175 carers from across Scotland will attend the first Carers Parliament on 1 October 2012 in the Scottish Parliament. The programme for the Carers Parliament on Monday 1 October 2012 has now been published and sent to all the carers attending.
Carers who were not selected in the ballot to attend or could not attend the day can watch the main chamber live from 11am by clicking here.
Programme
11.00 Welcome by Deputy Presiding Officer Elaine Smith MSP
11.05 Opening Speech Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Alex Neil MSP
11.25 Introduce debate topic* - Deputy Presiding Officer, Elaine Smith MSP
- Carer, Paul Weddell, to open the debate
- Young carer, Lauren King
11.35 Debate
12.25 Summation of debate - Colin Williams
1.30 Themed topics in committee rooms (this will be filmed and a report of action points produced after the event)
2.20 Return to Main Chamber
2.30 Question & Answer Session in Main Chamber
- Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson MSP
- Councillor Peter Johnston, Spokesperson on Health & Wellbeing, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
- Christine Ferguson, Vice Chair, Association of Community Health Partnerships
- George Crooks, Medical Director for NHS24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service and Director of the Scottish Centre for Telehealth & Telecare
3.10 Key action points from workshops
3.30 Summing up - Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson MSP
3.45 Close by Deputy Presiding Officer
* Statement for debate
"That the Carers Parliament recognises that there are challenges faced by carers of all ages to access appropriate services and support for themselves and the people they care for but acknowledges the progress made through implementation of strategies, such as the Carers and Young Carers strategies and a wide range of other initiatives. The Carers Parliament asks: how do all partners find a way to deliver better services and support to carers and the people they care for?
"
