Parliamentary questions
Miles Briggs
4,209 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of people who attend A&E each year for emergency treatment as a result of a deterioration or crisis in their long-term condition.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not centrally available for A&E departments across Scotland.
17 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding the future of the Southside GP surgery in Edinburgh.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, along with Scottish Government officials, met with Daniel Johnstone MSP, Health Board officials and a group of GP's from the South of Edinburgh, including representatives from the Southside GP surgery, on 17 Novembe…
17 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the remit and purpose is of the Effective Prescribing Group.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Effective Prescribing Programme (EPP) has been set up by NHS National Services Scotland, NHS Boards and the Scottish Government to facilitate and support the quality of prescribing and medicines use. The EPP was established to accelerate change through cl…
17 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements have been put in place to ensure that (a) patients, (b) clinicians and (c) the pharmaceutical industry are able to inform the decisions of the Effective Prescribing Group.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06241 on 26 January 2017. All answers to Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
17 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the membership of the Effective Prescribing Group and its subgroups was decided, and what relationship it has with the (a) area drugs and therapeutics committees in Scotland and (b) Area Drugs and Therapeutics Committees Collaborative.
Answer · Shona Robison: The membership of the Effective Prescribing Programme Board (EPPB) is determined by the organisations tasked with facilitating and supporting a ‘once for Scotland’ approach, ensuring best use of resources through joint working to quality prescribing and medic…
17 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the minutes and decisions of the Effective Prescribing Group.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06241 on 26 January 2017. All answers to Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
17 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) current and (b) future areas of focus are for the Effective Prescribing Group and its subgroups.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Effective Prescribing Programme is currently focusing on: the clinical effectiveness of biological medicines; developing a clinical consensus approach to particular clinical areas; scaling up the holistic review of patients on multiple medicines; supporti…
17 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the governance arrangements are for the Effective Prescribing Group, and to whom it reports.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06238 on 26 January 2017. All answers to Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
13 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many expectant mothers have been turned away from maternity units due to capacity issues in each year since 1999, broken down by hospital.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: This information is not held centrally
13 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that expectant mothers have been turned away from the maternity unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The safety of expectant mothers and their babies is of paramount importance. We want to ensure that Scotland is as safe a place as possible for mothers to give birth. The temporary divert from the maternity unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital wa…
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the uptake rate has been for the (a) shingles and (b) flu vaccination in each year that it has been available.
Answer · Shona Robison: (a) Shingles vaccine uptake rate for the routine and catch up cohorts for each year of the programme is presented in the following table. Age cohort Year Age 70 Age 76 Age 77 Age 78 Age 79 2013-14 59.7 - - - 55.6 2014-15 58.7 - - 54.9 55.…
11 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many night feeding machines are available for cancer patients, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. Specific local information may be available from NHSScotland Health boards.
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement by the UK Government of a review of the health debt form, which means that patients are charged up to £300 by a GP for documentation to prove to debt collectors that they have mental health issues, whether it has plans to conduct a similar review.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government and BMA agree that a new GP contract should free up GP time to focus on those elements of medical care that really require GP involvement – including complex care for people with mental health problems and co-morbidities including ment…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on conducting a feasibility study into creating extra lanes on the Edinburgh City Bypass.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland is continuing with work to identify required improvements to the A720, including giving consideration to how any potential increase in capacity would impact on the operation of the route. This work is currently underway. I refer the membe…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS Scotland hospitals generate income from advertising.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information sought is not held centrally by the Scottish Government; it is a matter for individual Health boards.
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether private companies are permitted to advertise in NHS hospitals.
Answer · Shona Robison: As set out in Section seven of the Health and Medicines Act 1988, Health boards are permitted to generate income provided it does not significantly interfere with the provision of NHS services. This includes income generated through advertising. The Scottish …
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of regulations covering advertising in NHS premises, in light of NHS hospitals in England hosting adverts for personal injury lawyers.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06018 on 19 January 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 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what regulations cover advertising in NHS Scotland premises and how they are enforced.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06018 on 19 January 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/parliamentarybusines…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS hospitals have contracts with law firms and how long these are for.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information sought is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money NHS Scotland generates from advertising in hospitals.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information sought is not held centrally by the Scottish Government; it is a matter for individual Health boards.
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people in Scotland may have vitamin D deficiency, broken down by age group.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Information on how many people in Scotland may have vitamin D deficiency is not held centrally.
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients requiring care packages self checked out of hospital without a care package in place in each year since 1999, also broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: This is a matter for individual Health boards. The information requested is not held centrally.
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to (a) the public, (b) NHS boards and (c) health professionals regarding the use of vitamin D supplements.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05995 on 23 January 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 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) physical and (b) mental health benefits of taking vitamin D supplements.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Current Scottish Government advice on vitamin D is based on recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), which advises all four UK administrations. As part of its recent review on vitamin D, SACN considered all relevant evidenc…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to encourage more people to take vitamin D supplements.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has recently updated its advice on vitamin D supplementation for ages 6 months and over in line with the new Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recommendations on vitamin D. The revised guidance is set out in full at http://www…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the possible savings to the NHS if fewer people developed conditions related to vitamin D deficiency.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has not carried out this assessment. We are however aware of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) economic evaluation of Interventions to Improve the Uptake of Vitamin D Supplements in England and Wales, publish…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to raise public awareness of any benefits of taking vitamin D supplements.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05995 on 23 January 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 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on which hospitals (a) offer free, (b) charge for and (c) do not offer wifi for patients and visitors.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally; it is a matter for Health boards.
5 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05450 by Aileen Campbell on 22 December 2016, by what date the £10 million investment will be made available to NHS boards.
Answer · Shona Robison: To increase the provision of insulin pump therapy for adults and Continuous Glucose Monitoring devices, the £10million funding will be made available to NHS boards over the term of this Parliament. A first tranche of £2million is included in the 2017-18 draft…
5 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01096 by John Swinney on 25 July 2016, whether it will provide the information for 2016.
Answer · John Swinney: Please see in the following table how many and the percentage of pupils with additional support needs in each local authority for 2016. The information on hours of support provision is not held centrally. Pupils with an ASN Percentage of pupils with an A…