Parliamentary questions
Jim Hume
1,310 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many clinical negligence claims were made against each NHS board regarding pressure ulcers or sores in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14 and in how many cases this was the underlying cause of death.
Answer · Alex Neil: In 2012-13 six clinical negligence cases relating to pressure ulcers or sores were raised, of which one was the underlying cause of death; whilst in 2013-14 five such cases were raised, of which none was the underlying cause of death. A breakdown by health b…
11 Aug 2014 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest reports on waiting times to access support services that allow older people to live independently at home.
6 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the European Commission has given it notice that it has either failed to implement or only partially implemented directive 2011/24/EU.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scotland has not been given notice. The UK Government and 11 other member states have received a request from the European Commission asking for notification of the measures taken to implement the European cross-border healthcare directive 2011/24/EU. Togeth…
6 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has fully implemented directive 2011/24/EU as it was required to do by 25 October 2013.
Answer · Alex Neil: The European cross-border healthcare directive 2011/24/EU has been implemented in Scotland by a package of measures: the National Health Service (Cross-Border Health Care) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 and existing domestic legislation, guidance issued to NHS b…
1 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to help patients meet the cost of travel to NHS appointments.
Answer · Alex Neil: There are currently two schemes in place to assist patients with the cost of travel to hospital in Scotland. The first is a means tested scheme to help those in receipt of certain DWP benefits; and the second a non-means tested scheme to help patients that re…
10 Jul 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to deal with any impact on farmers in Scotland arising from the difference with England in the levels of nitrate permitted in nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZ).
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Efficient nitrogen fertiliser use has benefits for the environment, addressing climate change and contributing to farm business profitability. The Scottish NVZ Action Programme encourages farmers to maximise the efficiency of nitrogen fertilisers. The Scottis…
26 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role it considers practice-based evidence for psychological therapies can play in the production of Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) clinical guidelines.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) would consider evidence for psychological therapies, where relevant, in the production of any particular guideline based on the scope of the guideline and discussions with the multi-disciplinary guideline…
26 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) about the consideration of practice-based evidence for psychological therapies in the production of its clinical guidelines.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines are derived from a systematic review of the scientific literature and are designed to accelerate the translation of new knowledge into action to meet the aim of reducing variations in practice, and…
26 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the next review will take place of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) clinical guidelines for the treatment of (a) depression and (b) anxiety.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines are derived from a systematic review of the scientific literature and are designed to accelerate the translation of new knowledge into action to meet the aim of reducing variations in practice, and…
26 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) about the range of evidence it considers when developing clinical guidelines for the treatment of (a) mental health conditions, (b) depression and (c) anxiety.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines are derived from a systematic review of the scientific literature and are designed to accelerate the translation of new knowledge into action to meet the aim of reducing variations in practice, and…
25 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients seeking cross-border NHS treatment under EU directive 2011/24 (a) paid for the treatment themselves or (b) had the cost of treatment paid for them under Article 7 (4) of the directive, broken down by NHS board area since October 2013.
Answer · Alex Neil: This information is a matter for NHS boards and is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. I refer the member to the answers to questions S4W-21921 and S4W-21922 on 24 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parl…
25 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it will give to the National Contact Point and NHS boards on providing patients with access to information and advice on Article 7 (4) of EU directive 2011/24.
Answer · Alex Neil: The purpose of the EU-wide network of National Contact Points (NCP) is to help smooth the path for patients looking to access treatment in a particular Member State under the European Cross-Border Healthcare Directive (2011/24), by providing information on: h…
25 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that all patients receive cross-border NHS treatment through Article 7 (4) of EU directive 2011/24.
Answer · Alex Neil: Article 7 (4) of the European Cross-border Healthcare Directive (2011/24) sets out the amount that the home Member State must reimburse for treatment provided in another Member State. This has been transposed into Scottish legislation through the National Hea…
19 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of self-harm involving people aged (a) under 18, (b) 18 to 34, (c) 35 to 59 and (d) 60 and over there have been in each of the three last years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Data for hospital treated self-harm is collected by Information Services Division (ISD), NHS National Services Scotland. Incidents of intentional self-harm in Scotland are recorded in two main datasets: 1. Acute hospital inpatient/day case discharge records …
19 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet the Consul General of China and whether it will raise at the meeting concerns about the annual Yulin dog-meat festival in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There are currently no plans to meet with the Chinese Consul General, Mr Pan, however, the Scottish Government is aware of animal welfare concerns surrounding certain practices in China, including the Yulin festival practiced by those that believe that eating…
18 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is carrying out further modelling work on the impact of air passenger duty on Glasgow Prestwick Airport and, if so, when it will be complete and when the stage 2 business plan will be published.
Answer · Keith Brown: Further modelling work is to be completed to assess the likely impact on Glasgow Prestwick Airport’s business growth opportunities of a reduction or abolition of Air Passenger Duty, and on possible route development support mechanisms as a result of revised E…
18 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency regarding the consultation on the sulphur content of marine fuel; whether it made a submission to the consultation and, if so, whether it will publish this.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has not held discussions with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on this consultation. We have sent a letter to the MCA outlining our response to the consultation and will publish this as part of the material prepared for the se…
17 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comment in the Scottish Medicines Consortium's (SMC) June 2014 briefing note that the cancer treatment drug, Abraxane, "offered a substantial improvement in life expectancy", what its position is on the SMC's decision not to recommend it for use.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) decisions are made independently of the Scottish Government. SMC advice should be read in the context of the whole of the Detailed Advice Document, published at www.scottishmedicinesconsortium.org.uk. The Scottish Governme…
17 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average time is for the Scottish Medicines Consortium to reach a decision on whether to approve a medicine for use following consideration through the Patient and Clinician Engagement process.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Patient and Clinician Engagement now forms part of the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) evaluation process. Submissions from pharmaceutical companies received by SMC after noon on 7 April 2014 are eligible for this new approach, in line with what was set o…
17 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the medicines for treating (a) cancer and (b) other conditions that were not recommended by the Scottish Medicines Consortium in each of the last four years have since been (i) approved and (ii) not recommended for use following consideration through the Patient and Clinician…
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21803 on 7 July 2014. 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/parliamentarybusi…
17 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many medicines for treating (a) cancer and (b) other conditions the Scottish Medicines Consortium has considered in each of the last four years, and how many were subsequently (i) approved and (ii) not recommended for use.
Answer · Michael Matheson: All Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) decisions are available on the SMC website: www.scottishmedicines.org.uk. I have asked the Chief Executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland to provide the requested information. Details as follows: Table 1: Full s…
12 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the 5% of the population who will not receive improved mobile and broadband connectivity by 2017-18 through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme will not continue to experience inadequate digital connectivity.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are a number of initiatives that will deliver improved broadband connectivity, including superfast broadband, to the final 5%. Community Broadband Scotland has a £5 million budget to work with remote communities to deliver local broadband projects in t…
12 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effect of poor mobile and broadband connectivity in remote and rural areas on the delivery of cost-effective telehealth solutions.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scotland’s Digital Future – Infrastructure Action Plan sets out plans for delivering a world-class and future-proofed digital infrastructure by 2020, facilitated by the Step Change 2015 programme. The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local A…
12 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Royal College of General Practitioners' campaign, Put Patients First: Back General Practice, and whether it plans to increase the proportion of the NHS budget spent on general practice.
Answer · Alex Neil: General practice has an invaluable contribution to make in improving outcomes through more effective integrated care and management of patients and Scotland already leads the world in patient safety. It is vitally important that the individual needs of patien…
12 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the NHS budget it considers appropriate to spend on general practice.
Answer · Alex Neil: General practice, by means of their clinical decisions, affect such services as prescribing, direct investigations and unplanned admissions and in this way commit about 52% of total NHS expenditure. For the first time this year, health boards were required t…
12 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the NHS budget has been spent on general practice in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Alex Neil: The following table details primary medical service (PMS) expenditure over the last 10 years. Primary Medical Service Expenditure (2003-04 to 2012-13) Financial Year Primary Medical Services (£million) PMS% of Total Operating Cost 2003-04 2004-05 2005…
11 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set a date for the coming into force of the provisions of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014.
Answer · Alex Neil: Sections 34 (interpretation), 35 (ancillary provision), 36 (commencement) and 37 (short title) of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 came into force on the day after Royal Assent which was on 12 March 2014. In addition, sections 7 (reset:…
9 Jun 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the construction of the Borders railway.
5 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a national lung allocation system.
Answer · Alex Neil: Currently, lungs are allocated to the designated UK transplant centres on a zonal basis and the centres are responsible for selecting the patient. Organs such as the heart and lungs are very vulnerable to time spent in the cold (required for transport of orga…
5 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust report, Hope for More: Improving access to lung transplantation and care for people with cystic fibrosis.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We welcome the publication of the recent report from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and sympathise with cystic fibrosis patients and indeed everyone who is waiting for a transplant. I recently met with members of the trust to discuss the report and services for cy…