Parliamentary questions
Donald Cameron
1,854 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, based on scientific projections, how much lower it expects the COVID-19 R number will be by the end of October 2020 following the so-called circuit-breaker, and how this compares with the projected number if no further interventions were made.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The aim of the restrictions that are running from 9 October to 2 November are to suppress the growth in total infections. Predicting the exact effects of the restrictions on R number is difficult, though Scottish Government is closely monitoring changes in th…
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, based on scientific projections, what changes it expects to see to the doubling time rate of the COVID-19 virus by the end of October 2020 following the so-called circuit-breaker, and how this compares with the projected rate if no further interventions were made.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The aim of the restrictions that are running from 9 October to 2 November are to suppress the growth in total infections. Predicting the exact effects of the restrictions on doubling time is difficult, though Scottish Government is closely monitoring changes …
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, based on scientific projections, how many fewer daily COVID-19 infections it expects to see by the end of October 2020 following the so-called circuit-breaker, and how this compares with the projected number if no further interventions were made.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The aim of the restrictions that are running from 9 October to 2 November are to suppress the growth in total infections. Predicting the exact effects of the restrictions on daily Covid-19 infections is difficult, though Scottish Government is closely monitor…
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, based on scientific projections, how many fewer hospital admissions it expects to see by the end of October 2020 following the so-called circuit-breaker, and how this compares with the projected number if no further interventions were made.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The aim of the restrictions running from 9 October to 2 November are to suppress the growth in total infections. Predicting the exact effects of the restrictions on hospital admissions is difficult, though Scottish Government is closely monitoring changes in …
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in high-risk cohorts were eligible for the flu vaccination at the beginning of October 2020, and how many have received the vaccination so far.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: This season, the Scottish Government aim to vaccinate more people than ever before. In total, we are aiming to vaccinate 2.4 million people, which is an increase of 800,000 vaccines from last year’s programme. The flu vaccination programme officially began o…
12 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Ambulance Service has permanently closed its mobile COVID-19 testing site at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: This site continues to be in operation by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
5 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31838 by Clare Haughey on 1 October 2020, when it will finalise and publish its national COVID-19 Dementia Transition and Resilience Plan.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government will consult on its draft national COVID-19 Dementia Transition and Resilience Plan with people with dementia, their families, carers and the full range of stakeholders in November and early December. Once we have completed this consu…
5 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many vaccines have been procured for the 2020-21 seasonal flu programme by (a) NHS National Services Scotland and (b) UK-wide procurement methods.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government has worked with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations to take a four nations approach to procuring vaccine for the 2020-21 Seasonal Flu Vaccination Programme. The vaccines procured through this route make up a porti…
28 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the recommendations noted in the Salmon Interactions Working Group report have been implemented, and what action it is taking to implement any remaining recommendations.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is considering the Salmon Interactions Working Group recommendations report and a response will be provided in due course.
24 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that there may be a further delay to replace the Belford Hospital in Fort William and that any new hospital may not have surgical capacity.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government will review the business case for the replacement of the Belford Hospital in Fort William when it is submitted. A key part of that review will be how surgical services are provided in the future and we expect NHS Highland to involve al…
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many out-of-date facemasks NHS National Services Scotland has issued to dentists in each month since March 2020.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32003 on 2 October 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…
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS National Services Scotland is able to issue out-of-date PPE to dentists and, if so, on what basis it can do this.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Any PPE which has been issued to NHS Boards for onward distribution to dental practices and may have passed its original expiry date, has been re-tested to ensure it remains safe to use. These revalidation tests are approved and reviewed by the Health & Safe…
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how long past its use-by date a 3M 1863 facemask can still be considered effective.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32003 on 2 October 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…
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the policy of NHS National Services Scotland to issue out-of-date facemasks to medical professionals.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32003 on 2 October 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…
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31538 by Jeane Freeman on 21 September 2020, whether it will confirm how many of the operations that were scheduled to take place at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in (a) May, (b) June and (c) July 2020 were carried out.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Please refer to the link in answer S5W-31538. The Cancelled Planned Operations publication by Public Health Scotland contains monthly information on the total number of scheduled and cancelled operations by NHS Health Board and hospital site.
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31538 by Jeane Freeman on 21 September 2020, how many operations have been (a) scheduled to take place and (b) carried out at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in each month since August 2020.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Cancelled Planned Operations publication by Public Health Scotland contains monthly information on the total number of scheduled and cancelled operations by NHS Health Board and hospital site. The information for August 2020 will be published on 6 October…
22 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31538 by Jeane Freeman on 21 September 2020, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding what the surgical capacity of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has been in each month since May 2020.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Please refer to the link in answer S5W-31538. The Cancelled Planned Operations publication by Public Health Scotland contains monthly information on the total number of scheduled and cancelled operations by NHS Health Board and hospital site.
21 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31551 by Joe FitzPatrick on 16 September 2020, what role it believes GP practices should play in administering the 2020 flu vaccinations.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: As noted in response S5W-31551, the responsibility for delivering the Seasonal Flu Vaccine in 2020-21 rests with Health Boards and Integration Authorities. NHS Scotland Boards will therefore use the delivery model which is most suitable for their local circum…
21 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31551 by Joe FitzPatrick on 16 September 2020, what role it believes pharmacies should play in administering the 2020 flu vaccinations.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Community pharmacy teams have played a vital role in the NHS response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Our network of 1,258 community pharmacies have remained fully accessible throughout the pandemic providing a fully range of pharmaceutical care serv…
21 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31551 by Joe FitzPatrick on 16 September 2020, what guidance it has offered to NHS boards and integration authorities regarding who should administer the 2020 flu vaccinations.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Government has advised NHS boards that a whole system response is required to deliver the flu vaccination programme this year because GPs’ capacity will be constrained by the need to maintain infection control.
17 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional financial support it has provided to (a) CalMac and (b) Northlink in each month since March 2020 to enable it to respond to the financial pressures arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The additional financial support paid to ferry operators, CalMac Ferries Ltd and Serco NorthLink Ferries to enable it to respond to the financial pressures arising from the COVID-19 pandemic are detailed in the following table. CalMac Ferries Ltd Serco Nor…
16 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government between what dates it plans to make flu vaccinations available to the public in 2020-21.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Flu Vaccination programme will begin on 1 October.
16 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessments it has made in relation to people living in care homes receiving a flu vaccination.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Those most at risk from the seasonal flu are already eligible to receive the vaccine for free and the responsibility for delivering the Seasonal Flu Vaccine in 2020-21 rests with Health Boards and Integration Authorities. The Scottish Government is actively e…
16 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many individual flu vaccinations it has in stock for 2020-21.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government has worked with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations to take a four nations approach to procuring vaccine for the 2020-21 Seasonal Flu Vaccination Programme. The vaccines procured through this route make up a porti…
16 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessments it has made in relation to meeting demand for flu vaccinations in 2020-21.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The seasonal flu vaccination programme helps to protect the most vulnerable and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are extending free eligibility to social care workers who provide direct care, household members of individuals who are shielding, all those …
16 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to administer flu vaccinations to the public in 2020-21.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Responsibility for delivering the Seasonal Flu Vaccine in 2020-21 rests with Health Boards and Integration Authorities. NHS Scotland Boards will use the delivery model which is most suitable for their local circumstances, maintaining a Covid-safe environment …
16 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set a target for delivering flu vaccinations and, if so, what that is.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government aims to vaccinate more people within groups with existing eligibility than ever before and is actively engaged with public health partners in planning for the 2020-21 Flu Vaccination Programme that will begin on 1st October. Scotland …
16 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people it estimates are eligible for a free flu vaccination in 2020-21.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The most effective way to protect against seasonal flu is continuing to prioritise those who are most at risk and those individuals who are already eligible to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. This season, we will aim to vaccinate more people within those gr…
16 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessments it has made in relation to people who are in the shielding category receiving a flu vaccination, particularly in instances where they are unable to leave their home.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The seasonal flu vaccination programme will be critically important in terms of protecting the most vulnerable and alleviating pressure on the NHS. Given that a high proportion of those shielding are either over 55, or else have an underlying health condition…
15 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the need to ensure that families are able to visit loved ones who are recovering from treatment in hospital during the current pandemic.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: In normal circumstances, the Scottish Government supports a person-centred, flexible approach to visiting in NHS Scotland so that people have access to families and loved ones while they are in hospital. In the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, measur…