SNP MSP Clare Haughey asks how the preventative agenda and mental health services feeds into better services.

Eibhlin McHugh, chief officer, Midlothian Integration Joint Board says mental health one of the areas where there is more confidence. 

Ms McHugh says it is about having really well joined up services and having a team where everyone is working to the top of their skills.

She says the mental health well-being service has been very well received.  

Image source, bbc

Green MSP Alison Johnstone refers to Dr Helen Irvine, consultant in public health medicine, who in her submission says there should be more funding for general practice.

Dr Eleanor Hothersall from NHS Tayside says general practice funding is part of it.

Dr Hothersall says the difficulties in general practice are part of the biggest public health issues that we are about to endure.

She says there has been systematic disinvestment in general practice at every level.

There is a "recruitment crisis in general practice at every level", says Dr Hothersall .

"I am really sorry, don't shoot me."

Image source, bbc

Committee convener Neil Findlay says the first minister should have the target of reducing the health inequality gap.

Professor Gerry McCartney, consultant in public health, NHS Health Scotland says the government should have the national performance framework.

Prof McCartney says this is useful to show if there is progress or not.

He says it must be framed in an outcome focused way.

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Eibhlin McHugh, chief officer, Midlothian Integration Joint Board says there needs to be a more coordinated approach in the community. 

Professor Gerry McCartney, consultant in public health, NHS Health Scotland says the best quality of evidence comes from a randomised trial.

Professor David Bell from the University of Stirling says prevention does not necessarily reduce the health budget. 

Prof Bell says it is important to be clear why the government are preventing. 

Dr Eleanor Hothersall from NHS Tayside says there is a fixation on the specific indicator of prevention.

Dr Hothersall says other important indicators are being ignored in terms of funding.

Image source, bbc

Neil Craig from NHS Health Scotland says a very strong case can be made for prevention but it is not better than a cure if it is ineffective.

Mr Craig says: "We need to be quite critical and discerning about the evidence we are presented with."

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton asks what other aspects of preventable health can be brought in to help older people.

Eibhlin McHugh, chief officer, Midlothian Integration Joint Board says there are "falls checks" to try and reduce fall risks. 

Ms McHugh says there is also work going into educating older people in falls and that home plans are being looked at to try and reduce the risk of falls.  

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Committee convener Neil Findlay asks if the early years are fundamental to the preventative agenda.

Professor David Bell from the University of Stirling says there is strong support for intervention in the early years,.

Professor Gerry McCartney, consultant in public health, NHS Health Scotland says early years should not be the sole focus.

Prof McCartney says there have to be effective interventions in early years.

He says there is not an evaluation framework to judge the early years collaborative.

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Fraser McKinlay, director of performance audit, Audit Scotland says there was a commonality of view in the submissions to the committee.

Mr McKinlay says it is about tackling the barriers that exist.  

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton asks about interventions in the early years.

Mr McKinlay says Audit Scotland are looking at the whole early years agenda.

He says it is quite hard to find out how the early years collaborative is doing, despite it being a great initiative.

Mr Cole-Hamilton says that is a very worrying set of affairs.

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A couple of the witnesses are delayed by the snow, including Dr Helen Irvine.

Professor Gerry McCartney, consultant in public health, NHS Health Scotland says inequalities must be adressed.

Prof McCartney says morbidity must be compressed.

He says it is less about the prevention of illness and mortality but the compression of the time people need care.

Image source, bbc

Apologies for the delay in bringing you the video of this Health Committee due to technical issues.

The gremlins have now been resolved.

Remit

To seek evidence on and analyse preventative spend through a series of short inquiries on specific health-related topics.

Background

Previous consideration of preventative spend/ preventative agenda can be found in the following documents:

• The Christie Commission - Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services , external
• Audit Scotland – Changing Models of Health and Social Care, external
• Scottish Parliament Finance Committee – Report on Preventative Spending (2010) , external

Image source, SPL

Initial Approach

The Committee will hold an initial evidence session where the main features and pitfalls of using preventative spend as a means of scrutinising expenditure on health can be outlined.

On Friday 3 February the Committee issued a general Call for Views from any interested organisations or individuals. The call for views closed on 28 February.

Read the Written Submissions, external