Parliamentary questions
Miles Briggs
4,209 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have accessed clinical trials in each year since 1999, broken down by clinical specialty.
Answer · Shona Robison: Due to developments in the NHS Research Scotland infrastructure, directly comparable data across the clinical specialties is only available from 2015-16. The following table shows patient recruitment to clinical trials by year, broken down by the 27 NHS Resea…
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many surgeons the NHS has employed in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on consultant numbers, of which consultants working in surgical specialities is a sub category, is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web links: Data from 1997-2007 can be found here: https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-T…
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05783 by Shona Robison on 3 February 2017, whether it will provide updated figures showing the same information for the period since its last answer.
Answer · Shona Robison: The number of health visitors employed by NHSScotland is published quarterly by Board.Data from 2015 to the most recent data, published on 5 December 2017, can be found at https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2018-03-06/Health_Vis…
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for how long there have been any surgeon shortages in each NHS board in each year since 1999.
Answer · Shona Robison: Numbers of Consultants working in Surgical Specialities have increased by 41.7% during the lifetime of this government. Information on consultant vacancy figures, of which consultants working in surgical specialities is a sub category, is published by ISD Sc…
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of trauma-informed emergency services.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Trauma Network (STN) aims to better meet the needs of the population of Scotland. The STN has been established to support four regional networks (North, East, South East and West), the Scottish Ambulance Service and the Scottish Trauma Audit to w…
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many in-school exclusions there have been in each local authority in each year since 1999.
Answer · John Swinney: Data showing the cases of exclusion for each local authority for the academic years 1999-00 -2002-03 is available on the Scottish Government website here: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2004/09/19874/42462 Data showing the cases of exclusion for each loc…
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many breastfeeding clinics it has supported in each year since 1999.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Although the information requested is not held centrally, the Scottish Government’s Maternal and Infant Nutrition Framework (2011) outlines the measures that should be taken by all organisations working with families to ensure that every parent is supported t…
14 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of a national lung health check scheme to aid early detection of lung cancer.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government works closely with the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). This independent expert advisory group advises Ministers and the NHS in the four UK countries about all aspects of screening policy using the international research evide…
14 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the rates of early detection of lung cancer.
Answer · Shona Robison: Through our Detect Cancer Early programme, we aim to increase the proportion of cancers that are detected at the earliest stages. The Detect Lung Cancer Early campaign fronted by Sir Alex Fergusson was first launched on 6 November 2013. Activity has continue…
14 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) type of and (b) length of adult respite breaks that are available.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: This specific information is not held centrally. Integration Authorities are responsible for strategic planning of adult social care services. Since April, Integration Authorities also have new responsibilities under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 for local …
14 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the support allocated by the Short Breaks Fund has been used in each year since 2010-11.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The purpose of the Short Breaks Fund is to increase the range, availability and choice of short breaks for carers and the people they care for, through the development and delivery of short breaks projects and services by third sector organisations. The Scot…
14 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each local authority area are entitled to an adult respite care break.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: There is currently no centrally held data for the number of people entitled to an adult respite care break. The new Carers Census will collect data from Carer's Centres and local authorities about Carers who have an adult care support plan, whether they have …
14 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out or plans on the impact of adult respite care on the number of primary care admissions.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: No analysis has been carried out specifically on the impact of adult respite care on the number of primary care admissions. Section 4.6.7 of the “Scotland’s Carers” publication published 24 March 2015 talks about the impact of short breaks or respite. The Car…
14 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to local authorities to help them raise awareness among unpaid carers of entitlement to adult respite care.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 took effect on 1 April 2018. Adult carers now have the right to an adult carer support plan to identify their personal outcomes so that their eligible needs are supported. Local authorities must consider whether support to a car…
14 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what resources it is providing to local authorities to support them in offering adult respite care breaks as part of the implementation of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 took effect on 1 April 2018. Provisions include the right to an adult carer support plan to identify each adult carer’s personal outcomes so that their eligible needs are supported. Local authorities must consider whether suppor…
14 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much unpaid carers save the public purse.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The "Valuing Carers 2015" report authored by Professor Sue Yeandle (University of Sheffield) and Dr Lisa Buckner (University of Leeds) estimates that carers in Scotland provided care services to the value of £10.8 billion in 2015.
14 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact an (a) ageing population and (b) increase in the number of people with long-term conditions could have on demand for adult respite care.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: This specific information is not held centrally. In terms of health and social care more generally, the Scottish Government is working to develop a medium term financial framework, within the context of the budget settlement that the Scottish Government recei…
14 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns regarding the decision by NHS Lothian to close a number of drop-in breast feeding clinics in Edinburgh, and what discussions it has had with the NHS board regarding this.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government continues to support women to breastfeed as the normal nutrition for babies. It is for each NHS Board to plan services to meet the needs of its population. Most health boards have infant feeding advisors and/or peer support coordinato…
9 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns that the new GP contract does not make adequate provision for GP practices with a significant number of patients who might require interpreters or lengthier appointments because they are non-native English speakers.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is primarily for NHS Boards to co-ordinate interpreting and translation services that best meet the needs of their local populations. The new contract requires GPs, who are responsible for setting appointment lengths, to engage through their clusters with…
9 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether GP practices that are receiving income protection to maintain their previous funding under the new GP contract will continue to receive this under phase 2 of the contract.
Answer · Shona Robison: If accepted by the profession, Phase 2 of the contract will introduce an income range that is comparable to that of consultants and directly reimburse agreed practice expenses. As these measures would change GP practice funding and GP income they will be sub…
9 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding in the new GP contract will be used each year for the provision of link workers, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are committed to delivering 250 link workers to work in GP surgeries and direct people to local services and support. As set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Integration Authorities (IAs), NHS Boards, the British Medical Association and…
9 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of whether the new allocation formula used to calculate GP practice income meets the needs of practices in deprived communities, and whether it has any plans to revisit the formula.
Answer · Shona Robison: The new GP contract introduces a funding formula based on the workload that the practice population is expected to generate. It is based on the best available evidence and as such it more accurately reflects the workload of GPs. The impact of deprivation on …
9 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of some GP practices in deprived communities that they will receive only standstill funding under the new allocation formula and that some practices in affluent areas will receive significant increases.
Answer · Shona Robison: The new GP contract, backed by investment of £110 million in 2018-19 and jointly developed with the BMA, will help to cut doctors’ workload and make general practice an even more attractive career. This will include expanding the multidisciplinary team includ…
9 May 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the planning system supports the development of infrastructure in areas with a growing population.
3 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the return rate has been for bowel cancer screening tests in each year since the programme was established, also broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Information Services Division (ISD) routinely publish statistics on the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme. This information can be found at: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/index.asp?#2095
3 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the waiting times have been for patients who require a (a) pre-colonoscopy assessment and (b) colonoscopy in each quarter since 1999, also broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information is only collected centrally for colonoscopy and not for pre-colonoscopy assessment. ISD have published information on performance against the 6 week waiting time standard for colonoscopy since 30 June 2009 - this information can be obtained on the…
2 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the reported concerns raised by residents in the area regarding the impact of the closure of the Stoneyburn Health Centre GP service in West Lothian, and what discussions it has had with NHS Lothian about this.
Answer · Shona Robison: The West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) is planning on consolidating GP services for all patients registered at Breich Valley Medical Practice to the Fauldhouse Partnership Centre site as of 1 June 2018 and to re-advertise the practice on t…
2 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, due to capacity issues, people in Whitburn are experiencing difficulties in getting appointments at Whitburn Health Centre, and what discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding this.
Answer · Shona Robison: The GP Practice at Whitburn Health Centre are operating fully without any restrictions. The Practice have 8 GP partners and are currently training more of their nursing staff to take on advanced clinical roles. Whilst there can be delays in getting appointmen…
30 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of pupils with additional support needs (ASN) there were in each Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation decile in each of the last five years.
Answer · John Swinney: a) Number of pupils with additional support needs (ASN) by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), 2013-2017 SIMD Decile Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 1 = Most Deprived 21,896 22,609 23,462 26,132 27,197 2 16,019 16,870 18,314 22,802 …
26 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which drugs are available through the NHS in England but not in Scotland, and vice-versa.
Answer · Shona Robison: Medicines that have been approved for use in Scotland and not England:Bevacizumab (Avastin)Fulvestrant (Faslodex)Regorafenib (Strivarga)Nusinersen (Spinraza) The Scottish Medicines Consortium published advice on 7 th May 2018 which accepted both Regorafenib …