I thank the minister for that answer, although I am not sure that I heard an answer on the specifics.

I think that we need workforce planning for the future to be done across Scotland and not to allow the stoma nurses’ provision to be under the threat of retirals, which I fear it is at the moment.

Will the Government also commit to instigating an annual review for all stoma patients?

Yes, of course.

That is one of the things that would make my evening, because I asked the Parliament more than a year ago whether it would fit shelves in the disabled toilets, and the latest news is that it is still thinking about it. If the SPCB, through Christine Grahame, is going to make that promise tonight, that is welcome. I think that there might be other SPCB members in the room whose views might need to be considered, but let us go for that.

It is not only in the Parliament that there is a problem. NHS Highland’s disabled toilets do not have a shelf, and I bet that it is not the only health board where that is the case, so we have a way to go. If the Parliament installs shelves, it could make a real change and lead the way.

Frankly, I think that I have said enough. I have the greatest admiration for everyone in the stoma world: those who make the bags, those who fit them, those who wear them and those who look after the people who wear them. However, my greatest admiration is for those who wear them and prove every day that they are no different from anyone else and that, whatever the challenges that they face, life is for living.

I look forward to hearing the rest of the debate.

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there are enough stoma care nurses to care for the around 20,000 stoma patients in Scotland. (S6O-02595)

I am interested in the cabinet secretary’s answer. The 2018 contract review, which was carried out by the BMA, was not supported by GPs across the Highlands, who want to carry out vaccinations themselves. On that basis, will the cabinet secretary renegotiate that agreement in order to allow rural areas to get the vaccination cover that we deserve and that we are not getting?

It is a privilege to stand in the chamber to speak to the motion and, in doing so, fulfil a promise and meet a challenge. In 2022, I promised to highlight the importance of bowel cancer awareness and I committed to raising stoma awareness. Last summer, I was challenged by Brian Devlin—sadly, he could not make it here tonight—to do something to promote greater understanding of stomas in the Scottish Parliament. I hope that I will do both those things today. I thank all the members across the chamber who signed my motion to make the debate happen.

At lunch time today, a group of ostomates set out from the Parliament to walk to the top of Arthur’s Seat. They did so to trumpet loudly that there is little that they cannot do. In planning for today, I had to use all my skills to prevent a parachute drop by some of the more enthusiastic ostomates, who thought that that would make a great display. Ostomates are quietly getting on with their lives—the lives that their bags give them.

Our debate will be watched by lots of people in the chamber, including ostomates and their friends. I welcome them all. Some of them faced considerable challenges to be here, but they are a tough lot. They handle much more unpleasant things daily than most of us have to.

Our lives are a journey that sometimes has bumps in the road and diversions. When we reach those diversions, we have more often than not to embrace the route change, because not to do so can be a disaster.

On 28 January 2022—the day before my operation—a string of people visited me. One nurse, who came in with more purpose than the others, clutched a large bag and a black marker pen. With little explanation, I was told to remove my top and made to stand up, sit down, lean forward, lean back, breathe in, breathe out and do a heap of other exercises. Off came the pen lid, and a large black spot was marked on my tummy. I was told that that was where my stoma would go and that it would be a perfect fit—and it was. That was the choice not of my surgeon but of my stoma nurse.

I praise our stoma nurses, who are key to good stoma care. We need to bring more people into that profession. We need such nurses now more than ever, as there are more than 20,000 ostomates in Scotland. Many people have trouble-free stomas, but some do not.

I will join Alex Cole-Hamilton in that, and I welcome his intervention. There is stigma, perhaps for people who face having a stoma and among people who know nothing about it. I can honestly say that, the day before my operation, I knew little or nothing about stoma care. I had been a typical male ostrich and had buried my head in the sand. My wife found out everything by googling, but I refused to let her tell me about it. However, as I came to know more about stomas, I realised how normal they could be.

I return to what I was saying about trouble-free stomas. Some ostomates do not have a trouble-free time. They face constant struggles with leaks and sores, and they struggle to get the help that they need. That is why I call tonight on all health boards in Scotland to collaborate on a “once for Scotland” approach to ensure best practice to deliver the highest quality care.

As part of that excellent care, we should offer an annual check to all those who have a stoma. It is clear that some will not need that, but some will. We should remember that, although stomas can stabilise, equipment changes and improves, which means that a review can make things better.

Prior to this evening’s debate, MSPs received a colostomy bag. There is a huge range. One size can be cut to fit all, but there are subtle differences. It is those differences that make the difference. There are 15 or so companies that bring their skills to designing and making the bags. However, there is a danger that, in future, we might end up having one bag maker and supplier. I encourage everyone, including our stoma nurses, to consider the full range, because not to do so would not be making the best use of technology.

I look forward to hearing the speeches of other members, but, before we do, I would like to make a plea. The five asks that are being promoted tonight—and, hopefully, promised by the Government at the reception—can be delivered by the Government at a very low cost, and I believe that we all can support them.

However, there is one other thing that I suggest we can all champion, and it comes back to what Alex Cole-Hamilton said. I urge every member of the Parliament, when they next go into a building, to ask the owner whether the disabled toilet has a shelf. It is a strange question, but the answer is that it should have. Why? It is because, if someone wants to change a stoma bag, they will need a variety of equipment—replacement bags, possibly scissors, a mirror, wet wipes, a disposal bag and perhaps even a stoma collar—and, if there is no shelf, the only option is to lay everything out on the floor, which is not great and is certainly not hygienic. A simple shelf costing a few quid could change that.

I would like to start the ball rolling on that tonight, Presiding Officer, by asking you if you know whether the Parliament’s disabled toilets have shelves.

Our second item is the consideration of a draft statutory instrument. I welcome Fiona Hyslop, the Minister for Transport; Bridget Bryden, the bus regulatory policy team leader in Transport Scotland; and Kevin Gibson, solicitor in the Scottish Government. Thank you for joining us.

The instrument is laid under the affirmative procedure, which means that it cannot come into force unless the Parliament approves it. Under the agenda item following the evidence session, the committee will be invited to consider a motion to recommend the approval of the instrument. I remind everyone that officials can speak under the current item but not under the next.

I ask the minister to make a brief opening statement.

Thank you. You made a good point, which has been cleared up well. It was useful to hear that. Do any other members have questions?

I see no questions, so we will move straight to the next item on our agenda, which is formal consideration of motion S6M-10469, calling on the committee to recommend the approval of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 Amendment Regulations 2023.

Minister, do you want to speak to the motion or are you happy that you have spoken enough?

I am happy that you have spoken enough, minister. Thank you.

Motion moved,

That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 Amendment Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.—[Fiona Hyslop]