Jackie Baillie

22 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether risk assessments are currently required before the transfer of any patient to a care home, in the event that they have an infectious disease.

Answer · Maree Todd: The current guidance in the Care Home Infection Prevention and Control Manual (CH IPCM) produced by Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland states that before a resident is admitted to a care home it is important to under…

22 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have died from heart disease in each of the last five years, and, of these, how many were classed as premature deaths.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Scottish Cardiac Audit Programme publishes data on heart disease mortality including information on deaths under 65. Data is available at: Scottish Cardiac Audit Programme report 2023/2024 - Scottish…

22 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the delivery of its winter vaccination programme was achieved in November 2024, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The following table shows the breakdown of this winter’s COVID-19 and flu vaccination uptake that was achieved as of 1 December 2024, broken down by Health Board. The table also shows the uptake as a percentage for the whole for Scotland.This data is pu…

22 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether GPs will be able to deliver the winter vaccination programme for their area in the future, should they wish to do so.

Answer · Neil Gray: Health Boards are responsible for delivery of Scotland’s vaccination programmes, unless there are exceptional circumstances. This approach enables GP practices to focus on what only they can do.

21 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the public inquiry into the investigation of Emma Caldwell's murder.

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has proposed reducing the Young Patients Family Fund by £700,000 in its draft Budget 2025-26, and what its response is to reported concerns that this sets a precedent for further reductions to the support that children and young people with cancer, and their fami…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) is designed to support the families of all babies, children and young people from birth to age 18 who require inpatient care in Scotland, regardless of diagnosis.The YPFF is a demand-led fund and the Scottish Government h…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will expand the Young Patients Family Fund eligibility criteria to (a) those attending day treatment and (b) under-25s.

Answer · Jenni Minto: There are no plans to expand eligibility of The Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) at this time.In addition to support available under the YPFF, financial support for travel to hospital is available via the patient travel expenses reimbursement schemes. Under …

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to renew the Collaborative and Compassionate Care – The Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland 2021-2026.

Answer · Neil Gray: The delivery of the Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland 2021- 2026 continues to be taken forwards by the Managed Service Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MSN CYPC) into 2026.The progression of actions in the strategy ar…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish an evaluation of the outcomes of the Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care – The Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland 2021-2026.

Answer · Neil Gray: Implementation and evaluation of the Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care The Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland 2021–2026 is managed by the Managed Service Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MSN CYPC).Consi…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data is published that disaggregates the information that it has for 16- to 25-year-olds with cancer from other age groups.

Answer · Neil Gray: Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes annual data on 16 to 25 year olds with cancer in Scotland in their incidence statistics. The latest report is available on the PHS websitePHS also publishes information on cancer in children (ages 0 to 14) and young peop…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will capture the experience of under 16-year-olds with cancer, and their parents, in a survey, similar to the surveys of those over 16 with the condition.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Managed Service Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MSN CYPC) are currently working with Young Lives vs. Cancer (YLvC) to take forward learning from the NHS England and Picker Institute U16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey, to see if this c…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it provides to 18- to 25-year-olds to attend day appointments for cancer treatment.

Answer · Neil Gray: Health Boards are expected to support patients and their families in identifying and accessing available support. Financial support for travel is available for patients and authorised escorts, according to eligibility criteria and medical requirements, throug…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that funding measures announced in its draft Budget 2025-26 do not go far enough to address the challenges facing children and young people with cancer.

Answer · Neil Gray: The dedicated Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland 2021- 2026 was published in 2021. This strategy emphasises the Scottish Government’s commitment to improving the distinct care and support services required for children and young p…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that any of the £4.5 million budget for the actions in the Neurological Care and Support in Scotland: A Framework for Action 2020 – 2025 will not have been spent by March 2025; if so, how much of the budget it anticipates will have been spent …

Answer · Jenni Minto: It is forecast that £3.185m will have been spent by the end of March 2025 for activity related to the aims in the Neurological Care and Support in Scotland: A Framework for Action 2020 – 2025.The Framework was published in 2019 and despite the ext…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) neuropsychologists and (b) trainee neuropsychologists there are, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The latest data received by the Scottish Government from NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is as follows:a) WTE Applied Psychologists working in Neuropsychology in NHS Scotland as of 30 September 2024:NHS BoardWTE Applied Psychologists working in Neuropsycholo…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to advance professional expertise in the training of neurologists in (a) immunology and (b) virology, and what action it is taking to improve the integration of neurological practice with these specialities.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Neurology trainees are provided with training in immunology and virology. The curriculum for neurology training, published by the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board, includes Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) on managing inflammatory and infectio…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which neurological conditions it has invested in through framework funding during the period covered by the Neurological Care and Support Framework for Action 2020–2025.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The largest proportion of funding has been awarded to projects that improve services for all or more than one neurological condition, including services for carers. Direct investment was also made to projects for the following specific conditions:Acquired Bra…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has identified the next priorities for the improvement of neurological care and support; if so, what these priorities are; what funding it will put towards achieving them, and over what time period.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Priorities for the Scottish Government are:national implementation of the Scottish Epilepsy Register,further adoption of successful approaches to improving services through the neurological conditions network,continued improvements in provision of ‘soci…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any so-called postcode lottery in neurological care and support provision has been fully addressed through the actions set out in the document, Neurological Care and Support in Scotland: A Framework for Action 2020 – 2025.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The aims contained in the document Neurological Care and Support in Scotland: A Framework for Action 2020 – 2025 are applicable to healthcare delivery across Scotland. Through this we have supported a number of national initiatives to improve care and r…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the priorities from the Neurological Care and Support Framework for Action 2020-2025 that will not have been reached by the end of the framework period.

Answer · Jenni Minto: A final report on the Neurological Care and Support in Scotland: A Framework for Action 2020-2025 will be published by the Scottish Government when the Framework reaches the end of its agreed lifespan. An assessment of future priorities for neurological condi…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards have not received any direct investment in neurology services since the start of the period covered by the Neurological Care and Support Framework for Action 2020-2025.

Answer · Jenni Minto: All Health Boards in Scotland receiving baselined funding from the Scottish Government toward their neurology services. As part of Planned Care funding, the Scottish Government has also invested £217,000 in total towards improving waiting times in NHS T…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in clinical research into (a) dementia, (b) neurodegenerative conditions, (c) non-neurodegenerative conditions and (d) other neurological conditions in each of the last five years.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Within the Scottish Government, funding for Health and Care Research comes under the policy remit of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO)CSO directly funds research through its research project and fellowship schemes. These are open to applications from across th…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people with a terminal neurological condition have met the criteria for requiring palliative care in each year since 2021-22, broken down by how many received specialist palliative care.

Answer · Jenni Minto: This information is not held centrally by either Scottish Government or Public Health Scotland (PHS).

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Stroke Improvement Plan 2023 to deliver a detailed plan for further development of the national thrombectomy service before the end of 2023, whether it remains committed to publishing such a plan, and, if so, when it plans to do so, and whether it will …

Answer · Jenni Minto: The commitment in the Stroke Improvement Plan to publish a plan for further development of the national thrombectomy service in the second half of 2023 was published in December 2023, available at: Thrombectomy Service Update and Expansion OutlineIt should be…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the funding for thrombectomy services set out in its draft Budget 2025-26 was calculated, and how this level of funding will assist in meeting the objective of a national round-the-clock thrombectomy service, as set out in priority 3 of the Stroke Improvement Plan 2023.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government draft budget 2025-26 has been informed by planning forecasts provided by the Thrombectomy Advisory Group (TAG). Clinicians and third sector organisations, as well as NHS planning colleagues, are represented on the TAG and the informati…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to have a national AI system in place to support delivery of mechanical thrombectomy, and, if so, when. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: To date, significant work has been undertaken to develop robust criteria for a national AI solution to assist with identifying patients who may benefit from a thrombectomy.A tendering process has commenced and the suitability and affordability of AI solutions…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the £16 million allocated to stroke thrombectomy services in the draft Budget 2025-26. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: Work is ongoing to establish how the £16 million funding announced in the draft Scottish budget will be best used to maximise the number of patients able to benefit from thrombectomy.The new Scottish Budget was presented to Parliament on 4 December 2024…

15 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it has had with stroke clinicians and third sector organisations in relation to thrombectomy funding in its draft Budget 2025-26.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government draft budget 2025-26 has been informed by planning forecasts provided by the Thrombectomy Advisory Group (TAG). Clinicians and third sector organisations, as well as NHS planning colleagues, are represented on the TAG and the informati…

10 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Screening Committee will next meet, and whether lung cancer screening will be an item on the agenda.

Answer · Jenni Minto: As set out in the answer to question S6W-33241 on 24 January 2025, Screening Oversight and Assurance Scotland are developing a business case for the implementation of a targeted lung screening programme, which is expected by the end of February 2025.Following…

10 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recommendations it has received from the Director of Screening, NHS National Services Scotland, regarding implementing lung cancer screening as a new targeted screening programme.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-33241 on 24 January 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-co…