Dr Richard Simpson

Answer · Shona Robison · 21 Mar 2016

To date 28.4 whole time equivalent pharmacists have been appointed attached to GP practices or clusters of practices since the primary care funding to recruit up to 140 pharmacists was announced.

Answer · Shona Robison · 23 Mar 2016

The following number of practices have introduced restrictions on new patients registering other than for geographical reasons in each NHS board.
NHS Board
Restrictions other than for geographical reasons on new patient registration
Ayrshire and Arran
0
Borders
0
Dumfries and Galloway
0
Fife
10*
Forth Valley
0**
Grampian
3*
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
0
Highland
0
Lanarkshire
0
Lothian
33
Orkney
0
Shetland
0
Tayside
0
Western Isles
0
Total
46
Circumstances will arise where a practice experiences capacity issues and is unable to routinely accept new patients onto its list. We expect health boards to work with practices as constructively and as flexibly as is appropriate to help manage the situation and ensure that all patients have access to GP services.
*Open but full.
**Occasionally NHS Forth Valley practices may, for a period of time, only routinely accept patients with family members already registered with the practice, however they would always continue to accept any new patients assigned to the practice by Practitioner Services Division.

Answer · Shona Robison · 23 Mar 2016

The following number of practices are closed to new patient registrations in each NHS board:
NHS Board
Closed to new patient registrations
Ayrshire and Arran
0
Borders
0
Dumfries and Galloway
0
Fife
0
Forth Valley
0
Grampian
0
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1*
Highland
0
Lanarkshire
2
Lothian
0
Orkney
0
Shetland
0
Tayside
7
Western Isles
0
Total
10
Circumstances will arise where a practice experiences capacity issues and is unable to routinely accept new patients onto its list. We expect health boards to work with practices as constructively and as flexibly as is appropriate to help manage the situation and ensure that all patients have access to GP services.
*Due to open 16 June 2016

Answer · Shona Robison · 21 Mar 2016

The following table shows how many GP practices are on a 2C arrangement in each NHS board.
 NHS Board
2C practices
Ayrshire and Arran
0
Borders
0
Dumfries and Galloway
0
Fife
2*
Forth Valley
3
Grampian
8
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1
Highland
18
Lanarkshire
0
Lothian
7
Orkney
2
Shetland
3
Tayside
3
Western Isles
0
Total
47
*One practice will leave 2C arrangements 1 May 2016

Answer · Shona Robison · 22 Mar 2016

As regulator of the medical profession in the UK, the General Medical Council (GMC) is responsible for monitoring the quality of medical training provided, and to decide where improvement actions need to be taken. This quality assurance role is conducted in partnership with NHS Education for Scotland (NES).
Details of hospitals, specialties and dates being monitored can be found on the GMC website.

Answer · Shona Robison · 21 Mar 2016

Information has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh External Advisors Co-ordinators, who hold the data in relation to consultant boards.
In 2013 there were 424 Scottish consultant panels. Of these, 130 (30%) were cancelled. Of those cancelled, 46 (35%) were cancelled at the closing date stage due to no applicants, 20 (15%) were cancelled because of candidates withdrawing, and 16 (12%) were cancelled at shortlisting or interview stage due to the candidates not being suitable for appointment.
In 2014 there were 546 Scottish consultant panels. Of these, 202 (37%) were cancelled. Of the cancelled panels, 97 (48%) were cancelled at the closing date stage due to no applicants, 27 (13%) were cancelled because of candidates withdrawing, and 28 (14%) were cancelled at shortlisting or interview stage due to the candidates not being suitable for appointment.
In 2015 there were 627 Scottish consultant panels. Of these, 225 (36%) were cancelled. Of the cancelled panels, 123 (55%) were cancelled at the closing date stage due no applicants, 24 (11%) were cancelled because of candidates withdrawing, and 30 (13%) were cancelled at shortlisting or interview stage due to the candidates not being suitable for appointment.
Data on individual appointment boards which have been cancelled more than once is not available.

Answer · Shona Robison · 22 Mar 2016

Hospital at Night is a clinical system used in a number of NHS boards to ensure that high quality consistent care is provided to hospital inpatients overnight, and that staff working in the out of hours period do so under direct senior supervision. It is also an example of strong multidisciplinary working, involving a team of junior doctors, nurses and allied health professionals working under the supervision of a senior nurse and senior doctor. Tasks and duties are co-ordinated through the team leader who ensures that the right person with the right skills is deployed to carry out the relevant clinical task. There has been no national evaluation of Hospital at Night, but boards continue to evaluate their clinical care systems to ensure they are delivering high quality care.

Answer · Shona Robison · 22 Mar 2016

We have consistently said that we are clear on the need to reform the distinction awards scheme. The future of these awards will form part of the Scottish Government’s consideration of service redesign and overall remuneration, going forward.