Scottish Parliament e-Brief

Issue 154, 17^th March 2003

SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

THE CHAMBER

IN COMMITTEE
With the Committees winding down in the run up to dissolution, business in the Committee Chambers continues to be relatively thin.

• Education meets at Loch Lomond to take evidence from public sector organisations on the Gaelic Language Bill.
• Enterprise discusses entrepreneurship for young people.
• Justice 1 considers reform of civil legal aid.
• Justice 2 takes evidence from Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry, on the UK Sexual Offences Bill.
• Audit tackles Individual Learning Accounts.
• Health deals with Hepatitis C and the OFT report on Pharmacies.

SECTION 2 - NEWS

PATIENTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Proposals setting out what patients have a right to expect from the health service in Scotland and how they can access their health records have been issued for consultation.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities explains what is available in the community, in a doctors or dentists practice or in hospital. It also sets out what to do if patients and the public want to comment on the service they have received or if they wish to make a complaint.

It provides information on:

• How to comment on your care;
• What happens when you leave hospital;
• How to find about standards for particular treatments e.g. kidney disease;
• Guaranteed waiting times; and
• How to get involved in improving services in your local area.

The proposals set out in How to Access Your Health Records describe to patients their legal right to see their health records and any medical reports concerning them, undertaken for an insurance company or employer.

The leaflet describes what is a health record, gives details on how to apply to see the records and how to complain if there are any problems with the way a patients application has been dealt with.

The deadline for consultation responses is June 20.

Full Story

TOURISM CAREERS ON THE MENU
"Training and skills levels in the tourism industry are integral to delivering a quality product and ensuring Scotland’s place as a must visit destination", Tourism Minister Mike Watson said today.

The Minister stressed the need for the industry to improve its reputation as an attractive career choice to young people during a visit to Glasgow College of Food Technology.

Mr Watson said:

"The tourism industry can offer a huge variety of career opportunities to people of all ages and abilities yet it continues to be tarnished by a false reputation characterised be low pay, unsociable working hours and stop-gap choices.

"Experience can be gained and careers built in hospitality, retail, transport, travel and many more disciplines at all levels through to senior management. There are also opportunities for self-employment and business start-ups.

"The level of skills and training in tourism is an integral part of delivering a quality visitor experience because VisitScotland analysis shows that many complaints are focussed on staff performance and attitudes.

"To address this, VisitScotland has established a working group to develop a Strategy and Action Plan to improve and co-ordinate industry skills and training. The foundation that students gain through courses such as those offered by Glasgow College of Food Technology are an ideal springboard for lifetime learning and continued career development in hospitality and tourism."

The Working Group which will improve and co-ordinate industry skills and training will include: the Scottish Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Careers Scotland, the Scottish Tourism Forum, Springboard Scotland, as well as Tourist Boards and industry representatives.

The Scottish Executive’s Tourism Framework for Action Implementation Group, set up last year, is devising a project aimed at ensuring basic attitudes towards skills and training in the tourism sector improve.

Full Story

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

Chamber business this week is almost entirely devoted to Stage 3 consideration of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Bill.

Introduced in the Parliament on 16^th September 2002 and passed at Stage 1 on 11^th December 2002, the Bill is largely based on the work done by the Millan Committee - the independent committee, chaired by former Scottish Secretary Bruce Millan, set up to review Scotland's mental health law. It proposes a series of radical reforms to Scotland's outdated mental health laws.

The Bill's main aims are:

• To update and clarify the rules on the compulsory detention and treatment of people with mental disorders;
• To provide people with mental disorders with rights and safeguards; and
• To make provision in the criminal law for mentally disordered people.

While the marathon stage 2 was largely consensual, there were a number of areas of debate. The highlights of stage 2 include:

• The Executive brought forward amendments to include in the legislation nine of the ten principles set down by the Millan Committee. This includes the key principle of reciprocity, with a new provision introduced to ensure that no compulsory treatment order should be approved without the establishment of an adequate package of care. The only principle not included through the amendment was that of informal care – that care should be provided without compulsion where possible.
• An amendment from Margaret Jamieson (LAB) raised the issue of provision of services for children and young people and the lack of facilities for the care of young people who require to be detained. There was particular concern expressed about the number of young people who are detained in adult facilities. The Executive, however, resisted setting out a legal duty and argued that the forthcoming report of the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme on the Review of Mental Health Services for Children and Young People will provide a further implement for developing provision. Margaret Jamieson withdrew her amendment to await the findings of the report.
• Mary Scanlon (CON) brought forward an amendment to ensure that a person is not detained in hospital under an emergency detention certificate if he or she will accept treatment voluntarily. The Executive, however, said this was already covered in the bill and would be stressed in the code of practice. The amendment was accordingly withdrawn.
• Adam Ingram (SNP) pressed two amendments on making adequate arrangements for patients who are discharged from hospital. The Minister argued this was already catered for in the bill and Mr Ingram’s proposals, which would mean continued detention, could breach human rights legislation. The amendments were defeated.
• An amendment was also introduced so that, where a patient is capable to do so, written agreement must be obtained before they can undergo electroconvulsive therapy. Further amendments were agreed to ensure there are safeguards for drug treatments which exceed the normal dosage.
• There was also some discussion around amendments which would broaden the functions of named persons to deal with people who receive informal treatment for mental disorder, and this may return at Stage 3.
• Another significant issue was that of advance statements. Mary Scanlon (CON) put forward amendments to ensure that the decision to provide treatment which conflicts with an advance statement rests with the tribunal rather than with individual professionals. The Executive, however, feels it is more practical and appropriate that the responsible medical officer make the decision. There was a division and the amendment was defeated.

Click here to read the Explanatory Notes
Click here to read the Policy Memorandum
Click here to read the Bill as amended at Stage 2

After the morning session, there will be a Ministerial Statement, the subject of which is to be announced.

The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Bill continues in the afternoon.

The day is rounded off by a Member's Business Debate on Reform of Charity Law from Labour's Jackie Baillie.

The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Bill continues on THURSDAY morning...

…and concludes in the afternoon, following Question Time and First Minister's Question Time.

The day concludes with a Member's Business debate on a Suicide Emergency Telephone Hotline from the SNP's Kenneth Gibson.

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