Parliamentary questions
Beatrice Wishart
693 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research was carried out into the specific mental health and emotional wellbeing needs of children and young people from armed forces and veterans' families in the development of the Mental Health Strategy: 2017-2027.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The mental health and emotional wellbeing of all children in Scotland is a key priority for the Scottish Government. The 2017-2027 Mental Health Strategy committed to ensuring everyone across Scotland was able to access the right support in a way which best m…
7 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08638 by Maree Todd on 7 June 2022, whether it will provide an update on its work to restart the self-referral route for breast cancer screening by autumn 2022.
Answer · Maree Todd: Since the answer to question S6W-08638, the Scottish Breast Screening Programme has continued work towards the restart of self-referrals for those over 71, and these are on-track to recommence by Autumn 2022. Commencement will be done in a careful, phased wa…
13 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that patients across Scotland have access to NHS dental services and regular check-ups.
Answer · Maree Todd: It is a priority to ensure that patients are able to access NHS dental care. To support patient care and access, we have recently announced revised payment arrangements for dentists from 1 April that will more closely link payments to the number of patients s…
13 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current waiting time is for a patient in Shetland to register with an NHS dentist and to receive their initial check-up.
Answer · Maree Todd: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. NHS dental services are provided by independent contractors/high street dentists and any management information on waiting times will be held by each practice. There is no central consolidatio…
13 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that all children in Scotland are receiving regular dental check-ups in order to promote good oral health and identify any areas of concern.
Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09235 on 18 July 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…
13 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is being provided to NHS Shetland to help reduce the reported current backlog of treatments for dental patients.
Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09235 on 18 July 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…
10 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported significant and ongoing impacts of HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) on Scotland’s wild birds in the last eight months, what plans it has to ensure that the relevant preparations and arrangements are in place to ensure an effective response to the current…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The UK is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of avian influenza with commercial flocks of poultry and other captive birds, as well as wild birds, affected. The disease control response to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak is coor…
10 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that (a) improved surveillance, testing and carcass collection is set up and (b) disturbance minimisation and biosecurity measures are put in place in preparation for the current and future outbreaks of HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) in wild birds.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The disease control response to the avian influenza outbreak is being coordinated across the four administrations, with the Animal and Plant Health Agency leading on surveillance, triage and testing in the UK. Wild bird findings (suspected of HPAI) in Scotlan…
10 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to develop an HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) in wild birds response plan in Scotland, as recommended by the UN-convened Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The 2021-22 season has seen the UK’s largest outbreak of avian influenza to date, which has affected commercial flocks of poultry and other captive birds as well as wild birds. While maintaining high levels of biosecurity among domestic flocks helps protect a…
10 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to address the impacts of avian influenza in wild seabird populations in (a) general and (b) relation to the bonxie, or great skua, in light of 60% of the species' global population being understood to breed in Scotland.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The 2021-22 season has seen the UK’s largest outbreak of avian influenza to date, which has affected commercial flocks of poultry and other captive birds as well as wild birds. While maintaining high levels of biosecurity among domestic flocks helps protect a…
8 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to ban gill net fishing from all or some Scottish waters, and what consideration it is giving to banning the practice of gill net fishing.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As per answer to S6W-09155 on 23 June 2022, gill netting is a legitimate form of fishing activity permitted within Scottish waters providing the relevant rules, regulations and technical standards are complied with. We know that a number of gillnet vessels o…
8 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions Marine Scotland is taking regarding gill net fishing and its reported impact on marine life and marine litter.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Gill netting is a legitimate form of fishing activity permitted within Scottish waters. As with all forms of sea fishing, gill net vessels must comply with all applicable rules, regulations, and technical standards, when carrying out their fishing operations.…
6 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Grampian regarding it taking oncology patients from NHS Tayside, and what impact this decision is expected to have on patient care in the NHS Grampian area.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: It has been agreed that some patients based in Tayside and receiving radiotherapy for breast cancer will have to travel for their treatment to their next nearest cancer centre, in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen. Patients required to travel will be fully suppo…
6 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current waiting time is for oncology patients in the NHS Grampian area to begin their treatment post-diagnosis.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Data published by PHS on 29 March 2022 shows that following a decision to treat, patients in NHS Grampian wait on average six days to begin their first definitive treatment for cancer. This may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other treatment.
6 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps NHS Grampian is taking to clear waiting lists for oncology patients to ensure that treatment can always begin within recommended guidelines.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: NHS Grampian, like all boards, continues to see an increasing number of eligible cancer referrals and our priority is to ensure these patients receive cancer diagnosis and treatments safely and based on their clinical urgency. We’re investing £40m over 5 yea…
30 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people who are (a) pregnant and (b) within their first postnatal year have been admitted to inpatient mental health services other than in a mother and baby unit in each of the last three years, also broken down by the patient’s NHS board.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The information requested relating to non-Mother and Baby Unit adult mental health inpatient admissions during the pregnancy or the postnatal period is not held centrally. However, the Scottish Government Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board is …
30 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many admissions each mother and baby unit has had in each of the last three years, also broken down by the patient's NHS board.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The information requested on Health Board admissions to Mother and Baby Units is not held centrally. However, Mother and Baby Units in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian may have this data available through local data systems. Both Mother and Baby …
30 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many claims there have been to the Mother and Baby Unit Family Fund since it was established, and what the average amount claimed is, broken down by the patient’s NHS board.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Since it was established in April 2020, there have been 88 successful claims to the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) Family Fund. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian do not hold comprehensive information about a claimant’s home Board. Since April 2020: ?…
30 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards have established specialist community perinatal mental health teams.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: There is currently specialist perinatal mental health provision in every mainland Health Board. We are working intensively with Boards to build their provision to the levels outlined in Delivering Effective Services . As of May 2022, there were 12 Health Bo…
30 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to NHS boards for specialist community perinatal mental health teams.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Since the start of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board we have invested over £18m in improvements to services and support for parents, infants and families across Scotland. This includes £5.5m for development of specialist Community Perinat…
30 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has introduced to the Mental Health Quality Indicators a measurement of how many women are seen for primary care psychological interventions in pregnancy, and in the first postnatal year, within six weeks of referral, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: A national Perinatal Mental Health Dataset for specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health services (as well as Mother and Baby Units and Maternity/Neonatal Psychological Interventions services) has recently been launched by the Perinatal Mental Health Manag…
30 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to establish specialist community perinatal mental health teams in each NHS board area.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Developing specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health teams across every Health Board has been a priority since the start of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board. Since 2019 we have invested over £5.5 million to establish specialist commun…
30 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans for NHS Grampian and NHS Forth Valley to enter into contractual arrangements regarding mother and baby unit provision.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) Inpatient Provision Consultation closed on 31 May 2022. While more detailed work on the outcomes of this consultation is underway, we are expecting NHS Grampian and NHS Forth Valley to enter into contractual agreements with a Mo…
27 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Highland bus operators regarding providing extra bus services at times when ScotRail is no longer operating a train service.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has not held any discussions with Highland bus operators regarding providing extra bus services at times when ScotRail is operating a temporary timetable. The temporary timetable currently in place is an operational matter for which ScotRai…
27 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation (a) it and (b) ScotRail has undertaken with (i) workers and (ii) unions regarding how to ensure that workers are able to get to and from their shifts following the reduced ScotRail timetable.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: No formal consultation by (a) Transport Scotland and (b) ScotRail took place with (i) workers and (ii) unions before the temporary timetable was implemented. ScotRail utilised the time available to them, during this challenging period, to compile the temporar…
27 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on business revenues in the Highlands as a result of the reduced ScotRail timetable.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: No assessment has been made if the impact on business revenues in the Highlands as a result of ScotRail’s temporary timetable. We do recognise that the current temporary timetable is causing inconvenience and frustration to travellers, especially to people …
27 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on carbon emissions from road vehicles as a result of the reduced ScotRail timetable.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: It is not possible to undertake an assessment of the impact on emissions from road vehicles as a direct result of the reduced ScotRail timetable. There is not specific data available on any change in road vehicle kilometres that could be attributed to reduced…
27 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates the full ScotRail timetable to be restored in the Highlands.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08835 on 17 June 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…
27 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) ScotRail and (b) NHS Highland regarding how to ensure that people living outside of the Inverness area are able to travel to medical appointments by public transport without requiring a costly overnight stay.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has not held any discussions with (a) ScotRail and (b) NHS Highland regarding how to ensure that people living outside of the Inverness area are able to travel to medical appointments by public transport without requiring an overnight stay.
24 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00898 by Humza Yousaf on 19 July 2021, what action it is taking to ensure that people who missed bowel cancer screening due to the COVID-19 pandemic will now receive invites for screening.
Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08784 on 14 June 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…