Parliamentary questions
Donald Cameron
1,854 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the implications on its policies of the Brain Tumour Charity’s Patient Guide to Brain Tumour Treatment and Services, which was published in November 2016.
Answer · Shona Robison: We welcome the Brain Tumour Charity's recent publication, which aims to inform and empower people with brain tumours. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone who needs it can access clinically appropriate, safe and effective person-cent…
27 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07076 by Humza Yousaf on 22 February 2017, in light of the regulations codifying the Teckal exemption, for what reason it (a) put the CalMac services out to tender and (b) undertook the preparatory work and stages for the Gourock-Dunoon service.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The procurement of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services began in October 2014, and the contract was awarded in August last year. The preparatory work for the tender of the Gourock – Dunoon service started in December 2015. These were carried out in full comp…
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to people who (a) live with and (b) are newly-diagnosed with a form of dystonia.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: NHS Boards are responsible for planning and delivering healthcare services, to meet the assessed needs of their resident populations, taking into account strategic frameworks and guidance, within the allocations provided.
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided for dystonia research.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government provides funding for clinical research projects through the Chief Scientist Office’s (CSO) response mode funding committees. Records indicate that no application for funding of research in dystonia has been received since 2007. The CS…
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness of dystonia.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: NHSScotland has invested in online resources such as the NHSinform website, which provides clear and accessible information on the causes, symptoms and diagnosis of dystonia. This can be accessed at the following link: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-an…
21 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a strategy similar to the Welsh Government’s liver disease delivery plan.
Answer · Shona Robison: Our Health and Social Care Delivery Plan published in December 2016 sets out our aim for Scotland to provide high quality services with a focus on prevention, early intervention and supported self management. The plan sits alongside our National Clinical Stra…
14 Feb 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is access to local specialist care services across the Highlands and Islands.
8 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its statement on Scotland's ferry services on 2 February 2017, what the substantive difference is between the application of the “Teckal Exemption” and Regulations 13(1), 13(2) and 13(3) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The provisions in regulation 13 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 codify and slightly extend the “Teckal Exemption” developed by the European courts. The scope of the exemption is extended by the addition of sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of Reg…
31 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the 500 extra advanced nurse practitioners that it announced in February 2016 will be delivered.
Answer · Shona Robison: A Plan for Scotland: the Government's Programme for Scotland 2016-17 confirmed £3m investment over 5 years to train an additional 500 advanced nurse practitioners. It is intended that this commitment will be delivered by 2021.
31 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many advanced nurse practitioners are due to begin training in 2017.
Answer · Shona Robison: A Plan for Scotland: the Government's Programme for Scotland 2016-17 confirmed £3m investment over 5 years to train an additional 500 advanced nurse practitioners. To inform delivery of the national programme of ANP educational provision, as a first step NHS…
30 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 28 May 2015, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care, how it calculated that 385 people were in receipt of continuing healthcare.
Answer · Shona Robison: The 385 figure relates to those individuals who were in receipt of NHS Continuing Healthcare in care homes as at 31 March 2014. These individuals, and others eligible before 1 June 2015, will continue to be fully funded by the NHS as long as they remain eligi…
30 Jan 2017 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to support people who have been newly-diagnosed with dementia.
26 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many four-wheeled rollator walking frames were made available by each NHS board in the last year, also broken down by the (a) number and (b) type of alternative devices that were provided.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06614 on 6 February 2017. 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…
26 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of what walking aids are provided by the NHS.
Answer · Shona Robison: This is a matter for individual Health Boards. The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government issued guidance on the Provision of Community Equipment and Adaptations (CCD 5/2009) in 2009. This guidance placed the responsibility for…
23 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to introduce minimum staffing levels in the NHS, as announced in June 2016.
Answer · Shona Robison: The link between safe and sustainable staffing levels and high quality care is well established. It is vital we have the right number of staff in place, with the right skills. The Scottish Government’s Programme for Scotland made a commitment to begin work t…
23 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many dentistry graduates there have been in each year since 2007.
Answer · Shona Robison: Data on the number of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) graduates reported to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) as having completed successfully by the end of their year date, separated by domicile, is available between 2007 and 2015 and shown in t…
23 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the general dentistry budget has been in each year since 2007.
Answer · Shona Robison: The published general dental services budget in each year since 2007 is shown in the following table: Year Budget 2006-07 £313.6m 2007-08 £354.5m 2008-09 £354.3m 2009-10 £355.5m 2010-11 £343.2m 2011-12 £396.6m 2012-13 £398.7m 2013-14 £398.7m…
23 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of NHS dental treatment charges in each year since 2007.
Answer · Shona Robison: The treatments which can be provided under NHS general dental services are set down in Determination I of the Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR). Service payments to dentists are set out in the relevant SDR amendment circulars: http://www.scot.nhs.uk//se…
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report by the Be Real Campaign and the YMCA, Somebody Like Me, on the impact of body-image anxiety on young people.
Answer · Shona Robison: We welcome the YMCA latest research - ‘Somebody like me’ as part of Dove’s ‘Be Real' campaign on body image. Teachers must ensure children and young people understand the importance of mental wellbeing and that this can be fostered and strengthened through pe…
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on establishing a national park in the Western Isles.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There are no current plans to designate new national parks in Scotland. The creation of new national parks requires considerable planning and carries cost implications which must be considered against the backdrop of the current financial climate and competin…
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have waited more than 12 weeks for a colorectal outpatient appointment in each of the last five years.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally.
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many vacancies there are for colorectal consultants in each NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information held centrally is not recorded at this level of detail. Further information may be available from health boards.
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many colorectal consultants are employed in each NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally at this level of detail. Further information may be available from local NHS Health boards.
17 Jan 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that suitable vessels are deployed on the Mallaig to Armadale ferry route.
13 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the College of Occupational Therapists' report, Reducing the pressure on hospitals: A report on the value of occupational therapy in Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution that occupational therapists make to reducing admissions to hospital and to discharge planning and we welcome this report. Our Active and Independent Living Improvement Programme, currently in deve…
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what clinical trials have been carried out into improving treatment for people with Parkinson's disease in the last 10 years.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not routinely hold information relating to clinical trials. This information is available in the public domain and can be accessed at http://ClinicalTrials.gov. ClinicalTrials.gov is a registry and results database of publicly a…
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a managed clinical network for Parkinson's disease.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: National Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs) are the responsibility of NHS National Services Scotland’s National Services Division. A list of MCNs, including the commissioning process and establishment criteria, can be found on their dedicated website at: http:/…
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it is funding into Parkinson's disease.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government provides annual funding of over £490,000 for the Scottish Dementia and Neuroprogressive Disease Research Network. The network supports a wide range of research studies in Neuroprogressive disease, including Parkinson’s. The network is …
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: This information is not held centrally. Preliminary prevalence figures from Parkinson’s UK for 2015 give an estimate of at least 11,000 people living with a Parkinson’s diagnosis in Scotland, 1,500 of whom are under the age of 65. It is important to note, ho…
11 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people were assessed as requiring NHS Continuing Healthcare in each year until it was replaced on 1 June 2015.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is available from the ISD Scotland website via the NHS Continuing Care census http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/NHS-Continuing-Care/ which covers years 2008 - 2015 with the final census taken on 31 Marc…