FMQs 09.05.13: NHS Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont accused the First Minister of not caring about the NHS as she said the number of people “languishing” in A&E departments is increasing. “Looking across Scotland, I note that in NHS Lanarkshire—the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing’s own backyard—the number of patients who are waiting more than four hours in A&E has also more than trebled and that in NHS Grampian, which is the First Minister’s own backyard, there was an increase of 1,300 in the number of patients waiting more than four hours in A&E, compared with last year. Now that the First Minister knows what is happening in the NHS on his watch, will he tell us what he is going to do about it?” “Is not that exactly why the Health Secretary...

Scotland is rightly proud of its record on tobacco control. From the historic ban on smoking in enclosed public places, to the more recently enforced bans on tobacco displays in large shops and the sale of cigarettes from vending machines, Scotland has clearly demonstrated its determination to remain at the forefront of efforts to reduce smoking prevalence and smoking-related harm. Now, however, Jim Hume MSP would like to see Scotland go further still by becoming the first country in Europe to ban smoking in vehicles containing children. While the Scottish Government’s recently published tobacco control strategy acknowledged that cars and homes remain “significant sources of exposure to second-hand smoke” and included a commitment to set a target to achieve a “substantial”...

The earlier cancer is detected, the better the chance of survival, states Health Secretary Alex Neil. Last year the Scottish Government launched its £30m Detect Cancer Early initiative in the hope of increasing early detection rates and saving more than 300 lives a year by the end of the next parliamentary term. The programme has been split into three phases – a priming campaign aimed at tackling fears and negative attitudes about cancer; a bold breast cancer awareness campaign in September; and, more recently, a campaign to encourage uptake of bowel screening. “We’ve zeroed in on particular cancers and the rationale for that is if you look at the incidence of cancer amongst men and women, breast cancer, lung cancer and bowel cancer are in the top four in terms of incidents. So the...

The Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) has reportedly said it can no longer cater for young people aged 21 or above and gradually, will be withdrawing these services. CHAS – which provides end-of-life care and respite for children with lifelimiting conditions – had no age limit before, but with more living into adulthood, it has had to reconsider. It’s a story I had been expecting to read one day. A few years ago, I visited one of its centres. I braced myself, emotionally, and while I was prepared to feel moved, it was not in the way I expected. Afterwards, I wrote about the wheelchair discos and impromptu ceilidh that had erupted while I was there. Life was celebrated in every room and I left with a smile rather than the anticipated tears on my face. However, there...

It’s been an inspiring week. I have heard some challenging and inspiring talks, had wonderful conversations, met some great people and touched base with old friends and new. My new role is so much about connection and that’s why I really enjoy it. When I first left clinical nursing, it was the connection with patients that I particularly missed. That sense that you have made a difference to someone is often very immediate as a nurse. It’s the thing that helps you deal with the emotional cost of the role; the power of the connection dependent on empathy, respect, listening more deeply and the right context too in which to flourish. If you are stressed through work pressures, illness or other external issues it’s hard to invest in a therapeutic relationship, after all. It’s often...