Current Petitions

PE1108, from Tina McGeever, on behalf of Mike Gray, calls on the Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to consider the provision on the national health service of cancer treatment drugs, in particular cetuximab, to ensure equity across NHS boards on the appropriateness, effectiveness and availability of such treatments.I think some members who wanted to comment are not able to be here. I know that Bill Butler would like to comment—he has previously spoken on the petitioner's behalf.Obviously, this is the big inquiry that we undertook. I record our appreciation for the work that Tina McGeever has done and for the progress that she has continued to make. Both at UK and Scotland levels, ministers have had to respond on some of the principles that the petition raises, as well as on their proper and sensitive application locally. The documents are all before the committee.

As colleagues will know, the committee's report was debated in the chamber on 1 October. On 27 October, the Scottish Government published "Better Cancer Care, An Action Plan".Colleagues will also know that the committee's report set out 16 overall conclusions. The Scottish Government stated in its response that those will be addressed through a number of policy initiatives, one of which will be the action plan. However, colleagues will know that although there are passing references to the issues that are highlighted in the committee's report, there is not sufficient detail or clarity about what is happening, how it is happening, when it is happening and by whom it is being done.The committee should take a couple of steps. First, we should write to the Scottish Government to ask it to detail clearly and precisely how each of the conclusions in the committee's report is being addressed through the plan. For example, how are variations in the planning of drug use in cancer services and the provision of such drugs being monitored? How is the overall exceptional prescribing process to be improved—for instance, what new guidance material will be produced? How will liaison officers, which my constituent George Darroch proposed, be appointed to facilitate communication between clinicians and patients?We should also seek the views of the witnesses during the committee's inquiry, to gauge whether they think the action plan addresses adequately the issues that they raised. For example, does it go far enough in expecting or requiring more from health boards? Will it lead to the required improvements to the processes that patients, such as the late Mike Gray and others, have gone and are going through to access cancer treatment drugs? If so, how?Many questions are still to be answered. Continuing examination is required and the Government must address specific points that relate to the 16 major conclusions in the committee's report.

As Bill Butler said, time has passed since the parliamentary debate and developments have occurred at UK and Scotland levels that show a willingness to engage and to work out the best ways forward. We identified a series of actions that we want to be taken. We will take on board Bill Butler's points and pursue them and the key issues in our report with the Scottish Government.

Will we write to the people who gave oral evidence?

Yes.We will have a brief five-minute comfort break, after which we will continue with the rest of the petitions.