The health committee takes evidence on opt-out organ donation from a lung transplant recipient
MSPs debate the impact of Universal Credit on poverty
Labour MSP Jenny Marra asks the Scottish government about the proposal to close the Michelin factory in Dundee.
An SNP MSP leads a debate on roads on south Scotland
Labour MSP Monica Lennon
Labour MSP Monica Lennon points to the high number of stress related sick days among staff at NHS Tayside.
She asks what discussion has been had with staff about these plans.
Ms Freeman says staff absence is being taken very seriously and the Scottish government is look into what more can be done to assist staff alongside trade unions.
Image source, bbcTory MSP Murdo Fraser
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser asks if it is not 1,300 jobs to go at NHS Tayside, how many is it.
Health Secretary Jeanne Freeman replies: "I am not going to either confirm 1,300, I will certainly confirm there will be no compulsory redundancies."
NHS Tayside is not assisted by assertions that are not correct, she insists.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says NHS Tayside works to plan effectively to ensure patient safety and she will not accept changes that will have a negative impact on patient care.
Ms Freeman says NHS Tayside's chair has committed to not reducing capacity.
Mr Fraser raises reports about the health boards plan to shed 10% of its workforce, suggesting that level of reduction will have an impact on front-facing services.
There is no agree level of reduction in staff, responds the health secretary.
Reports were based on sub-committee minutes and no decisions have been taken, she insists.
Image source, PANHS Tayside has been criticised after an official report revealed it is looking to shed ten percent of its workforce.
The health board has a projected deficit of more than £18m and it is looking to lose more than a thousand members of staff through 'natural turnover'.
Scottish Labour says it's a recipe for disaster.
NHS Tayside says it spends more on its workforce than similarly sized health boards.
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser asks about discussions with NHS Tayside regarding staff numbers and future workforce planning.
Mark Hazelwood from the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care is delivering this week's time for reflection.
Topical questions will cover NHS Tayside's workforce plans and emergency worker safety.
After that, the Scottish government will lead a debate on the impact of the UK government welfare cuts and Universal Credit on poverty.
Image source, Getty ImagesWorkers were told of the factory's closure at a morning meeting
This afternoon’s business has been updated to include an urgent question Labour MSP Jenny Marra on the Michelin job losses in Dundee.
Ms Marra will ask the Scottish government what talks it has had with management at the Michelin factory in Dundee, the trade unions and Dundee City Council regarding the future of the plant.
SNP MSP Emma Harper uses her member’s debate to highlight the Maybole bypass and south Scotland road infrastructure.
SNP MSP Emma Harper asks if the bill does enough to cover those with communication or incapacity issues.
Shaben Begum from Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance replies that it does not adequately cover those people and the bill needs to be strengthened.
Image source, bbcThe committee's evidence session on organ donation draws to a close
SNP MSP Sandra White again raises the issue of pre-death procedures.
Ms Begum suggests non-instructed advocacy could play a crucial role in these situations by ensuring someone is there to solely express the wishes of the potential donor.
Dr Macdonald says that, while he can understand why pre-death procedures may take place, concerns have been raised about the continued care of the person.
Image source, bbcCommittee convener Lewis Macdonald
Committee convener Lewis Macdonald provides clarification on the issue of the number of questions families are asked.
There are up to 350 questions that might be asked, but that assumes those are down particular lines of questioning following a particular answer.
"So by no means is everyone answering 300 question," says Mr Macdonald.
Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton again raises concerns about the consultation process with families which leads to some withdrawing from it.
Shaben Begum of SIAA admits she was "taken aback" by the revelation that there are 300 questions.
"I would completely support the reduction of those questions and the significance of those questions and the intrusive nature."
Ms Begum suggests advocacy would work really well by allowing people to plan ahead.
Dr Macdonald calls for the administrative system to be reviewed, insisting this would do more than passing legislation.
He also says he was shocked by the "onerous process" of 300 questions.
Image source, NHSBTLaura Beattie, who has cystic fibrosis, is waiting for a lung transplant
The number of people waiting for a lung transplant has gone up by 46% over the past five years, according to official figures.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said the challenge of matching lungs of the right size and a rising number of ageing donors are possible factors.
It called on people to talk about organ donation, because lung transplants are the only hope for those on the list.
The overall waiting list for organs has come down over the same period.
Image source, SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARYFormer Labour MSP Anne McTaggart brought forward a backbench bill calling for a "soft opt-out" organ donation system
Dr Macdonald says the majority of the committee rejected the last organ donation bill because they did not think it would make a difference.
He says people from a variety of faiths had reservations about that bill.
Back in 2016, MSPs voted by 59 to 56 to reject taking forward former Labour MSP Anne McTaggart's Transplantation Bill, external.
At the time the Scottish government said it would consider bringing forward new legislation on an "opt-out" system which has led to this Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill
Fiona Loud of Kidney Care UK says many patients have said they want to donate and don't want to be overridden by their family.
Ms Loud says we must be as clear as we possibly can about any changes to the rules.
Image source, Getty ImagesKidney transplants from dead donors have reached record levels in Scotland, according to figures from NHS Blood and Transplant.
In 2017-18, 208 such transplants were carried out. This represented a 27% rise on the previous year's figures.
There was also an increase in the number of transplants from living donors, up from 86 to 95.
A total of 469 people received organ transplants in 2017-18.
Shaben Begum from SIAA
SNP MSP Emma Harper asks if the bill will increase donation rates and what other areas would need to be invested in.
Shaben Begum from SIAA says there needs to be a wider conversation within society about what happens when people die.
Dr Gordan Macdonald says the evidence from Wales is inconclusive and argues more time should be given to see what happens before Scotland legislates.
Fiona Loud of Kidney Care UK argues the numbers will go up over time, pointing to the increase in the family consent rate in Wales.
There is correlation between countries having opt-out schemes and having a higher number of organ donors.
But the countries which have the most donors per head combined the introduction of their opt-out schemes with other changes, like better infrastructure, more funding for transplant programmes and more staff working to identify and build relationships with potential donors before their death.
Image source, NHSBTSpain is often touted as an opt-out scheme success story.
So-called "presumed consent" legislation was passed in 1979 but donor rates only began to go up 10 years later when a new national transplant organisation was founded which co-ordinates the whole donation and transplantation process.
The legislation is also not strictly enforced since families are always consulted and have the final say.
However, opt-out schemes don't always translate to increased organ donor rates. In Sweden, for example, such a scheme has been in force since 1996 and it remains one of the lowest-ranked countries for organ donation in Europe.
Shaben Begum from Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance warns against the introduction of compulsion.
She say: "This bill is being packaged as me being able to give a gift to society is a really powerful message."
Dr Macdonald: "I think there is a danger in moving away from the gift element."
The CARE for Scotland representative insists the Spanish system is not a presumed consent system but was in fact the system Scotland has in practice.
Fiona Loud of Kidney Care UK tells the committee the success in Spain is down to building its base in capacity, training and the default that you are considered to be a donor.
Ms Loud explains it is the whole range of approaches in Spain that have led to its success.
Dr Gordon Macdonald from CARE in Scotland
The convener seeks views on whether the wishes of family members should be written into the legislation.
Dr Gordon Macdonald says whether it is in the bill or not, clinicians are unlikely to go against the wishes of the family.
There would be a dangerous precedent in allowing clinicians to override the decision of the family, he adds.
"The key things here is dialogue and communication with families rather than passing bits of legislation," Dr Macdonald argues.
Shaben Begum says she is a donor card carrier but her own family may be split on whether to allow donation to happen.
She insists it would be important to her that her rights to make such a decision is protected.