Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,379 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to ensure that pre-exposure prophylactics (PrEP) are available for immunocompromised patients, including people with myeloma, in relation to COVID-19.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10433 on 20 September 2022. 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-commi…
16 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with AstraZeneca, which is a manufacturer of tixagevimab–cilgavimab, also known as Evusheld, regarding how to ensure that patients in Scotland are able to access this preventative treatment for COVID-19.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has had very constructive discussions with AstraZeneca on Evusheld ® for the preventative treatments for COVID-19. However, throughout the pandemic, a UK-wide approach to the procurement of therapeutics has been taken and has proven vi…
16 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Department of Health and Social Care regarding the procurement of Evusheld.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10433 on 20 September 2022. 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-commi…
16 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the Department of Health and Social Care has asked NICE to conduct an appraisal of remdesivir, tocilizumab, casirivimab and imdevimab, baricitinib, sotrovimab, molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, and tixagevimab and cilgavimab for treating people with coro…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As part of the Scottish Medicines Consortium’s (SMC) continuing role in the UK-wide multi-agency RAPID C-19 initiative, the collaborative partnership between the SMC and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will extend to the multiple …
16 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the Department of Health and Social Care has asked NICE to conduct an appraisal of tixagevimab–cilgavimab, also known as Evusheld, whether it will refer Evusheld to the Scottish Medicines Consortium, in order to ensure that patients in Scotland are able to acces…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) is a partner in a UK-wide multi-agency RAPID C-19 initiative, which is a collaborative partnership between the SMC and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Building on this work, the SMC is expl…
15 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether vulnerable people will have access to the drug, Evusheld, to protect against COVID-19 and, if so, when this will become available.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10433 on 20 September 2022. 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-commi…
15 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding any impact on Scotland of reports that the UK Government will not procure the COVID-19 drug, Evusheld, to treat vulnerable patients this winter.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Throughout the pandemic, a UK-wide approach to the procurement of therapeutics has been vital to allow the UK to have the buying power to secure significant numbers of therapeutics in a competitive global market. This approach has ensured patients across the …
15 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all people who were on the former shielding list are eligible for anti-viral medication for the treatment of COVID-19.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09978 on 24 August 2022. 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…
15 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to use an advertising campaign to encourage individual sponsors to house Ukrainian refugees.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is extremely thankful for the generosity of all those who have expressed an interest in hosting people displaced by the current conflict. Scotland is now providing a place of safety to more displaced people per head of population than…
15 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage individual sponsors to house Ukrainian refugees.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10431 on ? 6 September 2022. 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-comm…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for a Home Energy Scotland Loan were received in (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The number of Home Energy Scotland Loan applications received during 2020-21 and 2021-22 were: Financial Year Total Number of Loan Applications Received 2020 - 2021 2602 2021 - 2022 3897
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for a Home Energy Scotland Loan are currently waiting to be processed.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: As at August 2022, the number of Home Energy Scotland Loan applications currently awaiting processing is 303.
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of staff who are currently employed by Home Energy Scotland.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The total full time equivalent staff employed on Home Energy Scotland at the end of July is 208. This figure includes:All staff within each Home Energy Scotland advice centre working on Home Energy Scotland activity, and teams and specialists managed directly…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current (a) average and (b) longest waiting time is for applications to be processed for a Home Energy Scotland Loan.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: In August the average processing time was 8 days and the longest processing time was 10 days.
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for a Home Energy Scotland Loan were (a) accepted and (b) rejected in (i) 2020-21 and (ii) 2021-22.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The number of Home Energy Scotland Loans that were accepted/rejected in 2020-21 and 2021-22: Financial Year Total Number of Loan Applications - Accepted Total Number of Loan Applications - Rejected 2020 - 2021 2325 277 2021 - 2022 3731 166
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether current staffing levels at Home Energy Scotland are sufficient to handle the reported increasing demand on the service.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Demand for the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Advice service has risen significantly since the recent energy bill rises and other cost of living pressures have started to put pressure on households. Earlier this year, we committed to expanding the HES service by…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reopen any NHS Scotland stroke units that were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of virus outbreaks among patients and staff.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We are not currently aware of any stroke unit closures.
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many thrombectomies were performed at each stroke centre in the last year, and how many patients were required to be transferred from another centre due to capacity constraints.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The number of thrombectomy procedures carried out at each stroke centre in the last year are: West of Scotland: 16 East of Scotland: 17 North of Scotland: 31 The Scottish Government does not hold information about individual patients transfers.
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that NHS boards are achieving acceptable thrombolysis performance in stroke centres.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme team works closely with services and NHS boards to use learning from the Scottish Stroke Care Audit to support improvement across the whole stroke pathway, including timely access to thrombolysis. For example, planni…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the planning, delivery and measurement of stroke rehabilitation performance in 2022.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Our vision is for everyone with rehabilitation needs to be able to access the care and support they need to live well, on their own terms. Defined performance markers such as access to acute therapy, access to inpatient stroke therapy, access to community st…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any NHS board is failing to meet national stroke service standards.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme report, published on 28 June, includes data from the Scottish Stroke Care Audit (SSCA). The SSCA measures quality of care of stroke services in each acute hospital, grouped by NHS board against the Scottish Stroke C…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to findings from the most recent Scottish Stroke Care Audit report that all NHS boards in Scotland are currently failing to meet the stroke care bundle standard.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government recognises that delivery of the acute stroke care bundle is of crucial importance to the provision of high quality stroke care. Monitoring of performance against stroke bundle standards through the Scottish Stroke Care Audit allows the…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to address the reported decline in standards of stroke-related services in NHS Scotland, particularly in the areas of unit admissions and swallow screening.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Despite the continued and unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme report, published on 28 June, highlights areas where a high level of care is provided for stroke patients, including improvement…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken by any NHS boards that are currently not meeting the national stroke service standard to achieve the necessary standards of service.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme (SSIP) Lead conducts a review process and meets with all NHS boards to understand the provision of stroke services and create a local action plan to improve performance where needed. We recognise that the Scottish St…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to restore NHS stroke care, specifically the national stroke care bundle, to its pre-COVID-19 pandemic quality service standard.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10404 on 20 September 2022. 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-commi…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that NHS Scotland stroke-related services are operating in line with the Stroke Improvement Plan and Scottish Stroke Care Standards.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Following the publication of the National Advisory Committee for Stroke’s Progressive Stroke Pathway, work is underway to develop a refreshed Stroke Improvement Plan by the end of 2022. This will outline how recommendations in the Progressive Stroke Pathway w…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Stroke Improvement Plan has been in place in 2022 and, if so, what successes have been achieved as a result.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Stroke Improvement Plan has been in place since its introduction in 2014 and has provided the framework for the provision of stroke care in Scotland. The Stroke Improvement Plan emphasises the importance of the delivery of the stroke bundle, to ensure th…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what approach it is taking to the monitoring of giardiasis, so-called beaver fever, in light of reports of various international examples of the disease negatively impacting public health and tourism.
Answer · Lorna Slater: We do not routinely monitor for giardiasis in beavers. A 2021 report on health screening of wild beavers found no animals testing positive in Britain for Giardia. However, NatureScot continue to collect beavers reported to have been found dead in the wild o…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that adequate public research is undertaken to quantify the risk and probability of the spread of giardiasis, so-called beaver fever, before any reintroduction of beavers into freshwater communities.
Answer · Lorna Slater: To date Giardia has not been found in any beavers in Scotland, though targeted testing has been carried out on both live animals and carcasses in Tayside as well as in Knapdale. Although beavers can carry this parasite the EPIC report published in 2017 poi…
12 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent the spread of giardiasis, so-called beaver fever, in light of reported plans to introduce beavers into freshwater communities in national park lochs.
Answer · Lorna Slater: All beavers that have been captured in Tayside and translocated to projects in Scotland, England and Wales are subject to disease screening and appropriate treatment as a licence condition prior to release. This screening ensures that beavers released under l…