Latest News – Martin Whitfield MSP
Backing better migraine care
Martin Whitfield MSP is supporting Migraine Awareness Week (24th-30th September) to call attention to the serious impact that migraine has on people living with this condition and the need for better migraine care. One in seven adults in the UK experience migraine. Over one million live with chronic migraine, meaning they experience headache for at least 15 days a month for three months at a time. The impact of migraine goes far beyond pain. A third of callers to The Migraine Trust’s helpline report a decline in mental health due to their migraine. Migraine can affect all areas of life [...]
Dyslexia debate time raised
The length of time that has passed since the last debate in government time on the issue of dyslexia has been raised by Martin Whitfield MSP. Mr Whitfield highlighted the issue during Portfolio Question Time. He also confirmed that it has not been debated at all since a members’ business debate in session 5. Cabinet Secretary for Education, Jenny Gilruth, responded positively to Mr Whitfield's question. She stated she would raise the issue with the Minister for Cabinet and Parliamentary Business. Martin Whitfield MSP said: "As I highlighted, Dyslexia is a condition that a significant number of additional support needs-identified [...]
Gullane pupils welcomed to Holyrood
Martin Whitfield MSP has welcomed a group of P6 and P7 pupils from Gullane Primary School to Holyrood today. The pupils were at the Parliament on an official education visit and had the opportunity to ask MSPs some questions. Martin Whitfield MSP said: "It was great to meet the P6s and P7s from Gullane Primary School today in Parliament! As always, they had many insightful questions and were a delight to talk with. "I continue to encourage schools from across the region to consider visiting Parliament to discover more about how it operates." Any local schools wishing to book an [...]
Promoting National Eye Health Week
18 to 24 September is National Eye Health Week and ahead of the week Martin Whitfield MSP attended an Optometry Scotland exhibition stand at the Scottish Parliament to hear more about the #VisionMatters campaign. The representative body for the optical industry in Scotland and voice of optical professions was at Holyrood to speak to MSPs about its work, the importance of eye health care and technology, and National Eye Health Week. Speaking afterwards, Martin Whitfield MSP said: "I was pleased to visit Optometry Scotland's recent exhibition at parliament and hear more about its important work, as well as this year's [...]
Organ and Tissue Donation Week
18 to 24 September is Organ and Tissue Donation Week and this year people are being encouraged to leave no doubt when it comes to their donation decision. Martin Whitfield MSP is helping promote the message and ensure that everyone is aware that, in Scotland, they have a choice when it comes to organ and tissue donation - to be a donor or to opt out. If people aged 16 and over choose to do nothing, it is assumed they agree to be a donor if they die in circumstances where donation is possible, unless they are in a group [...]
Charity shows MSPs how it is re-imagining respite
North Berwick-based Leuchie House, Scotland’s specialist neurological condition respite service, has held an event at the Scottish Parliament to enable MSPs to find out more about its re-imagination of respite services and innovation in health and social care using technology. Sponsored by Martin Whitfield MSP, the drop-in reception provided MSPs with an opportunity to meet members of the Leuchie team and learn more about its work, particularly around the use of their skills and experience to test and develop enabling technology, preventative health interventions and alternatives to paid-for care. People living with a neurological condition are in every constituency and [...]