Jackie Baillie

23 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that a full recruitment process for recently graduated nurses has been undertaken in some NHS boards, despite no roles being available.

Answer · Neil Gray: With regards to the recruitment of staff, the Scottish Government’s role is to set policies and frameworks at a national level broadly to ensure sufficient workforce supply. Health Boards are autonomous institutions and as such, are responsible for their own …

23 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 2024 cohort of graduate (a) paediatric and (b) neonatal nurses have secured jobs in NHS Scotland, and how many have not been able to secure a post.

Answer · Neil Gray: The requested information on how many of the 2024 cohort of graduate (a) paediatric and (b) neonatal nurses have secured jobs in NHS Scotland, and how many have not been able to secure a post is not centrally held. Information on the number of nursing staff …

23 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated number of vacancies is for (a) paediatric and (b) neonatal nurses in NHS Scotland, broken down by NHS board, and what the vacancy rate was in each of the last five years.

Answer · Neil Gray: Information on the number of vacancies for (a) paediatric nurses in NHS Scotland, broken down by NHS board can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: Dashboards | Turas Data Intelligence (nhs.scot) (Vacancy tab) Info…

23 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many graduate nurses have been employed by NHS Scotland in 2024, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) speciality.

Answer · Neil Gray: The requested information on how many graduate nurses have been employed by NHS Scotland in 2024, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) speciality is not centrally held. Information on the number of nursing staff joining the NHS broken down by band, NHS board…

22 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on (a) internal and (b) external legal costs in pursuing or defending any court action involving former First Minister, Alex Salmond.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Internal legal costs are not available because in line with usual practice, details of individual tasks carried out by civil servants, including the number of hours spent on them, are not routinely recorded because there is no business need to do this.The leg…

22 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on legal fees for (a) former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, (b) the former First Minister’s chief of staff and (c) the former Permanent Secretary, in connection with the inquiry of the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Legal advice was provided to individuals in relation to the Scottish Parliament Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints. The total costs were £151,811.17 (exclusive of VAT). This information is already published at Cost to…

22 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27595 by Kate Forbes on 30 May 2024, whether its special advisers are now subject to the Scottish Ministerial Code, and, if this is not the case, when it plans to extend the application of the Scottish Ministerial Code to special advisers.

Answer · Kate Forbes: As noted in the answer to parliamentary question S6W-27596 on 30 May 2024, the Scottish Ministerial Code only applies to Scottish Ministers and does not apply to special advisers, who are bound by the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. The Scottish Governm…

22 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of all of the recommendations from the report of the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Continuous Improvement Programme, which delivered the Scottish Government’s implementation of the recommendations of the Scottish Parliament Committee on the Handling of Harassment Complaints, was concluded with the agreement of the Scottish Parliam…

22 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on coaching (a) former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and (b) civil servants on how to answer questions before the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Scottish Government Committee witnesses to the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints were not coached.

22 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has implemented the recommendations of James Hamilton's report on the conduct of former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government set out in June 2021 our plan for implementing the recommendations of James Hamilton’s report, alongside the recommendations of the reports by Laura Dunlop QC and the Scottish Parliament Committee on the Handling of Harassment Co…

22 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current pay bands are for special advisers.

Answer · Shona Robison: Special Advisers in the Scottish Government are paid using the following Pay Bands and Pay Ranges which are effective from 1 April 2024:Pay BandPay Range1£58,444 to £61,5862£64,335 to £77,9553£80,332 to £90,2434£108,7…

22 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who its special advisers are, and what portfolios they cover.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Special Advisers are appointed in accordance with Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 by the First Minister as a Special Adviser for the purpose of providing assistance to the Scottish Ministers. There are currently 12 Special Advisers…

22 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many special advisers received severance packages in each of the last five years, and what the total value was of any such payments.

Answer · Shona Robison: The terms of Special Adviser contracts of employment are reserved to the UK Government. Those contracts include a requirement that severance payments are made to special advisers where their employment is terminated in the circumstances where a First Minister…

22 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on any proposals to make legislative reforms in relation to MSPs’ privilege when speaking in the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Matters of parliamentary reform, including changes in relation to the position on parliamentary privilege, are primarily for Parliament to develop and consider.The Scottish Government would consider proposals put before Parliament.

15 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been a delay in the recruitment to the role of Chief Nursing Officer on a permanent basis, and, if this is the case, what the reason is for any such delay, and when it will advertise this role.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Chief Nursing Officer post is a valuable and integral part of the leadership team within the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates and across the health and care system. In the coming years against a backdrop of continuing financial pres…

21 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement the recommendations from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Scotland to prevent inappropriate care and crowding in emergency departments.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has an existing improvement Programme informed by evidence-based best practice. Through this approach we are working with Health Boards and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) to implement actions that will improve patient flow …

21 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to provide additional resource to hospitals to ensure that there is sufficient capacity within emergency departments to safely treat patients.

Answer · Neil Gray: This Government is committed to ensuring the people of Scotland can access NHS services that meet their needs and provide the highest standard of care in the right place, at the right time. Health services continue to face sustained pressure, and this is not…

21 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest report by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Scotland on A&E crowding and corridor waits.

Answer · Neil Gray: Any unnecessary delay in hospital is unacceptable and below the standard we would expect. The Scottish Government recognises the relationship between crowding in A&E and increased risk of harm which is why we remain committed to delivering improved A&E perfor…

21 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Scotland that, between March and April 2024, 826 patients presented across 21 emergency departments in Scotland, with 12.8% of those being treated on trolleys in the corridor.

Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in answer to question S6W-28317 on 19 July 2024, any unnecessary delay in hospital is unacceptable and below the standard we would expect. The Scottish Government recognises the relationship between crowding in A&E and increased risk of harm which …

21 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the occupancy rate of (a) general and (b) acute beds in hospitals has been in each of the last 12 months, also broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) hospital.

Answer · Neil Gray: A copy of the associated data table has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, Bib no. 65175 which provides information on the occupancy rates of acute specialty beds and all beds in hospitals between January 2023 and the end of December 2…

21 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recently published Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Scotland report on crowding in hospitals, whether it will increase the number of general and acute beds within hospitals so that occupancy is at 85% maximum.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government works closely with local teams and expert groups to develop appropriate alternatives to attendance at A&E, minimise the need for admission, reduce length of stay and increase options and processes for timely and appropriate discharge w…

13 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase specialty training places for clinical radiology and clinical oncology to avoid the shortfalls of 36% and 22% respectively by 2028, as projected by the Royal College of Radiologists.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has funded the creation of 68 additional training places in clinical radiology since 2014 in line with recommendations made by the Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group (SSoTTG). The number of funded posts in clinical oncology ha…

13 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to expand (a) clinical space, (b) office space and (c) picture archiving and communication system (PACS) access to accommodate (i) clinical oncology, (ii) diagnostic radiology and (iii) interventional radiology trainees, as recommended by the Royal College of Radiologist…

Answer · Neil Gray: Operational matters such as decisions around clinical space, office space and picture archiving and communication system access are the responsibility of individual health boards.

13 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand the clinical radiology workforce, in light of projections in the Royal College of Radiologists’ 2023 Clinical Radiology Workforce Census that the shortfall of clinical radiologists in Scotland could rise to 36%, or 263 radiologists, by 2028.

Answer · Neil Gray: As stated previously in answer to S6W-28153 on 25 June 2024, there has been an expansion of 68 posts in Clinical Radiology specialty training since 2014. Clinical Radiology is a competitive specialty which has historically filled at 100%. The 2025 expansion p…

13 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the number of interventional radiologists, in light of the estimate in the Royal College of Radiologists’ Clinical Radiology Workforce Census report that Scotland only has 9.5 interventional radiologists per million of the population, compared with 11.6 acro…

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has been increasing the number of available specialty training places for junior doctors in clinical interventional radiology training programmes. Since 2014 we have funded the creation of 10 additional posts in Clinical Interventional…

13 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, what its response is to the reported projections in the Royal College of Radiologists’ 2023 Clinical Oncology Workforce Census that the shortfall of clinical oncologists could rise to 22%, or 29 oncology consultants, by 2028.

Answer · Neil Gray: There has been an expansion of 15 specialty training posts in Clinical Oncology (and an additional 6 in Medical Oncology) since 2014. The 2025 expansion process is currently underway and will conclude later this year. This will consider the need for expansion…

13 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that NHS boards have sufficient funding to maintain and expand the number of training places that they offer for clinical oncology and clinical radiology trainees.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government (SG) has funded the creation of 68 additional training places in clinical radiology since 2014 in line with recommendations made by the Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group (SSoTTG). The number of funded posts in clinical oncolo…

13 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Royal College of Radiologists’ 2023 Clinical Oncology Workforce Census, what plans it has to ensure that the reported 16% shortfall of consultant radiologists (a) is addressed and (b) does not impact patient safety or the quality of care.

Answer · Neil Gray: As stated previously in answer to S6W-28153 on 25 June 2024, there has been an expansion of 68 posts in Clinical Radiology specialty training since 2014. Clinical Radiology is a competitive specialty which has historically filled at 100%. The 2025 expansion p…

13 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the interventional radiology workforce, in light of the reported 24% shortfall in interventional radiologists in Scotland, according to the latest workforce census from the Royal College of Radiologists.

Answer · Neil Gray: As previously stated in answer to S6W-28165 on 25 June 2024, The Scottish Government has been increasing the number of available specialty training places for junior doctors in Clinical Interventional Radiology training programmes. Since 2014 we have funded t…

13 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address any regional disparities in the number of clinical oncologists, in light of estimates from the Royal College of Radiologists that the North of Scotland has just five consultant oncologists per 100,000 of the older population, compared with 6.2 per 100,000 of the o…

Answer · Neil Gray: An Oncology Workforce Review was completed in 2023 with a proposal for an Oncology Transformation Programme for Scotland. As part of the transformation programme, an Oncology Task and Finish Group was established in May 2024 to support oncology services by p…