Latest news with #LesleyMartin
Scotsman
a day ago
- Health
- Scotsman
23-year-old elite athlete denied new brain tumour drug shows depth of NHS's problems
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Perhaps the thing that surprises me most about the state of the NHS in Scotland is how little the problems it faces shock me anymore. Figures published by the Royal College of Radiologists revealed a 25 per cent shortage of radiologists and a 19 per cent shortage of oncologists, with both expected to increase in the coming years. This newspaper reported warnings that this shortage could create a ticking time bomb for cancer patients in Scotland. A worse situation than in any other part of the UK. I should have been rocked to the core by that news, but no. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Instead I found myself sighing in anger, resignation and not a little fear. Anger that those in charge have let it become so bad, and resignation in the knowledge that whatever I try to do will be met with excuses and blame deflection by the Scottish Government. That would, however, be no excuse for me or any other public servant to just sit back and accept that we cannot help. If anything it should, and does, push us on to greater effort. John Swinney and the Scottish Government need to act with greater urgency to fix the NHS's many problems (Picture: Lesley Martin/pool) | Getty Images Drug inhibits tumour's growth I recently met representatives of a medical charity who told me that a breakthrough treatment for a life-limiting illness is not available to patients in Scotland. Those who qualify have to travel to a clinic in Sheffield which is now at full capacity. And it's not just specialists, but access to drugs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A few weeks ago, I spoke in parliament about the research and treatment of brain tumours. I had been contacted by a constituent, a 23-year-old elite athlete, training for the Commonwealth Games and Olympic trials. He was diagnosed with an inoperable, IDH-mutant, low-grade glioma – a rare form of brain tumour that disproportionately affects younger people. A recent breakthrough should have been good news. There is a highly promising drug. So promising, I am told, that the trials were stopped midway through and those on the placebo were given the drug, because it was proving so successful in inhibiting the growth of the tumour. It is already available to eligible patients through a named patient programme, free of charge. But only, in Scotland, in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Tayside areas. Not in NHS Lothian. Even though its health board took part in the original trials, my constituent has been denied it. Apparently, the ongoing costs of regular checks make it too expensive. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Angry and frustrated I understand the pressures on public finances, on resources and on the NHS. But that must not mean a limit to our ambition in what we can do for those who are suffering. It certainly should not mean sitting back and accepting that we cannot help when it comes to health, or that we should talk about saving money when we should talk about saving lives. Since then I have spoken to a UK Government minister who assured me that this particular drug could soon be licensed. In England. In Scotland it has proved much more difficult to get a positive response from ministers. I like to think it's because they are as angry and frustrated as the rest of us. But they at least have had the ability, many of them for almost two decades, to do something. Time is running out.
Scotsman
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Survey reveals what most people think about Supreme Court gender ruling
Polling also suggests almost three quarters of those asked felt the right decision had been made by some sporting bodies in banning transgender women from its female competitions. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A majority of people think the Supreme Court made the right decision in its recent ruling on biological sex and that the law on women's rights is now clear, according to a survey commissioned by gender-critical campaigners. Polling for the Sex Matters charity also suggested that almost three quarters of those asked felt the right decision had been made by some sporting bodies in banning transgender women from its female competitions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The organisation commissioned YouGov to survey 2,106 adults online in Great Britain earlier this month, following the April ruling. People from trans rights groups and community organisations during a rally organised by Resisting Transphobia outside Queen Elizabeth House, the UK Government building in Edinburgh, following the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman in equalities law | Lesley Martin/PA Wire The Supreme Court said the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex, following a challenge against the Scottish Government by campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS). Almost two thirds (63 per cent) of those surveyed said they believed the Supreme Court had made the right decision, while just over half (52 per cent) said the ruling has made the law around women's rights and how they apply to transgender people clear. While 13 per cent said the ruling would have a positive impact on them and 6 per cent said it would be negative, more than three quarters of people (77 per cent) said the ruling would make no real difference to them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Following the ruling, English and Scottish governing bodies banned transgender women from the competitive female football game, while they were also banned from competitive women's and girl's cricket in England and Wales. The survey suggested 74 per cent of those surveyed felt these were the right decisions, while 12 per cent disagreed and 14 per cent said they did not know. One in five believe trans people should use whichever toilets they prefer On the question of toilets, around a fifth of people felt transgender men and women should use whichever facilities they prefer, while around two fifths said unisex toilets should be used. Asked about which toilets transgender people should use, a fifth of those surveyed felt transgender women should use the men's toilets, while 14 per cent said they should use the women's toilets. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some 17 per cent said transgender men should use the men's toilets and the same proportion said they should use the women's toilets. In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said the 'logical consequence of the judgment' and new equalities watchdog guidance was that people will have to use toilets, changing rooms and other facilities of their biological sex. But he added that there would not be 'toilet police'. The equalities watchdog, Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), issued interim guidance, saying trans women 'should not be permitted to use the women's facilities' in workplaces or public-facing services like shops and hospitals, with the same applying for trans men using men's toilets. A more detailed code of practice is expected from the EHRC to be put forward for ministerial approval by June. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Campaign group the Good Law Project (GLP) last week announced it has taken the first step of a legal challenge against the watchdog, claiming the guidance is 'wrong in law'. Some trans rights groups have raised concerns about the practical implications of the Supreme Court ruling. 'Ideology's failings exposed the more it is pushed' But Susan Smith, from FWS, said the Sex Matters survey results showed that 'the more governments push gender identity ideology, the more failings are revealed which strengthens public opposition'. She said: 'For all the noise created by activists in recent weeks, this polling indicates that most people believe that women's human rights matter and that the court acted correctly in determining that robust, clear definitions were critical to ensuring that lesbians, and gay men were not sacrificed or redefined in law. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are pleased that there is evidence of heightened awareness of the case in Scotland in particular, which bears out our belief that the more governments push gender identity ideology, the more failings are revealed which strengthens public opposition.' Maya Forstater, chief executive of Sex Matters said the fact a majority in the survey said they believe the ruling had made the law around women's rights and how they apply to transgender people clear means 'there is no justification for leaders to kick the can down the road by claiming 'confusion' and the need to wait for further guidance before the law can be implemented'. :: Figures in the survey were weighted to be representative of GB adults.
STV News
14-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Communities urged to bid for £8m renewable energy fund
Communities across Scotland can now bid for cash to set up renewable energy generation projects after an £8 million fund reopened. The Community Energy Generation Growth Fund supports local communities to install wind turbines and solar panels or develop other types of renewable energy generation, such as hydro, to meet local needs. Successful applicants are also allowed to make money from the project, including by selling excess energy. The fund, which has received £4m from the UK Government's Great British Energy firm, is part of the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (Cares). The Scottish Government said that since its inception, Cares has advised over 1,300 organisations and provided over £67m in funding to communities in Scotland, supporting more than 990 projects. PA Media Kate Forbes said the project will play a key role in Scotland's just transition (Lesley Martin/PA). Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: 'Scotland is fast becoming a global renewable energy powerhouse, and it is vital that communities share in the benefits from this transition. 'This funding, for stand-alone generation projects, responds to the needs of local groups – has the potential to lever in significant funds for communities. 'It will also play a key role in our delivery of a just transition – supporting a greener, fairer future for Scots. 'It is also welcome that Great British Energy recognise the valuable role that communities play in our green transition and have provided support for the fund – helping to significantly increase the amount of support available to communities – and providing a catalyst for growth within the community energy sector. 'We will continue to work with our partners to grow the community energy sector to ensure that the delivery of renewable energy comes with benefits for people in Scotland, as well as supporting progress towards net zero.' While UK energy minister Michael Shanks said: 'This is our clean energy superpower mission in action – putting communities in the driving seat of energy generation and making sure people profit. 'Great British Energy wants to kickstart a community energy revolution, empowering our towns and villages to become mini energy producers and reinvest profits back into the local community.' Chris Morris, from Local Energy Scotland, added: 'We're pleased to be building on the success of last year's Community Energy Generation Growth Fund pilot to support more Scottish communities looking to take the next steps in their renewable energy projects and play an active part in the nation's transition to net zero. 'Scottish communities demonstrated an appetite to develop new projects during the pilot phase and ideas taken forward include partnering with local authorities to install solar panels on schools, getting approvals for new solar farms and building wind turbines. Information on how to apply can be found on the website. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Star
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Scottish parliament approves assisted dying bill in key vote
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the Scottish Parliament Building, in Holyrood, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, May 5, 2024. REUTERS/Lesley Martin/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) -The Scottish parliament voted on Tuesday in favour of a bill that would allow people living in Scotland with a terminal illness to take their own lives, bringing the proposal a step closer to becoming a reality in the country. Ahead of a final vote, the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill will move to a committee stage where it will be scrutinised and amended by members of the Scottish parliament. If the legislation is passed, Scotland would join countries such as Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand, Austria and Ecuador in allowing assisted dying in certain circumstances. It comes after a historic vote last year in the British parliament in which lawmakers backed a bill to allow assisted dying in England and Wales. The Scottish bill would give mentally competent adults who have been diagnosed with a terminal condition the right to end their life, assisted by health professionals. The legislation would include safeguards such as independent assessments by two doctors and a 14-day cooling-off period. There would be a requirement for those requesting an assisted death to have lived in Scotland for at least a year. Individuals would need to self-administer the substance that would end their life. The bill was proposed by Liberal Democrat member of the Scottish parliament Liam McArthur in 2021, and it is the third time that lawmakers in Scotland have voted on such legislation. The last vote was in 2015. Ahead of the vote, McArthur joined supporters outside the Scottish parliament and said he believed the "political mood has shifted dramatically over the last 10 years". Polls show a majority of Britons back assisted dying and supporters say the law needs to catch up with public opinion. Opponents say the bill would fail to safeguard those most vulnerable. Campaign group Better Way said on its website it was concerned the bill, as drafted, could lead to injustices against people with disabilities, those living with dementia and others. "People would feel pressure to die due to inequality; coercion of vulnerable people could not be ruled out; and eligibility criteria would be challenged in the courts," said Better Way spokesman Miro Griffiths. (Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Western Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Sturgeon won't back assisted dying legislation
The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill has been proposed by Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur and will go before MSPs for an initial vote on its general principles on Tuesday. The proposals – the third such attempt since the Scottish Parliament was founded – would allow terminally ill Scots to seek to end their own lives and has sparked an impassioned debate inside and outwith Holyrood. More Stories Liam McArthur has proposed the legislation (Lesley Martin/PA) On Monday, Nicola Sturgeon became the latest high-profile MSP to announce she would not back the legislation over fears around the threat of coercion and the definition of a terminal illness being too broad. In a post on Instagram, the former first minister said: 'This is the most difficult decision I have had to arrive at in my years as an MSP and I know that all of my colleagues feel the weight of the votes we will cast tomorrow,' she said. She added: 'I have come to the conclusion that while some of the misgivings I have about the Bill in its current form could be addressed by amendments, some of my concerns are so fundamental that this would not be possible. 'It is for that reason I have decided to vote against the Bill tomorrow.' While she praised Mr McArthur's approach to the Bill as being one of 'great sensitivity', Ms Sturgeon added: 'I worry about the change in the doctor-patient relationship that would result from legislating to allow assisted dying and also about how it might profoundly change society's attitude to life and death and in particular to the importance of supporting people through good palliative care to live well before dying well.' But her 'more fundamental concerns are two-fold'. 'Firstly, while the Bill has provisions on coercion, I do no believe it will ever be possible to even identify, let alone guard against what is often described as internal coercion – a feeling on the part of terminally ill individuals that others might be better off if they were no longer here. 'I worry that older people in particular may be vulnerable to such a feeling. 'It would risk a situation in which the right to die might become, in the minds of some people, a perceived duty to die. 'I know that supporters of the Bill believe this to be a hypothetical risk that would not arise in practice and I respect that. However, it is not a risk I feel able to take.' She continued: 'Secondly, I am deeply concerned that the definition of terminal illness in the Bill is too wide. 'There are many people diagnosed with terminal conditions from which they will never recover and which will eventually cause them to die prematurely – the definition of the Bill – who will nevertheless be able to live full and happy lives for many months, even years before their death occurs. 'However, in the dark moment of a diagnosis – or in the aftermath of it – it may be difficult for them to envisage this. 'If assisted dying is an option, I worry that many people will choose to die more prematurely than they need to.' The latter point, the former first minister said, could be fixed through amendments at a later stage, but 'given the difficulty of putting a precise time limit on someone's life expectancy', she did not believe it to be possible. Ms Sturgeon will join her successors Humza Yousaf and John Swinney, along with Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, in voting against the legislation on Tuesday. All parties have agreed to give MSPs a free vote on the issue.
