Parliamentary questions
Monica Lennon
3,484 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish what dedicated services each NHS board offers for treating eating disorders, broken down by location.
Answer · Clare Haughey: In Scotland, a range of eating disorder services are provided in line with clinical good practice across community, primary care and specialist services for children, adolescents and adults. All NHS Boards will keep such services under review and are working …
4 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what that average waiting time is for accessing dermatology services, also broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The information on the average waiting times for access to dermatology services held centrally is for the quarter ending 30 September 2018. This data for outpatient and inpatient/day cases is set out in the following two tables. However, due to technical iss…
4 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the BMA Scotland poll, which recorded that 38% of its members believed that bullying was a problem in their workplace.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I will be meeting the BMA soon to discuss the results of this poll and other matters. The Scottish Government is clear that that bullying and harassment in our NHS is unacceptable under any circumstances. We continue to work with our partners to create a cul…
4 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each NHS board area have an eating disorder, broken down by (a) age and (b) gender.
Answer · Clare Haughey: Information is not held centrally on the number of people with an eating disorder. However, information is provided on the number who have received treatment. Due to the small numbers involved and to protect patient confidentiality, it has not been possible f…
4 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last five years each NHS board has (a) been subject to and (b) lost legal action because an error was made when informing parents of the sex of an unborn baby, also broken down by the (i) cost of legal action and (ii) amount of compensation awarded.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We are not aware of any cases where Boards have been subject to legal action regarding informing parents of the sex of their baby at ultrasound. Gender scans are not carried out by the NHS as there is generally no clinical reason to find out the sex of the ba…
4 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards do not inform parents of the sex of unborn babies because of concerns that they might be subject to legal action if an error is made, and what its position is on this approach.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The main purposes of ultrasound scans are to date pregnancy, chart the growth of the baby and provide antenatal screenings. Then at the more detailed scan at 20 weeks, to assess for any possible health problems. Gender scans are not carried out by the NHS as …
30 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to protect and extend the Branching Out initiative.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government recognises the value of the Branching Out programme that uses forests to help to improve the health and wellbeing of people with mental health problems across Scotland. The Scottish Government remains committed to continuing the progra…
30 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve access to woodlands and encourage people to take physical exercise in such habitats.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scotland’s new Forestry Strategy 2019-2029 sets out a strategic framework for action including increasing the use of Scotland’s forests and woodlands to improve people’s health and wellbeing. Urban woodlands in particular play an important part in improving …
30 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that urban forestry can deliver health benefits such as clean air and improved mental health to a greater number of people.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21337 on 26 February 2019. 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…
30 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the future funding of the Woods In and Around Towns initiative.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Through the Forestry Grant Scheme, the Scottish Government supports the public access improvements within woodlands and the management of woodlands within the Woods In and around Towns (WIAT) initiative area. The Scottish Government provides enhanced support…
29 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many school pupils have died by suicide in the last five years and what action it has taken in response to this.
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how not measuring the BMI of all children over five could impact on the effectiveness of the diet and healthy weight delivery plan in meeting its aspirations regarding children and young people’s weight.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21109 on 7 February 2019. 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…
22 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people have alopecia, broken down by (a) age group, (b) gender and (c) NHS board.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. However, the Scottish Burden of Disease project, in producing estimates of the overall prevalence of skin and subcutaneous diseases in Scotland, has considered a number of conditions/…
21 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the Glasgow endometriosis centre has been allocated to fund clinical nurse specialists, and how many hours per role this funds.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The West of Scotland boards are responsible for establishing the specialist centre for endometriosis. I understand that the centre has allocated £24,000 to fund a part time Clinical Nurse Specialist for 22.5 hours a week.
21 Jan 2019 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that two patients have died at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after contracting a fungal infection, and what advice has been issued to NHS boards on this matter.
20 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the ISD report, Body Mass Index of Primary 1 Children in Scotland School Year 2017/18, which records an increase in the overweight and obesity gap between children from rich and poor backgrounds, and how the diet and healthy weight delivery plan will aim to allevi…
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Health inequalities are a symptom of wider social inequalities. That is why the Scottish Government is taking action to address underlying causes, including ending poverty, fair wages, supporting families, and improving our physical and social environments. …
20 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not implemented the recommendation by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in Scotland that the BMI of all children over five is measured.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: In July 2018, the Scottish Government published ‘A healthier future: Scotland’s diet and healthy weight delivery plan’. The plan sets out our vision for everyone in Scotland to eat well and have a healthy weight, and our ambitions to halve childhood obesity b…
11 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated to support the endometriosis centre in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Aberdeen.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: There are two specialist centres open in Edinburgh (based at the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh and the Royal) and in Aberdeen (Royal Infirmary). It is the responsibility of local NHS Boards to ensure patients are able to access…
11 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many trained specialist endometriosis surgeons there are, broken down by NHS board, and how many of their hours are allocated specifically to endometriosis care and surgery.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: There are two specialist centres open in Edinburgh (based at the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh and the Royal) and in Aberdeen (Royal Infirmary). A specialist centre in the West of Scotland is expected to be operational by April…
11 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many hours of dedicated pelvic pain management is provided to support people with (a) endometriosis and (b) other pelvic pain conditions, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: This information regarding endometriosis and other pelvic pain conditions is not held centrally. The Scottish Government has commissioned the development of a Core Minimum Dataset (CMD) to be collected by all specialist pain services, and a series of Quality…
11 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much operating theatre time has been allocated to the Glasgow endometriosis centre, and how many (a) weekly and (b) monthly operations this will cover.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The West of Scotland boards are responsible for establishing the specialist centre for endometriosis. Activity is modelled on an expected demand of 20 cases per year. This equates in broad terms to a maximum of 2 cases per month.
11 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the Glasgow endometriosis centre has been allocated to fund consultants dedicated in (a) gynaecology, (b) pain management, (c) colorectal surgery and (d) urology, and how many hours per role this funds.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The West of Scotland dedicated BSGE Accredited Severe Endometriosis Service is expected to be up and running from April 2019 and is being funded through local NHS Health Boards. It will bring together work that was previously dispersed across different sites.…
11 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the research by Edinburgh Napier University regarding the lifestyle of healthcare workers and the reported potential negative impact of social care working conditions and pay on their lifestyles.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We value our social care workforce and are committed to raising the status of social care as a profession. That is why we have enabled, for the first time, adult care workers in Scotland to be paid the real Living Wage from October 2016, a move which is benef…
11 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Royal College of Nursing's reported comment that long shifts and stressful working conditions contribute to unhealthy lifestyles for nursing staff.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I acknowledge that more can be done to improve the health and wellbeing of Scotland’s nurses that is why The Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland published the ‘Nursing 2030 Vision: Promoting Confident, Competent and Collaborative Nursing for Scotland’s Future …
11 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years hospitals have been affected by linen shortages, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: In the last three years, two NHS Boards have reported a single occurrence of experiencing a shortage in linen supplies - NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Highland. Additionally, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have had reported 31 instances within this time fram…
10 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is has been made aware of concerns regarding any NHS boards not fulfilling their legal duty to provide age-appropriate mental health services and accommodation in the last three years and, if so, (a) which boards, (b) when these concerns were raised and (c) what action it took…
Answer · Clare Haughey: We are not aware of any formally registered concerns regarding NHS Boards not fulfilling their legal duty to provide age-appropriate mental health services and accommodation in the last three years. We recently welcomed publication of the Mental Welfare Comm…
9 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that NHS boards fulfil their legal duty to provide age-appropriate mental health services.
Answer · Clare Haughey: We expect NHS Boards to provide safe, effective, and age-appropriate care and services which support the needs of each individual patient. Regarding CAMH services, this includes issues regarding the admission of young people to adult wards. In this context, …
9 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what intensive psychiatric care facilities there are for children and young people, and what plans it has to increase provision.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The requirement for intensive psychiatric inpatient unit (IPCU) care for young people is a rare event. No dedicated IPCU beds for under 18s currently exist in Scotland so alternative arrangements are made, as appropriate to the individual situation, by clinic…
9 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action SEPA has taken to seek regulatory compliance for the sites affected by the cessation of medical waste services by Healthcare Environmental Services Ltd.
8 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether non-medical staff will receive training to support them with the reported new responsibility of deciding whether patients require an urgent GP appointment.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Under the 2018 GP contract, we are building multi-disciplinary teams in primary care so that patients are able to see the right professional, at the right time. One element of practice receptionists’ role is to help patients identify their options for help or…