Lobbying government

In the Scottish Parliament

Our influencing work with the Scottish Parliament includes monitoring and contribution to:

• Motions: Motions are used by MSPs to initiate debate or propose a course of action. They can be logged for debate in Parliament to propose that legislation is agreed, passed, or simply to generate support. Other MSPs can sign up in support of motions that have been lodged.

On World Asthma Day 2006 the following motion was tabled on behalf of Asthma UK Scotland:

Cathy Peattie (Labour): World Asthma Day and Asthma Control

'That the Parliament welcomes the aim of World Asthma Day on Tuesday 2 May 2006 which highlights the importance of people with asthma being in control of their condition; notes with concern that four out of five people with asthma in the United Kingdom are currently not in control of their condition, resulting in over three million adults experiencing symptoms, such as the inability to exercise and lack of sleep, which impact unnecessarily on their daily lives; supports the launch of Asthma UK Scotland's Asthma Control Test, a quick five-part questionnaire designed to help people understand how to control their asthma, and believes that, by raising awareness of this issue, more people will be in control of their asthma rather than controlled by their asthma.'

• Debates: Proceedings in the Parliament involving discussion by MSPs, usually based on a motion (sometimes with amendments) moved at the beginning of the debate. Debates may sometimes take place on a subject, without there being a motion, or on a motion that is not moved. When the Parliament is discussing an issue of interest to people with asthma Asthma UK Scotland often sends in a briefing note to MSPs.
• Parliamentary questions: These are used by MSPs to seek information or explanation from Ministers. Questions can be posed for oral or written answer.
  

Cross Party Group on Asthma

The Cross Party Group provides a platform for MSPs from all political parties to discuss issues relationg to asthma; to liaise with those affected by the condition, organisations representing their interests and health workers dealing with asthma; and to promote good practice and raise specific issues of concern.

 At the most recent meeting of the Cross Party Group we discussed Asthma in the Workplace. Asthma UK has produced a 'Workplace Charter' that outlines 10 easy steps employers can take to make the workplace more asthma friendly.  The Cross Party Group are now going to take this forward in the Scottish Parliament and look to see if there is anything that can be done in the new building to make it more asthma friendly.

• The Scottish Parliament: Cross Party Groups

Smoking Health and Social Care Act

Asthma UK Scotland has been involved with supporting laws to make public places smoke free from the start through the Scotland CAN Group. 82% of people with asthma say that second hand smoke makes their asthma worse and we believe people with asthma have a right to breathe freely and not to have their health comrpromised in public places where smoking is allowed.

 

The Bill came into force in March 2006.  Early indications suggest that it has been well received.

Consultation on children's and young people's health services in Scotland

This is the latest consultation document produced by the Government that may be of interest to people with asthma. Published in April 2006 the document looks at meeting the 'challenges for children and young people's health in 21st Century Scotland'.

The document looks at key areas including:

• Patterns of ill health
• Health improvement
• Promoting health and well-being

Asthma UK Scotland will be responding to this document; the deadline for responses is 7 July.

• Scottish Government website

Prescription charges consultation

The Scottish Government has published its consultation on reforming the system of prescription charges in Scotland. The Government realises that the current system of exemptions is unfair and say in the introduction to its paper: 'a patient with diabetes and asthma will obtain all their asthma medication free whereas someone with asthma alone will have to pay for the same medication.' The consultation is now closed and we are waiting to hear from the Government how they are planning to bring reform forward.  the Government has proposed a number of options for change:

• To review the criteria by which chronic conditions are defined and consider the therapeutic categories of drugs that are essential to their treatment, where that consideration is carried out by an expert group.
• Link exemption to the drug and not the condition.
• Convert the medical exemption category to a ‘high prescription user’ category.

Asthma UK Scotland has responded to the consultation and you can read our response here.

• Scottish Government website