The next petition is PE1493, by Peter John Gordon, on a sunshine act for Scotland. Members have a note by the clerk.
Two submissions and a further email from the petitioner were received after the committee papers went out. It is unhelpful for submissions to be received after papers have been issued. The committee gives everyone it writes to sufficient time to respond. In the Scottish Government’s case, the committee expects that in future responses will be received in good time.
I am disappointed that the Scottish Government has not responded timeously. I agree with your suggestion that notification be given to the Government that we expect timely responses.
The further information submitted by the petitioner should be passed on to the Scottish Government. In the Scottish Government’s response, it alluded to the fact that the petitioner had not provided additional information, so it would be useful to forward on the latest correspondence and ask that the Scottish Government respond to the issues raised in it.
The Scottish Government is looking to bring in a system that is
“fit for 2015 and beyond.”
I think that that is what the petitioner is looking for, too. Although they concur on that, the difficulty is getting the Scottish Government to take the appropriate action to ensure that the petition is meaningfully considered by it and, in particular, health boards.
I think that the situation is fine. The Government was dilatory, leading to a delay, but there is a willingness on its part to look at the issue.
The matter is rather complex, given that it involves bringing together how various boards are operating. It seems to me that we should certainly pass on to the Government the information that the petitioner has provided to us, but we must give the Government the opportunity to bring together what work is being done and what it will deliver. I do not think that that can be done quickly, because it is quite a complex area that involves interaction with other activities in the NHS and elsewhere. We should push the Government to keep us abreast of matters or to indicate a clearer timetable for the action that will be taken.
I feel that I must strike a slightly discordant note. According to the information that we have, guidance was issued to health boards in 2003 that they should establish registers. It is now 2015, and the petitioner has highlighted that a number of health boards do not have a register in place and, according to the petitioner, have no intention of putting one in place. Given that, 12 years down the road, the health boards have not taken on seriously the guidance that was issued in 2003, it is incumbent on the Scottish Government to ask them why that is the case and why action has not been taken before now to address the issues that have been raised.
In its letter, the Scottish Government said that no issues had been raised by patients or family members, but it is clear that the petition raises issues, which should be addressed accordingly by the Scottish Government. If it takes 12 years for the guidance to be reviewed, refreshed and implemented, that is too long.
John PentlandLabThe Convener · Motherwell and Wishaw
Does the committee agree that we should write to the Scottish Government to welcome its announcement that it is to conduct a wider consultation on the issue and to seek a firm timetable for that work? Does it also agree to seek the Scottish Government’s view on what effect the forthcoming European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations code on transfers of value from pharmaceutical companies to healthcare professionals and organisations will have on what the petition seeks, and to take on board the points that Mr Wilson made?
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