Written Question · S2W-08489 · Session 2
What information is available in relation to communication impairment in (a) people with mental health problems, (b) young offenders, and (…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available in relation to communication impairment in (a) people with mental health problems, (b) young offenders, and (c) people with learning disabilities.
The answer
The Health Department is developinga range of equality and diversity partnerships aimed at delivering the Partnershipfor Care commitment of ensuring that whatever the individual circumstances ofpeople’s lives they have access to the right health services for their needs. Centralto this is ensuring that staff have the training and support to communicate effectivelywith individuals who may have a communication impairment.
TheNational Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being, for example, is establishingpartnerships with a number of organisations representing the interests of peoplewith sensory impairment to take forward work in relation to mental health and sensoryimpairment. This work aims to collect information and data on needs across Scotland; identifywhat services are currently available and what the main gaps are in relation topromotion, prevention and care and treatment services. Specific service exampleswill be identified and good and emerging practice highlighted. The work is due tostart in autumn 2004 and will continue until March 2006.
Similarly,People with Learning Disabilities in Scotland, a Health Needs AssessmentReport published by NHS Health Scotland in February, sets out at pages 36 and 37 informationabout sensory impairments in people with learning disabilities. A copy of whichis available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 32825).
The Scottish Prison Service haveinformed us that their main young offender institution at Polmont keeps recordsrelating to Speech and Language Communication Therapy needs, and there are estimatesof poor literacy and numeracy skills, which lead to communication impairment. Inthe last reporting year 26% of those assessed were offered therapy, including 6%whose hearing ability was checked. At least 70% of young offenders have problemswith poor literacy and numeracy.
TheNational Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being, for example, is establishingpartnerships with a number of organisations representing the interests of peoplewith sensory impairment to take forward work in relation to mental health and sensoryimpairment. This work aims to collect information and data on needs across Scotland; identifywhat services are currently available and what the main gaps are in relation topromotion, prevention and care and treatment services. Specific service exampleswill be identified and good and emerging practice highlighted. The work is due tostart in autumn 2004 and will continue until March 2006.
Similarly,People with Learning Disabilities in Scotland, a Health Needs AssessmentReport published by NHS Health Scotland in February, sets out at pages 36 and 37 informationabout sensory impairments in people with learning disabilities. A copy of whichis available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 32825).
The Scottish Prison Service haveinformed us that their main young offender institution at Polmont keeps recordsrelating to Speech and Language Communication Therapy needs, and there are estimatesof poor literacy and numeracy skills, which lead to communication impairment. Inthe last reporting year 26% of those assessed were offered therapy, including 6%whose hearing ability was checked. At least 70% of young offenders have problemswith poor literacy and numeracy.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-08489 by reference.