This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35714360

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Health bill e-cigarette sales ban for under 18s Health bill e-cigarette sales ban for under 18s
(35 minutes later)
Legislation restricting the sale of e-cigarettes in Scotland is expected to be passed by MSPs later.Legislation restricting the sale of e-cigarettes in Scotland is expected to be passed by MSPs later.
The Scottish government's Health Bill will ban under-18s from buying the devices and limit their advertising.The Scottish government's Health Bill will ban under-18s from buying the devices and limit their advertising.
The wide-ranging bill also strengthens the ban on smoking tobacco in NHS hospital grounds.The wide-ranging bill also strengthens the ban on smoking tobacco in NHS hospital grounds.
And it will create specific criminal offences for health and social care workers found to be deliberately mistreating those in their care.And it will create specific criminal offences for health and social care workers found to be deliberately mistreating those in their care.
The legislation will also require health and social care organisations to be open when a patient has suffered unintended harm during treatment or care, through a statutory duty of candour.The legislation will also require health and social care organisations to be open when a patient has suffered unintended harm during treatment or care, through a statutory duty of candour.
The Scottish government introduced an amendment to the Bill creating a duty for the NHS to provide equipment and support to people who lose their voices as a result of health conditions after input from MND (Motor Neurone Disease) Scotland and other organisations.The Scottish government introduced an amendment to the Bill creating a duty for the NHS to provide equipment and support to people who lose their voices as a result of health conditions after input from MND (Motor Neurone Disease) Scotland and other organisations.
Public Health Minister Maureen Watt will meet people with disabilities who have an interest in voice equipment before the final debate at Holyrood.Public Health Minister Maureen Watt will meet people with disabilities who have an interest in voice equipment before the final debate at Holyrood.
Watch live coverage of the final debate and vote on the Health Bill from 2.45pm.
Speaking before the debate, Ms Watt said: "The prospect of losing your voice can be extremely worrying and I hope that this legislation will provide some comfort and assurance that equipment and support will be available.Speaking before the debate, Ms Watt said: "The prospect of losing your voice can be extremely worrying and I hope that this legislation will provide some comfort and assurance that equipment and support will be available.
"I would also like to acknowledge the important role of Gordon Aikman, MND Scotland and others in helping to bring about the voice equipment provisions contained in this Bill.""I would also like to acknowledge the important role of Gordon Aikman, MND Scotland and others in helping to bring about the voice equipment provisions contained in this Bill."
A ban on sales of e-cigarettes has already been introduced south of the border.A ban on sales of e-cigarettes has already been introduced south of the border.
Tobacco smoking in the grounds of Scottish hospitals was banned by health boards at the request of the Scottish government last year but the new bill will make it a statutory offence.Tobacco smoking in the grounds of Scottish hospitals was banned by health boards at the request of the Scottish government last year but the new bill will make it a statutory offence.
She added: "This is a wide-ranging bill. If passed this afternoon it will mean the introduction of regulation of e-cigarettes for the first time.She added: "This is a wide-ranging bill. If passed this afternoon it will mean the introduction of regulation of e-cigarettes for the first time.
"While they are almost certainly safer than cigarettes, and have a role to help people quit smoking, we don't want children to take them up, and that's why we are proposing these age restrictions."While they are almost certainly safer than cigarettes, and have a role to help people quit smoking, we don't want children to take them up, and that's why we are proposing these age restrictions.
"Making it an offence to smoke near hospital buildings is common sense, and it will help NHS boards to enforce their existing smoke-free policies."Making it an offence to smoke near hospital buildings is common sense, and it will help NHS boards to enforce their existing smoke-free policies.
"Hospitals are places people go to recover from illness, and they shouldn't have to walk through clouds of smoke."Hospitals are places people go to recover from illness, and they shouldn't have to walk through clouds of smoke.
"This is also a bill that seeks to improve patient safety and rights. Our proposals on duty of candour will ensure that health and social care providers are fully open when a patient has suffered unintentional harm."This is also a bill that seeks to improve patient safety and rights. Our proposals on duty of candour will ensure that health and social care providers are fully open when a patient has suffered unintentional harm.
"They will improve transparency, raise standards and help us to learn from past mistakes."They will improve transparency, raise standards and help us to learn from past mistakes.
"We also hope to create a new criminal offence for wilful neglect. Thankfully these cases are very rare, but when they do happen it will give our courts the power to deal with the worst cases of neglect and ill-treatment.""We also hope to create a new criminal offence for wilful neglect. Thankfully these cases are very rare, but when they do happen it will give our courts the power to deal with the worst cases of neglect and ill-treatment."