Chamber and committees

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted yes.

I am pleased to have secured this debate on world COPD day, and I thank all my colleagues for their support in signing the motion and for participating in the debate.

I thank Gareth from Asthma and Lung UK Scotland for meeting me and for providing an extremely helpful briefing. I also thank Emma Harper and Alexander Stewart for the work that they do on the matter as part of the cross-party group on lung health.

World COPD day takes place to raise awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The theme this year is “Know your lung function”, which highlights the importance of measuring lung function, also known as spirometry. COPD is a condition that most commonly affects people who smoke or have smoked, who are estimated to make up eight in 10 of those with the condition, but it also affects those who have been exposed to dust fumes or chemicals in work and those who have had chest trouble or asthma in childhood.

Unfortunately, I lost my mother to COPD in 2012, so I have personal experience of the disease. As the MSP who represents Clydebank, which is an area with a tragic legacy of asbestos—a substance that can increase the risk of developing COPD—I also feel that it is my duty to speak up on the matter.

Symptoms of COPD can include shortness of breath, a persistent chesty cough with phlegm, frequent chest infections and persistent wheezing. In Scotland, it is estimated that the condition affects more than 140,000 people who have a diagnosis, with tens of thousands living without a proper diagnosis. It is the third leading cause of mortality worldwide. The ageing population, along with additional complications for older COPD patients, who are more likely to have other long-term conditions, presents a further challenge in managing COPD in Scotland.

COPD, which includes conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, affects millions of people worldwide, reducing their quality of life and ability to breathe. It can also affect people’s lives in so many other ways. In a recent Asthma and Lung UK Scotland survey, 25 per cent of respondents stated that it affects their ability to work very often, and 39 per cent stated that it very often affects their ability to exercise.

I ask members to imagine feeling out of breath while getting dressed or when walking just a short distance. Unfortunately, that is the reality for many COPD sufferers, as it takes away their independence and reduces their quality of life.

Worryingly, COPD has a strong relationship with deprivation—a recent survey showed that 54 per cent of those with COPD had an income of less than £20,000. That is backed up by the Scottish Public Health Observatory, which notes that:

“the rate of admissions with a diagnosis of COPD is higher for people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland and lowest for those in the least deprived areas.”

Unfortunately, in Clydebank, COPD is also tied to our shared history. As I mentioned, Clydebank has an unfortunate legacy of exposure to asbestos from its use in the shipbuilding and engineering industries. Once touted as a miracle mineral, asbestos was in fact anything but, and the harmful effects of it are now well known. It is linked to serious respiratory conditions such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, and indirectly to COPD, as exposure can increase the risk of developing the condition.

That highlights an important truth about COPD. Although the condition is strongly connected to smoking, it is not just a lifestyle disease—it can be caused by occupational hazards or neglect of workers’ safety. We must, therefore, commit ourselves to action to raise awareness of occupational hazards and push for stronger protection for workers. In that vein, I believe that the removal of asbestos from the built environment is vital. In that regard, I am sincerely grateful to Clydebank Asbestos Group for its tireless work in helping those who have been affected by asbestos.

In so many ways, COPD is a silent condition, as it does not always present with dramatic symptoms straight away. That is exacerbated by the barriers to diagnosis that are highlighted by Asthma and Lung UK, which notes that 23 per cent did not know what the signs were, while 22 per cent had their symptoms dismissed as a cough or chest infection.

That is extremely concerning, as we know that early diagnosis is key. There are, however, some positives, and it is welcome to note that the same survey found that 39 per cent had waited only one month or less for a diagnosis.

However, for effective COPD care, we need to focus on the five fundamentals of care. Those are smoking cessation advice; flu and pneumococcal vaccinations—I apologise for my pronunciation of that—access to pulmonary rehabilitation; co-development of a self-management plan; and treatment for comorbidities. All that is essential in tackling COPD.

More must be done, however, as there has, unfortunately, been a drop in the number of people receiving all five fundamentals of care across the United Kingdom since 2021.

Asthma and Lung UK commissioned PwC to evaluate the costs and the potential savings impact of recommendations to improve COPD care in Scotland. It is clear that there are potential savings in relation to COPD, focused on expanding the availability of spirometry to 40 per cent, and on expanding the availability of pulmonary rehabilitation, with referral rates at 80 per cent and completion rates at 50 per cent.

I would be interested to know whether the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health would be able to look further into those suggestions to ensure that effective COPD care is available across the country. However, each of us in the chamber can play a role, too. We must educate ourselves and others about the symptoms of COPD to ensure early diagnosis; encourage people to stop smoking; and push for better conditions for our workers. We must also stand beside those who are living with COPD, treat them with empathy and ensure that they receive the best care. Let us work together to ensure everyone has a fair chance to live a healthy life, free of COPD.

There are three drug-checking facilities in Scotland. I know that they are part of a pilot, but is there any scope to include additional facilities if they are required?

Good morning to the cabinet secretary and his officials. With the election of a new UK Labour Government in July, I am interested in hearing about any discussions that have taken place with it on its position on safer drug consumption facilities, drug testing and related issues. If you have not had those discussions, do you have plans to do so in the future?

Good morning. It is great to see the witnesses this morning, and I thank them for their time.

The Scottish Government has said that any

“new National Parks should be designated in response to local community demand.”

What is your approach to assessing local demand for the Galloway proposal? Obviously, that would cover diverse interests and the rural areas there.

What were the main concerns that communities and sectors raised in the pre-consultation phase? We heard earlier about the concerns that farmers expressed. Will you expand on other responses?

Were there any surprises in that? Obviously, that list includes a lot that you would expect, but did anything pop out as unexpected?

I suggested earlier that we might want to contact Scottish Water and ask it to take the proposal on board and see whether it can work with Callum.

That is not without its challenges because of the geographical area that you have to cover.

Do you feel empowered by the Scottish Government to conclude that there is insufficient local demand? I am interested in your thoughts on that.

Do you have any knowledge of when that is due to appear?