Jackie Baillie

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support people who are waiting for joint replacement surgery can access (a) before and (b) after their operation.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: NHS Boards understand and communicate with patients the importance of keeping as fit and healthy as possible while waiting for joint replacement surgery. To support patients waiting and recovering from surgery, Boards and partner organisations offer a range o…

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it will do to address reports that elective surgeries account for 30% of all NHS waiting lists in Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We are working hard to abolish excessively long waits that have undoubtedly been exacerbated by the impacts of the global pandemic and we offer our sincere sympathies to all patients waiting for treatment. Pausing of non-urgent activity during the pandemic …

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a dedicated elective recovery plan to tackle the reported backlog of patients waiting to receive elective surgery.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In August 2021 we published the NHS Recovery Plan, which set out actions and commitments that will support inpatient, daycase, and outpatient activity to address backlogs. This will be delivered through the implementation of sustainable improvements and new m…

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to tackle the reported backlog of elective surgery.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We are working hard to abolish excessively long waits that have undoubtedly been exacerbated by the impacts of the global pandemic and we offer our sincere sympathies to all patients waiting for treatment. Pausing of non-urgent activity during the pandemic …

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it will provide to prevent any delayed diagnosis of skin cancers if telephone consultations become the norm for GP services as the country emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The pandemic has been the biggest shock our NHS has ever faced. It has necessitated the imposition of Infection Prevention Control measures in order to contain its spread, particularly prior to the vaccination programme being fully rolled out. These IPC meas…

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that treatment is available for the reported rising number of melanoma cases.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We have invested £10 million in 21-22 to support cancer waiting times improvements. Latest data (Q4 2021) shows that the median wait for melanoma patients on the 62 day pathway (from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to treatment) is 27 days and 0 days for …

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce more fast-access one-stop clinics for melanoma cases similar to that at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Most Health Boards across NHS Scotland offer fast-track clinics for patients with an urgent suspicion of skin cancer, including malignant melanoma. We are supportive of coordinating tests where possible to support faster diagnosis and improve patient experien…

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is given to GP services about in-person visits for patients with non-respiratory illnesses such as melanoma and other skin cancers.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The pandemic has been the biggest shock our NHS has ever faced. It has necessitated the imposition of Infection Prevention Control measures in order to contain its spread, particularly prior to the vaccination programme being fully rolled out. These IPC meas…

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what Scottish Water’s total capital spend has been in each of the last 10 financial years, and how much of the total capital spend in each year was (a) on funding projects not undertaken in the previous regulated period and carried forward and (b) for capital investment projects intended…

Answer · Michael Matheson: Information is provided in the following table.  2020-21 £m 2019-20 £m 2018-19 £m 2017-18 £m 2016-17 £m 2015-16 £m 2014-15 £m 2013-14 £m 2012-13 £m 2011-12 £m Projects not undertaken in the previous regulated period and carried forward …

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what Scottish Water’s end-of-year cash balance has been at the end of each of the last 10 financial years, broken down by funds attributable to (a) the Scottish Water Group and (b) Scottish Water itself.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is provided in Scottish Water’s Annual Report and Accounts which is published on Scottish Water’s website and laid before Parliament each year. The information is copied in the following table.  2020-21 £m 2019-20 £m 2018-19 £m 2017-18…

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been transferred by Scottish Water to Business Stream with no requirement for repayment in each of the last three financial years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: None. Business Stream was provided with access to precautionary funding facilities during 2020-2021 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. To date there has been no requirement to drawdown against this facility.  

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Scottish Water setting customer charges at 4.2% for the current financial year, by how much above the Consumer Prices Index would charges need to rise in each year for the remainder of the regulatory period in order to meet the minimum income expectation of the Water Industr…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Final Determination explained that the Commission would expect that its charge caps would allow Scottish Water’s annual revenue in the final year of the current regulatory control period to be no less than £1,392m. This level of revenue was based on assum…

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of current projections for the rate of inflation, when it plans to increase the level of the Water Charges Reduction Scheme in order to protect people on the lowest incomes from any effect of high inflation on the amount that they pay each year in water charges.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As required by the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, Ministers made a Principles of Charging statement for the 2021-27 regulatory period. The statement included the increase to the maximum discount available under the water charges reduction scheme from 25%…

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what accounting provision Scottish Water has made for bad debt in each of the last 10 financial years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is provided in Scottish Water’s Annual Report and Accounts which is published on Scottish Water’s website and laid before Parliament each year. The accounting provision Scottish Water has made for household bad debt in each of previous 10 fin…

30 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it calculates the average water charge in (a) Scotland and (b) England that it uses for comparative purposes.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The average household bill in Scotland is calculated as revenue, net of applicable discounts and divided by the number of household properties in Scotland. The average household bill in England and Wales is published on the Discover Water information site at …

26 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will maintain the alcohol ban on trains.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: ScotRail’s Safety and Security team has been developing options relating to the current ban on consumption of alcohol on trains. I understand that the ScotRail Trains Ltd Board will consider these options shortly and will take account of the range of stakehol…

26 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to recruit more British Transport Police officers; how many it plans to recruit, and over what time period.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has no part to play in the recruitment of officers for British Transport Police.

26 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many British Transport Police officers there have been in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Over the course of the last five years, the force has created separate Divisions for specialist officers such as CID. As a national police force, these specialist officers are not bound by traditional geographical borders. Therefore, to provide an accurate br…

26 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place over summer 2022 to respond to the reported antisocial behaviour on trains.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Safety and security on our railways is reserved to UK Government and as such it would be inappropriate for me to comment on resourcing or operational plans for British Transport Police. However I have asked my officials to request BTP (D-Division Scotland) co…

16 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the last (a) announced and (b) unannounced inspection took place at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, and whether reports of these inspections have been published.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: All of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) inspection reports and action plans are published on the following website address. Find an NHS hospital or service: inspection reports (healthcareimprovementscotland.org) In relation to HIS inspections, the QEU…

16 May 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what her response is to recent reports estimating that around 10,000 people with advanced dementia are paying over £50 million a year to cover their residential social care costs.

16 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it first became aware of the reported shortage of hormone replacement therapy medication, and what action was taken to resolve the issue.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Shortages of medicines are an ongoing part of the day to day management of the NHS. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) medicines and all other medicines experience supply issues for varying times and for varying reasons, including difficulty in sourcing core i…

13 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07714 by Maree Todd on 25 April 2022, when the final project reports referenced in the answer will be published on the Chief Scientist Office website.

Answer · Maree Todd: Following an independent expert review process, 9 projects were funded through the CSO's Long-term effects of COVID-19 call Long Covid Call – Chief Scientist Office (scot.nhs.uk) CSO funded research project start dates are confirmed through submission by t…

12 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Coeliac Awareness Week, which ran from 9 to 15 May 2022, whether it will consider supporting the development of a coeliac training programme for primary care physicians and other allied healthcare professionals to improve current understanding of the disease and support its …

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08581 on 31 May 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-committees…

12 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will assess the role of incentive schemes to support primary care physicians to encourage (a) earlier diagnostics for coeliac disease to be prescribed, and (b) the examination of any person who may have been misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome.

Answer · Maree Todd: We do not hold information about incentive schemes for coeliac disease and irritable bowel syndrome centrally. We do not have plans to establish national incentive schemes at this time.

12 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reduce the time taken to receive a coeliac diagnosis, and what role no-biopsy strategy would play.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08581 on? 31 May 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-committee…

12 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05476 by Humza Yousaf on 25 January 2022, what action has been taken to ensure that all of the families of the 22,900 children seen by NHS Lothian Paediatric Audiology during the period of 2009 to 2018 are aware (a) of the service failures identifie…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08565 on 1 June 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-committees/…

12 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action has been taken to ensure that teachers and other professionals in statutory services who work with children, including those whose hearing was tested by NHS Lothian Paediatric Audiology Service between 2009 and 2018, are aware of the reported failings of the service, and that…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The British Academy of Audiology (BAA) reports have been widely distributed amongst professionals, including all GP practices in NHS Lothian, ENT surgeons, community child health doctors, and speech and language therapists. NHS Lothian has had extensive commu…

12 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05476 by Humza Yousaf on 25 January 2022, which stated that 92 children had been contacted by NHS Lothian and identified as requiring possible retesting, how many (a) more families have been directly contacted by NHS Lothian and offered a retest by …

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Following my response in January I can provide more detail around the issues pertaining to paediatric audiology in NHS Lothian. I am providing one response that covers all three questions. The British Academy of Audiology (BAA) reports have been widely distr…

11 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) public, (b) private and (c) third sector care homes have (i) been closed and (ii) changed provider in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: In relation to (a), (b) and (c)(i), the Care Inspectorate does not hold data in relation to care homes that have closed. However, the number of adult care home services in the public, private and third sectors which have had their registrations cancelled in e…