Summary

  • The Equalities and Human Rights Committee takes evidence on destitution, asylum and immigration status in Scotland

  • Child fares on public transport and A&E waiting times are among the issues raised in general questions

  • Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition MSPs during first minister's questions

  • Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie leads this afternoon's member's debate on the future of Elmwood campus

  • The Scottish government delivers four ministerial statements on the mental health strategy, transvaginal mesh implants, unconventional oil and gas and the Enterprise and Skills Review

  1. Mesh implant campaigners 'betrayed' by report publicationpublished at 15:12 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    
          Patient representatives Olive McIlroy and Elaine Holmes resigned from the review group earlier this month
        Image source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Patient representatives Olive McIlroy and Elaine Holmes resigned from the review group earlier this month

    Two campaigners against mesh implants say they are "dismayed and disgusted" at the publication of an independent report into their risks and use which they claim has been "watered down".

    Olive McIlroy and Elaine Holmes, who resigned from the mesh implants review group, said they felt "utterly betrayed" by the publication.

    It was claimed that parts of the final report had been removed.

    The Scottish government said it had accepted the recommendations in full.

  2. The transvaginal mesh implant review has been a 'difficult process' published at 15:11 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Health Secretary Shona RobisonImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Health Secretary Shona Robison

    Health Secretary Shona Robison says she would like to begin to all of those who contributed to the review of transvaginal mesh implants, in particular Olive McIlroy and Elaine Holmes.

    Ms Robison says the review has been a very difficult process.

    She points to the resignation of the Ms McIlroy and Ms Holmes and a clinician.

  3. Government accepts tansvaginal mesh implant report recommendations in full published at 15:09 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    The Scottish government report said mesh implant procedures must not be offered routinely to women with pelvic organ prolapse.

    The expert group concluded that patients should be offered a range of treatments - mesh and non-mesh - and must be given the information to make "informed choices".

    Transvaginal mesh implants are medical devices used by surgeons to treat pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence in women, conditions that can commonly occur after childbirth.

    Scottish Mesh Survivors campaignersImage source, bbc

    Ms McIlroy and Ms Holmes both suffered severe complications following mesh implant surgery.

    Following their resignations earlier this month, it emerged that a consultant also quit the expert group over concerns about the final draft of the report.

    The consultant claimed that an entire chapter, which highlighted concerns about the use of mesh in some procedures and contained tables displaying the risks of treatment, had been taken out.

    Transvaginal Mesh MplantsImage source, bbc

    What the report says: 

    • Mesh must not be offered routinely to women with pelvic organ prolapse
    • Reporting of all procedures and adverse events should be mandatory
    • Extra steps to ensure patients have access to clear, understandable advice to help them make informed choices
    • Calls for improved training and research
    • All treatments should be made available to treat incontinence - including mesh

    Read more here.

  4. Transvaginal Mesh Implants ministerial statementpublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Health Secretary Shona Robison will now give a statement on transvaginal mesh implants.

  5. Tory MSP raises the importance of keeping active to mental health published at 15:07 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Tory MSP Brian Whittle
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Brian Whittle

    Tory MSP Brian Whittle says organisations are using activity to deal with mental health issues.

    Mr Whittle says SAMH are "picking up the government tab" because of the importance of keeping active to mental health.

    Ms Watt says it is really important that people with mental health problems have good physical health.

    The minister says the government have committed £200,000 to combat stress.

  6. Postpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

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  7. Postpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

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  8. Still no commitment to the scale of resources - Lib Dem MSPpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles
    Image caption,

    Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles

    Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says despite what the minister has said there is still no commitment to the scale of resources.

    Mr Rumbles says the statement is carefully worded and is not saying the government will provide the extra resources and staff required.

    M Watt says the extra 800 people are real people and it is not the case that the government just have a pot of money.

    The minister says the aim is to get people with mental health issues care as quickly as possible, 

  9. Postpublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

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  10. Postpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

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  11. Green MSP raises issue of self-harmpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Green MSP Alison JohnstoneImage source, bbc
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    Green MSP Alison Johnstone

    Green MSP Alison Johnstone asks what provisions are in the strategy to prevent rising levels of self-harm in young people.

    Ms Watt says self-harm is a demonstration of mental distress and she stresses the importance of education and peer support.

  12. Labour MSP raises COSLA's role in the strategypublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Labour MSP Anas Sarwar
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Anas Sarwar

    Labour MSP Anas Sarwar says the reality is that this was supposed to be a joint strategy between COSLA and the Scottish government.

    Mr Sarwar says councils have been unable to back the mental health strategy set out and that this is a disappointing start.

    Ms Watt says Mr Sarwar can always be relied upon for "negativity" and says the government have been working with COSLA and will continue to do so. 

  13. Scottish Conservative response: Mental Health Strategy a 'missed opportunity' published at 14:58 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    The Scottish Conservatives have described the Scottish Government's new Mental Health Strategy as a 'missed opportunity' after the details of it were announced in Holyrood today.

    In his response, Scottish Conservative mental health spokesman Miles Briggs called for far greater investment in services than what the SNP is proposing.

  14. Postpublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

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  15. SUMMARY: Scottish government Mental Health Strategypublished at 14:55 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt says improving access to services and supporting earlier intervention is at heart of Scotland’s new ten-year Mental Health Strategy, external .

    The strategy has steps to improve delivery of child and adolescent mental health services – including an audit to look at concerns over rejected referrals, and action taken as a result.

    Mental HealthImage source, Newscast

    The 40 actions in the strategy include:

    •  Increasing the mental health workforce in A&Es, GP practices, police station custody suites and prisons – supported by £35 million additional investment over the next five years for 800 extra workers
    • Review counselling and guidance services in schools to ensure they are delivering for children and young people
    •  Improving support for preventative and less intensive child and adolescent mental health services to tackle issues earlier
    • Testing and evaluating the most effective and sustainable models of supporting mental health in primary care
    • Funding a Managed Clinical Network to improve the recognition and treatment of perinatal mental health problems
    • Reforming Adults With Incapacity legislation so it complies with the best international standards
  16. Current gaps in perinatal care will be recognised - ministerpublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    SNP MSP Clare Haughey
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP Clare Haughey

    SNP MSP Clare Haughey says she welcomes the strategy and the opportunities for improved care. She asks what will be put in place for perinatal mental health.

    Ms Watt says current gaps in perinatal care will be recognised and dealt with.

    The mental health minister says this has been well received. 

  17. Importance of education stressedpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Mental Health Minister Maureen WattImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt

    Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt says this strategy is transformative and she says most of the asks in the Labour manifesto have been rejected.

    Ms Watt stresses the importance of education.

  18. 'Children and young people should be at the heart of this mental health strategy' published at 14:50 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon

    Labour MSP Monica Lennon says there are strategies in the statement that are to be welcomed.

    Ms Lennon says this strategy was an opportunity to be bold and she is disappointed that the government have ignored Scottish Labours plans for school based counselling. 

    The Labour MSP says "children and young people should be at the heart of this mental health strategy."

    She asks how the minister can guarantee a follow up plan will meet the need of children and young people with mental health issues. 

  19. Postpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

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  20. Postpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 30 March 2017

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