Nanette Milne

27 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00686 by Michael Matheson on 6 May 2014 (Official Report, c. 30491), what progress it has made in implementing the recommendations in the report, National Review of Asthma Deaths; what its position is on the report's recommendation that a national a…

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government remains committed to working in partnership with the National Advisory Group for Respiratory Managed Clinical Networks and continues to work with the group to look at the report’s recommendations which includes consideration of the rec…

26 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has withdrawn funding for the Neurological Alliance of Scotland.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government remains fully committed to working with all stakeholders to improve outcomes for people with neurological conditions. We will continue to work with third sector colleagues and indeed, we will be refocusing effort in this area. To that …

14 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have had weight loss surgery in each NHS board in each year since 1999, broken down by type of treatment.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The information requested cannot be provided fully due to the reasons set out below. The following table shows information on the number of patients with a recorded diagnosis of obesity that have had bariatric surgery procedures undertaken, by NHS board of tr…

14 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps NHS boards are taking to display the number of nurses on duty at the entrance to hospital wards.

Answer · Shona Robison: Application of the nursing and midwifery workload and workforce planning tools has been mandatory since April 2013, and all NHS boards are expected to use the tools to inform local workforce planning. As part of the wider mandating process, NHS boards’ Local…

14 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a draft of the Scottish microchipping of dogs regulations.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I intend to lay the regulations in draft before Parliament in November 2015, and aim to have them come into force in January 2016, and take effect in April 2016 in line with similar legislation elsewhere in the UK.

13 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation by the Expert Working Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Community Pharmacy in August 2014, what its position is on including ulipristal acetate on the national patient group direction for emergency hormonal contraception.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The inclusion of ulipristal acetate (ellaOne) within the national Patient Group Direction for emergency hormonal contraception is still under consideration. The Scottish Government has been undertaking discussions and a consideration of the evidence in relati…

1 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to disabled college students.

27 Apr 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to help sustain and promote community-based industries.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting sustainable economic growth and tackling inequality across Scotland. Businesses, including community-based industries, can benefit from the wide range of support our enterprise agencies and local authorities …

20 Apr 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cases have been reported to ministers of private and confidential information held on patients being lost, left in public places or breached.

13 Apr 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will use consequential funding to help provide defibrillators in public places.

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times ministers have used the Government Car Service for party political purposes in each year since 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much in arts funding has been awarded by (a) it and (b) its agencies in each local authority area in each year since 1999.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The information requested is not held centrally. Scottish Government funding for national cultural organisations brings benefits in areas across Scotland through their national activity, for example touring exhibitions and performances. It is not possible to…

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the development of the NHS appointment text messaging service; whether such a service will be rolled out nationally and, if so, when.

Answer · Shona Robison: A national contract negotiated by NHS National Services Scotland on behalf of NHSScotland is in place and provides a competitively priced text messaging service that can be used by NHS boards. Text messaging increased by 37% in between 2012-13 and 2013-14. T…

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards operate a telephone helpline for rheumatology services; what assessment has been made of the impact that each has had on (a) patient wellbeing and (b) pressure on GP services, and what its position on setting up a national helpline.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The provision of a telephone helpline for rheumatology services is a matter for NHS boards. The majority of boards provide local helplines for their patients. The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a national telephone helpline; instead we will su…

24 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all rheumatoid arthritis patients are seen by a nurse specialist within one month of diagnosis.

Answer · Shona Robison: Rheumatoid arthritis can be a debilitating condition and the Scottish Government is committed to supporting people living with the illness, as well as their families and carers. We want to ensure that everyone who requires care has access to the highest stan…

24 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the telephone helpline for rheumatology services and the impact it has had on (a) patient wellbeing and (b) pressure on GP services.

24 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rheumatology nurse specialists there are, broken down by NHS board; whether it considers the provision to be adequate, and for what reason.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the number of rheumatology clinical nurse specialists in each NHS board as at 30 September 2014 is shown in Table 1. It is the responsibility of each individual NHS board to ensure they have the right person in place at the right time to ensur…

17 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to encourage an increase in the training of first aiders in (a) schools and colleges and (b) workplaces.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable role that first aid skills can play in delivering better outcomes and experience for patients, avoiding unnecessary hospital attendances, and strengthening and empowering local communities to make them safer and…

17 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase the number of first aiders.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to the question S4W-24935 on 31 March 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliament…

9 Mar 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions have taken place between the SQA and local authorities regarding pupils' career advice and subject choice.

26 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place between Transport Scotland and Moray Council regarding the potential introduction of average speed cameras on the A96.

Answer · Derek Mackay: No such discussions have taken place.

26 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place between Transport Scotland and (a) Aberdeenshire Council and (b) NESTRANS regarding the potential introduction of average speed cameras on the (i) A96 and (ii) A90.

Answer · Derek Mackay: No such discussions have taken place regarding the A96 and the A90.

19 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce average speed cameras on the (a) A96 and (b) A90.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Average speed cameras have a proven track record in improving road safety and have been deployed successfully in many countries. We currently have no plans to install an average speed camera system on the A96 or the A90, but we will continue to promote eviden…

16 Feb 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward proposals to address puppy farming.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Puppy farming has been illegal in the UK since the 1970’s. Anyone involved in the large-scale production of puppies without being licenced or without fulfilling licence conditions can already be prosecuted under existing UK legislation. I am aware that some…

9 Feb 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of GP surgery provision in Aberdeen city and shire.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Statutory responsibility for the provision of primary medical services rests with health boards and it is for each board to put in place those services that best meet the reasonable needs of their patient populations. NHS Grampian have undertaken a workforce…

5 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what family accommodation is provided by each NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the provision of family accommodation provided by each NHS board is not held centrally.

5 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have had tattoos removed by the NHS in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Maureen Watt: There is no specific NHS data code for tattoo removal. As a result, this information is not held centrally by NHS National Services Scotland, Information Services Division.

4 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many dogs have been taken into care by Police Scotland in each year since 1999.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: This information is not held by the Scottish Government, and is a matter for Police Scotland. It is worth noting that Police Scotland is not the only organisation that takes dogs into care; local authorities, the Scottish SPCA and other animal welfare charit…

4 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will undertake a review of pet legislation, including the breeding of dogs.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government recognise that pet welfare is an important issue. As noted in response to S4W-21706 on 24 June 2014 and again to S4W-23680 on 9 January 2015, we have already begun an initial review of existing companion animal welfare legislation and …

29 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make ponatinib available to patients.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) is currently considering a submission for ponatinib (Iclusig) for the treatment of adult patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia and Philadelphia chromosome positive active lymphoblastic leukaemia. This submission is el…