Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a standard minimum nurse-to-patient ratio and, if so, whether this is statutory.
Answer · Alex Neil: There are no regulations or Scottish Government guidelines on minimum nurse to patient or nurse to healthcare assistant ratios, or use of minimum staffing ratios. Guidelines were issued to NHS boards in Scotland regarding the use of the national nursing and…
3 May 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are to recognise and promote Scotland’s cultural achievers locally.
2 May 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the reported comments of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing that “we are still going to need the same number of beds, the same number of hospitals, the same number of doctors and nurses just to stand still” in relation to an ageing population reflect Scottish Government po…
1 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14315 by Alex Neil on 30 April 2013, how many of the procedures were carried out by independent providers, broken down by provider.
Answer · John Swinney: This information is provided in the following table: Number of transvaginal mesh implant procedures performed by independent providers on behalf of the NHS in Scotland. Year Provider Number of procedures 2007-2008 Carrick Glen Hospital 5 2008-2009 Ca…
1 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14314 by Alex Neil on 30 April 2013, how many transvaginal mesh devices have been supplied to each NHS board in each year since 2007-08, broken down by (a) manufacturer and (b) type of device.
Answer · Alex Neil: Information on the number of transvaginal meshes supplied by National Procurement is given in the following table by NHS board and product. NHS Ayrshire and Arran NHS Fife NHS Highland NHS Lanarkshire NHS Grampian NHS Tayside NHS Forth Valley Total …
1 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14315 by Alex Neil on 30 April 2013, how many patients were diagnosed with acidovorans following the procedure.
Answer · Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally.
1 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14313 by Alex Neil on 30 April 2013, when the implant register will be in place and whether it will specifically include (a) PIP breast and (b) transvaginal mesh implants.
Answer · Alex Neil: The scope and timescale for implementation forms part of the consideration by officials, including colleagues from NHS National Services Scotland, Information Services Division, of options for an implant register. This is currently ongoing in consultation wi…
26 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish guidance evidencing what works in employability for people with mental illness, as set out in Commitment 29 of the Mental Health Strategy for Scotland: 2012-2015.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The implementation group established to oversee delivery of this commitment will have its first meeting in June. The group will be responsible for a number of commitments including employability and will continue to build on work developing an established bas…
26 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has achieved the HEAT target of 26 weeks from referral to treatment for specialist child and adolescent mental health services from March 2013.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Information on patients who started treatment within 26 weeks at Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) Services is published quarterly at the link http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Waiting-Times/Publications/. The latest publication includes inform…
26 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on progress toward achieving the 2014 HEAT target on accessing psychological therapies.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In preparation for reporting on the Psychological Therapies HEAT Target, ISD Scotland are collecting data on a monthly basis from NHS boards. Currently boards are at different stages in the format and completeness of the data they are able to report on, altho…
26 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish an implementation timeframe for the Mental Health Strategy for Scotland: 2012-2015.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We have already or are in the process of setting up a number of Implementation and Monitoring Groups which will oversee delivery of the commitments in the Strategy and developing consensus about future developments. Each of the groups is responsible for moni…
26 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government where the proposed away day for the executive team of Healthcare Improvement Scotland will be held; at what cost, and who will attend.
Answer · Alex Neil: Five members of the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Executive Team met on 9 April 2013 at the Scottish Health Service Centre, an NHSScotland resource which is part of National Services Scotland. The cost was £277.
26 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the concern about "transparency of communications" as set out in the minutes of Healthcare Improvement Scotland's Staff Governance Committee meeting of 26 March 2013 applies internally as well as to external relations.
Answer · Alex Neil: Like many organisations, Healthcare Improvement Scotland regularly survey staff to improve the way they work. The last survey, which was conducted in December 2012 shows improved scores in all areas. Some staff made comment around improving internal communica…
26 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what is meant by "there is still a long way to go", "significant issues remaining include treating everybody with respect" and "variable experiences of leadership" as set out in the minutes of Healthcare Improvement Scotland's Staff Governance Committee meeting of 26 March 2013.
Answer · Alex Neil: Healthcare Improvement Scotland is a relatively new organisation which has gone through significant change and restructure over the past 18 months. Some staff have experienced a period of uncertainty as they move into new structures and teams and have experie…
26 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to encourage "behavioural improvement" as set out in the minutes of Healthcare Improvement Scotland's Staff Governance Committee meeting of 26 March 2013 and whether this relates to accusations of workplace bullying.
Answer · Alex Neil: This statement relates to work required to further embed the values and behaviours’ of Healthcare Improvement Scotland which are aligned to the 2020 Workforce Vision and does not relate to accusations of workplace bullying. Mechanisms are being put in place t…
26 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the staff response to Healthcare Improvement Scotland's recent survey of how staff perceived the performance of the organisation.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) staff survey and responses to it were intended for internal use and reference and as such there was no intention to publish the results. The key themes of the survey have been shared with the HIS Partnership Forum and…
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are in hospital who have no requirement for continuing medical care, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Alex Neil: Information on the number of patients medically fit for discharge, but who are delayed awaiting the next stage of their care, is published in a quarterly census. Figures from the January 2013 Delayed Discharge quarterly census are available on the NHS Inform…
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what services are provided specifically for people with learning difficulties who have dementia.
Answer · Alex Neil: Everyone with dementia, including those with learning difficulties are entitled to receive care, treatment and support in line with the Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland (2011). People with dementia and a learning difficulty should receive a multi-di…
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people with learning difficulties have dementia.
Answer · Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally.
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage third sector partnerships to help integrate services for adults with learning difficulties.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Legislation will be introduced to Parliament before summer, that will place health boards and local authorities under a duty to work in collaboration with key stakeholders to plan and deliver nationally agreed outcomes, and we would expect these to include th…
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions (a) officials and (b) ministers have had with housing associations about the integration of health and social care.
Answer · Alex Neil: Ministers and officials have regular meetings with housing associations and their representative bodies to discuss a range of issues, including the integration of health and social care and the housing sector’s role and contribution to its objectives of suppo…
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether consideration of housing needs will form part of the integration of health and social care.
Answer · Alex Neil: We recognise the important role of housing in improving outcomes, particularly for people with long term conditions and complex needs and to support independent living in the community. Legislation will be introduced to Parliament before summer, that will pla…
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to restructure the council tax and, if so, whether it will increase the top band rates.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government considers the council tax to be unfair and have committed to freezing the tax for the duration of this Parliament to support hard pressed households. We will consult with others to produce a fairer local tax based on ability to pay lat…
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will fully fund council tax support for 2014-15.
Answer · John Swinney: No decisions have been made on how future support for council tax will be provided, as the introduction of Universal Credit will fundamentally affect how support may be provided.
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA about council tax rebates for 2014-15.
Answer · John Swinney: Discussions between COSLA and the Scottish Government regarding council tax support for 2014-15 are on-going.
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what budget has been allocated for (a) community care and (b) crisis grants in 2013-14, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information has been published on our webpages: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform/scottishwelfarefund/background.
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many claims it estimates will be made for (a) community care and (b) crisis grants in 2013-14, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We have not made any estimate of how many claims will be made for community care grants or crisis grants in 2013-14 at local authority level.
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many claims were made for (a) community care grants and (b) crisis loans in 2012-13 and to what value, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We do not have any information about the number of claims for community care grants, and crisis loans in 2012-2013. Information on the number of claims for community care grants and crisis loans for previous years has been published by the Department for Work…
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is of rehousing a homeless (a) family of 2 adults and 2 children and (b) single adult.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The costs involved in rehousing homeless households are variable, depending on a range of individual and local circumstances. It is not possible for the Scottish Government to produce definitive national figures on such costs.
25 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the letter published in The Herald on 23 April 2013 from a group of academics calling on it to mitigate the impact of the underoccupancy penalty.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government is doing all it can, within the current constitutional settlement, to mitigate the worst impacts of the UK Government cuts and changes to the welfare system. We are taking action and investing more to support people and organisations …