Chamber and committees

Is that holistic way of looking at things uniquely missing from women’s health services or does it reflect how our health service operates in general?

I am finding the session very focused on staff, which, in many ways, is understandable. However, I am particularly interested in patients. Pam Nicoll spoke about the gaps in services. Could you give some specific examples of gaps that you have identified and how those will be plugged? We would all be keen to see that the folk in rural communities whom we represent are afforded the same choices at the end of their lives, whether that is to end their life in a hospice or to be at home. Those two things will have unique challenges, depending on where in Scotland someone is based.

Dying is not something that most of us want to talk about, but we must. As policy makers, we have a responsibility to all our citizens from cradle to grave. The cradle bit is easy to talk about—doing all that we can to make sure that every child who is born here arrives in safety, comfort and love. It is not everything, but the box of essentials to help parents to keep each new Scottish baby warm and safe—the baby box—is a good reflection of that wish for an equal start.

We are perhaps not as good at talking about the end of life—perhaps it does not have the same feel-good factor—but we cannot ignore inequity at the end of life. We must have our eyes open, which dying in the margins, the joint study and exhibition that has been undertaken by the University of Glasgow and Marie Curie, helps us to do very well. I am very grateful to them for their work, and I am in awe of the research participants. I welcome to the gallery everyone who is involved.

This first-of-its-kind study, examining barriers to and experiences of dying at home for people who are living in poverty, shares the direct experience of participants through Margaret Mitchell’s images and the participants’ words. It is hugely powerful. I am grateful to Evelyn Tweed for sponsoring the exhibition in the Parliament.

I also thank Paul O’Kane for securing cross-party support and bringing this important topic to the chamber, giving us all the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. His speech was very thoughtful and a good start to the debate. Members’ business debates can be quite small affairs, particularly after First Minister’s question time, but I want everyone, particularly those in the gallery, to know that a debate can be the start of something and not just an event in itself.

In opening the debate, Paul O’Kane spoke about Max. For me, it was Marie’s story that struck me, perhaps because she was the same age as I was when I had a serious illness, and I reflect on the quite different experience that I had. Marie specifically spoke about the cost of taxis to get to her treatment. I was fortunate to have a family member move in with me and take on the specific task of running me to hospital, which made treatment a lot easier. In my area, Ayrshire, we have an excellent charity called Irvine & Troon Cancer Care, which provides that service for people who need it. It reflects the—I do not like the term—postcode lottery and the different experiences that folk have. We should not have to rely on location-specific charities to ensure that patients can fully take part in their treatment. It would be interesting to hear the Government’s reflection on that.

I support all the asks that are set out in the Marie Curie briefing. As well as actions for the United Kingdom and Scottish Governments in regard to finance, there are probably policy things that can be done more promptly. Paul O’Kane spoke about aids and adaptations, and I consider that action could be taken on those now. A constituent came to me for assistance when she had been injured falling down the stairs. She had had the aid and adaptation done in her bathroom but not yet on the stairwell, which made recovery quite challenging. We can all imagine how bad that would be.

We have a short debate time, and I know that we want to hear from every member who wants to speak, so I will just say that I will commit to working with others on the topic. I will certainly go to my local authority and health and social care partnership to see whether there are policy changes that can happen promptly to make people’s lives a bit better.

Equal rights for men and women is a fundamental principle of the UN. Men’s violence against women and girls is both a cause and manifestation of inequality. The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women—CEDAW—is unequivocal: states must address trafficking and prostitution if they are to eliminate discrimination against women. How will the Scottish Government’s incorporation of human rights charters into Scots law assist women who are subject to such violence and inequality?

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for a human rights bill. (S6O-02737)

I have a brief supplementary question, convener. Dr Reid, I acknowledge everything that you have said about the importance of prevention. Professor Britton mentioned population reach and the lack of stigma around adults—although I know that we are specifically talking about children—being able to go in and buy vapes. Does that not perhaps tell us more about how we should approach smoking cessation and health services for adults? That is not really a pro-vaping point, is it? It is perhaps for us to reflect on in the context of how we provide assistance to citizens to make choices that are healthier for them.

I have no interests to declare, convener.

Will the member accept an intervention?

I invite the member to reflect on whether removing a child’s ability to travel might prevent them from attending work, or the youth clubs that he spoke about, which can be diversionary from antisocial behaviour.

Thank you. That was helpful.