Gillian Mackay

23 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the introduction of a SIGN guideline on Huntington’s disease by working with NICE and the UK and devolved governments and agencies in order to share expertise and contribute to UK-wide coverage tailored to each health and social care system.

Answer · Maree Todd: SIGN guidelines are produced by Health Improvement Scotland’s (HIS) evidence directory and we understand there are no plans by HIS to publish a SIGN guideline on Huntington’s Disease at present. SIGN guidelines are produced in collaboration with clinicians, …

23 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07643 by Maree Todd on 25 April 2022, when the meeting between its officials and the Scottish Huntington’s Association took place; what its officials understood “the need for further provisions and service development” for Huntington’s disease to be…

Answer · Maree Todd: Officials met with the Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA) on 16 May 2022 and discussed the excellent services offered by the charity and ongoing work to secure HD specialists for four further health board areas. Since then we have progressed our work in…

23 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce the risk of game birds raised as poultry spreading avian flu when they are released from captivity.

9 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the £50 million allocated for the Ukraine Longer Term Resettlement Fund is addressing any issues of insecurity faced by affected Ukrainians.

21 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce the stigma reportedly faced by liver disease patients from healthcare professionals in (a) primary and (b) secondary care.

Answer · Maree Todd: I recognise that stigma associated with liver disease can create very specific challenges, including by isolating people from their communities and act as a significant barrier to seeking help and support. This can increase the harms experienced due to delaye…

21 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the use of transient elastography in community settings to improve the early diagnosis of liver disease.

Answer · Maree Todd: Transient elastography, commonly measured with a FibroScan, is currently used in several NHS Boards throughout Scotland to assess liver disease in hospital settings. However its use in community settings is less well established. Local trials of its use in t…

19 Oct 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support the workforce skills that are needed to pursue a transition towards a fossil fuel-free future.

4 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current waiting time is for a paediatric audiology appointment in NHS Highland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Neither the Scottish Government nor Public Health Scotland (PHS) currently gather data on paediatric audiology waiting times. You may wish to contact NHS Highland directly to request this information.

4 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time has been for children to receive hospital treatment from audiology services in NHS Highland, following a GP or other referral, in each year since 2014.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Public Health Scotland (PHS) receives monthly data from most NHS Boards on the number of patients covered by the 18 weeks Referral to Treatment (RTT) standard seen within each specialty, including audiology. Due to the aggregate nature of this data collection…

5 Sep 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what further steps the Scottish Government will take to support tenants facing the cost of living crisis.

14 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) raise the profile of social work and (b) improve the public understanding of the role and impact of social workers in Scotland.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Social Work Strategic Forum commissioned a research project in 2016 into the public perception of social services in Scotland. Overall, the research findings suggested a good level of support for social services in Scotland and a reasonable level of lit…

27 Jun 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update following the summit on safe access to abortion services convened by the First Minister.

23 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time has been for (a) adults and (b) children to receive hospital treatment from audiology services, following a GP or other referral, in each NHS board in each year since 2014.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Public Health Scotland (PHS) receives monthly data from most NHS Boards on the number of patients covered by the 18 weeks Referral to Treatment (RTT) standard seen within each specialty, including audiology. Due to the aggregate nature of this data collection…

23 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons were for the decision to cease separate publication of waiting times to access audiology services after May 2014, and whether the renewed publication of waiting times for audiology services, for both adults and children, will be considered as part of the review of audiol…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Audiology Waiting Times have not been published since 27 May 2014, following an agreement between the Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland that this was no longer required. Audiology services are currently measured as part of the 18 Weeks Referral t…

22 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to support the establishment of more publicly-owned bus services.

9 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any workforce shortages in (a) liver nurse specialists and (b) hepatologists.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a high quality healthcare service to the people of Scotland, including those with liver disease. To support NHS Scotland ensure it has the workforce capacity to deliver those services, we published the Nation…

9 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of stigma on late presentation and diagnosis of liver disease.

Answer · Maree Todd: The latest findings of the British Liver Trust show that alcohol-related liver disease accounts for 60% of all liver disease and that 94% of British adults associate alcohol with liver disease and people with liver disease often feel stigmatised. The impact …

9 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to support early diagnosis of liver disease in at-risk populations.

Answer · Maree Todd: Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone with liver disease is able to access the best possible care and support and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and person-centred. We are working with the UK Government and oth…

9 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of rising levels of obesity on (a) non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease and (b) non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Answer · Maree Todd: Living with overweight or obesity is linked with an increased risk of developing a range of health conditions, including non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). According to the 2019 Scottish Health Survey ,…

8 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported findings of the Royal College of Nursing report, Employment Survey Report 2021: Workforce diversity and employment experiences, including that white nurses are twice as likely to get promoted as black and Asian staff.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There is no place for racism and we recognise that structural and institutional barriers continue to exist in the NHS. The NHS ethnic minority forum is working with the Scottish Government to drive change. Work is underway to develop anti-racist resources an…

7 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for ongoing public participation and stakeholder engagement in the development of the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Falkirk Council are responsible for the development of the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme. They have held a variety of public engagement events since 2019. Public information sessions will continue through 2022 and early 2023 using a variety of means inc…

7 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will be ensured that there are no adverse effects on the internationally designated Firth of Forth Special Protection Area and nationally designated Firth of Forth Site of Special Scientific Interest during the development and operation of the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: As promoter of the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme, Falkirk Council is required and committed to protecting natural habitats and enjoyment of the waterways while constructing flood defences that will safeguard communities. The Scheme acknowledges the nat…

7 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme should provide net gain/positive effects for biodiversity, and, if it considers that this should be the case, how it will be ensured that any such outcome is delivered.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government encourages local authorities to deliver flood risk management actions that deliver multiple benefits, including for biodiversity. Securing positive effects for biodiversity is one of six statutory outcomes for our forthcoming National …

7 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role (a) it has had to date and (b) it anticipates having in the future in the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, it is Local Authorities who are responsible for developing and delivering Flood Protection Schemes. The Scottish Government works closely with all local authorities to ensure that appropriate support is ava…

30 May 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the finding of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine report, Beds in the NHS, that, since 2010, 4,227 hospital beds have been taken out of active service in NHS Scotland.

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to FIVEXMORE's Black Maternity Experiences Survey, in particular the finding that 43% of respondents reported feeling discriminated against during their maternity care.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of FIVEXMORE’s [The] Black Maternity Experiences Survey – a Nationwide Study of Black Women’s Experiences of Maternity Services in the United Kingdom , published on 24 May 2022, and we are considering its findi…

25 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Funding Council in light of the reported ongoing governance concerns at South Lanarkshire College.

23 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Birthrights report, Systemic racism, not broken bodies, on racial injustice and human rights in UK maternity care.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of Birthright’s report - Systemic Racism, not Broken Bodies , published on 23 May 2022 - and we are considering its findings carefully, alongside the actions and recommendations from all audit reports and the M…

19 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider standardising testing for coeliac disease by encouraging local audits of blood tests against endoscopies and biopsies.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with long term conditions such as coeliac disease are able to access the best possible care and support. The provision of healthcare services, such as audits of blood tests, …

19 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the demand on endoscopy services to diagnose coeliac disease.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government remains committed to enhancing diagnosis and care for people with coeliac disease in Scotland. We have developed a Scottish Coeliac Disease Pathway (2020) in partnership with people living with the condition, the charity Coeliac UK and…