Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,379 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations made by the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) in its 2023 Clinical Oncology and Clinical Radiology Census reports, whether it will (a) put in place a plan for staff retention in radiology and oncology and (b) meet with the RCR to discuss the findings of…
Answer · Neil Gray: a) The Scottish Government recognises the need for active measures to improve retention across the health and social care workforce, which is essential to ensure confidence in longer-term modelling of a sustainable future medical workforce to meet future clin…
13 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it would consider working with (a) NHS Scotland, (b) the Royal College of Radiologists and (c) the Association of Cancer Physicians to develop a recruitment campaign to attract trainees to oncology training posts.
Answer · Neil Gray: A number of actions are already underway to improve recruitment into clinical and medical oncology. For example, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are:Increasing front-end supply by funding the creation of additional posts in Internal Medicine Training (IMT), …
13 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Royal College of Radiologists' 2023 Clinical Radiology Workforce Census, what its plans are to ensure that the 26% shortfall of consultant radiologists in Scotland (a) is addressed and (b) does not impact patient safety or the quality of care.
Answer · Neil Gray: 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 posts at 100%. The 2025 expansion process is currently underway and will conclude later th…
13 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the estimates from the Royal College of Radiologists that 20% of clinical oncology consultants and 18% of clinical radiology consultants are forecast to retire in the next five years, what plans it has to retain more clinical oncologists and radiologists in the workforce.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises the need for active measures to improve retention across the health and social care workforce, which is essential to ensure confidence in longer-term modelling of a sustainable future medical workforce to meet future clinica…
13 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care will meet with (a) the Royal College of Radiologists and (b) NHS England to discuss the recommendations that were made in the 2023 Clinical Oncology and Clinical Radiology Workforce Census reports.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Chief Medical Officer met with the Royal College of Radiologists on 14 December 2023 and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer met with them on 16 May 2024. A representative of the Royal College of Radiologists is a member of the Oncology Task and Finish group…
23 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to accommodate the use of (a) anastrozole, (b) tamoxifen and (c) raloxifene as risk-reducing treatments for primary breast cancer (i) in existing and (ii) to develop new, clinical pathways.
Answer · Neil Gray: The National Cancer Medicines Advisory Group (NCMAG) will review the use of Anastrozole, Tamoxifen and Raloxifene as a preventative treatments for post-menopausal women at a moderate or high risk of breast cancer at a rescheduled meeting in Autumn 2024. In …
23 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that it is failing to adequately fund the (a) enablement of more complex anterior eye conditions managed by independent prescribing optometrists in the community and (b) development of a new National Low Vision service, as set out in the NHS Recovery Plan,…
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering these two new services. Although the current financial pressures mean that we are unable to provide a delivery timescale, we will continue to undertake preparatory work where possible.
22 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any of the files that were stolen in the recent reported cyber attack on NHS Dumfries and Galloway contained patient data that is normally held nationally.
Answer · Neil Gray: Patient data is typically held on the IT infrastructure of the Health Board delivering, or having previously delivered, the individuals care. This can include data initially generated by other Health Boards or health and care organisations that is transferred…
22 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported comments that “it is important to note that the incident remains contained to NHS Dumfries and Galloway and there have been no further incidents across NHS Scotland as a whole,” whether any information stolen in the cyber attack is contained to only NHS Dumfries and…
Answer · Neil Gray: The patient data stolen during this incident was contained within the NHS D&G IT infrastructure. The vast majority of data related to people who are currently registered as NHS Dumfries and Galloway patients. However, some people currently registered as patie…
22 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any data that has reportedly been published on the dark web in the recent cyber attack on NHS Dumfries and Galloway contains any patient information, which would normally be held nationally, and, if so, what data was published.
Answer · Neil Gray: Patient data is typically held on the IT infrastructure of the Health Board delivering, or having previously delivered, the individuals care. This can include data initially generated by other Health Boards or health and care organisations that is transferred…
22 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all of the reported data stolen from NHS Dumfries and Galloway, and others in the recent cyber attacks, have now been placed on the dark web.
Answer · Neil Gray: The investigation into this attack is on-going, and will take several more months to conclude, as such it is not currently possible to determine.
22 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Scotland operating systems have two-factor authentication, and, if so, when these systems were put in place.
Answer · Neil Gray: The information requested is not held centrally, it is the responsibility of NHS Health Boards to implement these controls. The Scottish Government Public Sector Cyber Resilience Framework which applies to all public bodies in Scotland, including health boar…
20 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to reduce NHS waiting times.
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26930 by Jenni Minto on 2 May 2024, whether it will publish its draft transport to health delivery plan.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government prepared its draft Transport to Health Plan in 2023, we are currently engaging with the relevant partners on the commitments contained within the plan. It is expected that the plan will be finalised by the end of September 2024. We do …
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26930 by Jenni Minto on 2 May 2024, when its final transport to health delivery plan will be published.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government prepared its draft Transport to Health Plan in 2023, we are continuing to engage with the relevant partners on the commitments contained within the plan. It is expected that the plan will be published by September 2024.
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26929 by Jenni Minto on 2 May 2024, how it is monitoring progress towards the implementation of sections 120 and 121 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 on the duty to have regard to community benefit in non-emergency patient transport contracts, a…
Answer · Jenni Minto: Whilst the Transport (Scotland) Act was implemented in 2019, sections 120 and 121 required secondary legislation to be enacted. This secondary legislation was enacted and came into effect on 1 October 2023. We expect reports from Health Boards in Winter 202…
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26931 by Jenni Minto on 2 May 2024, what progress it has made towards the implementation of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland’s transport to health recommendations.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government welcomed the transport to health and social care report from the Mobility and Access Committee (MACS) and agreed to develop a transport to health plan in response. Progress has been made against the recommendations including bringing more…
14 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the World Health Organization's reported finding that adequate mechanical ventilation (HEPA) filters can be used in combination with proper natural ventilation to tackle the effects of COVID-19 in classrooms and schools.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As was the case throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scottish Government continue to listen carefully to the World Health Organization’s advice. Furthermore, although it is the statutory duty of Local Authorities to manage their school estate, we would be h…
14 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to change current guidance in relation to HEPA filters in classrooms to allow parents to donate filters to schools, in light of recent reported research on the health benefits of clean air in preventing COVID-19.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Although the “Reducing the risks of COVID-19 in schools” guidance has been stood down and there are no current plans to revise it, we recognise the benefits of clean air in preventing COVID-19. It is the statutory duty of Local Authorities to manage their sc…
14 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to provide funding for the installation of HEPA filters in (a) schools, (b) hospitals and (c) public buildings to tackle the effects of COVID-19.
Answer · Neil Gray: We now live with COVID-19 as one of many respiratory infections. Good ventilation is beneficial to air quality and good hygiene. It is the statutory responsibility of Local Authorities to manage their school estate, and it would therefore be for them to deter…
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to improve access to real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rt-CGM) systems for people living with (a) type 1 and (b) type 2 diabetes.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people with diabetes to receive the best care, treatment and support. This year, we are investing £8.8 million of additional funding to support increased provision of Hybrid Closed Loop Systems (CLS) to th…
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recently published SIGN guidance on Optimising glycaemic control in people with type 1 diabetes, what actions it will take to ensure similar access is made available for patients with type 2 diabetes.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people with diabetes to receive the best care, treatment and support. Clinical indications for technology required to optimise diabetes control are very different for people with type 2 diabetes compared t…
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to encourage widening access to diabetes technology for people living with (a) type 1 and (b) type 2 diabetes.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer member to answer to question S6W-27483 on 29 May 2024 . The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people with diabetes to receive the best care, treatment and support. This year, we are investing £8.8 million of additional funding to suppo…
1 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what value it places on specialist alcohol services, such as the Primary Care Alcohol Nurse Outreach Service in Glasgow, in dealing with the reported public health crisis in relation to alcohol.
30 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made towards the new national funding framework for hospice funding.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Work is ongoing to progress the national guidance framework on local planning and commissioning of independent hospice care, and to align the framework with our overarching palliative care strategy. We will continue to work with Chief Officers and independe…
30 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the reported cyber attacks in NHS Scotland led to medical information about patients being accessed.
Answer · Neil Gray: A cyber threat actor was able to gain unauthorised access to NHS Dumfries and Galloway's infrastructure during a targeted and sustained cyber-attack. As the member will understand,NHS Dumfries and Galloway's IT infrastructure contains information that include…
30 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that funding is provided to hospices to allow consistency with the NHS Agenda for Change pay awards.
Answer · Jenni Minto: A real terms uplift to health funding has been prioritised in the opening Budget position for 2024-25. We have invested £2 billion in the 2024-25 budget for social care and integration, which is an increase of over £1 billion compared to 2021-22. This deliver…
30 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made regarding any reasons for the reported failure of NHS Scotland's usual cyber security defences, which allowed medical information about patients to be accessed.
Answer · Neil Gray: The criminal investigation by Police Scotland, supported by other agencies, into this attack is still going on. As such there is a limited amount that I can share at this moment in time. As the investigation progresses the Scottish Government and partners wil…
30 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will address the reported £16 million funding deficit facing the hospice sector, in light of the recent funding announcement for hospices in Wales to help maintain services and meet staffing costs.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27146 on 16 May 2024. 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-committees/…
26 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it engaged with the UK Government in the drafting of the 2023 UK state report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Answer · Emma Roddick: The UK Government is the State Party to the CERD with a legal obligation to report on implementation. It submitted its state report to the Committee in March 2023. Prior to this report’s submission, the Scottish Government shared updates on devolved policy a…