Seòmar agus comataidhean

I thank Jeremy Balfour for bringing the debate to the chamber. I take the opportunity to thank Jeremy Balfour for all his work and contributions in the area. The member is a champion of the cause and is very vocal about these issues, and I mean that in the best possible way. He also has practical ideas on how we break down barriers, engage with disabled constituents and fully include people in decision making, and I thank him for that work.

Over the five years that I have been in the Scottish Parliament, I have been pleased and encouraged by members’ engagement with the disabled community, including those from a range of backgrounds and with a range of disabilities. However, as has been mentioned by others, that does not mean that we are doing enough or doing things in the right way.

While researching for this debate, I read about the history of the slogan “Nothing about us without us”, which Jeremy Balfour mentioned. It relies on the principle of participation and has been used by disabled people’s organisations throughout the years as part of the global movement to achieve the full participation and equalisation of opportunities for, by and with disabled people. We can all agree that we have made advances, but that we have not yet achieved all of the slogan’s aims. We should understand that that is part of how we move forward.

I really wanted to speak in this debate, because I was lucky enough to attend the second Scottish Parliament disability summit, which was held here with a large number of groups representing disabled people, young people with disabilities and young people caring for loved ones with disability. The chamber was packed with so many people. The summit took place on 21 February, in person at the Scottish Parliament and online, and brought together disabled people, carers, advocates and allies to reflect on the progress and, importantly, to look at the future. As Scotland heads towards the next election, it is so important to ensure that disabled people are part of the conversation.

The summit offered an opportunity to invite disabled people in Scotland and their organisations to discuss ideas for change. What would they like there to be in place to help the Parliament to achieve or create a more inclusive society? Questions were asked about the progress they wanted to see in relation to transport, social care, inclusive education, social security and, importantly, voting.

I was lucky enough to co-chair a group with a fantastic young woman, Eilidh Henderson, who generously shared her experience and that of her family during our session on social care. Eilidh took the lead on the first online breakout session, which was a first for the summit. I note that Eilidh would be happy for me to say that, after a couple of technical problems, the session went very well. It was facilitated technically by the Parliament staff. Eilidh and I made sure that an extra breakout was added because we recognised that being on screen for such long periods of time can be difficult and exhausting for people.

All the feedback so far has suggested that the online option helped allow others to be in that breakout session and that the experience overall was positive. People mainly talked about their experiences, but one thing that they mentioned that the Parliament will need to look at is self-directed support—the expectations for it and where it has failed people.

I am aware of the time. Before I close, I add that I was lucky enough on that day to have not only Eilidh but a young woman from Cumnock called Emma McEwan who was with me observing. Emma hopes to work with young people. She found it fascinating to be around people in a situation where disabled people were in control of the narrative and the agenda. Emma reported back that that gave her a better understanding of everyday life for people with disabilities and the barriers that they encounter. We must make sure that that happens more in the future.

13:13

I thank my colleague Jackie Baillie for bringing this important debate to the chamber.

In 2007, the Scottish Government set a target that 95 per cent of patients should wait no longer than four hours to be seen and admitted, discharged or transferred. However, data that was released this morning revealed that, as of the end of January, there were recorded waits of more than eight hours and more than 12 hours, which are the highest since records began. More than 15 per cent of patients spent more than eight hours in A and E, while 8 per cent spent more than 12 hours there—both of those figures are well above the monthly average for 2025. I know that the cabinet secretary understands that it is our responsibility to bring such issues to the chamber.

In NHS Ayrshire and Arran—the health board that covers the area where I live—the A and E department of Crosshouse hospital exceeded capacity by 50 per cent in December 2025. Staff were left with no choice but to treat patients in corridors. It is important to be clear that that was not just a winter issue—Crosshouse A and E exceeded capacity in seven months last year.

I absolutely agree. Members across the chamber can see the situation that we are describing, but what we do not see is action happening to change that.

Constituents have contacted me to say that they have had to spend hours and hours in A and E and that they are suffering as a result. As other members have said, they describe that as being the result of the Government’s incompetence. They have nothing but positive things to say about the staff; they feel that the issue is about Government mismanagement.

As we have heard, it is not just patients who are paying the price. Long waits in A and E and issues such as corridor care not only affect patient safety but have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of our staff. Working in an overstretched and overcapacity environment can lead to staff burnout, occupational injuries and lower job satisfaction. I know that the cabinet secretary has read the report that reveals that nurses say that they feel ashamed, demoralised and distraught because they cannot care for their patients in the way in which they have been trained to.

The Royal College of Nursing has made it clear that corridor care due to overcapacity is not just a winter problem but a year-round crisis in the NHS. However, due to the lack of data, the true scale of the problem is not known.

The cabinet secretary will know that, at the start of the year, I asked the First Minister for an update on the progress that has been made on capturing data on corridor care at national and local levels. I was greatly disappointed with his response. He claimed that, despite pressures facing one A and E department, it was operating in a sustainable fashion. I think that we can agree that what is happening is not sustainable. The pressures are there all the time for staff, and being honest about that is probably the first step towards changing it. There is a culture of hoping for the best every winter, and that has meant that our NHS has not made progress.

The NHS in Scotland needs a genuine workforce review and a long-term plan to identify areas of greatest strain, so that we can support staff in their roles in those workplaces. Corridor care compromises patient privacy and dignity, and it should not be accepted as the norm. Our constituents deserve to receive the best possible care—I know that the cabinet secretary believes that—and our staff deserve to work in an environment that protects their wellbeing and allows them to get on with the job that they are trained to do. Therefore, I ask the cabinet secretary to set out some actions that will be taken so that we can strive to get to where we need to be.

17:39

I absolutely agree. Members across the chamber can see the situation that we are describing, but what we do not see is action happening to change that.

Constituents have contacted me to say that they have had to spend hours and hours in A and E and that they are suffering as a result. As other members have said, they describe that as being the result of the Government’s incompetence. They have nothing but positive things to say about the staff; they feel that the issue is about Government mismanagement.

As we have heard, it is not just patients who are paying the price. Long waits in A and E and issues such as corridor care not only affect patient safety but have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of our staff. Working in an overstretched and overcapacity environment can lead to staff burnout, occupational injuries and lower job satisfaction. I know that the cabinet secretary has read the report that reveals that nurses say that they feel ashamed, demoralised and distraught because they cannot care for their patients in the way in which they have been trained to.

The Royal College of Nursing has made it clear that corridor care due to overcapacity is not just a winter problem but a year-round crisis in the NHS. However, due to the lack of data, the true scale of the problem is not known.

The cabinet secretary will know that, at the start of the year, I asked the First Minister for an update on the progress that has been made on capturing data on corridor care at national and local levels. I was greatly disappointed with his response. He claimed that, despite pressures facing one A and E department, it was operating in a sustainable fashion. I think that we can agree that what is happening is not sustainable. The pressures are there all the time for staff, and being honest about that is probably the first step towards changing it. There is a culture of hoping for the best every winter, and that has meant that our NHS has not made progress.

The NHS in Scotland needs a genuine workforce review and a long-term plan to identify areas of greatest strain, so that we can support staff in their roles in those workplaces. Corridor care compromises patient privacy and dignity, and it should not be accepted as the norm. Our constituents deserve to receive the best possible care—I know that the cabinet secretary believes that—and our staff deserve to work in an environment that protects their wellbeing and allows them to get on with the job that they are trained to do. Therefore, I ask the cabinet secretary to set out some actions that will be taken so that we can strive to get to where we need to be.

17:39

I thank my colleague Jackie Baillie for bringing this important debate to the chamber.

In 2007, the Scottish Government set a target that 95 per cent of patients should wait no longer than four hours to be seen and admitted, discharged or transferred. However, data that was released this morning revealed that, as of the end of January, there were recorded waits of more than eight hours and more than 12 hours, which are the highest since records began. More than 15 per cent of patients spent more than eight hours in A and E, while 8 per cent spent more than 12 hours there—both of those figures are well above the monthly average for 2025. I know that the cabinet secretary understands that it is our responsibility to bring such issues to the chamber.

In NHS Ayrshire and Arran—the health board that covers the area where I live—the A and E department of Crosshouse hospital exceeded capacity by 50 per cent in December 2025. Staff were left with no choice but to treat patients in corridors. It is important to be clear that that was not just a winter issue—Crosshouse A and E exceeded capacity in seven months last year.

I absolutely agree. Members across the chamber can see the situation that we are describing, but what we do not see is action happening to change that.

Constituents have contacted me to say that they have had to spend hours and hours in A and E and that they are suffering as a result. As other members have said, they describe that as being the result of the Government’s incompetence. They have nothing but positive things to say about the staff; they feel that the issue is about Government mismanagement.

As we have heard, it is not just patients who are paying the price. Long waits in A and E and issues such as corridor care not only affect patient safety but have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of our staff. Working in an overstretched and overcapacity environment can lead to staff burnout, occupational injuries and lower job satisfaction. I know that the cabinet secretary has read the report that reveals that nurses say that they feel ashamed, demoralised and distraught because they cannot care for their patients in the way in which they have been trained to.

The Royal College of Nursing has made it clear that corridor care due to overcapacity is not just a winter problem but a year-round crisis in the NHS. However, due to the lack of data, the true scale of the problem is not known.

The cabinet secretary will know that, at the start of the year, I asked the First Minister for an update on the progress that has been made on capturing data on corridor care at national and local levels. I was greatly disappointed with his response. He claimed that, despite pressures facing one A and E department, it was operating in a sustainable fashion. I think that we can agree that what is happening is not sustainable. The pressures are there all the time for staff, and being honest about that is probably the first step towards changing it. There is a culture of hoping for the best every winter, and that has meant that our NHS has not made progress.

The NHS in Scotland needs a genuine workforce review and a long-term plan to identify areas of greatest strain, so that we can support staff in their roles in those workplaces. Corridor care compromises patient privacy and dignity, and it should not be accepted as the norm. Our constituents deserve to receive the best possible care—I know that the cabinet secretary believes that—and our staff deserve to work in an environment that protects their wellbeing and allows them to get on with the job that they are trained to do. Therefore, I ask the cabinet secretary to set out some actions that will be taken so that we can strive to get to where we need to be.

17:39

I thank my colleague Jackie Baillie for bringing this important debate to the chamber.

In 2007, the Scottish Government set a target that 95 per cent of patients should wait no longer than four hours to be seen and admitted, discharged or transferred. However, data that was released this morning revealed that, as of the end of January, there were recorded waits of more than eight hours and more than 12 hours, which are the highest since records began. More than 15 per cent of patients spent more than eight hours in A and E, while 8 per cent spent more than 12 hours there—both of those figures are well above the monthly average for 2025. I know that the cabinet secretary understands that it is our responsibility to bring such issues to the chamber.

In NHS Ayrshire and Arran—the health board that covers the area where I live—the A and E department of Crosshouse hospital exceeded capacity by 50 per cent in December 2025. Staff were left with no choice but to treat patients in corridors. It is important to be clear that that was not just a winter issue—Crosshouse A and E exceeded capacity in seven months last year.

This adds to what Emma Harper and Kim Atkinson have been saying. I would be interested in hearing about the piece of research that has been done. I recently visited a group of women in quite a rural area—the boost group in Girvan—and they were talking about the kinds of things that they would like to do. It is sometimes difficult to find the space, as has been said, but people are often very good at coming up with their own solutions. Referring to the research that you have talked about, what can we do to gather information about how people can get solutions for different kinds of sports and activities that would suit their health needs? Is there something more that we need to do at a Scotland-wide level to capture that?

::To ask the Scottish Government, following Orbex entering administration, what the likelihood is of the public purse receiving a return on the money invested in the company by the Scottish National Investment Bank. (S6O-05550)

::It has been reported that £29 million was invested in Orbex via SNIB, all of which could potentially be lost. That follows the cancellation of the spaceport project in Prestwick in my region last year. A lot of public funds and a lot of jobs have been lost. How does the Government plan to support the space sector in the long term so that we do not see yet more projects going under, particularly in my region?