Monica Lennon

6 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure equality of access to foundation apprenticeships.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Equality considerations have been embedded in the Skills Development Scotland commissioning process for Foundation Apprenticeships, with delivery partners required to detail the steps they will take to attract and support individuals from under-represented gr…

6 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the incidence and mortality rates for lung cancer reportedly being three times higher in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived, what action it is taking to engage with and support the most deprived communities in relation to smoking cessation.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The tobacco control action plan – Raising Scotland’s Tobacco-free Generation – published in June 2018 focuses on addressing health inequalities and targeting smoking rates in the communities where people find it most difficult to quit. As smoking rates are hi…

6 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many foundation apprenticeships in STEM subjects have been offered in the current quarter, broken down by gender of the person they were offered to.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Foundation Apprenticeships are reported annually as they commence at the beginning of the academic year. Skills Development Scotland plan to publish a further progress report on the delivery of Foundation Apprenticeships. This report will provide start figur…

6 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to address the low uptake of construction apprenticeships by women aged over 25.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Through our Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) – Youth Employment Strategy, we make clear our ambitions to bring the education and skills system and employers closer together to bring about tangible and sustainable, economic and societal benefits. At the he…

6 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many women (a) applied for and (b) received funding through grant schemes of the Chief Scientist Office in each of the last 10 years, also broken down by scheme.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Information about gender identity is not requested under any of these funding streams because it is not relevant to the independent assessment of applications by external reviewers and scientific panels and we have no reason to ask for it for any other purpos…

6 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the number of female apprentices completing their training reportedly falling by 11% in the last four years, what it is doing to reverse this trend, and what specific action it will take on this issue in relation to STEM-related subjects.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The figure stated is not an accurate reflection of female achievement. Apprenticeship frameworks vary in the number of years they take to complete, therefore achievement level by year is not necessarily the most reliable indicator of success of any particular…

6 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the support with (a) pregnancy and maternity and (b) childcare for women researching for PhDs.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Maternity benefits (Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance) remain a reserved matter for the UK Government, however, students may receive either of these providing they meet the standard eligibility criteria. The Scottish Government provide free heal…

6 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many women have (a) applied for and (b) undertaken a (i) Clinical Academic Fellowship, (ii) NES/CSO Postdoctoral Clinical Lectureship, (iii) NRS/University Senior Clinical Academic Fellowship and (iv) NRS Career Researcher Fellowship in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Information about gender identity is not requested under any of these funding streams because it is not relevant to the independent assessment of applications by external reviewers and scientific panels. We have no reason to ask for it for any other purpose, …

1 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 8 October 2018 that NHS boards’ whistle-blowing champions can report directly to her, what impact this will have on its plans to establish an Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO) for the NHS; wha…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: My announcement that I will personally appoint Whistleblowing Champions will have no direct impact on proposals to establish an Independent National Whistleblowing Officer for NHSScotland (INWO), as this will be a fully independent function. Legislation will…

1 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 8 October 2018 that she will appoint whistleblowing champions to NHS boards, whether this will require the removal of the current board-appointed whistleblowing champions from their positions, and by what date…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Existing Whistleblowing Champions will have the opportunity to apply for these dedicated roles in an open, fair and transparent appointments round. They would also have the option of remaining in their current posts as Non-executive Directors, should they pre…

28 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce NHS expenditure on private (a) hospitals and (b) healthcare providers.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I have recently published the Waiting Times Improvement Plan which states that we will pursue use of the independent sector in a structured and prioritised manner. Over the next 12 months we will develop a National Contract, based on clinical priorities, to m…

28 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many private patients are receiving NHS treatment; how many (a) beds and (b) wards have been ring-fenced or reserved for their use, and what analysis it has carried out of the impact of this on NHS patients.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The numbers of private patients who received NHS treatment in 2017-18 in Scotland was just over 2,000. I have been clear with boards that they should only deal with private patients in circumstances where life is at risk, on that basis, I can confirm that NHS…

28 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect children from second-hand smoke at home.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: There has been a significant decrease in the number of children who are exposed to second-hand smoke in their own home. It is very reassuring to see that parents and carers are still protecting children from the harms of smoking in the home. One of our prior…

28 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the finding in its 2018 tobacco-control action plan that only 11% of smoking cessation service users are prescribed varenicline, in light of the observation in the plan that the drug "has been shown to be a more helpful means of quitting than using…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is raising awareness amongst prescribers about the relative effectiveness of varenicline compared to traditional nicotine replacement therapies. The percentage of smoking cessation service users being prescribed varenicline rose to 19%…

28 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the proposals in the 2018 tobacco-control action plan regarding planning and licensing are being taken forward; what specific measures are being considered, and what consultation there will be.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Any measures on planning or licensing for tobacco-control would require full public consultation. As set out in the 2018 tobacco-control action plan, we are first gathering evidence on, and considering the impact of, price strategies and reducing tobacco out…

28 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of e-cigarettes within hospital grounds.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring consistency in local smoking policies on vaping on hospital grounds. We are currently consulting with NHS Boards in order to reach a consensus on whether vaping should be allowed on hospital grounds through a c…

28 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is available to health professionals regarding the use of e-cigarettes.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The tobacco control action plan – Raising Scotland’s Tobacco-free Generation – published in June 2018 includes a commitment by the Scottish Government to improving the advice on e-cigarette use as part of support given to smokers who choose to make quit attem…

23 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that planning policies and decisions do not discriminate against minority groups.

16 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the STUC Women’s Committee report, Menopause and the Workplace.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government welcomes the STUC Women's Committee report Menopause and the Workplace and the awareness it raises of women’s experiences of dealing with the menopause at work. The policy suggestions included, such as opportunities for flexible workin…

16 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address stigma regarding the menopause in the workplace.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Research and survey evidence shows that interventions such as targeted training, awareness raising and work with employers to provide menopause-related advice are effective in improving women's experience of dealing with the menopause at work and reducing the…

16 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the impact that the menopause has on women in employment.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government continues to develop its understanding of the impact of the menopause on women workers. Research reviews such as the UK Government’s Department of Education report: The Effects of Menopause Transition on Women’s Economic Participation …

13 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance and processes are in place to assist NHS staff to recognise, treat and care for adults and young people with psychosis and coexisting substance misuse, and whether there are any plans to update these.

Answer · Clare Haughey: There is a strong existing evidence base around coexisting psychosis and substance misuse. NICE clinical guidance CG120 contains detailed information about assessment and management: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg120 SIGN 131 guidelines cover the manag…

10 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance NHS boards follow regarding the use of vitamin B12 injections to treat pernicious anaemia.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Haematologists within each NHS board are expected to take account of any relevant guidance, such as the guidelines published by the British Committee for Haematology Standards 2014 and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Clinical Knowledge S…

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what specialist support is available to people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: A range of specialist support is available depending on the type, severity and symptoms of the syndrome. Most people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) in Scotland are managed by consultant rheumatologist or physiotherapy services in their local hospital. Dep…

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it being a Scotland-based company that provides services to NHS boards, what its response is to reports that Healthcare Environmental Services (HES) has been responsible for 350 tonnes of hospital waste from NHS trusts in England, including body parts, being stockpiled at it…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Authorities in England alerted Scottish Government to issues regarding the company’s management of clinical waste at its sites in England in August. Since then Scottish Government have been working with Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and NHS N…

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what clinical waste disposal services Healthcare Environmental Services (HES) has responsibility for in each NHS board, also broken down by the value of each contract.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Health Environmental Services (HES) provides clinical waste management services to 18 Health Boards that covers collection through to disposal of waste. We do not hold details of the contracts which individual NHS Boards have with HES, including value of the…

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent intervention of the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the termination of 15 of its contracts for NHS trusts in England, what its position is on Healthcare Environmental Services (HES) continuing to provide services to NHS boards.    

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Clinical waste collection continues as normal for NHS Scotland and we are not aware of any issues regarding the disposal of this waste in Scotland. The Scottish Government is monitoring the situation and receiving regular updates from Health Boards. In the …

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update Planning Advice Note 2/2010: Affordable Housing and Housing Plan Audits.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government will review the National Planning Framework (NPF), including the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) after the Planning (Scotland) Bill has been considered by the Scottish Parliament. Our policy approach to planning for housing is expected …

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how NHS whistleblowers can take up the recent offer by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport to contact her directly.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS whistleblowers who have concerns should raise them locally in the first instance. Staff can also contact the Whistleblowing Alert and Advice Line for independent, confidential advice from legally trained staff on whistleblowing matters. This also provides…

7 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the call by the Royal College of General Practitioners that more must be done to tackle health inequalities, and what action it is taking in this regard. 

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Significantly reducing health inequalities is a top priority. We are addressing root causes through a wide range of action to tackle deep-seated poverty and inequalities in wider society. This includes investment of over £125m in 2018-19 on welfare mitigatio…