Malcolm Chisholm

16 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve colonoscopy performance in the bowel screening programme.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Bowel Screening Programme evaluation and monitoring group regularly reviews and monitors all key performance indicators (KPI) for the programme, including that of colonoscopy performance. The bowel screening KPI report, most recently published i…

16 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that people who are considered at higher risk of developing bowel cancer and require surveillance colonoscopy  because  of a (a) genetic condition and (b) history of it in their family are seen within six weeks of their planned recall appointment.

Answer · Maureen Watt: From 31 March 2009, the Scottish Government set a national waiting time standard that patients will wait no more than six weeks for any of the eight key diagnostic tests. These tests include colonoscopy. There is no target waiting time for endoscopy specifica…

16 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what  resources it has made available to the programme, Endoscopy: Raising Standards and Effectiveness (ENDORSE), and what additional funding it will provide to assist with raising the quality of endoscopy units.

Answer · Maureen Watt: A Health Improvement Scotland led ENDORSE programme board is overseeing partnership working to deliver improvements in endoscopy services. This follows on from the HIS endoscopy review report A Look inside Scotland’s Endoscopy Services – National Overview (Ma…

16 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) capacity and (b) demand for (i) colonoscopy and (ii) flexible sigmoidoscopy services over the next five years, and how it will ensure that there is sufficient investment in these services.

Answer · Maureen Watt: NHS boards are responsible for planning and delivering services to meet the needs of their local population now and in future. The Scottish Government Health Directorate is actively supporting all boards to better project demand for NHS services and to plan f…

23 Feb 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the provision of perinatal mental health services.

9 Feb 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the implementation of minimum staffing levels for all professions in hospitals, as recommended by the former chief nursing officer, Anne Jarvie, and Professor Derek Bell.

26 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce inequalities in (a) cervical screening uptake and (b) human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is continually seeking to reduce inequalities in the services it provides. For example, in cervical screening, work is under way with third sector partners and GP surgeries in areas of multiple deprivation to pilot interventions design…

26 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase public awareness of cervical cancer symptoms.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We know that cervical screening can detect cervical changes before they become cancerous and reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Every woman in Scotland between 20 and 60 years of age is invited to be screened for cervical cancer every three years. As w…

26 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans  it has to increase the uptake of cervical screening in (a) general and (b) the areas where rates fall below the national average.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government invites all eligible women aged 20-60 to attend cervical screening every three years, however, it is for each individual to make a choice as to whether they take up the offer of screening. It is vitally important that women attending f…

26 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in (a) general and (b) the areas where rates fall below the national average.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Uptake rates for the HPV vaccination programme have been consistently high since its introduction in 2008, with final uptake rates nationally exceeding 90% for all three doses. These final uptake rates for the routine cohort of girls compare favourably with t…

8 Dec 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian about its financial situation.

Answer · Shona Robison: Officials from the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate met with the Director of Finance and the Deputy Director of Finance from NHS Lothian on 18 November 2014. The focus was on NHS Lothian delivering a balanced outturn for 2014-15, with ea…

1 Dec 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in relation to Pelamis Wave Power since it went into administration.

24 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03630 by Kenny MacAskill on 30 October 2014, whether it has reached a conclusion with regard to amending the law on non-harassment orders and what other action it will take to protect the victims of stalking.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Following a recent court case, the Scottish Government is continuing to consider whether changes are required to the law on non-harassment orders so as to ensure that they can be granted by a court in all appropriate circumstances. There is a wide range of a…

7 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions in the last year a trial has been abandoned following a psychiatric report on the accused and what protection is available to the victims in such cases.

Answer · Lesley Thomson: From the information held by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service it is not possible, without manual checking of files and incurring disproportionate costs, to find out how many criminal court cases have been discontinued following a psychiatric rep…

3 Nov 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to speed up access to domestic abuse courts.

20 Oct 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what improvements it will make to the law in relation to stalking.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is clear that there is no place in Scotland for stalking or harassment of any kind. This Parliament led the way across the UK by introducing a specific stalking offence in 2010. Our justice system also provides for non-harassment order…

4 Aug 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement about the consequences for the NHS of a No vote and a Yes vote in the referendum.

28 Jul 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support Skills Development Scotland provides to the training of women over 25.

9 Jun 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications would be for the Common Travel Area of an independent Scotland.

9 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement the recommendations of the Demos report, Behind the Screen, which seeks to increase the uptake of cervical screening.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government welcomes the Demos report, Behind the Screen, and the recommendations it makes. The Scottish Government fully supports the objective of increasing uptake in the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme. Indeed work is already taking place…

9 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support Cervical Screening Awareness Week.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government fully supports the aims of Cervical Screening Awareness Week 2014 (CSAW14) and congratulates Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust in leading this initiative to highlight the importance of cervical screening and its role in preventing cancer. The…

2 Jun 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the work underway in 2012 on the start-up costs of an independent Scotland will be completed.

19 May 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what experts it has consulted about the consequences of independence for interest rates.

12 May 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding streams are available to help the Edinburgh Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre in addition to  the Violence Against Women Fund and the Rape Crisis Specific Fund.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Edinburgh Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre currently receive funding through both of these funding streams, which are fully committed until March 2015. However, I am aware that Rape Crisis Scotland has funded a consultant to work with the Edinburgh Wo…

24 Mar 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what considerations led it to propose a three pence cut in corporation tax below the prevailing rate in the remaining UK in the event of independence.

3 Mar 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the NHS has spent on operations and procedures in the private sector in each of the last three years.

24 Feb 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can give to the campaign for a Leith museum.

17 Feb 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to ensure the dredging of rivers where it is appropriate.

10 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of pupils who started primary one in Edinburgh schools in August 2013 had not had six terms of nursery education.

14 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures its health directorates will take to increase awareness of cervical cancer symptoms through (a) national education programmes, (b) NHS board initiatives and (c) other means.

Answer · Alex Neil: The earlier a cancer is detected the easier it is to treat. We know that screening is the best way to detect cervical cancer at its earliest stage. Every women in Scotland between 20 and 60 years of age is invited to be screened for cervical cancer every thre…