Parliamentary questions
Craig Hoy
1,298 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Jan 2023 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much has been spent in preparation for the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme.
Answer · Claire Baker MSP : At present no resources have been utilised in the preparation for the introduction of the scheme, other than a small amount of management time to consider the proposals. Consideration is being given to how the regulations will be met and one option under con…
17 Jan 2023 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what preparation the Parliament has made for the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme.
Answer · Claire Baker : The SPCB is continuing to review the requirements under the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020 and how they apply to the Garden Level Restaurant/Garden Coffee Bar and shop at the Holyrood site. The other outlets would not fall under t…
17 Jan 2023 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what potential impact the proposals in the Scottish Government consultation, Restricting alcohol advertising and promotion, would have on the Parliament shop, including on the sale of alcohol such as Parliament-branded whisky and gin.
Answer · Christine Grahame : The Scottish Government consultation on restricting alcohol advertising and promotion is open until 9 March 2023. The Scottish Parliament shop sells Scottish Parliament branded whisky. With regards to the sale, promotion and advertising of alcohol, the SPCB e…
17 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13609 by Maree Todd on 17 January 2023, whether it has gathered data on how many women access free contraception from each of the sources listed, and, if so, what the figures are for each year since 2007.
Answer · Maree Todd: This information is not held centrally.
17 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13610 by Maree Todd on 17 January 2023, when its pilot for an online service is expected to begin, and how long it will run for.
Answer · Maree Todd: The development of the pilot e-prep clinic is in the early stages and is likely to involve a staged approach. As this is a complex project, involving significant IT and clinical expertise to deliver well, it is not yet possible to provide a definitive start…
17 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13610 by Maree Todd on 17 January 2023, when it anticipates the new guidance for new eligibility criteria will be ready.
Answer · Maree Todd: The guidance on widening eligibility has been drafted and agreed by the PrEP Prescribing Guidance Short Life Working Group. Discussions and planning are now underway regarding its rollout, which is expected in the coming weeks.
17 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13612 by Maree Todd on 17 January 2023, whether the targets for (a) 2021-22 were met and (b) 2022-23 will be met; whether, as part of that national target, local targets have been set for each NHS board, and how many treatment initiations have taken…
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government remains committed to eliminating Hepatitis C as a major public health concern by 2024. We must nonetheless recognise the impact the pandemic has had across the whole health sector, including the detection and treatment of Hepatitis C. …
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13514 by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023, when it anticipates the Menopause and Menstrual Health Policy Working Group will have developed a menopause and menstrual health workplace policy for NHS Scotland.
Answer · Maree Todd: This is a medium term commitment in the Women’s Health Plan, due for delivery by September 2024 at the latest. We are on track to meet this delivery date. An expert working group has been established and we are in the process of gathering evidence to inform t…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13529 by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023, when the baseline audit will be complete, and whether that information will be publicly available.
Answer · Maree Todd: The initial baseline audit of the public health workforce should be completed in 2023. However, given the diversity of public health roles in the domains of health improvement, health protection, healthcare public health and associated research, data and inte…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13529 by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023, how often the Scottish Public Health Workforce Development Group meets; when it last met, and who the members of the group are.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Public Health Workforce Development Group last met on 11 January 2023 and meets approximately every two months. The Group members are representatives from the Scottish Directors of Public Health, NHS Education for Scotland, the Registrar Public …
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13529 by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023, how many shared posts have been established, and where they are based.
Answer · Maree Todd: Public Health Scotland have appointed three consultants in Public Health Medicine jointly with local health boards - those shared national and local posts are in NHS Tayside, NHS Highland and NHS Fife. They are currently interviewing for a further two joint c…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13529 by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023, whether the Scottish Public Health Workforce Development Group has agreed any priority actions to date, and, if so, what they are.
Answer · Maree Todd: The review to establish priority actions for the public health workforce is underway within the Scottish Public Health Workforce Development Group but has yet to report.
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Digital Health and Care Strategy to develop a fully interactive "Front Door", how many health and care services, both digital and physical services, across the statutory, third and independent sectors, are currently available on this system.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13979 on 30 January 2023. 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-committ…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in providing digital access to health and care services through asynchronous communication since the publication of its Digital Health and Care Strategy.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As mentioned in answer to question S6W-13982 on 31 January 2023 a number of programmes being taken forward in Scotland that support the use of asynchronous communication. Whilst it is therefore not possible to give an exact figure related to asynchronous comm…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have accessed health and social care services via asynchronous communication in the last year, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to provide such access, whether all patients are now able to view and update information contained in their records, and access information such as test results, letters and treatment/care plans.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: It is the intention of the Scottish Government to deliver this capability through the Digital Front Door, further details of which can be found in the answer to question S6W-13979 on 30 January 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availabl…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Digital Health and Care Strategy, what it is doing to support people to embrace existing, new and emerging technologies in health and care.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The use of digital tools is a choice and the Scottish Government is very mindful that introducing more Digital into the Health & Care system will need to be proportionate to ensure that nobody is left behind. The Scottish Government’s Connecting Scotland Prog…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Digital Health and Care Strategy, what rights and responsibilities people have for using digital means to access information and services.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The “Health and Social Care Standards: my support, my life” set out a range of standards on what people should expect when using health, social care or social work services in Scotland. These include the use of technology to support independence and having mo…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Digital Health and Care Strategy, how much it has spent on developing a fully interactive "Front Door" for health and care services.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Spend on the digital front door will come from the Digital Health and Care budget, which is £99.6m for 2022-23. Further details can be found in the answer to question S6W-13979 on 30 January 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available o…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Digital Health and Care Strategy, how much it has spent on developing an online triage system.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As per answer to question S6W-13986 on 31 January 2023 there are a number of developments underway to support online triage. However, we do not hold information on the amount spent specifically on online triage. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which areas do not currently provide 24-hour digital access to health and social care services through asynchronous communication, and what plans it has to introduce such access in these areas.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We are not currently aware of any Health Boards that are not using a form of asynchronous communication as part of their public service offering.
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Digital Health and Care Strategy, how it has increased the number of ways whereby people can access the care, support and information that they need.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The use of digital continues to be a key priority to support better choice and access to health and care services. The Near Me video consultation service has now supported in excess of 1.8m people through appointments since early 2020 across Scotland, avoidin…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Digital Health and Care Strategy, whether it has developed an online triage system, and, if so, how many patients have used the system, and what services they have been directed to, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government supports the further development and implementation of online triage, rather than the development of a single online triage system. An example of this is the recent publication by NHS 24 of their ‘NHS 24 Online’ app, and the Self Help …
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to enable patients to have more control over their health and care information since publishing its Digital Health and Care Strategy in October 2021.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Digital Health and Care Strategy was further reinforced in November 2022 with the publication of the Digital Health and Care Delivery Plan . In addition, a Data Strategy for health and care is due to be published early this year, which was consulted on …
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding Scotland's Digital Health and Care Strategy, whether it has developed a fully interactive "Front Door", and how many people have accessed it, broken down by (a) whether the method of access was (i) online and (ii) via mobile and (b) NHS board.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Digital Front Door is currently in the programme startup phase of its development and is not currently a live service. The commitment is to introduce an interactive ‘Front Door’ by the end of this Parliament in 2026, following public consultation and enga…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to provide 24-hour digital access to health and social care services through asynchronous communication with patients.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We are currently developing a variety of asynchronous communication pathways across health and care in Scotland. Digital health and care developments provide a form of asynchronous communication including the Remote Health Pathways Programme (including the us…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the SFA about the future of the national football stadium.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government and Scottish FA meet regularly to discuss a range of issues. However, there have been no recent discussions about the future of the national stadium.
13 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients and residents currently being cared for by health and social care services (a) do and (b) do not have access to free Wi-Fi (i) at their bedside and (ii) in public areas within their healthcare setting, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. All Health Boards have a responsibility to ensure that that Wi-Fi is of a sufficient standard to support both patients and staff to have access to connectivity. In 2019, Scotland undertook it…
13 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work Connecting Scotland has done with NHS Scotland to assist people in accessing online health services.
Answer · Ivan McKee: When the Connecting Scotland programme first launched, its early aims were to support people shielding or vulnerable to Covid-19. This allowed for devices, connectivity and skills to be provided alongside guidance and information on how to access health and c…
13 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to evaluate the virtual health treatment tool, Near Me, and whether any such evaluation will involve service users.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Near me video consulting service has been evaluated from 2 separate occasions but the university of oxford. See links – https://www.gov.scot/publications/evaluation-attend-anywhere-near-video-consulting-service-scotland-2019-20-main-report/ https://www.gov…