Chamber and committees

Has Cricket Scotland established a formalised method of communication for sharing updates and examples of good practice among regional associations, clubs and itself?

This question is more for Mr Dunlop, I think.

In the debate on this issue that Kaukab Stewart brought to the chamber earlier in the parliamentary session, it was widely recognised that the issues raised with regard to cricket might not be unique to cricket. Obviously it is important that we take this opportunity to look towards the future and help ensure that such situations do not happen again anywhere in sport and that we provide an opportunity for good-practice sharing.

Given that, would sportscotland consider forming, at an appropriate time, a representative working group to look at the findings of the independent report and to prioritise actions that can be taken to help all governing bodies of sport be fully inclusive? Such a working group could include governing bodies themselves and a representative body in the form of the Scottish Sports Association to ensure that sports are involved in all discussions and that resulting actions and developments are done with sports, not just to them.

I just have one question, which I will direct to Vicky Irons. What impact does confusion about lines of accountability have on the planning, quality and delivery of services?

In the letter, could we also ask for an update on the consultation that is still outstanding? Your point that we probably should have seen the SI earlier is even more concerning, given the closing date of the consultation that we have been advised of. There could have been several weeks where a consultation was still live but we were being asked to consider the instrument.

Do I have time for one more question, convener?

Given how important it is to communicate a lot of the work that is going on at national level to the clubs and the regional associations, what time frame do you expect that you need to formalise a new way of communicating with the regions and the clubs?

I note from the cabinet secretary’s statement that students are being employed part-time to add capacity. Although I recognise that that is vital experience, what structures are being put in place to support such students and to ensure that they are not overworked or put under undue pressure that may affect their studies?

This remains an extremely difficult and demanding time for our health and social care systems, which is why the impact and legacy of Covid should never be underestimated. Months of delayed appointments, cancelled procedures and the frustrations, worries and problems that they bring cannot be fixed overnight. We should not forget that, for many, the pandemic is not over. It is likely that Covid will have an impact on all manner of care this winter, which is why we need preventative action.

Those who are eligible for vaccination must be encouraged to come forward, and people need to know their rights and what they should expect. We must ensure that there are long-term, sustainable improvements to waiting times. Tackling waiting times requires action to keep the population well and prevent people from having to attend hospital in the first place. We must also ensure that we minimise other factors that disrupt hospital capacity.

Normality seems very far away for our wonderful health and social care staff, whom we must keep well to ensure that we minimise disruption this winter. While the rest of society has been able to take a breath, our NHS and social care staff simply have not had that chance. For that alone, we should be endlessly grateful for their fortitude. Behind every waiting time statistic is a team of clinicians, support staff and social care workers who are trying their best. We must listen to what they need and support them when they ask. Without their hard work, determination and expertise, there is no NHS. Keeping them well is not simply about mitigating and protecting against Covid; it is also about taking other measures and making changes to terms and conditions.

The cabinet secretary, Jackie Baillie, Alex Cole-Hamilton and I attended a meeting earlier this year with the RCN to hear from nurses. One thing that came out clearly was the impact of the lack of flexible working patterns on nurses, who then leave NHS employment. In many instances, the situation results in nurses taking retirement only to return to work in better shifts as bank cover, often in similar roles to the ones that they have just left. At the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee yesterday, I was pleased to hear from Alex McMahon that work on the matter was in progress, and I would be grateful for any update that the minister has on the issue in his closing speech.

Although such steps are welcome, we need to hear from other health professionals about what they need, and to address how to prevent others from being in the same position as the nurses from whom we heard at our meeting with the RCN. We need to ensure that the safe staffing legislation is implemented.

We must also ensure that any patients who are impacted by cancellations are kept as fully informed as possible, and that they receive appropriate support and help to keep as well as possible while they wait for their operation—I raised that point yesterday at the committee. The cumulative effect of the pandemic and those factors, among others, cannot be ignored.

I want to end with a reflection on the impact that the cost of living crisis will have on our NHS and waiting times this winter. Over winter, we will see the acute reality in our hospitals of the absolute mess that the reckless UK Government has caused. We will see people presenting at A and E with malnutrition and conditions that are associated with it, and we will see people with chronic illnesses and disabilities facing massive debt for running the machinery that keeps them alive and facilitates their everyday lives. Despite all that, all the UK Government does is hand out tax cuts to the wealthiest and lift the cap on bankers’ bonuses.

I am just about finished—I am sorry.

We know the long-term impacts of wealth inequality. There are children today who will see their health impacted well into adulthood by the cruel Tory regime and the decisions that it is taking now. We know the impacts that Tory policies had in our communities during the 80s, and here we are again. UK Government ministers should be ashamed; instead, they are doubling down with lines in the media such as

“You won’t like this budget if you”

support

“the poor”.

We need to tackle waiting times, delayed discharge and other issues at the acute end as best we can but, with this UK Government, we are doing that with one hand tied behind our back. All the while, the UK Government continues to implement despicable policies that will impact families across Scotland for generations.

Those listening earlier will probably recognise this question, because I put it to the first panel. During the pandemic’s most acute period, we had really good information at national level about services and what patients’ care would look like, and a lot of people valued that. Many will understand why operations have to be postponed, but some constituents feel that information on next steps and the other support that is available while they wait for a new operation date is not what they would like it be. What work is being done at health board level to ensure that patients have information on how to keep themselves well and how to get support while waiting for an operation? I also want to link that to Emma Harper’s earlier question and ask: what communication is being provided on urgent care?

I will direct that question to Dr Armstrong, given the size of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.