Health and Wellbeing of Children and Young People

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 15 June 2022.

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Photo of Sandesh Gulhane Sandesh Gulhane Conservative

I am afraid that I have already taken three interventions.

I am pleased to say that Scottish Conservative councils are keen to reintroduce primary 5 swimming lessons, and to deliver more support for children and youth groups.

Finally, the SNP-Green Government really needs to tackle new and growing threats to the health of our young people. It is estimated that 10,000 Scots children now suffer from long Covid. Those children are victims of the pandemic that the SNP-Green Government has forgotten. I have been calling for long Covid clinics since the summer of 2021. We have all heard the SNP-Green Government announce money, but there has been little in the way of action. Last September, £10 million was pledged, but last month, that was revised down to £3 million for this year. We understand that there is now a pilot project in NHS Lothian involving 70 patients of all ages, which is aimed at courting support. That is a start, but with 150,000 Scots struggling with long Covid, we urge the Government to get a grip faster.

The health and wellbeing of our children and young people has fallen by the wayside. Yes, the situation has been exacerbated by the pandemic, but we were on a downward trajectory well before March 2020. For sure, the issues that are being debated are complex and multifaceted, but let us not forget that our country’s young people are our country’s future.

Finally—if I may be indulged, Presiding Officer—we all need to be aware of the fact that more and more school-age children are using drugs. In a BBC report this week, a Glasgow-based physical education teacher said that he sees at least one student every day turning up in class after taking cocaine, cannabis or amphetamines. That was echoed by a teacher in Ayrshire and a Unison representative for classroom assistants. Few teachers are trained in how to deal with children who are under the influence of drugs, but they are having to deal with growing numbers of those children, which poses a safety risk to the children, other pupils and school staff. We need to provide help to our teachers and schools.

I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of interests—I am a practising NHS doctor.