Parliamentary questions
Miles Briggs
4,209 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the longest wait has been in each year since 1999 to make an appointment to see a GP, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information for independently contracted practices. It does expect patients to be offered an appointment with a member of GP practice staff within two days; the latest figures (Health & Care Experience Survey 2015/16…
21 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the BBC Scotland investigation, which suggests that thousands of dementia patients are missing out on the support that they should be receiving from the NHS.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is working with partners to support delivery of the national dementia post-diagnostic service offer, which is underpinned by a national target that everyone diagnosed from 1 March 2015 is offered the service. National post-diagnostic …
21 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that all people with dementia have access to the minimum one-year post-diagnostic support guarantee and that all NHS boards are meeting this commitment.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is working with partners to support delivery of the national dementia post-diagnostic service offer, which is underpinned by a national target that everyone diagnosed from 1 March 2015 is offered the service. Since April, Integration …
21 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to take appropriate measures to provide access for disabled people to the support they may require in exercising their legal capacity as required by Article 12.3 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to promoting and protecting equality and human rights for disabled people in Scotland and we are working in co-production with disabled people to shape our policies and services. The United Nations Convention on the Right…
21 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to modify any laws and regulations that are deemed to constitute discrimination against disabled people as required by Article 4(b) of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is fully committed to meeting its international human rights obligations, including those arising under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We have recently consulted on a Disability Delivery Plan which addr…
21 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to amend Scottish mental health and incapacity legislation in line with the general principles set out in Article 3 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, including "Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make o…
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Parliament recently passed the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2015. The 2015 Act is currently being implemented and contains several measures which strengthen the provisions in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 that promote…
15 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its view is on the report from Citizens Advice Scotland, The Cost of Saying Goodbye 2016, and its finding that the cost of a basic burial in Edinburgh is the highest in Scotland.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is concerned about variation in the costs of burial and cremation across Scotland and the impact this can have on people on low incomes. While it is for individual local authorities to set the level of their fees and manage their budge…
15 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government and other stakeholders regarding funeral costs, funeral poverty and the funeral payment scheme.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has: Written to Baroness Altman outlining our concerns regarding the current Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Funeral Payment. Had discussions at official level with the Department for Work and Pensions on the Social Fun…
15 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle funeral poverty.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government commissioned an independent review of funeral poverty in October 2015 and this was published in February 2016. The Scottish Government response accepts almost all of the report’s recommendations and we have been pursuing a coordinated …
14 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to the carers of wheelchair users to help the people that they care for spend part of the day out of their chairs.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02733 on 28 September 2016. 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/parliamentarybusin…
14 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the survey carried out by Leuchie House National Respite Centre suggesting that 71% of wheelchair users spend seven hours or more per day in their chair, 45% spend more than 10, and 43% do not leave their chair.
Answer · Shona Robison: I welcome the contribution of this survey to the important issue of pressure area care for wheelchair users. Healthcare Improvement Scotland has recently consulted on revised Standards for Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers. The revised Standards w…
14 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the availability of adjustable, tilt-in-space, wheelchairs.
Answer · Shona Robison: The provision of NHS wheelchairs in Scotland, including adjustable, tilt-in-space chairs, is via one of the five NHS Scotland centres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Edinburgh or Glasgow. Decisions are made on a clinical basis, in consultation with the patien…
14 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to implement the Health Improvement Scotland recommendation that wheelchair users who are at high risk of developing pressure ulcers should not be seated for more than two hours without a change of position.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02733 on 28 September 2016. 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/parliamentarybusin…
14 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to wheelchair users to help them spend part of the day out of their chairs.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02733 on 28 September 2016. 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/parliamentarybusin…
12 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports museums in Lothian.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government provides direct support to National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh and the National Mining Museum of Scotland in Midlothian. The Scottish Government also funds Museums Galleries Scotland to provide support to a range of local authority …
12 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that patients and those making decisions about medication for minors are fully informed about the possible side effects of antidepressants prior to being taken.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Prescribers of any medication, to anyone, are required to explain the rationale for prescribing, the benefits, and the side effects. NICE clinical guidelines [CG28] cover depression in children and young people, and contain guidance on the use of antidepress…
12 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness of the risks and symptoms of blood clots, and what leaflets and materials it provides to patients and medical staff in this regard.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the formation of blood clots in the vein. The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) ran a national collaborative during 2014 to reduce hospital associated VTE. As part of this work, SPSP supported health boards to raise awar…
9 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce changes to GP and other primary care sector training to ensure that there is parity of access to treatment between mental and physical health.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The requirements and content of the GP training curricula is a matter for the Royal College of General Practitioners, and is approved by the General Medical Council as regulator of the medical profession. This approach applies to the training requirements of …
9 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training and qualifications it expects mental health link workers in GP practices to have.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Links workers undergo a robust selection process to ensure they can work autonomously, are able to work with patients who have complex issues and prevent issues from being bounced back to the GP. The existing Links Workers funded by the Scottish Government co…
9 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is legislation in place to ensure that there should be parity of access to treatment between mental and physical health and, if not, what its position is on introducing such measures.
Answer · Maureen Watt: National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 already states that Scottish Ministers have a duty to secure improvement in the physical and mental health of the people of Scotland. It does not distinguish between the two, nor does it place a higher importance on…
9 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that people receiving care and treatment for addiction can access appropriate mental health services.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Within this additional funding £15 million has also been made available through the Mental Health Innovation Fund during 2015-18 to develop innovative approaches to delivering mental health services. The Scottish Government promotes evidence based practice f…
8 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to upgrade the A720.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government remains committed to undertaking improvements on the A720, including at Sheriffhall. We continue to progress the option assessment process to identify a preferred option for the grade separation of Sheriffhall roundabout. I refer the m…
8 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many MS nurses there are in each NHS board area.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Board Number of MS specialists (WTE) NHS Scotland 15.0 NHS Ayrshire & Arran 1.0 NHS Borders 0.6 NHS Dumfries and Galloway - NHS Fife 1.4 NHS Forth Valley 1.0 NHS Grampian 1.9 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 3.0 NHS Highland 2.0 NHS Lanar…
8 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action that it is taking to tackle underage binge drinking.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has taken forward a range of actions through Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action. This includes improved substance misuse education in schools through Curriculum for Excellence and improved identificat…
8 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Public Health and Sport on 7 September 2016 (Official Report, c.89), who gave the Minister the "categoric assurance" regarding proposed changes to cleft surgery, and how it plans to retain all specialist outreach clinics if cleft surgery is ce…
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The consultation document makes it very clear that the proposal relates to cleft surgery only. The consultation document can be accessed at: http://www.nsd.scot.nhs.uk/news/index.html Clear and categoric assurances that, with the exception of surgery, all ot…
8 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the cost of hospital clinical waste disposal.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government published the Waste Prevention and Re-use Guide which provides practical advice and guidance on implementing effective waste prevention systems within NHS facilities and includes guidance on clinical waste. It is aimed at hospital and …
8 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to upgrade the Sheriffhall Roundabout.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00568 on 17 June 2016. 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/2…
8 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the levels of traffic on the A720.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government, maintains a multi-modal model of traffic data which covers the area serviced by the A720. Traffic information is obtained from 39 automatic traffic counters which are located along the route. Informati…
8 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cleaners in the NHS are outsourced from private companies.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on staff outsourced from private companies is not centrally held.
8 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints the NHS has received regarding over-intervention in patient treatment.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: These complaint statistics are not held centrally.