Carol Mochan

30 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of data from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland showing that cardiovascular deaths among working-age adults rose by 18% from 2019 to 2023, whether it will match the BHF’s commitment to reducing premature deaths from cardiovascular disease by 25% by 2035.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Factors programme aims to reduce avoidable CVD death by 20% in 20 years. The focus is on improving the identification and management of key risk factors which are; high blood pressure, high cho…

30 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve outcomes from cardiovascular disease, in light of an analysis from British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland, which reportedly shows that Scotland has seen the first sustained rise in heart disease deaths in a generation.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has launched the Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Factors programme to improve CVD outcomes with an aim to ‘reduce avoidable CVD death by 20% in 20 years’. The focus is on improving the identification and management of key…

28 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure the support and safety of youth workers, in light of the reported rise in antisocial behaviour and violent crime among young people.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government highly values the support provided to young people by youth workers. Violence towards youth workers is unacceptable and all employees, including youth workers, have the right to be safe at work and to feel safe at work.Through introduc…

28 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce the rate of accidental workplace deaths, in light of reports that Scotland has the highest rate in the UK.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Health and safety legislation applies to all employers across the UK without exception and is a reserved matter under the authority of the UK Parliament.It is an employer’s duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their staff and where death or…

28 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to Healthcare Improvement Scotland's Unannounced Inspection Report: Maternity Services Safe Delivery of Care Inspection - Ninewells Hospital, how it plans to support maternity units to ensure that women are receiving acceptable levels of care and are able to maintain dignity at…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Safe Delivery of Care in acute settings maternity inspections were introduced to ensure that all service users in maternity services receive the highest standard of care, as well as to identify opportunities for learning for all NHS Boards. NHS Boards are…

28 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in the provision of roof slating apprenticeship courses in Ayrshire, in order that young people in the area can benefit from the £300 million investment in heat and energy in line with the Just Transition Plan’s aims and objectives.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Skills Development Scotland (SDS) holds operational responsibility for the delivery of apprenticeships across Scotland, including the assessment of sectoral demand. Within the roofing sector, there are currently three distinct apprenticeship pathways, all of …

28 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how the policy and planning that it has put in place will address reported concerns by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights about "high rates of maternal mortality" and "disparities in access to sexual and reproductive health services" affectin…

Answer · Jenni Minto: We are not aware of high rates of maternal mortality in remote and rural areas of Scotland, and unfortunately the ICESCR report does not provide any evidence in support of this statement in its report in relation to Scotland or the UK.All women and girls who …

28 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recently reported research, which suggests that hundreds of lives could be saved every year with extra cancer scans for women with very dense breasts.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government, along with the other UK nations, relies on advice about screening programmes from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group.We welcome research on the further improvements that can be made to o…

16 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent action it has taken to improve recruitment and retention within the nursing workforce, in light of the Royal College of Nursing’s report, The Nursing Workforce in Scotland 2025.

Answer · Neil Gray: As referred to in the Royal College of Nursing’s report, The Nursing Workforce in Scotland 2025, published on 6 May 2025, the Scottish Government published the Ministerial Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce report in February 2025.The report includes 44 re…

16 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of its Programme for Government 2025-26, what action it is taking to ensure that alcohol harm prevention is integrated into its health agenda.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Alcohol harm prevention is firmly embedded in the Scottish Government’s approach to improving Scotland’s health, as demonstrated by our world leading policy of minimum unit pricing. Work is underway to consider the range of options for any future …

16 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to increase the role of registered (a)(i) district, (ii) school and (iii) general practice nurses and (b) health visitors to help reduce health inequalities.

Answer · Neil Gray: Tackling health inequalities is a key part of the preventative care role for school nurses, general practice nurses and health visitors and is aligned to public health priorities to improve health and wellbeing outcomes, particularly for women and children. D…

16 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its review into nursing student finance will conclude, and when it will publish the findings.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery (PNM) student financial support review is currently ongoing. This review will take time, as it is important that we clearly understand how we can support our PNM students to complete their studies. The options for consider…

16 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve data collection across (a) social care, (b) general practice and (c) NHS services.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the collection and use of data in health and social care, ultimately to improve outcomes for people.For example:a) We have set up the Social Care Data and Intelligence Programme Board (SCDIPB) to support and o…

13 May 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent action it has taken to improve the prevention and monitoring of malnutrition and dehydration.

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to ensure compliance with the new requirement of keepers for all captive birds to be registered on the Scottish Kept Bird Register. 

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Prior to 1 September 2024, the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (Scotland) Order 2007 required all keepers with 50 or more poultry at any single premises to notify the Scottish Ministers (in writing) in relation to those premises. The information require…

9 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the levels of compliance by different sectors with the requirements of the Scottish Kept Bird Register to date. 

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Enforcement of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (Scotland) Order 2007, which is the legislation under which the requirement for bird keepers in Scotland to notify the Scottish Ministers (in writing) in relation to the premises where birds are kept, w…

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports local community groups to tackle loneliness and isolation in rural areas. 

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government recognises the heightened risk of social isolation in rural areas. To support the delivery of our Social Isolation and Loneliness Delivery Plan, we are providing £3.8m over three years to 53 community projects across Scotland thr…

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support and improve the experiences of any women of Wigtownshire who have reportedly had to travel 80 miles to give birth without access to pain relief, in light of the increased risk of giving birth at the roadside. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: As outlined in the response to S6W-32069 on 6 January 2025, the Scottish Government expects all NHS Boards to provide maternity services that are delivered as close to home as practicable, balanced with ensuring the safety of mother and baby. Within the polic…

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to improve the reported lack of maternity care provision in Wigtownshire. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: NHS Dumfries and Galloway has confirmed that all pregnant women in Wigtownshire continue to receive all of the maternity care that they require. Antenatal and postnatal maternity care, including maternity scanning is delivered by midwives locally via the Oakt…

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging people to participate in groups such as walking football for both the physical and social benefits. 

Answer · Maree Todd: We recognise that being physically active is one of the very best things we can do for our physical, social and mental health and we want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be active, regardless of their circumstances.Our Physical Activity For Hea…

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to encourage older people and people who experience loneliness to join and participate in local social groups. 

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: Although widespread across all ages and demographics, data tells us that disabled people, young people (16-24), people over 75 and those on low incomes are now the most at risk of social isolation and loneliness. To support the delivery of our Social Isolatio…

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support volunteer-led community tourism in rural areas. 

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government, along with our tourism agency VisitScotland, acknowledges the significance of community tourism. VisitScotland has teams strategically located throughout rural Scotland that are instrumental in collaborating with regional stakeholders…

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging communities to improve local tourism in their area. 

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37556 on 21 May 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-commit…

7 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to instigate a (a) review and (b) risk assessment on the outcomes for maternity care, in light of its reported withdrawal of maternity services from Wigtownshire, and, if so, when. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: Maternity services continue to be provided for women in Wigtownshire, including local antenatal and postnatal care, scanning and the option of midwife-supported home birth for women who choose to birth locally. Women who require more complex maternity care co…

6 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct a national needs assessment for alcohol to inform the development of strategic priorities for future recovery-oriented treatment, care and support provision.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has no specific plans to carry out a national alcohol needs assessment at the moment, but recognises the benefits of needs assessments to help develop our strategic priories for improving care and support for people impacted by alcohol…

6 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish alcohol care teams in acute hospital settings.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is constantly working to ensure that local services fully assess local needs to identify unmet need. Some hospitals run alcohol care teams already but there is a need for wider coverage .This approach has been shown to improve outcomes…

6 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further action it will take to increase access to alcohol detoxification services.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government fully recognises the need for improved access to detoxification services. This is an issue we are keen to see addressed through our strategy. Improving access to effective detoxification services is essential to ensure people can acces…

6 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a new alcohol strategy, and, if so, what the timescale is for its delivery.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government will set out its future approach to alcohol and drugs before the end of this parliamentary term.To develop this plan we are engaging with partner organisations, including delivery bodies and the voices of those with lived and living ex…

30 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contracts have been awarded in the development of the NHS Scotland app.

Answer · Neil Gray: Delivery responsibility for the online app for health and social care sits with NHS Education for Scotland (NES), who have been commissioned by the Scottish Government to lead on the overall Digital Front Door Programme. To date, NES have awarded two contract…

30 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the national roll-out of the NHS Scotland digital front door app.

Answer · Neil Gray: I can confirm we will provide an update on the roll-out of the Health and Social Care app in Summer 2025 as set out in our Operational Improvement Plan, as well as in the answer to question S6W-35982 on 28 March 2025.All answers to written parliamentary quest…