreement.
Do members agree that we should also write to the Scottish Government to request that the committee be notified when a timetable for the development of the Scottish guidelines is agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
Congenital Heart Disease Patients (Care) (PE1446)
The next petition is PE1446, by Dr Liza Morton, on behalf of Scottish adult congenital heart patients, on Scottish standards for the care of adult congenital heart disease patients. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions, including a late submission from the petitioner that was lodged at today’s meeting. I invite contributions from members.
As there are no contributions, the committee may wish to consider postponing future consideration of the petition for 12 months, at which point we will consider a further update from the Scottish Government on the progress towards developing Scottish guidelines for the care of adults with CHD.
I agree with that, but I wish to draw the Scottish Government’s attention to one of the petitioner’s comments. She makes the worrying comment that she feels that the level of treatment that is provided may be lower in Scotland than in other parts of the UK. I want us to ensure that the Scottish Government, in considering future action, looks at the regimes that are being put in place in other jurisdictions and ensures that patients in Scotland get equal or better treatment.
Do members agree with the point that John Wilson raises and that we take the action that I have proposed?
Members indicated agreement.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Awareness (PE1480)
The next petition is PE1480, by Amanda Kopel, on behalf of the Frank Kopel Alzheimer’s awareness campaign, on Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. I invite contributions from members.
As there are no contributions, I suggest that the committee may wish to write to the Scottish Government to seek a further update on the work that is being undertaken in relation to access to free personal care for people under 65 with complex needs and to seek clarification of the Scottish Government’s position on what the petition calls for. Are members agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
Group B Streptococcus in Pregnancy (PE1505)
The next petition is PE1505, by Jackie Watt, on awareness of streptococcus B in pregnancy and infants. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. I invite contributions from members.
As there are no contributions, I ask the committee to agree that we write to the Scottish Government to seek responses to the questions that the petitioner asks.
Members indicated agreement.
Planning System (Consultation) (PE1518)
The final current petition is PE1518, by George M Chalmers, on meaningful public consultation in the Scottish planning system. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions, including a recent submission from the petitioner. I invite members to make any contributions.
As there are no contributions, and given that the Scottish Government has responded to the petition and has stated, along with its reasons, that it does not intend to take additional action on the points that the petitioner makes, the committee may wish to close the petition. Are members agreed on that course of action?
Members indicated agreement.
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