Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-09911 and S4W-10794 by Alex Neil on 25 October 2012 and 13 November 2012 respectively, how many doctors have a conviction for (a) a sexual offence or (b) child pornography and for what reason it did not provide this information in the previous ans…
Answer · Alex Neil: As stated in the answers to the questions S4W-09911 and S4W-10794 it is the responsibility for individual NHS boards to carry out pre and post employment checks and to take any appropriate action based on any information received. The Scottish Government does…
13 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10772 by Alex Neil on 12 November 2012, whether it monitors the surplus asset registers for each NHS board.
Answer · Alex Neil: NHS boards manage their surplus assets, within the terms of the NHS Scotland property transactions handbook.
9 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an assessment of who benefits most from free prescriptions and by how much.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11157 on 22 November 2012. 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/parliament…
9 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken an equality impact assessment of its free prescriptions policy.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11157 on 22 November 2012. 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/parliament…
9 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a regular assessment is undertaken to establish whether free prescriptions are having a positive impact on people’s health.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11157 on 22 November 2012. 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/parliament…
9 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has that free prescriptions are making people healthier.
Answer · Alex Neil: The phasing out of prescription charges benefits all individuals in Scotland, but in particular those who are the most vulnerable. Those with low incomes and those with long-term conditions will clearly benefit most each and every time they have their prescri…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what diabetes services (a) there are at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Yorkhill) and (b) are planned for the new South Glasgow Children's Hospital.
Answer · Alex Neil: The paediatric diabetes team in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) provide an integrated service supported by a group of consultant paediatricians from both the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC), Yor…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken an audit of diabetes services in each NHS board area.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The annual Scottish Diabetes Survey produced by the Scottish Diabetes Survey Monitoring Group, provides a comprehensive account of the quality of diabetes care across the whole of Scotland. This year, the Survey includes charts that will enable each NHS board…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether transitional diabetes services are provided in every NHS board area.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Our Diabetes Action Plan, published in 2010, highlights the importance of transitional care in supporting young people with diabetes to effectively manage their condition, and we expect every board to ensure that children are appropriately managed in the tran…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the cost-effectiveness of screening for diabetes.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Recommendations on whether to screen for a particular condition or disease are made at a UK level, by the UK National Screening Committee. Before making a recommendation, the UK National Screening Committee reviews evidence against a set of criteria, includin…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how diabetes in older people is managed, including for people in residential care.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We want to ensure that all people with diabetes, irrespective of age get access to the best possible care - appropriately tailored to their individual needs. Our Diabetes Action Plan 2010 notes that: Over the lifetime of this Action Plan, diabetes care serv…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that NHS boards take a consistent approach to the use of new technology in the management of diabetes.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We fully recognise the important role that technology can play in supporting the care of people with diabetes. This is reflected in our investment of £2.5 million in insulin pump technology earlier this year. We have also invested £115,000 in the “MyDiabetesM…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what psychosocial support is provided to young people and their families following a diagnosis of diabetes.
Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS boards’ diabetes services are responsible for ensuring young people with diabetes get access to the emotional and psychological support they need. Our Diabetes Action Plan 2010 fully recognises the importance of improving the capacity and quality of emot…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the transition for young people with diabetes from paediatric to adult services is delivered.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We expect that every NHS boards should ensure that appropriate local transitional arrangements are in place which meet the needs of their local population. Transitional arrangements exist in every NHS board area and every NHS board area, where appropriate, n…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will respond to the recommendations in the Scottish Diabetes Think Tank report, Diabetes in Scotland: A Transition to Better Care.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Many of the areas highlighted within the Diabetes in Scotland: A Transition to Better Care report are being addressed through the implementation of our Diabetes Action Plan (2010). We will ask the Scottish Diabetes Group, which is responsible for overseeing …
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many voluntary severance packages have been agreed by the NHS for 2012-13 and how much these will cost.
Answer · Alex Neil: NHS boards determine their voluntary severance packages and arrangements, within the policy framework for voluntary severance in NHS Scotland set by the Scottish Government. The use of these provisions therefore remains a matter for NHS boards as employers.
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the 475 voluntary severance packages reported in the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, represent all staff reductions for that year and, if not, what the reasons were for the others.
Answer · Alex Neil: No, the voluntary severance packages do not represent all staff reductions for 2011-12. The reason for staff leaving is not held centrally.
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 475 voluntary severance packages reported in the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, were subject to compromise agreements.
Answer · Alex Neil: All staff who choose the option of voluntary severance will sign a compromise agreement as part of this process.
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the increased volume of prescribing outlined in the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, will cost each NHS board and what action is being taken to address the issue.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government collects anticipated percentage uplifts applied to GP prescribing and hospital drugs from NHS boards as part of the annual financial planning process. These percentage uplifts are not broken down between price and volume increases. The…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of outstanding equal pay claims in the NHS and the cost of settling these.
Answer · Alex Neil: There are currently approximately 10,300 claims. The NHS Scotland Central Legal Office and Equal Pay Unit are continuing to monitor the progress of all equal pay claims in NHS Scotland as well as developments relating to NHS equal pay claims elsewhere that ma…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what level of future pension contributions will need to be made by (a) the NHS and (b) each NHS board and what its position is on the suggestion in the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, that the level of such contributions is uncertain.
Answer · John Swinney: Scheme valuations establish the level of contributions needed to meet the pension commitments for the NHS workforce. These valuations are currently suspended at the direction of HM Treasury.
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the ability of NHS boards to meet savings plans for 2012-13, in light of the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, suggesting that eight had categorised 25% of their [2011-12] savings plans as high risk.
Answer · Alex Neil: Based upon information provided by NHS Scotland boards, there is confidence that boards will once again deliver planned efficiency savings for 2012-13. NHS boards have agreed financial plans to deliver efficiency savings of £271.701million in the current year…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the external review, which the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, said highlighted significant concerns about a lack of ownership and accountability for financial management, what action Healthcare Improvement Scotland has taken to meet the requirement…
Answer · Alex Neil: The external review was conducted by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) who made a number of recommendations to improve accountability for financial management within Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS). Key areas identified f…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on NHS Health Scotland spending £3.5 million, or 16% of its total revenue resource limit, "in the last few days" of 2011-12, as outlined in the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12.
Answer · Alex Neil: Firstly NHS Health Scotland, along with all NHS Scotland Health bodies met their financial targets for 2011-12 and they are on track to deliver their financial targets for 2012-13. In addition to successfully achieving their statutory targets, all NHS Scotlan…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much each NHS board (a) returned as a capital receipt and (b) retained as a profit from the sale of assets (i) in 2011-12 and (ii) to 1 October 2012.
Answer · Alex Neil: Guidance contained within the NHS Chief Executive Letter (CEL) 32 (2010) dated 19 August 2010: Arrangements for the Management of NHSScotland Capital Resources after 2010-11 sets out the recommendations developed by NHS Scotland via the Capital Strategy Group…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many and which NHS boards are repaying financial support and what the repayment profile is in each case.
Answer · Alex Neil: There are four NHS boards that have a brokerage arrangement and associated repayment schedule in place. These are summarised as follows: NHS Western Isles Brokerage Repayment Profile 2008-09 Total 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 20…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has agreed or anticipates having to agree to provide additional financial support for any NHS board for 2012-13 to enable it to stay within its revenue resource limit.
Answer · Alex Neil: In addition to the answer provided in S4W-11046 relating to brokerage, the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates (SGHSCD) have the following arrangements in place: Financial Support NHS 24 Financial Support Repayment Profile 2011-12 20…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any NHS board has reported an underlying recurring deficit for 2012-13.
Answer · Alex Neil: For the fiscal period 2011-12, nine NHS boards reported an underlying recurring deficit. For the same period, the combined underlying recurring deficit for NHS Scotland was £31.29million. For 2012-13 the number of boards reporting an underlying recurring defi…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure transparency of NHS board budgets following the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government recognises the importance not only of transparency, but also of consistency of reporting and will provide guidance to NHS boards to further improve the consistency of board reporting in this area.
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, is correct in stating that the overall health budget "has been decreasing in real terms since 2009/10 and is projected to decrease further in real terms for the next three years”.
Answer · Alex Neil: Despite the significant budget reductions for Scotland arising from the 2010 UK Comprehensive Spending Review, the Scottish Government has fully delivered on its promise to pass on all of the resource Barnett consequentials to Health over the period 2011-12 t…