Chamber and committees

I am sorry, Michelle. Do you want to come in before I move on?

Thank you for that clarification.

What is the scale of the administrative burden that is expected to be faced by local authorities in implementing the regulations? Will local authorities have the resources to undertake action under the regulations?

Absolutely—thank you.

Anna Whelan, do you want to comment further on that?

Good morning, and thank you for giving us your time. At last week’s committee meeting, the Accounts Commission stated that it is still difficult for CPPs to demonstrate what impact they are having. Does data at a local level allow CPPs to demonstrate the impact that their decisions and actions have on inequality levels and other outcomes?

I will pop that question first to Kevin Anderson.

My second question has been covered, so I will hand back to the convener. Thank you.

Thank you for that contribution.

I have nothing further to add, convener.

I take this opportunity to highlight the growing need to improve support for those with dementia. Alzheimer Scotland advises that, worldwide, the number of adults living with dementia is on course to nearly triple to 153 million by 2050. There are around 90,000 people with dementia in Scotland, and it is estimated that that figure will increase by 50 per cent over the next 15 years.

I put on record my appreciation of the work of Alzheimer’s Scotland, including the work that it has done with Age Scotland in the about dementia forum, and I praise the support that it has given to my constituents through the Clydebank and Bearsden dementia resource centres. I also thank the staff and volunteers of Carers of West Dunbartonshire and Carers Link East Dunbartonshire for providing an outstanding level of support to carers in my constituency.

It is no surprise that most individuals who replied to the consultation were people who are caring or have cared for someone with dementia. Of course, dementia is having a disproportionate impact on women, because they are predominantly the carers, so we must make sure that their needs are also fully recognised in the new dementia strategy.

From my time as convener of the West Dunbartonshire health and social care partnership, I know how important it is to involve those who are impacted by dementia in the design of support and services to meet their needs. That is why I welcome the approach that the Scottish Government is taking to design the new dementia strategy. It will work with people with lived experience, so that the voices of people with dementia, and of their families and carers, will shape the new strategy. The responses to the consultation need detailed consideration, but we can already see a range of issues to be addressed by the new strategy. Those include the need to change how we talk about dementia.

The issues to be addressed by the strategy also include the gaps between policy and practice, the postcode lottery impact on the provision of support—which has been spoken about—workforce issues, education and training, and the trauma of diagnosis.

The change that is needed was summed up by one response that said:

“In my humble opinion, focus has to move away from entertaining people with dementia to empowering people with dementia by putting the foundations in place to allow someone like me to be more independent which in turn will enable me and my family to contribute both socially and financially to society and to live well as a family with dementia.”

From the responses that were shared with us, we know that a means of overcoming self-stigma following diagnosis was being able to talk to others who had gone through the same process.

Last night, on the Alzheimer Scotland website, I read “Tony’s Story”, which is a blog about Tony‘s experience with dementia. The Tony in question is Tony Worthington, who was the MP for Clydebank and Milngavie from 1987 until 2005. Since his diagnosis, he has been active in influencing policy through his involvement with the Scottish dementia working group. In recognition of the importance that sharing his story could have in tackling stigma, he has spoken publicly about his experience. It did not surprise me to see him doing that, because I have always greatly respected him and his desire to seek justice for his constituents. I put on record my admiration of his sharing his experience for the benefit of others.

Scotland has a track record of supporting people with dementia, as is shown by our commitment to provide immediate support in the first year after people receive a dementia diagnosis. The new dementia strategy is a real opportunity to build on and improve the provision of support and assistance. It is also a chance to shape change in a way that those who are impacted by dementia want.

What evidence is there that community planning efforts are being focused on the most disadvantaged communities? Is there evidence of CPPs and individual partners using the data collected by the Improvement Service to target interventions and policies? I will pop that to Stuart Graham.