Miles Briggs

7 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines will apply to international students who plan to arrive in autumn 2020 regarding (a) quarantine requirements and (b) and other methods to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and what discussions it has had with universities regarding this. 

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scotland’s college and universities remain welcoming and open places for staff and students from across the world. Staff and students will have to comply with guidance for residents or visitors travelling to the UK. Those travelling from a country not yet exe…

7 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to help tackle climate change through the retrofitting of educational buildings, with the aim of them having net-zero emissions by 2030.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Our Learning Estate Strategy sets out a range of outcomes for Scottish educational buildings, including an ambitions energy efficiency target to make learning environments greener and more sustainable, contributing to our commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas…

6 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people who are shielding from COVID-19 feel safe when accessing healthcare spaces.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Healthcare in Scotland is following the clear Scottish Government guidelines to protect all members of the public from the Covid-19 virus. People who are shielding need to receive the care they need in the safest way possible and clinicians will assess their…

6 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people who are on its COVID-19 shielded patients list receive clear, consistent and timely communications.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is taking a number of actions to communicate clearly and regularly with those who have been asked to shield. A variety of methods are used to inform the shielded group of any significant changes to policy that will affect them. This in…

6 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect people with blood cancer, in light of reports that they are up to 3.5 times more likely to die in hospital from COVID-19 than the rest of the population.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Blood cancer patients cover a wide spectrum of risk, some are on monitoring only with minimal additional risk, to those where there is clear evidence that developing COVID-19 can have very severe consequences. Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable, i…

6 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for the 2020 flu vaccination programme, and whether it plans to bring forward the timetable for this.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is actively engaged with public health partners in planning for the 2020-21 flu vaccination programme that will begin in October. As part of this, we are considering carefully the impact of COVID-19 and how to encourage increased uptak…

2 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by Jeane Freeman on 20 May 2020 that the Barnett consequentials it has received from “the additional resource that the UK Government has committed to care home work…will go to care home work in Scotland” (Official Report, c. 31), whether it will confirm how much h…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29601 on 23 June 2020, this sets out the current position. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.pa…

2 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to assist patients who have become opioid dependent following the prescription of opioids for pain relief.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government has convened a Short Life Working Group (SLWG) to look at Prescription Medicine Dependence and Withdrawal. This SLWG is considering the findings of the Public Health England Prescribed Medicines Review in a Scottish context. We expect …

2 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it issued any new guidance on the prescribing of opioids for pain relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what discussions it had with (a) doctors' representatives and (b) other health organisations regarding this.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government has not issued any new guidance on the prescribing of opioids for pain relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scottish Government’s “Quality Prescribing for Chronic Pain – A Guide for Improvement” covers the period 2018 – 2021 and Sc…

2 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many prescriptions for opioids have been issued in each week since 1 April 2019.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Prescribing and Medicines: Dispenser Payments and Prescription Costs Analysis 2019 annual report, published on 23 July 2019 provides general data on opioids prescribed in 2018-19. This can be accessed via https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Prescri…

2 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a bursary for paramedic students similar to the £5,000 for students in England that the UK Government announced in January 2020.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government provides a package of support for paramedic students that is worth more than the £5,000 announced by UK Government. We provide free tuition for eligible undergraduate students where paramedic students in England are expected to pay up …

1 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide guidance to hairdressers to enable them to resume working on 15 July 2020.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: On 10 July, the Scottish Government published guidance for close contact services which applies to hairdressers and other personal retail services. This guidance is based on a risk assessment process which business owners should use to identify which treatme…

1 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the 2020-21 budget for the Public Dental Service will at least match the 2019-20 budget, in light of the role that it has played in treating urgent cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The overall budget for Public Dental Services for 2020-21 will be equivalent to 2019-20.

1 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many dental practices remain closed or are only open part-time due to a lack of key worker status for dentists and their teams.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The government cannot designate whole workforces or entire groups of staff as key workers as the decisions on eligibility for key worker childcare are taken locally, in line with guidance published on the Scottish Government website. Management information c…

1 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in conjunction with local authorities to secure key worker status for dentists and their teams.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30134 on 20 July 2020. 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…

1 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many dental practices remain closed to NHS patients due to the cost of reopening and insufficient financial support.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Management information collected by the Chief Dental Officer indicates that as of 12 July 2020, 929 practices, from a total of 1024, had reopened. The majority of remaining practices have a confirmed date for reopening and practices are required to certify to…

29 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the types of COVID-19 antibody tests that it is currently using and where they are manufactured.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The NHS in Scotland is currently using COVID-19 antibody tests from the following companies. The table also includes details on where they are manufactured.   Type of Test Where it is manufactured Diasorin Italy Abbott USA Roche USA Siemens Germany…

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the chronic pain clinics that have been closed under the COVID-19 lockdown will start re-opening and, in light of the services these offer, whether it will prioritise their reopening as an urgent matter.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We are now in phase two of the route map out of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown. Health Boards are remobilising services in line with the ‘Remobilise, Recover and Re-design Framework’ that we published on 31 May. We have outlined this should start with th…

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29734 by Clare Hughey on 18 June 2020, what assessment has been made of the ability of Regional Adolescent Inpatient Units to support adolescents with moderate learning disabilities, in light of reported concerns that there is a lack of access to su…

Answer · Clare Haughey: Young people with mild to moderate learning disabilities and mental health problems are able to access the three regional adolescent Inpatient Units (IPU).This group was considered when the regional network of adolescent IPUs was expanded to 48 beds for Scotl…

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29734 by Clare Haughey on 18 June 2020, what measures NHS National Services Scotland has as a contingency if there is no bed availability in CAMHS units in England.

Answer · Clare Haughey: If a young person requires admission to a learning disability CAMHS inpatient unit, NHS National Services Scotland commission cross border admissions to a suitable facility within NHS England. If an admission is not made, the NHS board providing care would pr…

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29736 by Clare Hughey on 18 June 2020, what the timeline is for the introduction of the Managed Clinical Network.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Scottish Government officials are currently working to identify, a project lead and Lead Clinician to establish a Steering Group and develop the specification and standards for a National Leading Disability CAMHS Clinical Network. Subject to progress and the …

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns that some people are ignoring the mandatory requirement to wear a face covering on public transport, and how it is monitoring and enforcing this requirement

Answer · Michael Matheson: Since 22 June 2020, compliance of wearing face coverings by passengers on public transport in Scotland has been high. Transport Scotland officials continue to work closely with operators across all travel modes to monitor and encourage appropriate passenger b…

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local authorities should offer refunds or permit extensions to people who have paid in advance for business and trade parking permits but who have not been able to operate due to the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, and what discussions it has had with coun…

Answer · Michael Matheson: These types of schemes are managed by local authorities and it will be the decision of each local authority whether to extend or refund.

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that everyone requiring access to high quality, person-centred rehabilitation after discharge from hospital receives this.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30128 on 7 July 2020. 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…

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the pressure that such services might experience in the near future, what steps it is taking to ensure the delivery of accessible rehabilitation care in communities.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30128 on 7 July 2020. 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…

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prioritise rehabilitation for people who are (a) shielding from the COVID-19 outbreak and (b) newly diagnosed with a health condition and have been unable to access appropriate rehabilitation services.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30128 on 7 July 2020. 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…

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been issued erroneously with a letter advising them to shield from the COVID-19 outbreak, also broken down by the reasons for these errors. 

Answer · John Swinney: Public Health Scotland issues letters removing individuals from the shielding list on behalf of the NHS Boards. As at 2nd July 2020, 9,221 removal letters have been issued. The following table details instances where a removal letter has been sent. For gener…

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what conclusions it has reached regarding improvements at the Sheriffhall Roundabout, following the review into improving public transport and active travel.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Following publication of draft Orders on 5 December 2019 Transport Scotland received a significant amount of representations, including objections, to the proposed scheme. Transport Scotland is currently reviewing and considering all of the representations re…

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the completion of the conflict survey, what work is planned next for the A702/A703 Hillend Junction.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The investigation into the safety and operation of the A702/A703/Old Pentland Road junction has identified a number of options to reduce vehicular conflict at this location. As the A703 and Old Pentland Road are the responsibility of Midlothian Council, Trans…

23 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the daily COVID-19 testing capacity is at each (a) NHS laboratory and (b) Lighthouse Labs site.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Capacity fluctuates on a daily basis. We now have active weekday NHS lab capacity of around 10,000 tests a day and UKG (Glasgow Lighthouse laboratory) capacity of around 20,000, currently providing overall normal weekday capacity of around 30,000. However, t…