Chamber and committees

NHS Dumfries and Galloway has advised people to arrive 15 minutes early for appointments, so that they can find a parking space. When I wrote to the board to say, “Can ye no give some information about active travel, getting buses and cycle routes?”, it came back with a very positive reply and said that it is working to improve measures such as engaging with public transport and community transport initiatives.

When I worked in Los Angeles, we had a car pool scheme whereby we got points—and points made prizes—if we shared a car, rode a bike or even walked. Should we be pursuing that sort of thing in Scotland? Wee car pool initiatives could encourage car sharing, so that the car parks are not full.

Does the climate change plan reflect how we can tackle health inequalities? A lot of the approaches to challenges in the population health framework—I am thinking about the good food nation plan—come under the processes of the climate change plan. I will be succinct: does the draft climate change plan support the health equity outcomes?

I am really enjoying this morning’s discussion, because there is a lot going on in the NHS, and, as a former theatre nurse, I am really keen to hear about changes in operating theatres.

As I mentioned earlier, I am also the convener of the cross-party group on lung health, and we have had some evidence-taking sessions on low-global-warming-potential propellants and inhalers. I am a wee bit worried that any blanket switching in the transition to such inhalers from multidose inhalers—that is, the relievers—will put people in danger. I see you nodding already. I guess that my concern is about ensuring that we have the right inhaler for the right person and that we check their technique instead of just blanket switching. We also need to do this in a way that helps with the transition while ensuring that people do not end up having asthma events and then having to be admitted and so on.

I would point out that, although some dry powder inhalers might have low or no emissions, they are full of bits of plastic that cannae be recycled very well, whereas the current salbutamol inhalers, for instance, have bits of plastic that can be recycled. It is complicated, but I am concerned about how we make that transition while keeping patients safe.

10:30

Good morning to you all, and thanks for being here today.

After I have asked my questions, I will probably come back further down the line to discuss green theatres, as well as propellants from inhalers and so on, which I am interested in because I am the convener of the cross-party group on lung health.

I am interested in hearing about what discussions are happening around emissions reduction, following the Government-wide health in all policies approach. How closely involved are you in taking emissions reduction or net zero approaches in healthcare?

I have a supplementary question, which goes back to the issue of cross-portfolio working. The Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, which was passed just last week, contains provisions for increasing the use of venison in public sector settings such as hospitals and schools. We know that we have an abundance of venison. If we are going to promote it as being sustainable, healthy and locally sourced, what should be the practice for communicating the need for such action? If we pass a bill that says that we need to promote venison and get it into hospitals, how should that information be communicated and disseminated to different health boards?

I see that Wendy Rayner is leaning forward.

There is a school in Lockerbie where one of the teachers brings in venison and has the young people make burgers. Eating venison is not just about steaks—it can be made into burgers, meatballs and sausages. It is about changing our attitude to venison, because it is a good source of protein.

I am interested in representation on the boards. Among the written submissions that we received, Glasgow City IJB raised the issue of

“how members representing large, varied and possibly complex networks”,

which Stephen Smellie has described, can manage to have a

“singular voice and vote”.

I would be interested to hear witnesses’ thoughts on what nomination and accountability arrangements would need to be mandated nationally to ensure that we have transparent and representative appointments, in order to have third sector voting or care experience representation and things such as that.

I know that Matt Crilly might also want to come in. Openness, transparency and the ability for people to have their voice heard is important. I know a councillor who is also a full-time carer, so that councillor’s ability to vote would mean that their lived experience as a carer is brought in, as well. Is this not about having a broad representation of voices and ensuring that people are represented?

Will people with lived experience need to demonstrate their links to their wider communities and stakeholders, so that there are good feedback loops?

Will there need to be national guidance about how members will be selected, so that there is consistency across IJBs, or do we already have processes in place that would allow that?