Stevenson Highlights Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has highlighted the importance of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place in March.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr Stevenson said:

"It is vital that awareness is raised of ovarian cancer and that vital funds are generated towards research into the disease as 12 women in the UK die of ovarian cancer, every day and it is the fourth most common cancer in women. Additionally, UK survival rates are amongst the lowest in the Western World and have changed little in the last twenty years.

"Most women (75%) are not diagnosed until the cancer has already spread and research shows that almost all women diagnosed with early stage disease do experience symptoms, combating the myth that this is a 'silent killer'. Women with persistent, frequent, and sudden onset symptoms, often abdominal in nature, should ask their GP if they have considered ovarian cancer. This should be the case if treatment for other conditions is not effective.

"For those who wish to find out more, they should visit www.ovarian.org.uk"

Stevenson Backs RNID Scotland's Call For Audiology Waiting Times To Be Measured And Published

Banff & Buchan SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson, has pledged to support RNID Scotland, the national charity representing Scotland's 758,000 deaf and hard of hearing people, in its call for the Scottish Executive to start measuring and publishing audiology waiting times by the end of 2007.

Waiting times for audiology services are not currently counted in Scotland. It is impossible to tell whether NHS Board areas are meeting the Executive's target of 26 weeks for a person to be referred by their GP for a hearing assessment to actually getting a hearing aid fitted.

Adding his voice to RNID Scotland's call for audiology waiting times to be measured and published, Mr Stevenson said:

"I am happy to back any initiative which will speed up the waiting times for people who require hearing aids.

"I know from my mailbag and constituency surgeries that this is an important issue to a lot of people and I applaud RNID Scotland for this initiative."

RNID Scotland Director, Delia Henry, says:

"It's great that Stewart Stevenson is joining RNID Scotland's call on the Scottish Executive to start publishing audiology waiting time figures. Audiology waiting times are unacceptable in many parts of Scotland, with some people waiting up to two years for a hearing aid. People need to know how long they will wait for a hearing test and then to be fitted with a hearing aid. The true picture won't be known until the Scottish Executive takes action and publishes the data.

"Additionally, the Scottish Executive should publish a timescale detailing when NHS Scotland audiology services will meet the 18-week waiting time target for people to receive their hearing aids from the point of GP referral, as recognised by the NHS National Waiting Times Unit. It makes no sense to make people wait so long for an inexpensive but vital piece of equipment that can make such a difference to their everyday lives and reconnect them to society."

For further information on deafness and hearing loss, please contact RNID's information line on telephone 0808 808 0123, textphone 0808 808 9000 or visit www.rnid.org.uk.

SNP Lead Consolidated In Latest Scotsman/ICM Poll

BEST EVER POSITION TWO MONTHS FROM ELECTION

Banff and Buchan MSP, Stewart Stevenson welcomed the result of the latest ICM opinion poll for the Scotsman newspaper which gives the SNP a clear lead on both questions - ahead by 5 points in the constituency vote and 4 points in the regional list vote. [In October 2006, the same poll gave the SNP a 2 point lead on the first question, and level with Labour on the second.]

The poll also shows support for independence ahead, with 46% in favour to 44% against.

The full results of the poll as published this morning are:


Constituency Vote (%): SNP 34, Labour 29, Tories 16, LibDems 16, SSP 1, Others 3

Regional Vote (%): SNP 32, Labour 28, Tories 15, LibDems 17, Green 4, SSP 2, Others 2

Local MSP Stewart Stevenson said:

"I am delighted with this poll. It confirms that the SNP are in the driving seat in this campaign.

"More and more voters are supporting our positive policies to build a successful Scotland. The SNP are working hard to earn the trust of the Scottish people, with policies to make Scotland wealthier, healthier and safer. We are delighted that more and more Scots share our ambition for Scotland.

"We are ahead for three reasons. A positive campaign will always win over a negative campaign, a Scottish campaign will beat a London-based campaign and Alex Salmond is Scotland's choice for First Minister over Mr McConnell.

"Far from Labour closing the gap, as they have been claiming, we are consolidating our lead with only two months to go until polling day.

"Labour's campaign is in substantial disarray.

"Perhaps this explains why Mr McConnell is hiding away rather than publicly debating head to head with Alex Salmond.

"It's time for a fresh approach to meeting Scotland's challenges and opportunities. It's time for an SNP Government with Alex Salmond as First Minister."

NOTE: ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,004 Scottish adults aged 18+ by telephone on 23-26 February.