Elaine Smith

30 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a statutory time limit for return chronic pain appointments similar to that in place for new patients, in light of figures released under freedom of information, which record that clinics dealt with 20,117 new and around 40,000 return appointments in 2018.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30489 on 21 March 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…

30 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of there being no statutory waiting time for return chronic pain patient appointments, what analysis it has carried out of the waiting times being experienced by people requiring such appointments.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-27155 on 19 February 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…

28 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to the use of preventative, as opposed to reactive, treatments to reduce the death rate from asthma.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Prevention is a key priority in our consultation on the draft Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland. We know that reducing the risk of respiratory conditions including asthma, means reducing or avoiding exposure to common risk factors. We have set out amb…

28 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that as many women (a) carers and (b) with asthma as possible engage with the consultation on its draft Respiratory Care Action Plan.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Throughout the development of the Draft Respiratory Care Action Plan (Plan) for Scotland, we have engaged with stakeholders across the respiratory community and third sector, including the British Lung Foundation and Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, to ensure…

28 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it is undertaking into the reasons for asthma affecting women more than men.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO) provides funding opportunities for applied health and social care research in Scotland, which includes research on gender differences in asthma, through CSO’s open competitive grant schemes and similar sche…

28 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the higher death rate from asthma among women, compared with that for men.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the best possible care and support is in place for everyone living with a respiratory condition regardless of gender and this includes asthma. Over the past few years we have co-funded work with Asthma UK…

28 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported increase in the number of women dying from asthma-related conditions.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the best possible care and support is in place for everyone living with a respiratory condition regardless of gender and this includes asthma. Over the past few years we have co-funded work with Asthma UK…

28 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its draft Respiratory Care Action Plan consultation document does not highlight that more women than men are affected by, and die from, asthma.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO) provides funding opportunities for applied health and social care research in Scotland, which includes research on gender differences in asthma, through CSO’s open competitive grant schemes and similar sc…

27 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect the jobs of Coatbridge rail freight terminal workers.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-27158 on 20 February 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…

27 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what level of investment it has planned for Scottish rail freight and terminals such as Coatbridge to preserve the role of rail freight in reducing carbon emissions.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Rail services are vital to achieve our emissions reductions targets and freight model shift to rail has significant and sustainable environmental benefits. For these reasons we continue to invest in Scotland’s railways, will soon publish our rail decarbonisat…

27 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Freightliner Plc, (b) its owner, Gennessee & Wyoming Inc and (c) the RMT Union regarding the future of Coatbridge rail freight terminal.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with Freightliner and have spoken recently to Freightliner’s CEO who has confirmed that Freightliner does not have plans to close the Coatbridge rail freight terminal. Whilst there has been no formal discussion on t…

27 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on its implementation of Scotland's rail freight strategy, Delivering the Goods, since it was published in 2016.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Our approach to supporting rail freight is outlined in our rail freight strategy of 2016, strengthened by new Network Rail targets to grow rail freight and backed by past and current investment including a £25 million Scottish Strategic Rail Freight Fund and …

27 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the closure of Coatbridge rail freight terminal would have on Scotland’s commitment to become carbon neutral by the year 2040.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with Freightliner and have spoken recently to Freightliner’s CEO who has advised that Freightliner has no plans to close the Coatbridge rail freight terminal.

27 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the £25 million ring-fenced fund for rail freight is being spent to safeguard terminals such as Coatbridge.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government’s £25 million Scottish Strategic Rail Freight Fund complements our wider spend on rail and is helping to unlock opportunities for rail freight across the country. One of the projects the Fund will support is infrastructure enhancements…

19 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances GPs can choose not to prescribe drugs that are available on their NHS board's formulary.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The choice of drug to prescribe from a local formulary list, or to prescribe off-formulary, is a clinical decision which will be taken in consultation with the patient.

19 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether GPs can choose not to prescribe drugs to people who are being seen by an endocrinologist because of cost reasons.  

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Decisions by GPs on drugs to prescribe are based on safety, clinical effectiveness (efficacy) and cost effectiveness which is a clinical judgement. A prescriber will consider the clinical advice provided by the specialist when making the final decision about …

13 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will detail the process for pharmacists purchasing (a) liothyronine (T3) and (b) other medication from pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The process for community pharmacists purchasing liothyronine (T3) is the same as that for all other medicines dispensed in the community. Community pharmacies are independent contractors who are responsible for purchasing medicines from pharmaceutical suppl…

13 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether people who require liothyronine (T3) medication should have to purchase this from overseas due to a lack of availability in Scotland.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government does not support importing any medicine, whether licenced or not, from abroad for medical use. All Health Boards in Scotland have confirmed that they are committed to: 1. a holistic and safe review of patients prescribed T3 which is u…

13 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the impact of the availability of liothyronine (T3) on people with an under-active thyroid.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is supportive of the guidelines published by the British Thyroid Association in 2015. These are that T4 remains the treatment of choice in hypothyroidism. However, each Health Board in Scotland has confirmed that they are committed to …

13 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who determines the dosage, e.g. 5mg, 10mg or 20mg, of liothyronine (T3) in tablets that can be sourced by pharmacists for people with an under-active thyroid.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Pharmaceutical manufacturers are responsible for developing medicine, including determining the strength/dose, formulation and recommendations on appropriate dosages/quantity to be taken. Pharmaceutical companies invest in and undertake extensive research int…

13 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether pharmaceutical companies produce various dosages, e.g. 5mg, 10mg or 20mg, of liothyronine (T3) medication, and what its position is on whether these should be made available to people with an under-active thyroid.

Answer · Jeane Freeman:  Liothyronine (T3) is licenced and available for use in the UK in 5 microgram, 10 microgram and 20 microgram strengths. All medicines are prescribed based on clinical need. Doctors and other prescribers should always discuss treatment options with individual…

10 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26491 by Humza Yousaf on 6 December 2019, how the specific needs and concerns of female prisoners are taken into consideration as part of the individual risk assessment procedures.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: Decisions on the accommodation and management of transgender people in SPS care are fully informed by a robust risk assessment. This r…

10 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26491 by Humza Yousaf on 6 December 2019, which organisations and other stakeholders provide external advice to the internal SPS working group.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: SPS works with a range of third sector criminal and social justice partners and stakeholders in Scotland. The internal SPS working gro…

6 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the overhead line coverage provided by Network Rail in Scotland, including the operator's ability to respond to faults; what discussions it has had with it regarding the adequateness of this, and what the outcome was of these discussions.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government funds Network Rail in Scotland to operate and maintain a high performing rail network. However, Network Rail is a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Government, over which the Scottish Government does not have direct control. Therefore …

6 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, between 15 November and 6 December 2019, Network Rail did not cover 264 shifts across its four overhead line depots in Scotland, and what impact any subsequent overhead line faults had on passengers.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government funds Network Rail in Scotland to operate and maintain a high performing rail network. However, Network Rail is a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Government, over which the Scottish Government does not have direct control. Therefore …

21 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when MSPs and other interested parties will be consulted on the review of the 2014 Scottish Prison Service paper, Gender Identity and Gender Reassignment Policy for those in our Custody.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: SPS is committed to open consultation as part of the review of the ‘Gender Identity and Gender Reassignment Policy for those in our Cu…

1 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to encourage the inclusion of young disabled people in community groups.

Answer · Maree Todd: In April this year, the Scottish Government launched the Supporting Disabled Children, Young People and their Families website. As part of the development of the resource, a young disabled person’s focus group was invited to meet with policy officials to ask …

1 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what leisure activities and opportunities are available to young disabled people in the (a) North Lanarkshire area and (b) rest of the country.

Answer · Maree Todd: Through the provision of a core grant to YouthLink Scotland, and through the National Voluntary Organisations support fund, the Scottish Government supports many youth projects in North Lanarkshire. This support along with the Cashback for Communities funding…

1 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that young disabled people are given the opportunity to take part in activities in their communities.

Answer · Maree Todd: We recognise that effective solutions to the problems and barriers faced by young disabled people must be drawn from the lived experience of young disabled people. We are committed to working with young disabled people to develop policies and the approaches r…

10 Sep 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many appointments have been made to the Monklands Replacement Oversight Board, and what skills, expertise and local knowledge are reflected in these appointments.