Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what cost assumptions it has made about the additional costs for the (a) voluntary, (b) independent and (c) private sector in delivering the living wage of £8.25 per hour for adult social care staff.
Answer · Shona Robison: We have made national estimates on the cost of increasing wages to the living wage level. This analysis has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 57809).
7 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with providers in the (a) voluntary, (b) independent and (c) private sector regarding their share of the costs of paying staff engaged in providing adult social care the living wage of £8.25 per hour.
Answer · Shona Robison: We have made available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 57809) our estimated cost, at a national level, of increasing wages to the living wage. Partnership working between the Scottish Government, local government and our stakeholde…
2 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken a cost-benefit analysis of doing kidney transplants from living donors compared with treatment by dialysis.
Answer · Maureen Watt: All solid organ transplant services in Scotland are nationally commissioned by NHS Scotland’s National Services Division (NSD). Following publication of A Donation and Transplant Plan for Scotland 2013-2020, NSD undertook a comprehensive review of the potenti…
2 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are enough independent assessors to interview potential living donors and, if not, what action is being taken to recruit them.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Independent assessors (IA) play an important role in the assessment of potential living donors. Once accredited with the Human Tissue Authority (HTA), they act as a representative of both the donor and the HTA. There are sufficient IAs in Edinburgh, however t…
2 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the process is to become a living donor and how long it takes, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Maureen Watt: No data is available on how long it takes to become a living donor, broken down by NHS board. Assessment to become a living donor is tailored to individual needs and commitments and varies from person to person. The process usually takes at least three months…
2 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains its position that the council tax is “totally unfair”, “discredited” and “oppressive”.
Answer · Marco Biagi: The changes to local taxation announced on 2 March 2016 will create a system of local tax that combines elements of property and income-based taxation and which is progressive overall.
2 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that additional revenues raised through the proposed council tax reforms will be “invested directly in schools".
Answer · Marco Biagi: We will work with local government to ensure that the additional £100 million revenues are used to fund additional investment in schools within future local government finance settlements.
2 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what future investment it has planned for Dumbarton Castle.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As I indicated in my response to Jackie Baillie's oral question on 8 December 2015, the functions relating to the care, conservation and management of Properties in the Care of Scottish Ministers, of which Dumbarton Castle is one, have been delegated to Histo…
23 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people who attended A&E at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in each year since 2007 were resident in the Vale of Leven Hospital catchment area.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30056 on 4 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.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of (a) breast and (b) cervical cancer are detected at stage (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3 and (iv) 4 in the (A) most and (B) least deprived areas.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Table 1 shows the number of registrations of breast cancer detected at stage (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3 and (iv) 4 and Not Known in the (A) most and (B) least deprived areas for Scotland, in 20131. Table 1. Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2012 Quint…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the take up is of the (a) breast and (b) cervical cancer screening programme in the (i) most and (ii) least deprived areas.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Table 1 shows the breast screening uptake1,2 of women aged 50-703 by deprivation category4 for 2011-125. Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2011-12 Category Uptake 1 (Most deprived) 61.4 5 (Least deprived) 80.4 …
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government at what age women are eligible for breast screening and how often they are invited for screening.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Breast Screening Programme invites all women between the age of 50 and 70 for breast screening approximately every three years, based on GP practice. If women do not take up their initial invitation a reminder is used. Women aged over 70 can self…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any recent changes to the breast screening programme and, if so, what these are.
Answer · Maureen Watt: As part of the Detect Cancer Early Programme, the Scottish Breast Screening Programme recently transformed from older analogue equipment to digital technology along with the introduction of a new IT system.
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money will be saved as a result of it changing the age range for cervical cancer screening from 20-65 to 25-60.
Answer · Maureen Watt: From 1 June 2016 the age range for cervical screening will change from 20 to 60 years old and 25 to 65 years old. No cost saving has been calculated, the changes to the age range and frequency of screening were reviewed as an improvement in clinical effect…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many women will no longer be eligible for cervical cancer screening as a result of it changing the age range for this from 20-65 to 25-60.
Answer · Maureen Watt: From 6 June 2016 the age range for routine screening will be changing from 20 to 60 and 25 to 65. Women aged between 20 and 24 already in the screening programme will still be included in the eligible population. The number of women invited to participate in …
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has changed the age range for cervical cancer screening from 20-65 to 25-60, and whether it proposes any further changes.
Answer · Maureen Watt: On screening issues we are advised by the UK National Screening Committee (NSC), an independent expert advisory group which advises ministers and the NHS in the four UK countries about all aspects of screening. The NSC reviewed the age range for cervical s…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it was made aware of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s plan to make savings of £69 million, despite an uplift in its 2016-17 budget.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde routinely provide copies of their board papers, which for the meeting of 16 February 2016 were received on 9 February 2016. These savings are retained locally for reinvestment in frontline services and are in addition to a baseli…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it was made aware of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s plan to make £60 million in savings, which the board announced in December 2015.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's Local Delivery Plan for 2015-16 contains savings of £60 million within draft/final versions of the financial plan. The draft financial plan was received on 13 February 2015.
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it was made aware of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s plan to reduce the number of community maternity units in the west of Scotland, and whether it will take action to protect these services.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30051 on 4 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.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it was made aware of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s plan to close the children's ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30051 on 4 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.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it was made aware of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s plan to transfer emergency care from the Vale of Leven Hospital to the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: As made clear by the statement of the Chair of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on 15 January 2016 (available at: www.nhsggc.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/2016/01/chairmans-statement/), there are no such formal proposals.
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport agreed the plan by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to close ward six at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: No: as set out in the relevant national guidance (available at: www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2010_01.pdf), only proposed major service change in the NHS is subject to ministerial approval.
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it was made aware of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s plan to close ward six at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, who hold the responsibility for the planning and provision of local services, made the Scottish Government aware of its plans to re-provide the activity from ward six at the Vale of Leven Hospital in late November 2015, followin…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people from the Vale of Leven Hospital catchment area have been treated at the (a) Vale of Leven, (b) Royal Alexandra and (c) Golden Jubilee Hospital in each year since2007.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30056 on 4 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.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people who attended the (a) Minor Injuries Unit and (b) Medical Assessment Unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital in each year since 2007 were resident in the hospital's catchment area.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30056 on 4 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.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many babies born at the (a) Vale of Leven Community Midwifery Unit and (b) Royal Alexandra Hospital in each year since 2007 had parents who were resident in the Vale of Leven Hospital catchment area.
Answer · Shona Robison: Details of hospital catchment areas are not held centrally. Specific information may be available from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde who are responsible for the planning and provision of local services.
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many junior doctor posts there are at the Vale of Leven Hospital and how many are vacant, broken down by how long they have been vacant.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30038 on 4 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.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Vale of Leven Hospital staff have carried out shifts at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in (a) 2015 and (b) 2016.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30038 on 4 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.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times clinics at the Vale of Leven Hospital have been cancelled in each year since 2007.
Answer · Shona Robison: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde who are responsible for the planning and provision of local services.
22 Feb 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) consultants, (b) doctors, (c) nurses, (d) allied health professionals, (e) administrators and (f) other staff have been based at the Vale of Leven Hospital in each year since 2007.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government remains committed to maintaining and improving services at the Vale of Leven Hospital. We have been consistently clear that we see a bright future for the hospital, which plays a crucial role in the local healthcare system. Informatio…