Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,379 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the protected cohort of NHS-funded care home patients are still alive.
Answer · Maree Todd: This is a matter for the relevant commissioning body. The information requested is not held centrally.
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS-funded care home beds are currently empty.
Answer · Maree Todd: The statutory responsibility for delivering and commissioning services at a local level lies with local authorities, NHS boards and integrated health and social care partnerships. Publicly funded places in care homes are covered by the National Care Home Cont…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason 10-15% of care home beds are reportedly lying empty given high demand for bed capacity.
Answer · Maree Todd: The figure of 10-15% reflects data taken from the 2022 Care Home Census. The latest census will be published in due course and may reflect different data. Reasons behind this figure include: the fact that registered beds do not necessarily equate to availabl…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates (a) phase one, (b) phase two and (c) phase three of the medium-term solution to address the problems with the A83 will be completed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to an infrastructure solution to address landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful and shares the urgency communities and businesses place on maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route. The medium ter…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent flooding in Argyll, whether this has had an impact on the plans for the A83, and, if so, whether it will provide details of this.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government remains committed to medium and long term solutions to address the landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful. This scheme is a priority for the Scottish Government, it is a key recommendation in STPR2, it is included in the Progra…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) capital and (b) revenue spending has been set aside for (i) phase one, (ii) phase two and (iii) phase three of the medium-term solution to address the problems with the A83, and over which financial years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government remains committed to medium and long term solutions to address landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful. Improvements to the existing Old Military Road through the Glen Croe corridor are being made to make it a more resilient di…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any road projects, which are underway or planned, have had their costs reprofiled, and, in relation to any such projects, whether it will set out the detail of the project, the revised timescale, and the revised cost.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As set out in the Programme for Government, we are committed to prioritising capital spending to achieve net zero and maintain high quality public infrastructure across Scotland. We have been consistently open about the challenges facing our capital investmen…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what capital spending is required for the completion of the long-term solution for the A83, and how this will be phased over each financial year.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to an infrastructure solution to address landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful and shares the urgency communities and businesses place on maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route. At the recent C…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are exemptions from the Treatment Time Guarantee in certain specialities, and, if so, what these are.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Exceptions to the Treatment Time Guarantee, as set out by The Patient Rights (Treatment Time Guarantee) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 are as follows: • Assisted reproduction. • Obstetrics services • Organ, tissue, or cell transplantation, whether from living…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns about the quality of auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing outlined in the report of the Independent Review of Audiology in Scotland, what action it has taken to conduct a wider audit of the assessment of infant ABR cases referred from the Universal Newborn Hear…
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is considering all of the recommendations made as part of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland. We will provide an update to Parliament on next steps in due course.
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to support and assist children and their families who may have been adversely affected by any poor-quality infant auditory brainstem response (ABR) assessment, as described in the report of the Independent Review of Audiology in Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government expects that where Health Boards are aware of any patient who has been adversely affected by any poor-quality infant auditory brainstem response (ABR) assessment, the relevant Health Board follows up with the patient and their family t…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns about the lack of external peer review of auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing outlined in the report of the Independent Review of Audiology in Scotland, what action it has taken to establish a national external peer review scheme for audiologists who conduct A…
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is currently considering all of the recommendations made as part of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland. We will provide an update to Parliament on next steps in due course.
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns about the quality and consistency of current auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing outlined in the report of the Independent Review of Audiology in Scotland, what action it has taken to commission Scotland-wide training of audiologists in conducting ABR assessme…
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is considering all of the recommendations made as part of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland. Although it is NHS Boards who are responsible for ensuring staff receive the appropriate training and ongoing develop…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask Scottish Government how many additional allied health professional (AHP) training spaces have been created as a result of the increase in training provision, as outlined by the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social care during his ministerial statement on winter planning and resilience on 24 Oct…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has significantly expanded AHP training, recruiting 335 Scottish-domiciled students each year for paramedic education programs from 2023 to 2026, and 25 students for specialist prosthetics and orthotics education programs each year fro…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask Scottish Government, further to the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care's ministerial statement on winter planning and resilience on 24 October 2023, how many of the "additional 1,000 nurses, midwives and allied health professionals" (AHPs) from overseas who have joined NHS Scotland over …
Answer · Michael Matheson: In October 2022, we announced that further Scottish Government funding of £8m was being made available to recruit allied health professionals and midwives from overseas for the first time alongside nurses whereas the £4.5m funding in 2021 for international re…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Kidney Care UK publication, Home Dialysis Energy Reimbursement in Scotland, what support is available to people with chronic kidney disease who undertake home dialysis and experience higher energy bills as a result of their treatment.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22410 on 7 November 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-committ…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of any savings to hospitals that transfer patients undergoing high energy use intensity treatment in hospital to home treatment, such as home dialysis for people with chronic kidney disease.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of energy costs are reimbursed to patients with chronic kidney disease who undergo NHS dialysis treatment at home.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people it estimates there currently are who have chronic kidney disease and are not being reimbursed for the costs of their home dialysis treatment.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the average cost of running an energy-dependent piece of medical equipment, such as a dialysis machine, in the home, and whether it has assessed the adequacy of government grants or NHS reimbursement policies in covering these costs.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22410 on 7 November 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-committ…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that more than half of people in Scotland with chest, heart and stroke conditions and long COVID do not get referred for the rehabilitation that they should receive under national standards and guidelines.
Answer · Jenni Minto: This Government understands the critical role of rehabilitation in supporting people affected by chest, heart, and stroke conditions, long COVID and other long-term health conditions. We are committed to ensuring that all adults who require rehabilitation hav…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to improve access to support for people with chest, heart and stroke conditions and long COVID in (a) general and (b) rural and remote areas.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Our Heart Disease Action Plan, Respiratory Care Action Plan and Stroke Improvement Plans recognise the importance of timely and equitable access to care for people living with chest, heart and stroke conditions. We are working closely with NHS Boards and peop…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action has been taken to support people with (a) chest, heart and stroke conditions and (b) long COVID.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Care and support for people with chest, heart and stroke conditions or long COVID is being provided across the full range of services being delivered by our NHS. This includes local primary care teams, community-based rehabilitation services and referrals for…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to mitigate any fears patients may have of having another significant health event after being diagnosed with a heart, chest or stroke condition or long COVID.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scotland’s national health information service, NHS Inform aims to provide the people of Scotland with accurate and relevant information to help them make informed decisions about their own health and the health of the people they care for. NHS Inform provid…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Right to Rehab proposals for people with chest, heart and stroke conditions.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all adults who require rehabilitation have timely access to the right information and services by the end of 2025 through our Once for Scotland Rehabilitation Approach. This is supported by NHS Boards and …
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its reported decision to downgrade neonatal services at University Hospital Wishaw, what engagement it had with any affected families before making this decision.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Families told us, as part of the Best Start engagement process, that they wanted the best care possible for their babies. Evidence tells us that the very smallest and sickest babies will get the best outcomes if they care cared for in high volume units. Thi…
25 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its reported decision to downgrade neonatal services at University Hospital Wishaw, whether an implementation working group has been established; if so, what any such group’s (a) terms of reference, (b) membership and (b) timescale for completion of its work are, and whether…
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government has asked Health Board Chief Executives within each region to nominate a lead Chief Executive to plan and deliver the changes to neonatal intensive care through the Regional Planning infrastructure. Health Boards will submit detailed imple…
24 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of digital interventions to overcome practical barriers to alcohol dependency treatment.
Answer · Elena Whitham: Scottish Government supports the use of digital solutions to overcome barriers to treatment for those impacted by problematic use of alcohol, such as the use of Near Me video appointments and With You’s online wechat service. However, we recognise these must …
24 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of deaths from alcohol-specific causes in 2021 was 27.4% higher than in 2019.
Answer · Elena Whitham: Over the period 2019 to 2021, all UK nations saw an increase in the number of alcohol-specific deaths. The increase for the whole of the UK over this period was 27.4% with the increase for Scotland being 22.1%. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) sugge…
24 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on funding for drug and alcohol services, in light of the reported level of alcohol-related deaths in the period since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Elena Whitham: Funding allocated to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) is for both alcohol and drug treatment services. In 2022-23, £106.8 million was made available to ADPs, increasing to £112.9 million in 2023-24. This funding is used to ensure that local services meet …