Chamber and committees

I am pleased to bring the debate to the chamber during national epilepsy week. I thank my colleagues for supporting my motion and participating in the debate.

National epilepsy week is dedicated to raising awareness of epilepsy and the wider challenges that those who are living with the condition face, and to promoting greater understanding, inclusion and support for those who are living with epilepsy. The theme this year is #BeyondSeizure.

In Scotland, there are approximately 58,000 people with epilepsy. It is, by some margin, one of the most common neurological conditions in the world. Despite that, however, people with epilepsy can often feel that their condition gets less attention than others. I know that many people would not know what to do if someone had a seizure in front of them. It is essential, therefore, that we, as politicians, use our position to highlight the condition and work to tackle stigma.

If you are with someone who is having a seizure, you should move them only if they are in danger; cushion their head if they are on the ground and loosen any tight clothing around their neck, such as a collar or tie, to aid breathing; turn them on their side after the seizure stops; and stay with them and talk to them calmly until they recover. You should also note the time that the seizure starts and when it finishes. It is important to recognise that no two people experience epilepsy in the same way. For one person, epilepsy can mean complete seizure control on medication, while for another person, it can mean uncontrolled and frequent seizures despite medication.

Epilepsy has various causes—it can involve an identifiable cause such as an acquired brain injury; developing epilepsy following a diagnosis of dementia; or genetic causes. In addition, people with Down’s syndrome, autism or learning disabilities are statistically more likely to have epilepsy. A study across the United Kingdom nations estimated that there are 49 new cases of epilepsy diagnosed in Scotland every day. The same study identified a connection with regard to an increased prevalence of epilepsy in areas of deprivation. People who are living in deprived areas are a third more likely to have epilepsy than those who are living in the least deprived areas. According to Epilepsy Scotland, that has also been shown in previous studies by other researchers.

That highlights the complex nature of the condition and how it can often be intertwined with other health conditions and social factors such as poverty. I commend Epilepsy Scotland’s welfare rights service for its work to reduce poverty by maximising people’s income, and I back the organisation’s calls for general practitioners who charge for completing an NCT003 form to stop the practice. A free bus pass should be just that—free. I ask the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health to take an interest in the matter, if she has not already done so.

The impacts of epilepsy and the challenges that it brings are wider than just seizures. Epilepsy can result in mental health challenges; a feeling of social isolation; and feelings of stigma or judgment from others who do not know enough or who make assumptions. I was struck by one comment in a briefing that Epilepsy Scotland provided to me. It said:

“They don’t know because they lack the education of how to support someone who is epileptic and when they see you taking or not being well, they think that you have taken drugs. Sometimes they just leave you.”

That type of stigma can be debilitating and dangerous, so we must do more to challenge it.

Epilepsy can also impact sleep and memory and can, unfortunately, make it more difficult for individuals to find or remain in paid employment. According to the Office for National Statistics, only 34 per cent of working-age people with epilepsy are in employment. For those who are living with epilepsy, social support services that are provided by charities such as Epilepsy Scotland can be vital.

Absolutely.

For those who are living with epilepsy, social support services that are provided by charities such as Epilepsy Scotland can be vital, as they create a safe space for people to discuss their challenges free from stigma, and to access important information and guidance. Access to solid social support has been shown to help to reduce the use of clinical care, as people gain a better understanding of how to manage their condition and better mental health, and have support structures in place if they encounter crises. Those social services are essential, but I understand that funding them to continue can be challenging. I would welcome greater consideration at both national and local levels of funding for such services.

When I met the West Dunbartonshire epilepsy support group, I was interested to learn from its members about the possible positive benefits of medicinal cannabis for those who are living with the condition. I would be interested to see further research in that area, and greater consideration given to that option.

I take the opportunity to thank the West Dunbartonshire epilepsy support group and, nationally, Epilepsy Scotland. I also thank Brian and John of the West Dunbartonshire group for meeting me to tell their stories and increase my understanding of epilepsy. The group does commendable work to tackle social isolation and provide support to those with epilepsy, and it has my support. I thank Epilepsy Scotland for taking the time to meet me and provide me with helpful statistics and information. The social support services that the organisation provides to people across Scotland are vital. I also put on record my thanks to the Scottish Parliament cross-party group on epilepsy.

Individuals who are living with epilepsy possess an abundance of strength and resilience. They navigate a world that is not often accommodating of their needs, yet they persevere with confidence. Let us use our Parliament to amplify the voices of individuals with epilepsy and their stories, challenges and achievements. By doing so, we foster empathy, break down stigma and help to raise awareness of the condition among our society.

I urge all members in the chamber to take the time to do their bit, whether that involves raising awareness on social media or meeting constituents who have epilepsy. By doing so, we will create the inclusive and passionate country for which we strive.

As my colleague Paul O’Kane said earlier, we need to get the form right. The existing form is 30 pages long; perhaps we could try to adapt that a wee bit.

I will move on. The UK Government has launched a green paper on plans to overhaul the current disability benefits system. A few worrying options have been mentioned, such as one-off grants and vouchers instead of regular payments. I seek your assurance—is that an approach that we will take in Scotland?

I welcome that. I am aware of a joint initiative between Clydebank Asbestos Group, Unite and a retired members branch of Unison to promote the uptake of attendance allowance among their members. Would you or your officials be willing to meet them to hear about their efforts and how the Scottish Government could assist them?

I will move on to uptake. What are the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland doing to encourage take-up of the pension age disability payment?

Thanks, cabinet secretary. I appreciate your reassurances.

Thanks for that. How are Social Security Scotland processes being adapted to take into consideration the needs of the older clients who are applying for the benefit?

Good morning. I come back to STA. Our Scottish Parliament information centre briefing suggests that we ask the Scottish Government about that, but do you agree that it is more a question for the UK Government, if anyone at all?

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities regarding the management of asbestos within school buildings. (S6O-03440)

I thank Martin Whitfield for bringing the debate to the chamber.

I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests. I was a councillor in West Dunbartonshire from 2003 until 2022.

I speak in the debate as a former councillor who sat on the council’s adoption and fostering panel for over 15 years. That was a real privilege, and it gave me a greater insight into the importance of good foster care. That can have a profound impact on the lives of children and young people and can give them the chance to live in a loving and stable environment.

The annual campaign helps us to shed a positive light on foster care and lets us celebrate the hard work, dedication and commitment of foster carers. As has been said, as of July 2023, there were approximately 3,261 approved fostering families in Scotland and 3,927 children living with foster families.

The theme of #FosteringMoments this year lets us celebrate the big and small moments that create memories and help to transform young people’s lives—the moments that define fostering journeys. Very often, it is the small moments in foster care that have the biggest impact.

I was touched in reading about some of the moments that foster carers told the Adolescent and Children’s Trust about. One that really hit me was this:

“The boys learning to ride bikes will be a memory that stays with me forever. I will never forget their whoops of joy as they shouted, ‘I can ride a bike!’”

Andrew, a young person who was placed in foster care in East Dunbartonshire, said:

“Every day is always good with my foster parents but the thing that I always love is on a Sunday, whether it is warm or rainy, loads of family come up and my foster mum makes a massive steak pie, and everyone is there and we all just eat together and watch TV. It’s not much, but it means a lot to me. I am grateful for the life they have given me. This has been the best life I could have hoped for.”

It is clear that those small moments that some of us might take for granted have the biggest impact and help to transform the lives of young people in care. Whatever the fostering moment is, it is about making a connection with that young person and making them feel cared for. No matter how small the moment, it has a huge impact.

In my constituency, there are many excellent foster carers, and I am grateful to them. The health and social care partnerships in East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire do amazing work, providing support groups, training and dedicated support workers for foster carers in the area. Supporting foster parents is essential, and I know that many of them would struggle without the support of their supervising social worker. When foster parents are well supported, they are able to offer the best care for the children and young people they look after.

Although we recognise the commitment and the amazing work of current foster carers, this fortnight also gives us a chance to encourage others to take up foster care. Of course, it is not something that someone should rush into. It is challenging, but it is really rewarding. However, there are many caring individuals out there who could change the lives of people in care, so, if someone thinks that this might be a thing that they could do, I ask them to please consider it—we are always looking for more foster carers.

Every child deserves to grow up safe and loved, and good foster care can change a child’s life—it can turn it around and put that child on a path to a brighter future. I celebrate the work of our local foster carers and thank them for everything that they do. I cannot thank them enough.