Questions asked in parliament on psoriasis! AND PSA
PQ answered in Question Time - 7 December
Long-term Skin Conditions
1. Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what services are provided for people with long-term skin conditions, including psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. (S2O-11375)
The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Lewis Macdonald): National health service boards provide services in line with clinical need, including on-going specialist care for those with chronic psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.
Richard Baker: The minister will be aware of the great reduction in waiting times at Aberdeen royal infirmary for treatment of conditions such as psoriasis, thanks to the appointment of new staff in dermatology. Can he assure me that the Executive will continue to improve services for patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis by appointing staff such as specialist nurses and by increasing training for general practitioners and nursing staff in handling such conditions?
Lewis Macdonald: We hope that the good example that Mr Baker cites from NHS Grampian will be replicated elsewhere. High-quality specialist treatment in a hospital setting is very significant for those who have psoriasis in a severe or chronic form. Many cases are dealt with in a primary care setting. We want that service to be maintained and improved.
Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): The minister may be aware that some weeks ago Richard Baker and I co-hosted a dinner with Psoriasis Scotland. At that event it was impressed on all of us how seriously the condition affects people's normal day-to-day living. I was made very aware of the need for early diagnosis, especially at GP level, because only with early diagnosis can effective treatment be put in place that will have an impact. Can the minister say more about how he hopes GPs will be made more aware of and able to assess and pick up the disease in its early stages?
Lewis Macdonald: I am aware of the work that Roseanna Cunningham and Richard Baker have done jointly in this area and of the points Roseanna Cunningham makes, which arise from discussions that took place in the Parliament a few days ago. We recognise the increasing importance of primary care and of delivering care to people with conditions of this kind in the community, which can bring better and quicker treatment to patients and reduce unnecessary burdens on the secondary care sector. I have asked my officials to meet early in the new year representatives of the organisation that visited the Parliament the other day to discuss with it some of the measures that can be taken and to encourage its engagement with the Long-Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, which we have encouraged to represent the interests of all those with chronic conditions.
Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): Given that patients with long-term skin conditions are among the many patients with chronic conditions who must pay for their prescriptions—currently £6.75 for each item—will the minister tell us whether psoriasis will be included on the list of chronic conditions that will be exempted from charges in the Executive's forthcoming review of prescription charges? Will he also let us know when the review will be published?
Lewis Macdonald: I am sure that Mr Fox has been following the matter with interest. He will know that we are still considering the representations that have been made to us. We expect to respond to a number of those representations in the near future.
PQ answered in Question Time - 7 December
Long-term Skin Conditions
1. Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what services are provided for people with long-term skin conditions, including psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. (S2O-11375)
The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Lewis Macdonald): National health service boards provide services in line with clinical need, including on-going specialist care for those with chronic psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.
Richard Baker: The minister will be aware of the great reduction in waiting times at Aberdeen royal infirmary for treatment of conditions such as psoriasis, thanks to the appointment of new staff in dermatology. Can he assure me that the Executive will continue to improve services for patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis by appointing staff such as specialist nurses and by increasing training for general practitioners and nursing staff in handling such conditions?
Lewis Macdonald: We hope that the good example that Mr Baker cites from NHS Grampian will be replicated elsewhere. High-quality specialist treatment in a hospital setting is very significant for those who have psoriasis in a severe or chronic form. Many cases are dealt with in a primary care setting. We want that service to be maintained and improved.
Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): The minister may be aware that some weeks ago Richard Baker and I co-hosted a dinner with Psoriasis Scotland. At that event it was impressed on all of us how seriously the condition affects people's normal day-to-day living. I was made very aware of the need for early diagnosis, especially at GP level, because only with early diagnosis can effective treatment be put in place that will have an impact. Can the minister say more about how he hopes GPs will be made more aware of and able to assess and pick up the disease in its early stages?
Lewis Macdonald: I am aware of the work that Roseanna Cunningham and Richard Baker have done jointly in this area and of the points Roseanna Cunningham makes, which arise from discussions that took place in the Parliament a few days ago. We recognise the increasing importance of primary care and of delivering care to people with conditions of this kind in the community, which can bring better and quicker treatment to patients and reduce unnecessary burdens on the secondary care sector. I have asked my officials to meet early in the new year representatives of the organisation that visited the Parliament the other day to discuss with it some of the measures that can be taken and to encourage its engagement with the Long-Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, which we have encouraged to represent the interests of all those with chronic conditions.
Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): Given that patients with long-term skin conditions are among the many patients with chronic conditions who must pay for their prescriptions—currently £6.75 for each item—will the minister tell us whether psoriasis will be included on the list of chronic conditions that will be exempted from charges in the Executive's forthcoming review of prescription charges? Will he also let us know when the review will be published?
Lewis Macdonald: I am sure that Mr Fox has been following the matter with interest. He will know that we are still considering the representations that have been made to us. We expect to respond to a number of those representations in the near future.