Jackie Baillie

19 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the updated estimated cost is for works on the A83 Rest and Be Thankful medium-term solution.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: I share the urgency communities and businesses place in maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route, and remain absolutely committed to ensuring continuity of access to Argyll and Bute so that the region remains open for business. A detailed p…

19 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there will be any difficulty securing tenders for the long-term solution on the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, in light of the reported issues with the A9 dualling programme.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Design and assessment work on both the medium and long-term solutions are progressing at pace. We also continue to explore methods to reduce the timescales to bring forward these improvements as soon as possible, whilst continuing to maximise the availability…

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) report, The Nursing Workforce in Scotland, how it will reverse the 20.6% reduction of learning disability nursing support workers in NHS Scotland.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government welcomes the publication and recommendations of The Nursing Workforce in Scotland report by RCN Scotland. NHS Boards are responsible for ensuring they have local policies in place to recruit effectively and retain their staff. They ar…

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will improve data gathering in order to better inform NHS workforce planning.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government, through the National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care, has set out a number of short, medium and longer term actions that seek to progressively improve the quality of our health and social care workforce data, and its ana…

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to expand routes into nursing studies.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government alongside a wide range of stakeholders including health and social care partners, NHS Education for Scotland, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and Skills Development Scotland, is taking forward work to develop alternative career pat…

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many places for nursing students were provided at Scottish universities in each of the last 16 years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The nursing student intake targets by academic year are listed in the following table.      Academic Year Intake target (excluding OUiS) OUiS Places Total Intake  2006-07 ( 1) 3,125  3,125  2007-08 3,083  3,083  2008-09 2,815 25 2,840  2009-10 …

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the review of Agenda for Change.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Planning for the review of the Agenda for Change system has commenced. The process will be undertaken in conjunction with NHS Scotland Staff Side and Employers in a confidential space with any amendments to Agenda for Change announced via existing channels.

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Royal College of Nursing report, The Nursing Workforce in Scotland, and whether it will implement in full the recommendations set out in the report.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17922 on 30 May 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/…

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) report, The Nursing Workforce in Scotland, that 73% of RCN members worked over their contracted hours at least once a week, with over half of respondents reporting that these additional hours were unpaid.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As per standardised Terms and Conditions, the Scottish Government expects NHS Scotland Agenda for Change staff, including nurses, to be paid in full any amounts due for all the hours they work.

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that registered nurses and nursing support workers have access to (a) fair pay, (b) good employment terms and (c) safe working conditions.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Over the last two years our £1bn increased investment in our Agenda for Change staff has seen a Nurse at the top of Band 5 receive an uplift of 14.4% - more than £4,700 We recognise the need to modernise our service for both our current and future workforce …

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to better retain (a) nursing and (b) midwifery staff in the NHS.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government values the skill and dedication of our nurses and midwives, particularly in recent difficult circumstances. This is reflected in a pay deal worth more than £1 billion over the last two years, ensuring that nurses and midwives in Scotla…

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a timeline for the full implementation of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In June 2022 the then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousef published a timetable for the implementation of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 on both the Healthcare Improvement Scotland website and Care Inspectorate we…

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase the number of student places available on nursing courses at Scottish universities.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The target intake for funded places on nursing and midwifery undergraduate programmes has increased for 10 consecutive years. Recognising that undergraduate programmes are not the single solution to developing and increasing the workforce, the Scottish Govern…

9 May 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to avoid industrial action by junior doctors, in light of the decision in favour of action by almost 97% of BMA Scotland members who voted.

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to the occupational therapy workforce, in light of a proposed registration fee increase of 20%.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As stated in the answer to question S6W-17851 on 31 May 2023 the Scottish Government has no role in setting the levels or assessing the impact on individuals of registration fees for the regulated health professions. These functions are within the statutory a…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to improve occupational therapy staffing levels in the NHS.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) Staffing levels in Occupational Therapy have increased by 19% or over 400, from 2161.4 at September 2007 to 2573 at December 2022. Overall, NHS Scotland’s staffing levels are up by around 28,900 WTE. This is a 22.7% increase, from …

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly meet with representatives of all professional partners, including Royal College of Occupational Therapists, to discuss matters of importance to the professions of which they represent.

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the proposed registration fee increase by the Health and Care Professions Council on the occupational therapy workforce.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has no role in setting the levels or assessing the impact on individuals of registration fees for the regulated health professions. These functions are within the statutory authority of the Councils of the independent UK regulators, in…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the survival rate for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer has been in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the Public Health Scotland publication on ovarian cancer survival, which uses the Scottish Ovarian Cancer Quality Improvement Indicators. The most recent data can be accessed at the following address: Ovarian cancer QPIs survival analys…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many women have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the Public Health Scotland cancer incidence data set, which covers all cancer types including ovarian cancer, and is updated annually. The data can be accessed at the following address: Cancer incidence in Scotland - to December 2021 - …

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any regional variation in access to treatment for ovarian cancer.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17748 on 18 May 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/…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that everyone diagnosed with ovarian cancer has access to the best possible support.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is currently working in partnership with Macmillan to improve the services offered to cancer patients, including those diagnosed with ovarian cancer, through the Transforming Cancer Care Programme (TCC). This joint partnership with Ma…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to improve awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We continue to invest in our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme, of which public education and empowerment is a key work-stream. We launched a new campaign – Be the Early Bird – in March 2023 to empower those with possible symptoms to act early. This inclu…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that there is support in place for GPs to interpret and act on CA125 blood test and ultrasound results.

Answer · Michael Matheson: A high level of CA-125 in the blood can be a sign of cancer, particularly ovarian cancer, the 5 th most common cancer in the UK. The Royal College of General Practitioner’s curriculum provides detailed sections on the management of gynaecological cancers and…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet with the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) and Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) as part of pay discussions to prevent a junior doctor strike in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: BMA Scotland are the biggest medical trade union who represent 99% of unionised Junior Doctors in Scotland. We have long established successful partnership structures with BMA Scotland, and discussions on pay are held through these. After weeks of intense n…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) in relation to avoiding potential strike action by junior doctors in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: BMA Scotland are the biggest medical trade union who represent 99% of unionised Junior Doctors in Scotland. We have long established successful partnership structures with BMA Scotland, and discussions on pay are held through these. After weeks of intense n…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what actions it is taking to avoid a formal dispute on pay with trade unions representing junior doctors in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: After weeks of intense negotiations, I am delighted we have come to an agreement with BMA Scotland on pay deal which they will now put to their members. Recognising the incredible work that Junior Doctors do, we have offered a fair and progressive rise whic…

27 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the support and training provided to GPs to recognise the symptoms of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and related conditions.

Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are responsible for managing all training provided to doctors in Scotland. NES ensure that all doctors receive high quality training in line with curricula that is set by the relevant Medical Royal College so that they are abl…

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that relevant data is collated on the abuse of older people.

Answer · Angela Constance: As noted in response to S6W-08055 on 10 May 2022, the concept of elder abuse is very broad. Whilst there is no legal definition of elder abuse, the World Health Organisation has defined it as ‘a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring…

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will uphold the commitments set out in its 2019 publication, A Fairer Scotland for Older People: framework for action, and how these commitments will be implemented without a minister for older people.

Answer · Emma Roddick: As Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees, I have portfolio responsibility for older people and this Scottish Government remains committed to delivering access to opportunities and services people need to ensure they are healthy, happy and secure in …