Continued Petitions

PE1621, by Jim Robertson, is on sepsis awareness, diagnosis and treatment. When we last considered the petition, on 29 June, the committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport expressing our view that it would be appropriate for the Scottish Government to launch a national public awareness campaign.

In her initial response on 11 August, the cabinet secretary indicated that the Scottish Government did not feel that it was necessary to launch a national public awareness campaign but would continue to work closely with NHS Scotland, the Fiona Elizabeth Agnew Trust and other stakeholders on raising awareness of sepsis.

Subsequently, on 27 September, the cabinet secretary announced a national public awareness campaign and, in correspondence to the committee, on 17 October, indicated that the campaign is expected to commence in early 2018.

The petitioner has stated in his submission that he is very pleased that a national public awareness campaign will now go ahead—I am not quite sure whether the cabinet secretary met the petitioner directly. Do members have any views on what action to take on the petition?

10:30

We should acknowledge the role of the petitioner who, in terrible circumstances, has tried to improve public policy. The petition has achieved a public awareness-raising campaign that the Scottish Government was clearly not inclined to engage in—it had been advised not to do so—because of the force of the argument. The petitioner is to be commended for his fortitude in bringing the matter forward.

I was interested in the argument that there could not be a national awareness-raising campaign because people would then refer themselves inappropriately. Wherever that thinking came from, we would hope that the cabinet secretary has had a look at what formed that advice. I get that we do not want people to worry about their health or refer themselves inappropriately, but surely that is better than someone not realising what is happening and not getting the medical attention that they need.

The petitioner has been part of a broader campaign and all those who took part in it should be commended. Pushing the Government to do things that it does not want to do is a great achievement.

Are we agreed to close the petition on the basis that the Scottish Government has confirmed that it will launch a national public awareness-raising campaign?

Members indicated agreement.

I note again the efforts of the petitioner and other stakeholders in securing this positive outcome.