Miles Briggs

20 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to help fund and promote pet therapy in the NHS.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government fully supports the safe use of pet therapy in appropriate circumstances. It is for individual NHS boards to decide what therapies they make available based on the needs of their resident populations. We expect NHS boards to ensure that…

20 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time was for both cycles of IVF treatment from 2007 to date, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Information Services Division (ISD) does not hold this information centrally. Data for IVF waiting times are available from the quarter ending July to September 2014 onwards. Information collected by ISD to measure progress towards the waiting time standard i…

20 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many care home places there are, broken down by (a) NHS board area and (b) whether they are in the (i) private or (ii) public sector.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The number of registered care home places there are, broken down by (a) NHS board area and (b) whether they are in the (i) private or (ii) public sector is set out in the following table: REGISTERED CARE HOME PLACES Source: Scottish Care Home Census, snapsh…

20 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many paediatricians work in NHS Scotland, broken down by board.

Answer · Shona Robison: As at March 2016, there were 918.9 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) staff working in Paediatrics Specialties in NHS Scotland – a 30.4 per cent increase under this government. This includes a 78.9 per cent increase in paediatric consultants. Information on the num…

20 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received access to continuous glucose monitoring in each year since 1999.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. Provision of continuous glucose monitoring is a matter for NHS boards in consultation with individual patients taking into consideration national clinical guidelines.

20 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have died from suspected drug abuse in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: National Records of Scotland (NRS) publish annually the statistics of drug-related deaths which were registered in Scotland over the period from 1996. The number of deaths since 1999, broken down by NHS board, can be found on the NRS website - http://www.nrsc…

20 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been given methadone prescriptions in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: In October 2015, Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland published analysis of individuals on methadone based on those prescriptions with a valid Community Health Index (CHI) number. This analysis was published on the ScotPHO website, and can be accessed…

14 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as the primary test in the cervical cancer screening programme, following recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is currently working with NHS Scotland on the development of a business case on the introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing to the cervical screening programme. This business case is expected to be submitted later in 2016 an…

14 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29382 by Maureen Watt on 29 January 2016, during which month in 2017 it will introduce the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) as part of the bowel screening programme to replace the fecal occult blood test (FOBT).

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The faecal immunochemical test (FIT) Implementation Group, which includes Scottish Government officials, is actively working to introduce FIT as a first line test in the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme, but a final date for implementation has not yet been …

13 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 6 June 2016, Women urged to go for smear test, what recent assessment it has made of the reasons that women in different age groups might not attend cervical screening.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government commissioned NHS Health Scotland to undertake research with women into the reasons for non-uptake of the screening invitation in 2015. This research was carried out with women from both younger and older age groups and will be used to …

13 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 6 June 2016, Women urged to go for smear test, what recent assessment it has made of the barriers that might deter women from attending cervical screening.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government commissioned NHS Health Scotland to undertake research with women into the reasons for non-uptake of the screening invitation at the end of 2015. A large part of this research focused on the facilitators and barriers to uptake. The res…

13 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 6 June 2016, Women urged to go for smear test, what steps it is taking to improve the uptake of cervical screening among women (a) over 50, (b) with learning difficulties and (c) in deprived areas.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Scottish Government officials meet cervical screening coordinators from all NHS boards on a quarterly basis to share best practice in promoting cervical screening services, development of initiatives to improve uptake and how best to communicate effectively w…

10 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce details of its support for three PhD research studentships on motor neurone disease.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00421 on 15 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/28…

10 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the provision of ventilation and respiratory services and the monitoring and support of patients using these services is as good as possible and that there is equity of service across Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: It is for each NHS board to ensure that they provide care that is safe, effective and person centred, taking into account local service needs, national guidance and clinical standards. There are Respiratory Managed Clinical Networks in place to ensure a co-or…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many heart auto pulse machines are available in the Scottish Ambulance Service and what plans it has to increase the number.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) are currently trialling three heart Autopulse machines in the south east of Scotland as part of their approach to Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA). There are also two Autopulse machines available to SCOTstar, the nati…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it is developing to increase genetic screening in the NHS for diseases.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government works closely with independent expert advisory group the UK National Screening Committee, who advise ministers and the NHS in the four UK countries about all aspects of screening. The Scottish Government and the Medical Research Cou…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when parity for payments made in respect of children and adults in hospice care will be implemented.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring parity in public sector funding for adult and children’s hospices. An interim funding arrangement which reduces the gap has been agreed for 2016-17. We have initiated a review of hospice funding to report by De…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cleaners have been employed in the NHS in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: While information on how many cleaning staff have been directly employed in each NHS board in each year since 1999 is not centrally held, information on the pre-agenda for change ancillary staff group from 30 September 1999 to 30 September 2006 is published b…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on mental health services for veterans in each year since 1999.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government sets national direction of policy on mental health and provides funding to agencies, including NHS boards and local authorities, to support implementation of policy. The management of local actions in implementing national policy, a…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review funding for disabled sportsmen and -women and provide additional promotion of disabled athletes.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Our national agency for sport, sportscotland, invests Scottish Government and National Lottery funding in recognised Scottish governing bodies of sport. Scottish disability sport (SDS) is the coordinating body for all sports for people of all ages and abiliti…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made or plans on the effectiveness of mindfulness therapy as a treatment for mental health problems.

Answer · Maureen Watt: To assist in providing effective, evidence-based treatments, the Scottish Government provides funding to NHS Education for Scotland to host the ‘Matrix’, an evidence-based guide for NHS boards on effective psychological treatments for a range of mental health…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the provision of mindfulness therapy as a treatment for mental health problems.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The concept of mindfulness is widely promoted in a variety of mental health settings as a therapeutic tool in enhancing mental health and wellbeing. To assist in providing effective, evidence-based treatments, the Scottish Government provides funding to NH…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional support for learning teachers there have been each year since 2007, broken down by local authority.

Answer · John Swinney: The following table sets out the number of additional support for learning teachers in each authority since 2007. These figures only represent the number of teachers in Scotland’s schools who have additional support for learning as their main subject. In 2015…

6 Jun 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service is adequately funded.

2 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the NHS's capacity to deliver three full cycles of IVF.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The National Infertility Group looked at capacity in the four centres that deliver NHS IVF in its 2016 report which was published on 13 June 2016: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/06/9960. Work will now begin to develop a sustainable implementation plan,…

2 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports calls for three cycles of IVF to be offered to couples who are unable to conceive.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has accepted the recommendation in the national infertility group’s report, published on 13 June 2016, to increase the maximum number of IVF cycles from two to three. Work will now begin to develop a sustainable implementation plan, in…

2 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cycles of IVF are offered by each NHS board.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Since July 2013, all NHS boards in Scotland have offered a maximum of two full IVF cycles for eligible patients. The Scottish Government has accepted the recommendation in the national infertility group’s report, published on 13 June 2016, to increase the max…

2 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what conclusions its National Infertility Group has reached in relation to (a) calls for the NHS to deliver three full cycles of IVF and (b) enhancing IVF services.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The National infertility group’s report was published on 13 June 2016 at http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/06/9960. The group was asked to look at a number of areas, including widening access criteria and increasing the number of full IVF cycles from two …

1 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that NHS Lothian acts to remedy issues of concern that were identified in the report by Healthcare Improvement Scotland on elderly care wards in Astley Ainslie Hospital, Ferryfield House, Findlay House and Ellens Glen.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Lothian has accepted all the findings and recommendations made in the NHS Lothian hospital-based complex clinical care review. The Scottish Government introduced new guidance (DL (2015) 11) for all health boards on 28 May 2015 with objectives including…

1 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any concerns about NHS Lothian's workforce planning policies, in light of the report by Healthcare Improvement Scotland on elderly care wards in Astley Ainslie Hospital, Ferryfield House, Findlay House and Ellens Glen, which suggest that care was under pressure due to staf…

Answer · Shona Robison: While it is the statutory responsibility of each NHS Scotland health board to have in place workforce plans, the Scottish Government works closely with boards to develop better workforce intelligence through robust supply and demand profiles, capacity trends,…