Jackie Baillie

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the public inquiry into the handling of COVID-19 in Scotland is adequately resourced.

Answer · John Swinney: The Inquiry must, and will, be given the resources necessary to discharge its task. It will be fully funded by the Scottish Government. Costs are to be determined by how the Inquiry is run by the independent Chair. For that reason, as with other inquiries, we…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04701 by Humza Yousaf on 23 December 2021, on what basis the peer review is independent, in light of NHS Lothian reportedly treating Andrew Slorance for five years.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Further to the answer to question S6W-04701 I can confirm that the case review was undertaken by a small number of NHS Lothian clinicians who are all suitably qualified and experienced in their relevant fields. As none of the clinicians who undertook the revi…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04701 by Humza Yousaf on 23 December 2021, what specialities are covered by the seven clinicians undertaking the review.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Further to the answer given to question S6W-04701 I can confirm that the team of reviewers in NHS Lothian were made up of clinical staff at consultant and senior nurse level who are all suitably qualified in their fields and span across various disciplines in…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04701 by Humza Yousaf on 23 December 2021, whether any of the seven clinicians are haemotologists with a special interest in mantle cell lymphoma.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Further to the answer given to question S6W-04701, I can confirm that one of the seven clinicians who undertook the peer review was an experienced Haematology consultant who has expertise in the care of haematological malignancies and the associated protocols…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04701 by Humza Yousaf on 23 December 2021, whether the case note review carried out by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, regarding the care of Andrew Slorance, has been shared with his wife.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Further to the answer given to question S6W-04701 I can confirm that the Case Note review carried out by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde along with the report of the peer review undertaken by NHS Lothian have both now been shared with Mrs Slorance.

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve stroke services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05487 on 21 January 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-committ…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reduce the target time for a brain scan in the event of stroke to less than 12 hours.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Stroke Care Standards can be found here: ( https://www.strokeaudit.scot.nhs.uk/index.html ). The current standard relating to brain imaging already sets out that 90% of patients should receive this within 12 hours of arrival at first hospital, …

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards have stroke units, and which hospitals these are located in.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: All 14 NHS Boards have hospitals providing acute stroke care. A map showing all hospitals that contribute data on stroke unit admission to the Scottish Stroke Care Audit can be found in the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme report at: https://www.strokea…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether standards for stroke care extend to rehabilitation, and, if not, what proposals are in place to monitor the whole stroke pathway.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The current Scottish Stroke Care Standards are available at the following link ( https://www.strokeaudit.scot.nhs.uk/index.html)x . At present, they largely relate to acute stroke care. However, the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme also includes perfo…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are current SIGN guidelines for stroke.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines on stroke have been withdrawn due to being over 10 years old. SIGN therefore recommend that healthcare professionals look to other up-to-date evidence-based guidelines to inform practice. A goo…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will agree to an independent annual audit of stroke guidelines and services, similar to that in the rest of the UK.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Stroke Care Audit (SSCA) already measures quality of care of Stroke Services in Scotland against the Scottish Stroke Care Standards. Health Boards are provided with reports on a monthly basis. Performance is monitored locally and nationally and a…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is implementing the European Stroke Organisation's Action Plan for Stroke in Europe 2018–2030, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Through our Programme for Government commitments we are already reflecting the aims of the European Stroke Organisation’s Stroke Action Plan for Europe. In particular the ESO’s target that 90% of all patients with stroke in Europe should be treated in a stro…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it reportedly withdrew from the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR); what it is being replaced with, and when.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish participation in the UK National Cardiac Audit Programme (NCAP), managed by the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR), was previously enabled through the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP). The Scottish Gover…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who is collating data on transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures, following its reported withdrawal from the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR).

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Cardiac Audit Programme, within Public Health Scotland, have been actively seeking data submissions from all sites across Scotland that previously contributed to the UK National Cardiac Audit Programme, managed by the National Institute for Cardi…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Heart Disease Action Plan 2021 does not include more detailed information on heart valve disease.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Heart Disease Action Plan 2021, sets out a strategic vision to address the impact of heart disease across Scotland. This means that the plan does not provide detailed information on specific conditions but instead identifies four priority areas. These are…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to adopt the 12-week waiting time target for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Treatment Time Guarantee already outlines that after a diagnosis is determined and treatment agreed, each health board must ensure that patients receive inpatient and day case treatment within 12 weeks. This applies to all treatments and services apart fr…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the waiting time for an echocardiogram to six weeks, in light of European standards reportedly stating that asymptomatic patients must be referred for an echocardiogram within this timescale.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Heart Disease Action Plan recognises the need to ensure timely and equitable access to diagnostics, including echocardiography. As set out within the plan, we are working to address key workforce issues relating to cardiac physiology. Cardiac Physiologi…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all over-65-year-olds routinely have their heart checked with a stethoscope.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Where it is clinically appropriate to do so, patients of all ages will be examined with a stethoscope to listen for breathing and heart sounds. They may also have ECG electrical recordings of their heart rate, blood tests and have access to other investigatio…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures have been carried out at the (a) Golden Jubilee hospital, (b) Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and (c) Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in each year since 2018-19, including the current year to date.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information on TAVI procedures in Scotland for 2018-19 and 2019-20 was submitted by sites to the UK National Cardiac Audit Programme. Published data is available from the British Cardiovascular Interventional Society (BCIS) - Audit Results - British Cardiova…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve awareness of heart valve disease among (a) primary care professionals and (b) the public.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Primary care professionals have access to multiple sources of education and update regarding heart valve disease and management both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Through local interface groups local pathways to support diagnosis and management hav…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review heart valve disease services in order to identify areas of excellence and construct patient pathways.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Priority 2 within the Heart Disease Action Plan makes clear our commitment to developing nationally agreed pathways of care for all cardiac conditions. This work is underway. It is led by our recently appointed Heart Disease Improvement Coordinator, who is e…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) currently does and (b) will collect data on the diagnosis, management and treatment of heart valve disease, including statistics on referrals and echocardiograms.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: For more detail on data relating to echocardiograms, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05550 on 21 January 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be foun…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether digital stethoscopes are available for primary care practitioners to assist with the detection of heart disease during virtual consultations.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Digital stethoscopes can be purchased by any clinician.

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current waiting time is for an echocardiogram in each NHS board.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Public Health Scotland (PHS) releases a quarterly publication presenting statistics on the number of patients waiting for one of the eight key diagnostic tests, which are covered by the national six-week standard. Further information on these tests and the la…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether employers using agency staff are responsible for providing COVID-19 tests for such staff, or whether this is the responsibility of the agency staff themselves.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Employers with ten or more staff are eligible to participate in the workplace asymptomatic testing programme. The programme allows participating organisations to offer COVID-19 testing to any individuals who work at the location, including employees, voluntee…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether agency staff employed in health and social care settings will be given the same priority as permanent staff for COVID-19 PCR tests.

Answer · Maree Todd: As demand for COVID testing reaches new levels, we continue to adapt the Test & Protect system in order to protect the vulnerable and support the resilience of essential workforces. From Wednesday 29 December prioritised booking slots have been made availabl…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a target response time for correspondence to ministers, and whether this is monitored.

Answer · George Adam: The Scottish Government aim to respond to ministerial correspondence within 20 working days. Performance is monitored at local and corporate levels of government.

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which cabinet secretaries do not respond to correspondence from MSPs but instead delegate this to officials.

Answer · George Adam: Correspondence from MSPs is routinely answered by Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers. The Health and Social Care portfolio has experienced a huge and unprecedented increase in correspondence over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. In orde…

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a correspondence management system, and whether this records the number of letters received by ministers.

Answer · George Adam: The Scottish Government has a corporate correspondence system. Correspondence addressed to Ministers and requiring a response is added to the system on receipt.

5 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-00531 on 2 December 2021, whether it will provide an update on its response to the report, Towards a Scotland that cares – a new National Outcome on Care for the National Performance Framework, and what progress it is making in responding to the rep…

Answer · John Swinney: The report Towards a Scotland that cares , which proposes the new National Outcome on Care for the National Performance Framework, will be fully considered as part of the Review of the National Performance Framework that will commence this year. As the Nation…