Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,379 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what efforts are being made to reduce neurology waiting times, in light of reports that some patients are experiencing waiting times of 45 weeks.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23817 on 8 January 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-committe…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support any dystonia patients on waiting lists who are forced to take time off work due to their painful condition.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23817 on 8 January 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-committe…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that hospital neurology appointment waiting times are currently sitting at 45 weeks or more.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We are working with NHS Boards to maximise current resources and productivity to reduce long waits, which have been exacerbated by the impacts of the global pandemic. We remain committed to reducing waiting times year on year across the NHS as set out in the …
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what resources are available for patients with (a) dystonia and (b) other conditions due to neurological illness.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We are working to implement the commitments of our Neurological Care and Support – National Framework for Action 2020-25 , to improve the provision of co-ordinated health and social care and support, develop sustainable workforce models and ensure high stan…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated to support patients with dystonia.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23822 on 19 December 2023. 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-commit…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of (a) waiting times for neurology services and (b) possible strategies to address any backlogs.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23817 on 8 January 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-committe…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that some mothers will be too unwell to travel to another NHS board with their premature babies, preventing them from being by their baby’s side in hospital to have a hands-on role as partners in care with the medical team, in light of Bliss repo…
Answer · Jenni Minto: We recognise that all parents want to ensure their baby gets the safest care possible, and would expect that we organise care to ensure that this happens. The Best Start aims to keep mums and babies together as much as possible. If there is a high risk of the…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government where premature babies that require level 3 care will be transferred to from NHS Lanarkshire if full capacity in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been reached.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Where cot capacity has been reached then clinical judgement with parental involvement will determine the best receiving unit. Neonatal cot capacity is managed on a network basis through a daily call attended by all Neonatal Units. The data provided is then c…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken in relation to ensuring the safety of premature babies being transported long distances from hospitals in North Lanarkshire to Aberdeen, in light of the distance of travel.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The vast majority of mothers in extreme preterm labour will be transferred before giving birth, and the normal destination for Lanarkshire mothers will be Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. In the small number of cases where it is not possible t…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Ambulance Service will have its (a) funding and (b) capacity levels increased to enable the transfer of critically ill premature babies, and, if so, between which neonatal facilities, and by how much.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to S6W-23794 on 29 December 2023. 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/writ…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how long it anticipates the journey from University Hospital Wishaw to Aberdeen Maternity Hospital will take for ambulances moving premature babies.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Under the new model of care, mothers in suspected extreme pre-term labour will be transferred to give birth in hospitals that have neonatal intensive care units. Those maternity units will have expanded capacity to receive those women. It is recognised that …
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Royal Hospital for Children Neonatal Unit, Glasgow, has reached capacity in the last five years.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government does not hold this information. Neonatal cot capacity is managed on a network basis through a daily call attended by all Neonatal Units. The data provided is then collated and is used to identify any sustained or acute pressure on intensi…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported statement by Bliss that “it is crucial for parents to be by their baby’s side in hospital, playing a hands-on role as partners in care with the medical team”.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Best Start emphasises parents as key partners in caring for their baby and aims to keep mothers and babies, and families together as much as possible in the crucial early weeks, with services designed around them. We have a number of measures already in …
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that some families are unable to pay upfront accommodation bills to be with their children in hospital, in light of the Young Patients Family Fund providing reimbursement after costs have been incurred.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) helps to offset the cost of any accommodation required by eligible visitors. The YPFF terms and conditions direct claimants to access NHS Board visitor accommodation in the first instance. Where this is not available, pr…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to increase capacity at the Royal Hospital for Children Neonatal Unit, Glasgow, to prepare for the reported downgrade of other neonatal units in Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: As part of the next phase of the work Scottish Government have commissioned Consulting firm RSM-UK to undertake detailed modelling work to fully map the capacity requirements across the system to inform further capacity building and implementation of the new …
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many places are currently available for babies at the (a) Aberdeen Neonatal Unit, (b) Wishaw Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, (c) Simpsons Special Care Babies, Edinburgh, and (d) Royal Hospital for Children Neonatal Unit, Glasgow.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Neonatal cot capacity is managed on a network basis through a daily call attended by all Neonatal Units. The availability of beds is not solely down to the availability of neonatal cots, but also maternal beds and the availability of specialists to support bo…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Ambulance Service staff transporting critically ill premature babies from NHS Lanarkshire to NHS Grampian will be expected to make the journey without a break.
Answer · Jenni Minto: As has been established practice for many years, the staff and vehicle required to move critically ill patients is determined based on circumstances and clinical need. Our specialist neonatal transfer service (ScotSTAR) will transfer those babies by air or ro…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of any additional capacity required for the Scottish Ambulance Service to move premature babies between NHS boards as part of its reported plans to downgrade neonatal units in Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The recommendations for the new neonatal model of care are underpinned by strong evidence that population outcomes for the most premature and sickest babies are improved by delivery and care in units looking after a critical mass of these babies, with experie…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the staffing levels have been at the (a) Aberdeen Neonatal Unit, (b) Wishaw Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, (c) Simpsons Special Care Babies, Edinburgh, and (d) Royal Hospital for Children Neonatal Unit, Glasgow, in each month from January 2018 to the most recent monthly data availabl…
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether cabinet secretaries and ministers have ever paid for personal usage of government-issued (a) mobile phones and (b) other electronic devices, and whether any sums involved have ever exceeded £50 in the course of a month.
Answer · George Adam: I can confirm that no Cabinet Secretary or Minister has accrued charges due to the personal usage of their government issued mobile phone or other electronic devices.
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken a security risk assessment regarding cabinet secretaries and ministers using personal phones and electronic devices to conduct government business.
Answer · George Adam: Personal devices owned and used by Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers do not have access to the Scottish Government’s corporate IT network or applications. Ministers are briefed on best practice in respect of maintaining confidentiality of Scottish Government…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which cabinet secretaries and ministers have government-issued (a) mobile phones and (b) other electronic devices.
Answer · George Adam: On appointment, ministers are offered electronic equipment to assist them in carrying out their official duties. I have included table which outlines the devices used by each of the ministers. Minister Ministerial Role SG Laptop SG Tablet SG Mobile SG M…
5 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK National Screening Committee's recommendation in June 2022 that a national targeted lung cancer screening programme be implemented across the four home nations, for what reason this programme has not been rolled out to date in Scotland, and when this screening program…
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government welcomes the UK National Screening Committee’s (UK NSC) recommendation that the four nations should move towards implementing a targeted lung screening programme for those aged 55-74 with a history of smoking. However, the roll-out of …
4 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s mid-year registration data reports, which show that Scotland has the lowest recruitment rate of nursing and midwifery staff in the UK.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s mid-year registration data report covers a six-month period and reflects those with a Scottish address who have registered, it does not indicate actual employment in Scotland’s health sector. The report itself therefore can…
28 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to data that reportedly shows that the number of excess deaths in Scotland is 10.1% higher than the pre-pandemic five-year-average.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We do not recognise the source of the data you refer to that shows excess deaths in Scotland to be 10.1% above average. National Records of Scotland (NRS) report the age-standardised rate of excess deaths to be 6% and 1% above expected levels for the first q…
28 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set up a committee to examine the reported rising excess death rate in Scotland, in light of data from the National Records of Scotland showing that 3,255 excess deaths have taken place in 2023 so far.
Answer · Michael Matheson: A Mortality Special Interest Group (SIG) currently exists with a remit to monitor and analyse mortality trends in Scotland. This is a collaborative group chaired by Public Health Scotland (PHS) and includes representation from key organisations including the …
28 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with Vertex Pharmaceuticals and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Jenni Minto: My officials engage with the pharmaceutical industry on a range of matters, including the development of new medicines, and keep me updated as required. The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer last met with Vertex Pharmaceuticals on 6 December 2023 and continued to…
28 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the availability in Scotland of cystic fibrosis drugs with the UK Government.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23384 on 11 December 2023. 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-commit…
28 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Medicines Consortium will publish its final recommendations for NHS boards on cystic fibrosis treatment and drugs.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) multiple technology assessment (MTA) final guidance is currently expected to be published on 20 March 2024. As the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) is partnering with NICE in the assessment of t…
28 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care last met with families affected by cystic fibrosis.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I have Ministerial portfolio responsibility for access to new medicines in Scotland. Accordingly, as you know, I met with you on 6 December 2023 together with representatives of Scottish cystic fibrosis (CF) families to listen to their concerns directly. In …