Parliamentary questions
Douglas Lumsden
1,891 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve access to specialised optometry care for older people in remote areas.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33681 on 27 January 2025. 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-an…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to mitigate against any fall in fuel revenue at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, and what effect it anticipates any fall in fuel revenue might have on the future viability of the airport.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Glasgow Prestwick Airport operates on a commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government and Ministers do not intervene in operational matters.
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that there is equitable access to community optometry services across both rural and urban areas.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has funded free universal NHS-funded eye examinations since 2006, and is committed to maintaining this policy - the only UK nation in which this is the case. The Scottish Government takes the view that this policy is a fundamental feat…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to ensuring that all of the loans that it has made to Glasgow Prestwick Airport are repaid in full by the new owner, should the airport be sold.
Answer · Kate Forbes: I wrote to the Economy and Fair Work Committee on 25 June 2024 to confirm that a market testing exercise for Glasgow Prestwick Airport was underway. Scottish Ministers’ longstanding position is that the airport should be returned to the private sector a…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its strategy is for the digitisation of people’s medical records.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-33303 on 24 January 2025. 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-committe…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing the reported disparity in access to specialised healthcare services, such as oncology and cardiology, between urban and rural areas.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is committed to delivering equitable and sustainable healthcare services across NHS Scotland through a comprehensive reform agenda. This includes a renewed approach for planning for NHS Scotland to ensure that appropriate clinically le…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent analysis it has undertaken of any time savings for clinical staff as a result of any improvements to medical record systems.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has not undertaken analysis of time savings for staff in relation to improvements of medical records systems. We encourage NHS Boards to ensure they maximise the transformative opportunities offered by digital and understand the impact…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides to improve the interoperability of medical record systems across NHS boards.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government provides funding to NHS Education Scotland (NES) to develop and run the National Digital Platform (NDP). The NDP supports storage, integration and interoperability of data making it easier for staff to record and share data across heal…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to allow patients to access their medical records digitally, and whether it plans to roll this out across Scotland.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-33707 on 29 January 2025. 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-com…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is improving awareness and uptake of community optometry services among rural populations.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Public Health Scotland publishes annual data on NHS eye examination on their website at: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ophthalmic-workload-statistics/ophthalmic-workload-statistics-statistics-as-at-year-ending-31-march-2024/Tables 6.1 and 6.2…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect the security of patient medical records in the context of any increasing cyber threats.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government actively promotes cyber security. Our goal is to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks and protect against the unauthorised exploitation of systems, networks, and technologies. As the Scottish Health Competent Authority for health in Scotla…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to allow NHS Scotland patients to access their medical records online.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-33707 on 29 January 2025. 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-committe…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on linking patient medical records with social care data, in order to improve integrated care delivery.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government remains committed to the integration of digital services in Scotland’s health and social care systems. This work has been supported and progressed through the National Digital Platform (NDP). Since its creation, the NDP has made …
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it still plans to sell Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the private sector.
Answer · Kate Forbes: I wrote to the Economy and Fair Work Committee on 25 June 2024 to confirm that a market testing exercise for Glasgow Prestwick Airport was underway. Scottish Ministers’ longstanding position is that the airport should be returned to the private sector a…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advances have been made in optometry services within primary care in the last five years, and what funding arrangements are in place to support at-home diagnostic and treatment services.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the Member to the answers given in questions S6W-33618 and S6W-33681 on 27 January 2025. In addition, I also refer the member to the General Ophthalmic Services Statement which is available at: https://www.eyes.nhs.scot/media/1765/statement-of-gos-rem…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have asked to access their medical records in (a) the last 12 months and (b) each of the previous 10 years.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-26921 on 29 April 2024. 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-…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on the geographic distribution of community optometry services, and how it is addressing any service gaps.
Answer · Jenni Minto: With regards data on the geographic distribution of community optometry practices, this information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. We would advise the Member to contact Health Boards where appropriate for this data. With regards community o…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures there is equitable funding for community optometry services across all NHS boards.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The funding model for community optometry services is entirely demand-led and directly funded by the Scottish Government. Patients are entitled to receive a community optometry service in whichever Health Board they choose.
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS Scotland (a) services and (b) departments still use paper-based medical records.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. This is a matter for individual NHS Boards.
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the retention of optometry practitioners in (a) rural areas and (b) Aberdeenshire.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has not received correspondence with regards workforce retention issues in community optometry. Health Boards are legally responsible for the provision of community optometry services in their area. As such, we would advise the Member …
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in ensuring equitable access to preventative health services, such as routine screenings and early intervention programmes, in rural areas.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is pleased to note that The latest published statistics show that there are higher uptake rates for breast, bowel and cervical screening within health boards which have a higher proportion of rural or island populations. Nonetheless, w…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to NHS boards in relation to giving patients access to their own medical records, and what data it has on compliance with any such guidance.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government, through the National Information Governance Programme and the Digital Health and Care Directorate, supports NHS boards by providing comprehensive guidance on enabling patients to access their medical records. Guidance includes the Rec…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that community optometry services are accessible to disabled people.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, as amended, do not require community optometry practices to be accessible for disabled people. However, the majority of practices are accessible. Where they are not, the Sc…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work on the National Digital Platform, and when patients will (a) have digital access to their medical records and (b) be able to digitally book appointments.
Answer · Neil Gray: We continue to develop the capabilities of the National Digital Platform (NDP), with core components that will enable individual access, such as standards-based data storage and integration, and access controls and user authentication for the workforce now la…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to improve access to community optometry services for children living in rural and remote areas.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33695 on 27 January 2025.In addition, the Scottish Government has not received correspondence with regards access to community optometry services for children living in rural and remote areas.All answers to…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to reduce waiting times for community optometry services in (a) rural areas and (b) Aberdeenshire.
Answer · Jenni Minto: There is no definition of, and thus no data collected for, waiting times for community optometry services, whether urban or rural.However, we are working closely with the three island Health Boards to resolve some local access issues.The Scottish Government h…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to provide affordable optometry services in low-income rural areas.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33681 on 27 January 2025. 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-an…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional funding it is providing to NHS boards to improve access to physiotherapy and rehabilitation services in rural communities.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government provides the policies, frameworks and resources for high quality healthcare, and it is for each individual NHS Board to decide how best to utilise funding, to meet local health needs. Over the last five years, the number of Allied Heal…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many medical records team leaders there currently are in the NHS, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-26919 on 30 April 2024. 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-…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on rolling out new technologies within community optometry services, and how any such technologies are being implemented in rural settings.
Answer · Jenni Minto: All referrals to the hospital eye service from community optometry are electronic and enable the attachment of retinal images and other examination results to aid the triaging of the patients. In addition, since the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the…