Category Archives: Health

Claire Hosts Fife Diet Debate in the Scottish Parliament

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Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, today hosted a members debate in the Scottish Parliament on welcoming Fife Diet’s new food manifesto for 2012. The well attended debate discussed many of the points laid out in the manifesto and in general about Scotland’s relationship with food.

Fife Diet, who watched the debate from the public gallery, produced the manifesto as part of their contribution to the food and drink policy framework with aims to ‘look afresh at the values that underpin how we organise our food economy’.

Points raised by the manifesto include the Soup Test where every child will leave school knowing how to make a pot of soup. Current statistics show that up to 57% of 18-25 year olds are leaving home without the knowledge of how to cook simple recipes such as Spaghetti Bolognese. The manifesto also suggests a plastic bag tax and farm apprenticeships amongst other points.

Speaking in Parliament after the debate Claire Baker said:

“It was great to discuss the food manifesto in the Scottish Parliament and offer MSPs from all parties the opportunity to discuss our relationship towards food in Scotland, particularly as we are in the midst of Scottish food and drink fortnight. Continue reading →

Claire Baker asks for Abiraterone update

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Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, has today written to NHS Fife for an update on the availability of abiraterone after it was approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium in August.

It is reported that abiraterone can extend the lives of men with incurable prostate cancer but was previously available only in England and Wales.

Yet after lobbying by groups such as Prostate Cancer UK and MSPs including Claire Baker the drug, having previously been rejected, was finally approved for use in Scotland.

The drug will be available only to men with advanced prostate cancer who are no longer responding to docetaxel or hormone therapies.

Claire Baker commented:

“The first step has been taken with the approval of abiraterone by the SMC but now we need to make sure that the drug is being offered by local NHS boards for those that qualify.

“That is why I have today written to NHS Fife to ask for an update in the process of making abiraterone available. It is important that doctors have the full range of treatments at their disposal when dealing with a patient.

“Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer and it was a black dot on our National Health Service that this treatment was available in England and Wales but not Scotland. Thankfully that has since been rectified and this will hopefully lead to sufferers of prostate cancer living a better quality of life.”

FOOD MANIFESTO TO BE DEBATED IN PARLIAMENT

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Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker met this week with Fife Diet to discuss their food manifesto ahead of a debate in the Scottish Parliament. On-going plans from Fife Diet were also discussed at the meeting in Ms Baker’s Kirkcaldy office.

The debate, which will take place on Thursday 13th of September, was called for at the request of Ms Baker who wishes to discuss the Fife Diet food manifesto’s proposals in a national setting.

After the meeting Ms Baker and Fife Diet visited Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy to look over plans under consultation for a community food and wildlife garden.

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CLAIRE KEEPS WELL WITH NHS FIFE

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Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker MSP joined NHS Scotland in helping to promote their Keep Well initiative by undertaking a health check on the Revolution Bus at the local Asda store in Kirkcaldy.

Keep Well is a Scotland wide programme of targeted health checks that offers a systematic cardiovascular risk assessment for people aged between 40-64 years, without existing cardiovascular disease (CVD), but are at greatest risk of preventable ill health because of their life circumstances.

Cardiovascular disease affects the heart and blood vessels and can include coronary heart disease. The Keep Well programme also targets those aged 35-64 years who have a higher than average risk of developing CVD, such as Gypsy Travellers, South Asian and Black Afro Caribbean populations, those who are homeless, those suffering from substance misuse and offender populations.

The focus is on early detection and risk reduction; assessment consists of weight, height, body mass index (BMI) waist measurement and cholesterol and glucose testing (via a simple finger-prick). Keep Well also explore lifestyle, such as smoking, exercise and diet, and can offer free referral to a variety of other services that will help modify any risk present.

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LOCAL MSP RAISES CONCERNS OVER BLUE BADGE REFUSAL

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Local MSP Claire Baker has raised concerns with Fife Council regarding changes to the Blue Badge Scheme which has resulted in people with genuine disabilities being refused their badge.

The Blue Badge Scheme allows pass holders to park in spaces designated for disabled badge holders to ensure that those suffering from severely restricted mobility have access to parking close to their destination.

Changes to the system were brought into effect to ensure that the scheme was not being abused and only those entitled to a Blue Badge received one.

The framework of the scheme falls under the responsibility of Transport Scotland, with Local Authorities charged with administrating the scheme and issuing badges.

However it has come to the attention of Mrs Baker that people with genuine disabilities are being refused the badge due to the complexity of the new application forms.

Speaking from her office in Kirkcaldy, Claire Baker MSP said:

“It is right that attempts are made to ensure that the Blue Badge Scheme is not being abused however this should not be at the cost of genuine applicants being refused.

“Changes made have resulted in an application form that is causing confusion due to its complexity and this is resulting in those that rely on their Blue Badge having their applications rejected.

“Blue Badges are vital for those with genuine disabilities to ensure that they still have the independence to carry out everyday tasks such as going to the shops. Without this badge many will be forced to remain prisoners in their own home.

“I have written to Fife Council asking if there has been a significant increase in Blue Badge Scheme refusals and if they are confident that any refusals are not based on the complexity of the form.

“I have also asked if any training has been given to council staff to ensure that forms are filled out accurately as members of the public are being directed to the Local Service Offices for any help in completing the forms.

“I look forward to hearing back from the council and ensuring that genuine applicants for the Blue Badge Scheme are having their application rightly approved.”