Carol Mochan

6 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on which stations that are managed by (a) Network Rail in Scotland and (b) ScotRail provide Changing Places toilet facilities, and during which hours these facilities are open to the public.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Information listing the location and opening hours of all Changing Places facilities, including those within railway stations is available from the Changing Places Toilet website. For Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central stations, this is available on Netwo…

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address any lack of public awareness, knowledge and understanding of women’s reproductive health conditions and the prevalence of such conditions. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Women’s Health Plan set out actions which aim to address women’s health inequalities by raising awareness around women’s health, improving access to health care for women across their lives, and reducing inequalities in health outcomes f…

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging more women to participate in clinical trails and research to ensure that the clinical data it receives is more effective and inclusive of how a women’s body reacts to medications and treatments. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: Within the Scottish Government policy responsibility for Health and Care Research sits with the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) CSO is engaged with the MESSAGE (Medical Science Sex and Gender Equity) project, a UK-wide initiative which aims to improve the integr…

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its strategy is to tackle the reported long waiting times for gynaecological treatments. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: Women’s Health is key priority for this government which is why Scotland was the first country in the UK to publish an ambitious Women’s Health Plan in August 2021. Timely access to gynaecology services will remain a priority as we continue to dev…

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to change any perception of coronary heart disease and heart attacks as diseases that only affect men, and to raise awareness among women of the diseases, in order that they know their own 

Answer · Jenni Minto: Our Women’s Health Plan 2021 – 2024 identified the need to shift the perception of heart disease in women. We delivered a successful awareness campaign throughout February 2023. In 2024, we worked closely with the ALLIANCE Scotland to improve awar…

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what strategies are in place to reduce any inequality faced by women, in light of them being statistically less likely to receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) than a man. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy 2021 – 2026 contains a commitment to addressing key inequalities in out of hospital cardiac arrest outcomes and references inequality in the provision of CPR in women. Through the delivery of this strategy, Sa…

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it recommends to any women who have faced "medical misogyny" when asking for help and attempting to receive health care. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 and supporting legislation, provides a specific right for people to make complaints, raise concerns, make comments and give feedback. The Act also places a duty on NHS Boards to thoroughly investigate and respond to any …

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how the Softer Landing, Safer Care programme is working for international medical graduates. 

Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in answer S6W-32799 on 14 January 2025 when the Softer Landing, Safer Care programme was introduced health boards agreed with NES to implement the programme for International Medical graduates (IMGs) starting their first hospital placement in NHS S…

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any reports of the Softer Landing, Safer Care programme making a difference to any international medical graduates experiencing microaggression or racial abuse. 

Answer · Neil Gray: There are no reports on the impact of the Softer Landing, Safer Care Programme however NHS Education for Scotland (NES) works with service leads to ensure all learners work within inclusive environments. A comprehensive strategy exists through NES’s &ls…

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who oversees the Softer Landing, Safer Care programme.   

Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in answer S6W-32799 on 14 January 2025 when the Softer Landing, Safer Care programme was introduced health boards agreed with NES to implement the programme for International Medical graduates (IMGs) starting their first hospital placement in NHS S…

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported increasing demand on the NHS, what is being done to support and retain doctors. 

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has so far invested over £190 million in pay uplifts for acute hospital doctors employed by NHS Scotland in 2024-25. This investment will ensure NHS Scotland remains the place of choice to work and train and is in recognition of …

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to data from the British Heart Foundation showing that, in Scotland, women are less likely to undergo angiography, receive revascularisation therapies and receive potentially lifesaving medications when they leave hospital. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: We thank researchers at the University of Aberdeen and the Keele Cardiovascular Research Group for their important contribution to understanding sex disparities in care and outcomes across Scotland amongst men and women admitted for heart attacks.  We wi…

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to reduce any inequality within women’s cardiac health, in light of research from the British Heart Foundation, which shows that women are 50% more likely than men to receive the wrong initial diagnosis for a heart attack. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: We made clear commitments to tackling the inequalities faced by women with heart disease in our Women’s Health Plan, published in August 2021. Actions taken and progress are outlined in the Women's health plan 2021 to 2024: final report - gov.scot. Our…

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to ensure that the recent reports of "medical misogyny" within gynaecological health care will not affect people in the future. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Women’s Health Plan set out actions which aim to address women’s health inequalities by raising awareness around women’s health, improving access to health care for women across their lives, and reducing inequalities in health outcomes f…

23 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is monitoring the Softer Landing, Safer Care programme to assess how often it is being used across hospital workforces. 

Answer · Neil Gray: NHS Education for Scotland (NES) has developed the Softer Landing, Safer Care programme. When it was introduced health boards agreed with NES to implement the programme for International Medical graduates (IMGs) starting their first hospital placement in NHS …

17 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what training is currently provided to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service staff on interacting with and supporting people who have alcohol use disorder.

Answer · Dorothy Bain: Prosecutors come into contact on a daily basis with individuals living with alcohol use disorder and its consequences. It is appropriate that COPFS staff are trained in relation to the causes and consequences of addiction, including alcohol use disorder, to a…

17 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6T-02170 by Fiona Hyslop on 5 November 2024, what further details it can provide regarding what additional aid will be put in place to support people who may require assistance at railway stations, such as some older and disabled people, in t…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government’s agreement to ScotRail proposals to adjust opening hours of some of its ticket offices is predicated on the condition that disabled travellers’ access to services will not be affected by these proposals.Proposed adjustment…

17 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what training is currently provided to prison staff on interacting with and supporting people who have alcohol use disorder.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:During seven weeks of training, new prison officers receive training on a range of strategies and interventions designed to support thos…

17 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what training is currently provided to sheriffs on interacting with and supporting people who have alcohol use disorder.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Lord President as head of the Scottish judiciary is responsible for the training of judicial office holders. Training is delivered by the judicial institute for Scotland.

17 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6T-02170 by Fiona Hyslop on 5 November 2024, what further details it can provide regarding what plans it has in place to ensure the protection of women and girls in the event that the proposed reduction in staffed hours at ScotRail station ticket …

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Once the plans have been implemented, the improved staff visibility and ScotRail having the ability to deploy staff more flexibly will not only improve the feeling of safety for all passengers, including women and girls, but also maintain an environment, whic…

17 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the first report on the outcomes of the expansion of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) for adults in treatment for alcohol and drug dependence in England, which was published on 11 December 2024, and whether it will consider introducing a…

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government’s Drugs and Alcohol Workforce Action Plan 2023–2026 outlines a range of measures aimed at supporting individuals with lived experience of substance use to enter employment.The Scottish Government is aware of, and is reviewi…

16 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its population health framework will be published; whether this will include regulations to restrict the promotion of food and drink products that it considers are high in (a) fat, (b) sugar and (c) salt content and, if so, by what dates it expects these restrictions to come into fo…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government and COSLA are co-producing the Population Health Framework which will be published in Spring 2025. Extensive engagement has been undertaken throughout 2024 with public, third and private sector partners to support development of priori…

16 Dec 2024 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the recruitment and retention of nurses, in light of recent reports that the number of students accepted onto nursing courses remains below its targets.

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many HIV clinics currently provide in-house psychological support services.

Answer · Jenni Minto: This information is not held centrally. NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships are the experts on their communities and are responsible for providing services that meet local needs. This may include providing services in-house or, where appropriat…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people living with HIV have a diagnosed mental health condition.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The information requested is not held centrally. Public Health Scotland conducts HIV surveillance and publishes an annual statistical report, however this does not include data on people living with HIV in Scotland who have a diagnosed mental health condition.

11 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what levels of support are currently available to women experiencing domestic abuse.

9 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the findings of its consultation on proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, salt and sugar, which was held from February to May 2024, and what the next steps will be.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We will publish the independent analysis report of the consultation responses in early 2025, as well as next steps for the regulation of HFSS food and drink promotions.

9 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the effectiveness of public health awareness campaigns regarding the link between smoking and cancer.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Smoking is the most significant cause of preventable cancer in Scotland (18%). By 2034, we aim to be living in a Tobacco-Free Scotland, reducing smoking rates to below 5%.To help achieve this, the Scottish Government launched the “Quit Your Way” s…

9 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered any psychological impact of requiring women and girls to travel long distances for (a) maternity and (b) gynaecological care.

Answer · Jenni Minto: NHS Boards across Scotland are expected to provide maternity services that are delivered as close to home as practicable; however, this must be balanced with ensuring the safety of all mothers and babies. All decisions about care throughout pregnancy, includi…

9 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the scope of businesses that will be required to follow regulations restricting promotions of food and drink high in fat, salt and sugar, and whether there will be any exemptions.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The public consultation on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt closed on 21 May 2024. The consultation sought views on qualifying businesses in scope of regulations and proposed exemptions.We …