Parliamentary questions
Dr Richard Simpson
2,702 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
2 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason people over the age of 16, or 19, if in full-time education, and people under 60 who have dementia, a neurological disorder, a mental health disorder or cancer and who have an income of more than £16,700 or are not on benefits, are not eligible for assistance from the min…
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26520 on 3 August 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/parliamentarybu…
2 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people were newly enrolled in the minor ailment service in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 whose application was on the grounds of the disease exemptions required under the previous freedom from prescription charge system.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26520 on 3 August 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/parliamentarybu…
2 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people enrolled in the minor ailment service in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15.
Answer · Shona Robison: Data on the number of patients registered for the minor ailment service (MAS) for a) 2012-13, b) 2013-14 and c) 2014-15 is published by the Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland and is available at: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health…
2 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) research it has undertaken into and (b) evidence it has on whether quality and productivity indicators for 2012-13 to reduce avoidable A&E attendances have had any effect.
Answer · Shona Robison: The quality and productivity indicators for 2012-13 to reduce avoidable A&E attendances were part of the programme to support NHS boards in shifting the balance of unscheduled care so that patients receive emergency care at the most appropriate level of the c…
2 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress the ePharmacy Programme has made in linking community pharmacists and GPs, and how many GP practices have an electronic link to community pharmacies.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26516 on 30 July 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/parliamentarybus…
2 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funds were provided by each NHS board to the Scottish Enhanced Services Programme in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14, broken down by (i) general practice and (ii) other primary care.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government allocates £13 million annually for health boards to spend on local enhanced services, these services are not restricted to general medical practice but should be delivered within primary care. It is within each board's discretion wheth…
2 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have signed up to the Chronic Medicine Prescribing Scheme and how many of these are active.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Chronic Medication Service (CMS) allows patients with long term conditions to register with a community pharmacy of their choice to receive the service. The CMS consists of three stages: 1. Assessment of pharmaceutical care issues; 2. Pharmaceutical c…
23 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many young women per 10,000 HPV vaccinations have required referral for specialist assessment following vaccination.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The information requested is not held centrally. However, as with all vaccines and medicines the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) monitors and provides advice on the safety of the HPV vaccine in the UK. Since the introduction of the …
18 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement single-dose perioperative intrabeam radiotherapy to replace 15-session postoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer in women as is routine in the US, France, Germany and Australia.
Answer · Shona Robison: The UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently reviewing the evidence on the use of single-dose perioperative intrabeam radiotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer. We understand that the appraisal committee will meet on 26 August 20…
18 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of medicines prescribed by hospital doctors for use after discharge is generic.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not available centrally. The Scottish Government supports the appropriate use of approved name (generic) prescribing, an approach which is promoted by NHS Board Area Drug and Therapeutics Committees. NHS Board local joint formula…
18 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken on the cost effectiveness of prescriptions issued in hospital for patients on discharge.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has not undertaken specific research on the cost-effectiveness of prescriptions issued in hospital for patients on discharge. All NHS Boards in Scotland use local joint formularies which recommend use of the same medicines for both pr…
17 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking regarding concern expressed by the NHS Pay Review Body in its report, Scotland Report 2015, regarding low rates of appraisals and to respond to its observation that "There is a pressing need for the NHS in Scotland to manage and apply the agreed pay progression a…
Answer · Shona Robison: The focus in Scotland is on ensuring that staff have a meaningful conversation about their performance, their development and career aspirations. The implementation of Agenda for Change, including the Knowledge and Skills Framework, has been taken forward in …
17 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to respond to the statement by the NHS Pay Review Body in its report, Scotland Report 2015, that it would like future evidence to "include more robust and systematic data to inform our consideration on recruitment and retention issues".
Answer · Shona Robison: As we always do, we will work with the NHS Pay Review Body according to an agreed timetable governing the submission of evidence, to ensure it has the data it requires in order to carry out its functions on behalf of the Scottish Government.
10 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people with learning difficulties have enrolled in college courses in each of the last four years.
Answer · Angela Constance: Data on the number of college students with learning difficulties is not held centrally.
10 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in implementing recommendation 9 of The keys to life - Improving Quality of Life for People with Learning Disabilities.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the quality of lives for people with learning disabilities. Our ambition is to ensure that people with learning disabilities are visible in Scottish data systems. Since we published The keys to life much has b…
10 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in implementing recommendation 40 of The keys to life - Improving Quality of Life for People with Learning Disabilities, and what impact the reduction in the number of part-time college places has had on this.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the quality of lives for people with learning disabilities in Scotland. At the heart of our ambition is the principle that everyone in Scotland has the right to access high quality learning to meet their needs…
10 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish in full the recommendations of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Pharmacy Expert Working Group.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-25531 on 26 May 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/parliamentarybu…
2 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the £3 million that it announced in 2008 for improved community palliative and end of life care was spent and what improvements have resulted from this.
Answer · Shona Robison: The £3 million funding announced in 2008 for palliative care funding was invested in a directed enhanced service to support improvements in generalist palliative care with the balance being invested locally by NHS boards in a range of actions supporting the n…
1 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce emergency legislation to allow community pharmacists to replace a prescribed medicine with the nearest safe equivalent when facing supply difficulties.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-25860 on 11 June 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/parliamentary…
1 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any additional workload for community pharmacists when they are unable to supply prescription medicines.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-25860 on 11 June 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/parliamentary…
1 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support GPs who have to reissue prescriptions when community pharmacists are unable to provide medicines because of supply difficulties.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-25860 on 11 June 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/parliamentary…
1 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any additional workload for GPs resulting from an inability of community pharmacists to supply prescription medicines.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-25860 on 11 June 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/parliamentary…
1 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether patient safety has been affected by any difficulties experienced by community pharmacists in supplying prescription medicines.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-25860 on 11 June 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/parliamentary…
1 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of supply chain difficulties in prescription medicines and, if so, for how long.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-25860 on 11 June 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/parliamentary…
1 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and (b) Community Pharmacy Scotland about supply chain difficulties for prescription medicines.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government and NHSScotland have regular engagement with Community Pharmacy Scotland on issues relating to the supply and provision of drugs for patients in the community. At a UK level, the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 set out the regulato…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which responses to its consultation on the Mental Health (Scotland) Bill supported its move to extend nurses’ powers to detain pending medical examination from two to three hours.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: A total of 110 responses were received to A Consultation on draft proposals for a Mental Health (Scotland) Bill. This is available at: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2013/12/1962 with the full text of consultation responses available at: http://www.gov.s…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what organisations support its move to extend nurses’ powers to detain pending medical examination from two to three hours.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-25830 on 9 June 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/parliamentary…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Prison Service will complete the roll-out of the screening tool to identify offenders with learning difficulties.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “The date for the completion of the roll out of the learning/disabilities (LDD) screening tool is as yet unknown. The Scottish Prison Servic…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it met the target set out in the 2006 report, Delivering for Mental Health, of increasing the number of inpatient child and adolescent mental health beds by 56 by 2010 and, if not, (a) for what reason and (b) when the target will be achieved.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We are working closely with NHS boards to ensure that the number of specialist beds matches the need and demand of children and adolescents. We are also encouraging NHS boards to develop their community based intensive outreach services in order to enable chi…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the working group that is examining the requirement for inpatient beds for people with a learning disability will report and when it will publish the findings.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Mental Health and Learning Disability Bed Census: One Day Audit was undertaken on 29 October 2014. The Scottish Government plans to publish provisional analysis from the census imminently.