Seòmar agus comataidhean

Recent freedom of information requests from Scottish Labour to health boards have revealed just how bad things are for women on the ground. Thousands are stuck on waiting lists for treatment for gynaecological conditions. Waiting times have dramatically increased, despite Scottish Government manifesto commitments to improve women’s health. A survey found that 90 per cent of women have concerns about accessing comprehensive health screening. Women are feeling very much left behind.

Nothing in the programme for government will improve outcomes for women in the here and now, and progress on women’s health has already been slow. Does the Government intend to deliver on its commitment to improve waiting times for women? When will women start to see a difference on the ground?

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing to improve women’s health outcomes. (S6O-04622)

Given what the minister said, I will not move amendment 480 but I will seek to bring it back at stage 3 after understanding what the barriers are.

Amendment 480 not moved.

I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of interests. I previously owned a rental property.

I am happy to speak to the amendment that is lodged in my name. All my amendments seek to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to assess rent conditions in their area. My amendment 480 adds a requirement that regulations made by the Scottish ministers may not increase the time period within which local authorities are required to submit their periodic assessment of rent conditions. Amendment 480 seeks to optimise the time span for information that will be collected by local authorities and to increase the accuracy of that information in the medium to long term. The amendment would still allow the Scottish ministers to change the intervals at which information about rents is shared by local authorities, but, importantly, it would limit the minister from extending the reporting period beyond the five-year range that is proposed. In short, the amendment would ensure that the data collection period will not be allowed to increase to six, seven, or eight-year intervals, for example. I note that other amendments propose limiting the frequency of reporting to not more than once per year. That is reasonable, but my amendment would ensure that the five-year range remains optimal and that we collect an accurate national picture over time. Such a picture does not yet exist in Scotland and, once initiated, it should be maintained. This is an important amendment.

I thank Stephen Kerr for raising a really important issue. I hope that the minister will have more to say about the issue—families deserve more. Does the minister feel that the Government has done enough to ensure that the shared learning from significant adverse events happens is shared with staff? If the families are not getting the details, how do we make sure that those things do not happen again? Our staff are also at risk.

I, too, thank Emma Harper for bringing this important debate to the chamber. I know that she has great knowledge and skills in this area, and I praise the on-going work that she is committed to carrying out in the Parliament and beyond.

Scottish Labour welcomes world asthma day 2025 and recognises this year’s theme, which, as members have said, is “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL”. As we have heard, that is important, because two out of three asthma-related deaths are preventable.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases and, today, we are reminded of its prevalence in Scotland. Although there is no cure, most people can control their symptoms well with asthma inhalers and other medicines, which improve their overall quality of life and outcomes. That is why this year’s theme is so important. It emphasises the need to ensure that all sufferers can access inhaled medication and appropriately manage the disease, which is crucial in reducing the frequency and severity of attacks.

However, the 2025 Asthma and Lung UK survey found that only 30 per cent of sufferers reported receiving all three basic provisions of asthma care. That is deeply worrying, and I know that everyone in the chamber will be concerned about it, because the three basic elements of care ensure that the disease is effectively managed and controlled and, importantly, that deaths are prevented.

I turn to inequalities. We know that, in many cases, women have far worse health outcomes than men, and that is no different in respiratory health. Women are more likely to have asthma, to have more severe symptoms and to die from their asthma. Many women experience a worsening of symptoms during menstruation and are at risk of potentially fatal asthma attacks every month, yet there is very little research on or understanding about that.

During last year’s world asthma day debate, I raised a point about data and the lack of

“an accurate collection method or an agreed reporting system across health boards”

in Scotland. Following that, I asked whether the Government would consider gathering greater data on the impact of gender on asthma outcomes to help us to better understand that inequality. Perhaps the minister might have some words on that that she could feed back to us in her closing remarks.

On the data point, in last year’s debate, I noted that the Government pointed to on-going work

“with Asthma and Lung UK and other key partners on commissioning a full national audit programme for respiratory conditions.”—[Official Report, 8 May 2024; c 119, 121.]

I know that the minister recognises the importance of that and, as Emma Harper said, attends many of the related events. The minister knows that improving patient treatment outcomes is important, so any information that she has on that would be gratefully received.

I would like to raise concerns about the Government’s progress on the respiratory health policy. At First Minister’s question time last week, I highlighted Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s concerns that the Government is “stagnating” in its delivery of the respiratory care action plan. I take the opportunity to re-emphasise those points and urge the Government to make progress on respiratory health, which often receives less attention than other conditions.

There is much that we can do, and I know that the minister will be keen to move the situation forward. Respiratory outcomes in Scotland remain comparatively worse than those in other European countries. Without action on the issue and raising awareness in the chamber, asthma and respiratory health will continue to remain a persistent public health problem. I know that nobody in the chamber wants that, so working together is really important. Again, I thank Emma Harper for bringing the debate to the chamber.

Alcohol harm continues to be a key concern in Scotland. In East and South Ayrshire, an area that I represent, a combined total of 50 lives were lost to alcohol in 2023. Today, a briefing signed by more than 70 organisations has been published, which calls for urgent action on alcohol harm. It states that the current Scottish Government action is not proportionate to the scale of the problem and it makes a range of recommendations around early diagnosis for liver disease and funding for recovery treatment and support services. Will the First Minister consider that important briefing’s proposals as he prepares to publish the programme for government next week?

I recently sent a letter to the Ayrshire councils seeking an update on the deal’s delivery. The response acknowledged that progress on delivery had not been as originally envisaged and noted that, at the halfway point of the programme’s lifetime, only a small percentage of available investment had been realised. It also noted that, in response to delays, partners, in consultation with the Government, had undertaken a review of the programme.

Can the Government advise when the decision to review was made and what the outcome of the review was, to ensure that my constituents can see the potential and the benefits of economic growth?

Recent Public Health Scotland figures found that just two in five high-risk infants were vaccinated against flu in the past winter, which means that more than 1,000 were left unprotected. The decline in childhood immunisation levels continued in 2024, with uptake lowest in the most deprived and rural areas. What action is the Scottish Government taking to investigate why that is, and what is it doing to address the causes of low uptake?

Yesterday, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland issued a statement on its concerns about Government progress on respiratory health policy. Respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are leading causes of death and health inequalities in Scotland. However, the Government is stagnating in its delivery of the action plan on the issue. The lack of progress on delivery, including on ensuring universal access to pulmonary rehabilitation, risks increasing inequality and the number of preventable deaths. Will the Scottish Government deliver on the commitments that were made in the plan before the end of this parliamentary session?