Chamber and committees

Okay. I will ask another wee question. We have asked other boards how they will achieve net zero. I am interested to hear what the state hospital is doing to take forward net zero activities.

Yes. I assume that, once someone is admitted to the state hospital, there is the potential for them to be transferred to a less secure facility, as part of their progress. Is that monitored?

There is no doubt that, as Monica Lennon has just highlighted, the soaring price of essential products is exacerbating the already challenging circumstances facing parents, particularly those who are on low incomes. What additional action is the Scottish Government taking within its limited powers and budget to support people during this cost of living crisis? What more does the cabinet secretary consider that the UK Government should be doing to help?

Would Alex Cole-Hamilton welcome the remote monitoring that has been implemented by NHS Dumfries and Galloway for the monitoring of their chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory patients? That is working really well to keep folk out of hospital.

Rurality is a hugely important issue for us in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders, and I acknowledge that the health and social care partnership is consulting right now on community bed provision. I look forward to the results of that, but I agree that we need to look at whatever care can be provided as close to home as possible. I support whatever mechanism we can use to take that forward.

Similarly to hospital at home, the home teams model, as I was describing, pulls together the multidisciplinary team and other resources in the community under one team. That ensures that there are fewer referrals to acute care, that people tell their story once without having to repeat it, that reduced waiting response times are delivered and that a holistic person-centred approach is taken.

The home teams initiative has led NHS Dumfries and Galloway to redeploy 52 community staff to support 102 packages of care, which equates to 120 individuals receiving the hospital at home model, and 18 beds have been created in Mountainhall treatment centre as an intermediate care facility and a step-down from acute care. That is similar to what Mr Carson talked about earlier.

Oliver Mundell rose—

I welcome that support, and I look forward to decision time, when I will be supporting the Government’s motion.

I am pleased to speak in favour of the Government’s motion. I remind members that I am a registered nurse and former employee of NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

As members and the cabinet secretary have indicated, the purpose of hospital at home is to reduce hospital admissions by providing treatments in the comfort and familiarity of a person’s home. Clare Haughey described the types of treatment that are received, which include intravenous infusions and oxygen therapy.

Evidence shows that those people who benefit from the service are more likely to avoid hospital or care home stays after a period of acute illness. For older patients, that means remaining at home longer without losing their independence, which has contributed to overall improvements in patient satisfaction.

I am a member of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, which is currently undertaking scrutiny of NHS boards, including the rural boards in my South Scotland region. The chief executive of NHS Borders, Ralph Roberts, told us about the reablement work that is being implemented in his board. Reablement refers to the care that a person receives after experiencing an illness or injury. The main aim of reablement is to allow people to gain or regain the confidence, ability and skills that are necessary to live as independently as possible, especially after an illness, injury or deterioration in health. Reablement is a person-centred approach, and support is usually delivered in the person’s home or in a care home. That work has led to an increase in people receiving hospital at home care, which is of course welcome.

Delayed discharge is one the biggest issues that health boards in Scotland face. I welcome the fact that, as the motion indicates, the Scottish Government is providing on-going support to boards in a range of areas, including discharge planning.

Significant evidence shows that ultra-processed foods link directly to obesity, poor diet, malnourishment and negative health implications. Will the minister describe some of the specific policy work that is being carried out to use the evidence that relates to ultra-processed food—which impacts on low-income families in particular—to improve diet and health outcomes?

It is interesting to hear what Dr Gulhane says about NHS Dumfries and Galloway. It is my understanding that NHS Dumfries and Galloway has taken a home teams approach and that that is how that health board is delivering the equivalent of hospital at home.

Gie me a wee sec.

Home teams is a new health and social care model of working that is being delivered in Dumfries and Galloway to help people to live happier and healthier lives in their own home and to tackle delayed discharge.