Parliamentary questions
Sandesh Gulhane
385 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an assessment has been made of the uptake of spring/summer COVID-19 boosters amongst those resident in the most deprived areas compared with the most affluent areas in Scotland, and, if such an assessment have been made, whether it will confirm the percentage uptake in each of th…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Public Health Scotland publish figures on the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile. The PHS report shows how uptake in the most deprived areas compares with the least deprived areas. The latest figures were pub…
14 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08528 by Humza Yousaf on 26 May 2022, whether it will confirm the estimated overall cost of creating a new national treatment centre at Carrick Glen, including the cost of the (a) purchase of the hospital and (b) redesign and redevelopment.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: NHS Ayrshire & Arran purchased Carrick Glen from Circle BMI for £1.8 million on 31st March 2022. Work is ongoing to finalise the Full Business Case for the new National Treatment Centre and redesign and redevelopment costs are yet to be finalised.
14 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08531 by Humza Yousaf on 24 May 2022, whether the expected 160 full-time equivalent staff will be new or existing staff members of NHS Ayrshire and Arran; if new staff are to be recruited, where are they being recruited from; and whether it will pro…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to the recruitment of 1,500 additional staff to support the delivery of Scotland’s National Treatment Centre (NTC) Programme, and is supporting a range of activity to achieve this. This includes support for domestic and i…
8 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to allow people who are seeking treatment for addiction to retain their tenancies through continued housing payments.
6 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of the pest control industry regarding the impact that banning glue traps might have on their ability to deal with infestation outbreaks.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S60-00653 on 20 January 2022 in relation to the report from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission on the use of glue traps I set out our plans to introduce a ban on the sale and use of glue traps. While the Commi…
1 Jun 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government, with regard to the recruitment of consultant oncologists in NHS Tayside, how many candidates have proceeded to interview stage to date and from which countries.
25 May 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects on any difficulties faced by veterans in Scotland, including on the prevalence of mental health issues and drug and alcohol abuse.
17 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to monitor sepsis prevalence and improve patient treatment and outcomes.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Public Health Scotland produce an Annual Statistical Report on Acute Hospital Activity and NHS Beds Information , including data on hospital stays with a diagnosis of sepsis by NHS Board and local authority area at tables 5 and 6. PHS also monitor sepsis p…
17 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that clinicians are acting in accordance with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ recently-released clinical guidance on sepsis, in light of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) reportedly having also agreed to update its guid…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Sepsis improvement is a well-established part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s (HIS) Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP). The SPSP launched a revised deteriorating patient driver diagram and change package in 2021 which includes sepsis as a core pa…
17 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason patients with sepsis in Scotland are reportedly instructed to access healthcare using a different symptom list to other parts of the UK, and what steps are being taken to ensure that clinician recognition criteria are aligned with their equivalents in other parts of the U…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The symptom list on NHS Inform focuses on the early symptoms of sepsis. It highlights the importance of a high or low temperature, which can encompass a wide range of sources of infection that may potentially cause sepsis. On 27 May 2022, Healthcare Improvem…
17 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of waste from NHS hospitals was recycled in each of the last five calendar years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The requested information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) has advised the most accurate data source on NHS Scotland waste performance are the annual Public Sector Reports on Compliance with Climate Change…
17 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of packaging from theatre equipment at NHS hospitals was recycled in each of the last five calendar years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The requested information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) has advised waste data collection is not measured by product type or hospital department, therefore the requested information is unavailable. Wit…
4 May 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last corresponded with Poppyscotland regarding support for veterans.
20 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a genomic diagnostics strategy, and, if so, when.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As committed to in the Genome UK: shared commitments for UK-wide implementation 2022 to 2025 document, the Scottish Government is committed to developing and publishing a Scotland specific Genome UK implementation plan by the end of 2022.
20 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03517 by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021, and the National Services Division review of NHS Scotland’s genomics services, what steps are being taken to align the timing of the publication of advice by the Scottish Medicines Consortium with the commis…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) currently provides early information to National Services Division (NSD) on cancer medicines in clinical development that are expected to require a companion diagnostic through regular horizon scanning reports; these ar…
20 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03514 by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021, whether the National Services Division review of NHS Scotland’s genomics services has been completed; (a) whether and (b) what recommendations have been made to the Scottish Genomics Leadership Group, and wh…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The NHS National Services Division (NSD) commissioning team have completed a Major Service Review of the current Genomics service. The final report has been shared with NHS Board Chief Executives, the Scottish Genomics Leadership Group, Trade Union representa…
20 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03514 by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021, what engagement the National Services Division and Scottish Genomics Leadership Group are having with the pharmaceutical industry and academia on the design of sustainable genetic laboratories and frontline …
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Engagement is ongoing with industry, academia and other interested stakeholders in the expansion of NHS Scotland capabilities for genomics. Over the coming months we will be expanding the membership of our Scottish Genomics Leadership Group (SGLG) and relevan…
20 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the NHS Workforce Strategy, what level of additional staffing it considers will be needed by Scotland’s genetic laboratories in future years to ensure that patients can benefit from advances in precision treatments, and what steps it is taking to recruit an…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Genetic Laboratory Major Service review considered the workforce requirements for our future genomics capabilities in NHS Scotland. A link to the report is available here:https://www.nss.nhs.scot/specialist-healthcare/specialist-services/genetic-and-molec…
20 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03513 by Humza Yousaf on 8 November 2021, what development plans it has for Scotland’s genetic laboratories and frontline genetics services, and what investment it will make in the current financial year to support the delivery of any plans.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has committed £6.2 million to genomics for the financial year 2022-23. This is in addition to the funding allocated to the 4 genetic laboratories in Scotland by NHS Boards through NHS National Services Division (NSD) commissioning arra…
20 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03514 by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021, whether the outcome of the National Services Division review of NHS Scotland’s genomics services will be published.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The NHS National Services Division (NSD) commissioning team have completed a Major Service Review of the current Genomics service. The final report has been shared with NHS Board Chief Executives, the Scottish Genomics Leadership Group, Trade Union representa…
20 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that genetic testing is embedded as a standard of care in the treatment pathways for people with cancers.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government fully recognises the role of genomics in improving patient outcomes particularly for people with cancer. Our genetic laboratories across Scotland already provide a range of cancer genetic tests to support the diagnosis and treatment of…
19 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults diagnosed with cystic fibrosis saw a psychosocial professional within the last 12 months at their annual review, as set out in the NHS service specifications for cystic fibrosis care.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: People of all ages in Scotland living with Cystic Fibrosis have access to Specialist Cystic Fibrosis Centres. These include a Clinical Psychologist who forms part of the multidisciplinary team supporting the patient and their family. Patient referrals will b…
13 Apr 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Veterans Commissioner's most recent report on the health and wellbeing of veterans.
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported calls from the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition for a radical transformation of mental health services for children and young people, including investment in specialist services and a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention, and how it is…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: As part of the Scottish Government’s 2021-22 Mental Health Recovery and Renewal Fund, we allocated an additional £40 million to NHS Boards to improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and to clear waiting list backlogs by March 2023. We are …
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what help is available to children and young people who have been waiting 52 weeks or more for treatment on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting lists, in light of reported figures from Public Health Scotland stating that there were 1,570 such children in the month…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Long waiting times for treatment are unacceptable and we remain committed to meet the standard that 90% of patients begin treatment within 18 weeks of referral. This is why we have allocated £40 million to NHS Boards to improve CAMHS in the last financial yea…
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people are currently waiting for a neurodivergent assessment as part of a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting list.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: This data is not centrally available; aggregated data for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Waiting Times is sent to Public Health Scotland (PHS) from each NHS Board. It does not contain explicit information on the type of assessment or treat…
16 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the reported shortage of lung cancer nurse specialists on the (a) treatment, (b) outcomes and (c) quality of life for lung cancer patients.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information on the number of Clinical Nurse Specialists by specialist cancer fields is not held centrally. However, we recognise the scale of the challenge facing Health Boards across Scotland. We are working closely with partners to accelerate domestic and …
16 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in the (a) west, (b) north, (c) south and (d) east of Scotland to increase the number of lung cancer nurse specialists.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07488 on 25 April 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-committee…
16 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the number of experienced lung cancer nurse specialists who are Band 7 or above.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care was published on 11 March. It is designed around the strategic objectives which support recovery, growth and transformation of health and social care services. Through the plan we have committed to mo…
16 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the number of lung cancer nurse specialists (LCNSs), in light of the target recommended by the Lung Cancer Clinical Expert Group of 80 new lung cancer patients to every whole-time equivalent LCNS.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07488 on 11 April 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-committee…