Miles Briggs

18 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the interpretation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that was contained in the report presented by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to the UN's Human Rights Council in March 2017, in particular the view that "Guaranteeing inform…

Answer · Maureen Watt: The UN Human Rights Council is currently in session and is considering the report presented by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Scottish Government has contributed to the discussion of a resolution which looks to address the global burden of obs…

18 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers covert medication of care home residents to be compatible with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Scottish mental health and incapacity legislation is based on rights and principles. The most recent reform of mental health legislation was through the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2015, which was passed by the Scottish Parliament last year. The 2015 Act str…

14 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that people requiring access to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices can do so, and what its position is on rolling out the FreeStyle Libre System of CGMs.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5O-01194 on 29 June 2017 regarding continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found …

13 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the introduction of a multi-disciplinary diagnostic centre-approach for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s National Clinical Strategy supports a multi-disciplinary diagnostic centre approach for many tertiary complex treatments to be delivered by fewer clinical teams with greater multi-professional expertise. If evidence shows that survi…

13 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the roll-out of the fast-track surgery model for cancer treatment.

Answer · Shona Robison: The role of the Scottish Government is to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS boards in order that they can deliver services that meet the needs of their local population. Within this context, it is for clinical audit and local clinical governan…

13 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has or plans to set targets for survival rates for pancreatic cancer.

Answer · Shona Robison: Our cancer strategy, ‘Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action’ and the accompanying £100 million investment over the coming years serves as a blueprint for the future of cancer services in Scotland, improving the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and af…

13 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its Cancer Strategy aims to improve care and outcomes for people with pancreatic cancer.

Answer · Shona Robison: Our cancer strategy, ‘Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action’ and the accompanying £100 million investment over the coming years serves as a blueprint for the future of cancer services in Scotland, improving the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and af…

13 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many members of the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry team are, or have been, paid at a daily rate.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Edinburgh Tram Inquiry is a statutory Inquiry, and as such, it is independent of Scottish Government. Therefore, how and when Inquiry staff are paid is a matter for the Inquiry and not the Scottish Government. However, officials maintain an on-going engag…

12 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that stakeholders are experiencing IT issues in responding to ISD Scotland's online consultation on the publication of chronic pain waiting times information, and how ISD has ensured that stakeholders without internet access can participate in writing. 

Answer · Aileen Campbell: NHS ISD was made aware that a very small number of respondents were experiencing IT issues. These issues were fixed as soon as they were highlighted and the individuals concerned were provided with updates and offered the option of providing their submission …

12 Sep 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve access at Waverley station for disabled, blind and visually-impaired people.

6 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the retention of consultant radiologists, in light of reported concerns regarding retention.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is fully committed to a sustainable NHS and its workforce, which continues to deliver a consistently high quality healthcare service to the people of Scotland. Under this Government, the number of Consultants with a specialty of Radio…

6 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) full- and (b) part-time (i) consultant and (ii) other radiologists have been employed in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on how many (a) full time and (b) part time (i) consultant and (ii) other radiologists have been employed in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS Board, is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web links:- Information be…

6 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian and the area's health and social care partnerships regarding the (a) action that is being taken to reduce delayed discharge and (b) the delayed discharge monthly census, which was published on 5 September 2017 and recorded the board as …

Answer · Shona Robison: Senior officials are engaging with the four Health and Social Care Partnerships across NHS Lothian (East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian and Edinburgh City), with the most recent meeting with the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership on 31 August. Al…

28 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that (a) teachers, (b) lecturers and (c) career advisers in (i) schools and (ii) colleges are fully informed of the full range of career opportunities in nursing for men, and what plans (A) it and (B) its agencies have to refresh any guidance on this subject.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10984 on 14 September 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…

28 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of any barriers to men entering the nursing profession.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10984 on 14 September 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…

28 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to attract more men into the nursing sector.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to promoting and maintaining equality and diversity in all walks of life, including for students undertaking nursing and midwifery pre-registration programmes. The Nursing 2030 Vision acknowledges that there has been a sma…

28 Aug 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to expand GP services in Lothian.

28 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that the one month period for ISD Scotland's consultation on the publication of chronic pain waiting times information is too short to provide everyone who may wish to participate sufficient time to respond, and how it will ensure that as many (a…

Answer · Aileen Campbell: NHS ISD have tried to reach as many people as possible about the consultation by routes such as social media, the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain and via the ALLIANCE. ISD have also decided to extend the consultation period to 5pm on 22 September…

28 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason ISD Scotland's consultation on the publication of chronic pain waiting times information is only open for one month instead of two months or more.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: ISD Scotland’s formal consultation on the publication of Chronic Pain Waiting Times information is open for one month to allow time for comments submitted to be reviewed and any changes made for the planned December 2017 release. ISD are happy to receive fee…

24 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10644 by John Swinney on 24 August 2017, what action it is taking to increase the number of modern language assistants in (a) Lothian, (b) local authorities that do not currently employ any and (c) Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: Since 2013, Scotland’s local authorities have received £24.2m in developmental funding from the Scottish Government to support the implementation of the 1+2 policy by 2021. Many choose to use this to fund Modern Language Assistant posts. It is, however, the d…

15 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average wait has been to be (a) assessed for and (b) fitted with a hearing aid in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on hospital waiting times for the assessment and fitting of a hearing aid is only available on a quarterly basis from 2009 to quarter end 31 March 2014. From 2014 data on Audiology service waits is included as part of the 18 weeks referral to trea…

11 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support more people who identify as being disabled to work in the health service, and what guidance it provides to NHS boards on employing more disabled people.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10456 on 15 August 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…

11 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to research by the group, Equality Here, Now, which suggests that 0.85% of the NHS workforce identifies as being disabled.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10454 on 15 August 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…

10 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the opening of the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh has been delayed; what the reasons are for this, and what action it is taking to ensure that further delays will be avoided.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government having discussed the situation with NHS Lothian understand the Board's decision to delay opening of the new hospital. Their decision has been made in order to protect the commissioning period to ensure that the new facility is fully s…

9 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for a cataract operation has been in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The information requested can be obtained from the Parliaments Information Centre (Bib Number 60007).

9 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances a father would not be allowed to register a baby or child with the NHS.

Answer · Shona Robison: Generally GPs should not refuse a person registration unless there are exceptional circumstances. According to the national regulations either parent can apply for registration on behalf of a child. The regulations also allow for a non-parental guardian to be…

9 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of fathers being told that only the mother can register a baby or child with the NHS.

Answer · Shona Robison: Registration arrangements at GP practices in Scotland are based on national regulations. The regulations are clear that either parent can apply for registration on behalf of a child. There is nothing in the regulations to say that it has to be the child's mo…

9 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have died after overdosing on opioids in each year since 1999.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information that is available is given in the following table. This was produced from a National Records of Scotland (NRS) database which covers all the drug poisoning deaths that are counted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) “wide” definition. …

8 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many foreign language assistants there have been in the Lothian parliamentary region in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government supports the work of the British Council in Scotland and values the contribution Modern Language Assistants, as native speakers, make to the language learning experience of our pupils. The figures available, and supplied by British Co…

8 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many attacks on NHS staff have been reported to the police in each year since 1999.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is not held centrally, as police crime statistics do not in general refer to the complainer’s employer. Depending on the nature of any attack, Police Scotland will record the appropriate crime or offence. For NHS staff this could in…