Miles Briggs MSP

That the Parliament congratulates Samaritans Scotland on its 60th anniversary; understands that the charity marks the anniversary on 1 June 2019, 60 years to the day in 1959 that the first ever call was taken in Scotland by the Edinburgh branch; understands that, since that first call, the charity has become a leading organisation for suicide prevention, with 19 branches stretching from the Scottish Borders to the Shetland Islands; is aware that it has around 1,000 volunteers in Scotland and that the charity provides emotional support to people when they need it most via phone, email, text, letter or face-to-face conversation, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; recognises that demand for Samaritans’ services has grown considerably over the last six decades; notes that the Edinburgh branch received 550 calls in its first year, while last year the branch alone was contacted more than 45,000 times; further notes that, across Scotland, Samaritans volunteers were contacted more than 249,000 times by people in distress and crisis in 2018 and spent more than 60,000 hours providing emotional support, the equivalent of 2,500 days of listening; recognises the contribution made by past and present Samaritans volunteers in Scotland over the last six decades, and commends the charity’s work to recruit new volunteers and develop new ways of providing support so that it can continue to be there for people when they need it most and help to reduce the number of deaths by suicide in Scotland.

That the Parliament congratulates Samaritans Scotland on its 60th anniversary; understands that the charity marks the anniversary on 1 June 2019, 60 years to the day in 1959 that the first ever call was taken in Scotland by the Edinburgh branch; understands that, since that first call, the charity has become a leading organisation for suicide prevention, with 19 branches stretching from the Scottish Borders to the Shetland Islands; is aware that it has around 1,000 volunteers in Scotland and that the charity provides emotional support to people when they need it most via phone, email, text, letter or face-to-face conversation, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; recognises that demand for Samaritans’ services has grown considerably over the last six decades; notes that the Edinburgh branch received 550 calls in its first year, while last year the branch alone was contacted more than 45,000 times; further notes that, across Scotland, Samaritans volunteers were contacted more than 249,000 times by people in distress and crisis in 2018 and spent more than 60,000 hours providing emotional support, the equivalent of 2,500 days of listening; recognises the contribution made by past and present Samaritans volunteers in Scotland over the last six decades, and commends the charity’s work to recruit new volunteers and develop new ways of providing support so that it can continue to be there for people when they need it most and help to reduce the number of deaths by suicide in Scotland.

As an amendment to motion S5M-17281 in the name of Alex Cole-Hamilton (Treatment Time Guarantee), insert at end "; notes the health secretary’s comments that there are still too many people waiting too long for the treatment that they need; further notes that the treatment time guarantee is not the only waiting time target being missed, with others including the 18-week referral to treatment standard, the 62-day cancer urgent referrals standard, psychological therapies waiting times and the CAMHS waiting time standard; is concerned that waiting times are too long, and believes that the Scottish Government needs to take action to give the NHS the resources and the leadership that it needs to tackle this crisis."

As an amendment to motion S5M-17281 in the name of Alex Cole-Hamilton (Treatment Time Guarantee), insert at end "; notes the health secretary’s comments that there are still too many people waiting too long for the treatment that they need; further notes that the treatment time guarantee is not the only waiting time target being missed, with others including the 18-week referral to treatment standard, the 62-day cancer urgent referrals standard, psychological therapies waiting times and the CAMHS waiting time standard; is concerned that waiting times are too long, and believes that the Scottish Government needs to take action to give the NHS the resources and the leadership that it needs to tackle this crisis."

That the Parliament congratulates the PBC Foundation on its work in providing dedicated support and information to people living with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), which is a rare autoimmune condition that currently has no cure; recognises that, over the last 22 years, the foundation has contributed to creating a healthier nation; notes that it provides its core services through face-to-face meetings and by offering online support to its over 1,050 registered service users in Scotland; understands that its services also include a support helpline, a quarterly publication and a network of 11 regional volunteers in Scotland and 46 UK-wide that provides peer support and information; understands that, subject to funding, the foundation holds self-management workshops that equip people with PBC with the tools and techniques required to take an active role in their own care; notes that it also encourages family members and carers to attend workshops and conferences in light of the significant role that they can play, and wishes it continued success with its endeavours.

That the Parliament congratulates the PBC Foundation on its work in providing dedicated support and information to people living with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), which is a rare autoimmune condition that currently has no cure; recognises that, over the last 22 years, the foundation has contributed to creating a healthier nation; notes that it provides its core services through face-to-face meetings and by offering online support to its over 1,050 registered service users in Scotland; understands that its services also include a support helpline, a quarterly publication and a network of 11 regional volunteers in Scotland and 46 UK-wide that provides peer support and information; understands that, subject to funding, the foundation holds self-management workshops that equip people with PBC with the tools and techniques required to take an active role in their own care; notes that it also encourages family members and carers to attend workshops and conferences in light of the significant role that they can play, and wishes it continued success with its endeavours.

That the Parliament welcomes Love Your Lungs Week, which takes place from 17 to 23 June 2019; understands that lung disease is a major challenge for the NHS, with lung cancer being the most common individual cause of death in Scotland, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease being the third most common; believes that lung disease places a huge burden on those who have the condition, as well as on their loved ones; notes that the theme of this year’s Love Your Lungs Week is early diagnosis; understands that the British Lung Foundation’s online breath test, which seeks to raise awareness of the early warning signs of lung disease, has been taken by over 460,000 people across the UK; notes the importance of early diagnosis to help people live well with lung disease, and celebrates the work being carried out by researchers, clinicians and charities, such as the British Lung Foundation, to encourage everyone to love their lungs.

That the Parliament welcomes Love Your Lungs Week, which takes place from 17 to 23 June 2019; understands that lung disease is a major challenge for the NHS, with lung cancer being the most common individual cause of death in Scotland, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease being the third most common; believes that lung disease places a huge burden on those who have the condition, as well as on their loved ones; notes that the theme of this year’s Love Your Lungs Week is early diagnosis; understands that the British Lung Foundation’s online breath test, which seeks to raise awareness of the early warning signs of lung disease, has been taken by over 460,000 people across the UK; notes the importance of early diagnosis to help people live well with lung disease, and celebrates the work being carried out by researchers, clinicians and charities, such as the British Lung Foundation, to encourage everyone to love their lungs.

That the Parliament welcomes reports that every local authority in Scotland has now committed to training all secondary school pupils in CPR skills; believes that this will see the country sit alongside international CPR leaders, including Denmark and Norway, where cardiac arrest survival rates greatly increased after they took similar decisions to train young people; understands that the councils' commitment is in response to poor cardiac arrest survival rates, with only one in 12 people surviving a heart attack out of hospital; believes that the use of effective CPR is critical and can potentially double the likelihood of survival, and applauds each of Scotland’s local authorities, including those in the Lothian region, on this plan to create a nation of lifesavers among the country's young people, which it believes will help more people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

That the Parliament welcomes reports that every local authority in Scotland has now committed to training all secondary school pupils in CPR skills; believes that this will see the country sit alongside international CPR leaders, including Denmark and Norway, where cardiac arrest survival rates greatly increased after they took similar decisions to train young people; understands that the councils' commitment is in response to poor cardiac arrest survival rates, with only one in 12 people surviving a heart attack out of hospital; believes that the use of effective CPR is critical and can potentially double the likelihood of survival, and applauds each of Scotland’s local authorities, including those in the Lothian region, on this plan to create a nation of lifesavers among the country's young people, which it believes will help more people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

To ask the Scottish Government how many alcohol-related hospital admissions there have been in each of the last five years, also broken down NHS board.

To ask the Scottish Government how many alcohol-related hospital admissions there have been in each of the last five years, also broken down NHS board.

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of people with lung cancer in each of the last five years have been diagnosed with the condition at stage (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3 and (d) 4.

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of people with lung cancer in each of the last five years have been diagnosed with the condition at stage (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3 and (d) 4.

To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts NHS Scotland has signed with private firms since 1 January 2019, broken down by service area covered and (a) total and (b) individual value.

To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts NHS Scotland has signed with private firms since 1 January 2019, broken down by service area covered and (a) total and (b) individual value.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce and phase out the use of plastic cutlery and straws in the public sector.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce and phase out the use of plastic cutlery and straws in the public sector.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of antipsychotic medication being commonly used as a chemical restraint, and what its position is on giving such medication to older people with dementia and concerns regarding an increased risk of premature death from doing so.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of antipsychotic medication being commonly used as a chemical restraint, and what its position is on giving such medication to older people with dementia and concerns regarding an increased risk of premature death from doing so.