Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the uptake of the direct enhanced service for alcohol screening and brief interventions has been in the last two years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There is not a Direct Enhanced Service (DES) for alcohol screening and brief interventions in Scotland. Alcohol Screening and Brief Interventions across Scotland are delivered across a range of settings. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12803…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what success rates alcohol and drug action teams have had in reducing alcohol intake and improving health outcomes in the last two years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Michael Matheson: While the Scottish Government provides funding for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) via their respective health boards, the government does not performance manage them as ADPs are accountable to local Community Planning Partnerships. On 20 April 2009 we …
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has achieved improved outcomes in reducing health harm caused by alcohol misuse and, if so, from what baseline the improvement is measured.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) is a programme of work to evaluate the key components of the Scottish Government alcohol strategy. It is led by NHS Health Scotland in collaboration with NHS National Services Scotland Information …
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost the country to deal with the impact of alcohol abuse in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Societal Cost of Alcohol Misuse in Scotland for 2007, which was published in January 2010, can be found on the Scottish Government’s website via the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/29122804/0. This is the most recent publi…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it (a) evaluates and (b) reviews changes in health problems from alcohol misuse.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12799 on 04 March 2013. 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/parliamentary…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost the police to deal with the impact of alcohol abuse in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Societal Cost of Alcohol Misuse in Scotland for 2007, which was published in January 2010, can be found on the Scottish Government’s website via the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/29122804/0. This is the most recent publica…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost the NHS to deal with the impact of alcohol abuse in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Societal Cost of Alcohol Misuse in Scotland for 2007, which was published in January 2010, can be found on the Scottish Government’s website via the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/29122804/0. This is the most recent publica…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received an Alcohol Brief Intervention in each year since 2010-11, broken down by NHS board, and how these interventions and their outcomes are monitored and reported.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The following table shows the number of people that have received Alcohol Brief Interventions (ABIs) in 2010-11 and 2011-12, information for 2012-13 will be published in June 2013. 2010-11 2011-12 Total Number of Interventions Scotland 88,143 97,830 …
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government where people who have an alcohol intake above the recommended level are referred to for assessment and treatment.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Decisions on the assessment and appropriate treatment for individuals are taken by practitioners, who take account of the needs and circumstances of each client. Their aim is to ensure that the treatment package will provide the most effective support for tha…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people, following a Keep Well check, have been found to have an alcohol intake above the recommended level, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not collect data on the alcohol intake of people following a Keep Well check. It is up to individual boards to decide what data to collect locally, which helps them in planning their local service needs. As part of the Keep Well…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that NHS boards promote the take-up of Keep Well checks.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Keep Well is an anticipatory care programme that contributes to tackling health inequalities by targeting cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in the most deprived areas of Scotland. NHS Health Scotland manages the mainstreaming of the Keep Well progr…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the effectiveness of the priorities set out in Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The key components of the Scottish Government’s alcohol strategy are the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action, the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act 2010 and the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Ac…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its priorities are for reducing health problems caused by alcohol misuse.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government’s priorities for reducing health problems caused by alcohol misuse are set out in Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action which is available on the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2…
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages peer support for families of disabled children and young people.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is currently funding three projects to support capacity building a) in relation to parents and carers of disabled children and young people at both national and local levels and b) disabled children and young people themselves. Intrins…
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how long disabled children and young people have to wait to access a social worker, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally. Each local authority will collect information relating to their specific circumstances.
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities have common (a) eligibility criteria and (b) assessment tools when determining assistance for disabled children and young people.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Children (Scotland) Act 1995, and accompanying Regulations and Guidance, set the eligibility criteria and assessment process in relation to disabled children and young people; including sharing of information, joint assessments and collaboration with both…
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many disabled children and young people each local authority provides services for.
Answer · Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally. While Scottish Government does not collect consolidated statistics for services provided to disabled children and young people by local authority, figures are available for disabled children and young people in a number…
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether advocacy services for disabled children and young people are available in every local authority area and, if so, (a) who provides the service and (b) where it is located.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12702 on 27 February 2013. 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/parliamentar…
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advocacy services are available in each NHS board area for disabled children and young people; who provides the services, and where they are located.
Answer · Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally. NHS boards and local authorities are responsible for ensuring that advocacy is available to all who need it within their respective areas and that resources are matched to meet these needs. The Scottish Independent Adv…
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for advocacy services for disabled children and young people.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Guide to Commissioners, published by the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance in 2010 to assist local authorities and NHS boards in the scoping of needs and procurement of advocacy services, is currently being reviewed. In addition following the nationa…
29 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11952 by Michael Matheson on 28 January 2013, to what use the £58,000 for chronic pain in the Healthcare Improvement Scotland budget noted in document NHSBA10 to the Health and Sport Committee will be put.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The funding provided reimburses staff costs for expert clinical advice to support the improvement of chronic pain services in Scotland. Expert clinical advice includes representation on professional groups (such as Royal College of Anaesthetists and British P…
29 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-12367 by Michael Matheson on 29 January 2013, who selects and what the method of selection is for members of the Scottish Chronic Pain Steering Group.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As advised in my response of 29 January 2013, the National Chronic Pain Steering Group is a multidisciplinary expert group convened by the Scottish Government. Membership for the group was invited from healthcare professionals and relevant stakeholders with a…
29 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-12367 by Michael Matheson on 29 January 2013, whether it can confirm that the Scottish Chronic Pain Steering Group is not regulated by the Public Appointments Commissioner for Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The National Chronic Pain Steering Group was formed as an expert advisory group to inform policy development. It is not a public body and therefore not required to be regulated by the Public Appointments Commissioner for Scotland.
29 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-12367 by Michael Matheson on 29 January 2013, who has appointed people to the Scottish Chronic Pain Steering Group in the last two years and who regulates or supervises the group.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As noted in my response of 29 January 2013, the Scottish Chronic Pain Steering Group was convened by the Scottish Government to inform and develop policy and oversee the work programme to support NHS boards in developing chronic pain services. The group compr…
29 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when NHS Education Scotland last conducted a staff survey regarding bullying and harassment; what levels of bullying were reported, and what action was taken.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12543 on 27 February 2013. 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/parliamentar…
25 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities to discuss the impact of the proposed welfare reforms.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Ministers discuss the impact of the proposed welfare reforms on people and organisations in Scotland on a regular basis.
25 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and COSLA to discuss the impact of the proposed welfare reforms.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and COSLA meet to discuss a range of issues from time to time. On 21 November 2012, the Scottish Government signed an agreement with COSLA, to adopt a collaborative approach to supporting councils in their respo…
25 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) GPs and (b) consultants will charge patients requiring medical reports in order to access benefits.
Answer · Alex Neil: The majority of GP practices in Scotland operate as independent contractors under the terms of a UK General Medical Services contract and there is a contractual obligation on GPs to provide information to prove incapacity to work to Department of Work and Pen…
25 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what preparations have been made by NHS boards to deal with the impact of the proposed welfare reforms.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is aware that a number of NHS boards has prepared briefing for staff on welfare benefit changes. The Scottish Directors of Public Health Group has commissioned the Scottish Public Health Network to undertake work to identify possible m…
25 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and the (a) chairs and (b) chief executives of NHS boards to discuss the impact of the proposed welfare reforms.
Answer · Alex Neil: No meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and Chairs or the Chief Executives of NHS boards, for the specific purpose of discussing the impact of the proposed welfare reforms. Directors of Public Health from Scottish …