Image source, bbc

Health Secretary Shona Robison says a crucial element of the programme is that the changes are led by the staff who are caring for the patients.

Ms Robison says many countries around the world have looked at the Scottish model and are keen to emulate it.

She says just this month Singapore is visiting to learn from Scotland's approach. 

Health Secretary Shona Robison says there is now a more open and transparent environment in care.

Ms Robison says the national plan will look to strengthen workforce practice.

The health secretary says the plan will be published in the spring. 

Last August we reported that the mortality rate at Scotland's hospitals had fallen by 4.5% over the past two years.

Official statistics, external  showed the drop was achieved between January to March 2014 and the same period this year.

Image source, Thinkstock

The Scottish government said the decrease equated to 3,000 fewer deaths than predicted during the period.

Health Minister Shona Robison said the figures were "encouraging" as the NHS was treating more people, with more complex needs, than ever before.

Two hospitals - Belford Hospital in Fort William and the Royal Alexandra/Vale of Leven - had significantly higher mortality than the national average in the period January to March 2016,

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Health Secretary Shona Robison says the Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) is world leading, unique and internationally renowned.

Ms Robison says the SPSP is a national programme that aims to improve the safety and reliability of healthcare and reduce harm to zero, whenever care is delivered.  

She says patient safety is of paramount importance.

Here is the Scottish government motion on the Scottish Patient Safety Programme, external . 

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, Thinkstock

The government leads a debate on the Scottish Patient Safety Programme.

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur welcomes the minister's willingness to accept the recommendations of Catherine Dyer and also the CPIP report.

Mr McArthur raises the issue of leadership and the loss of experience from frontline social work.

Mr McDonald says in terms of experience around assessing risk, that is not just the responsibility of those no the frontline, it is also about good leadership.

The minister says he thought it would be better to chair the National Child Protection Leadership Group.

Greens MSP John Finnie says this report will enhance children's rights and he looks forward to the review.

Mr Finnie says the government has a good track record of engaging with the views of looked after children.

The Greens MSP asks how the government will continue this.

Mr McDonald says this is a group that consideration has to be given too and the government is giving consideration to how the views of looked after children can best be captured. 

In response to the comprehensive review of the child protection system led by Catherine Dyer, and the Child Protection Improvement Programme Report, the Scottish government says it will:

• Introduce new legislation to create a criminal offence of abuse and neglect of children.
• Publish a National Child Protection Policy which identifies all responsibilities and action across government to support families and protect children.
• Explore how best to establish a National Child Protection Register, to better protect young people on local registers who move to a new area

Image source, Thinkstock

• Produce national standards for those carrying out Significant Case Reviews, which currently vary in quality and timescale
• Expand the role of the Care Inspectorate to analyse Significant Case Review findings and share learning at a national level, and to host a short-life working group to examine joint inspections
• Establish a National Child Protection Leadership Group

Childcare and Early Years Mark McDonald announced that legislation to criminalise emotional abuse and neglect of children will be introduced in Scotland.

The Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 will be updated to recognise the impact of emotional abuse and neglect, as well as physical harm.

In his statement Mr McDonald confirmed the move as part of a range of actions to further strengthen child protection following the publication of two reports.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Iain Gray welcomes any progress in protecting children and he welcomes the reports.

Mr Gray says this has been quite a lengthy process.

The Labour MSP asks for assurances about the urgency with which he cans see the work elaborated here delivered.

Mr McDonald says Jackie Brock was one of the members of the Dyer Systems Review Group and he is accepting all the recommendations of the group.

Them minister says if he is not satisfied with the pace of progress he will introduce measures to deal with that. 

Tory MSP Liz Smith thanks the government for its constructive engagement.

Ms Smith says some of the groups working with vulnerable people haven't had a satisfactory way of documenting checks and asks how that will be dealt with.

Mr McDonald says he is looking at the practice and operation of the PVG scheme.

The childcare minister says there is no one check that protects children and vulnerable groups and that it is "a jigsaw".

He says the government will work to get this right. 

Image source, bbc

The minister concludes saying the recommendations and actions contained within the Child Protection Improvement Programme report and that of the Systems Review set out a clear pathway to achieve the vision and ambition for Scotland’s most vulnerable children.

Mr McDonald says Catherine Dyer’s Systems Review Group said legislation by itself would not deliver  improvement.  

It recommended a range of other actions before moving to legislate.

The minister says he accepts this and it is vital that: 

• of consistent good practice within Child Protection Committees;
• of effective leadership within Community Planning Partnerships, and engagement by all relevant agencies;
• of adherence to child protection guidance, and;
• that initial and significant case reviews are being undertaken when necessary, shared with the Care Inspectorate and, that agencies can demonstrate practice is changing as a result of relevant findings.

The minister says the frontline practitioners undertaking this most difficult and often harrowing work need to know that they are supported through effective leadership. 

Mr McDonald says: "I can announce today that I will chair a new National Child Protection Leadership Group to support, strengthen and improve activity on child protection."

Childcare Minister Mark McDonald says the new policy will be designed to address emerging dangers and it will evolve.

Mr McDonald says: "The Review concluded that we could learn more if the Care Inspectorate also received copies of all Initial Case Reviews and I agree."

The minister says national standards will also be provided for those who carry out reviews to make sure they have the right skills to ensure that reviews are conducted timeously and consistently.

Childcare Minister Mark McDonald says the government has consulted on a draft human trafficking strategy.

Mr McDonald says it must be insured that the independent root and branch review of the care sector shapes care for the future. 

The childcare minister says a National Child Protection policy will be published. 

Image source, bbc

Childcare Minister Mark McDonald says emotional and psychological neglect can be just as devastating for young people as physical harm.

Mr McDonald says new legislation will be introduced to make it an offence to neglect children.

Childcare Minister Mark McDonald says he is grateful to Catherine Dyer for leading her report.

Mr McDonald says the system needs to constantly adapt to deal with changes.

The childcare minister says "we cannot and must not shy away from the challenge before us".

Mr McDonald says neglect of children is an issue which the government is looking to address with a programme of actions.