Health Improvement

Question Time — Scottish Executive – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:00 pm on 30 May 2002.

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Photo of Paul Martin Paul Martin Labour 2:00, 30 May 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what further measures are being taken to improve health and tackle cancer and heart disease. (S1O-5297)

Photo of Mary Mulligan Mary Mulligan Labour

The Executive is taking forward a wide range of measures to address determinants of health. As a result, fewer people are dying from coronary heart disease, cancer and stroke, which are Scotland's biggest killers.

Photo of Paul Martin Paul Martin Labour

Does the minister share my view that it is unacceptable that my constituents in Glasgow Springburn suffer from lung cancer at a rate that is 93 per cent above the Scottish average? What specific action has been taken in Glasgow Springburn to deal with that issue?

Photo of Mary Mulligan Mary Mulligan Labour

I recognise that throughout Scotland there are health outcome differentials. The Executive is seeking to tackle those. Greater Glasgow NHS Board is receiving £12 million between 2000 and 2004 from the health improvement fund, which will be targeted at areas such as heart disease and cancer and at examination of ways in which we can improve the situation.

Photo of Shona Robison Shona Robison Scottish National Party

Is the minister aware of the problem that was raised this morning at the north-east Scotland cancer co-ordinating and advisory group conference of the 30 per cent vacancy rate for therapy radiographers? Only 24 therapy radiographers are trained every year, most of whom are lured abroad, so what will the minister do to address that serious problem?

Photo of Mary Mulligan Mary Mulligan Labour

Nobody could be unaware of the problem with regard to radiographers, and we are seeking to tackle it. As my colleague Malcolm Chisholm said in answer to a previous question, the work force planning group is examining issues across a range of skills to try to bring people into professions such as radiography. I recognise that that will not happen overnight, because training takes so long, but we need to plan for the future, which is what we are doing.