Oliver Mundell

10 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to any individual households who are experiencing difficulties with connectivity, in light of reported delays to the R100 programme.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The R100 programme comprises of three R100 contracts with BT plc, the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme and commercial coverage. For those within future R100 contract build plans, there are a number of satellite and mobile service providers who can deliv…

10 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how much it has spent in the last five years on broadband and digital infrastructure, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The following table details capital spend on digital connectivity infrastructure in each of the last five financial years. As our digital connectivity infrastructure programmes are national initiatives, we are unable to provide a breakdown of spend by local a…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11429 by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2022, what action is open to it where NHS boards are reportedly not ensuring in-person patient access to GPs, where clinically appropriate, is maintained.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Should the Scottish Government become aware that a Health Board was reportedly not ensuring in-person patient access to GPs, where clinically appropriate, was maintained, my officials would engage with the Health Board in question and establish the situation.…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11430 by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2022, how many partner-run GMS medical practices are in the situation where none of the partners (a) are routinely on site and (b) offer any in-person patient appointments.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government does not hold this information. Health Boards are responsible for delivering Primary Medical Services, usually through contracting with independent GP practices. Health Boards should be satisfied that GP partners are sufficiently engaged …

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices are run by partners who are also a partner at one or more other GP practices where the combined total is of more than 12,500 registered patients.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is aware of 44 GP practices which are run by partners who are also a partner at one or more other GP practices where the combined total is of more than 12,500 registered patients. This data is held by Public Health Scotland.

8 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the availability of swimming lessons to young people, in light of reports of waiting lists as long as six years in Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government have been working with Scottish Swimming, Education Scotland, sport scotland and Scottish Water to develop interventions and approaches to provide opportunities for children to become confident, safer and competent swimmers. Scottish …

2 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the impact of the reported continued closure of community hospitals in Dumfries and Galloway on bed and service pressures at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have raised this issue with Julie White, Chief Officer in the Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership, who has advised that following the temporary closure of the in-patient facilities a total of 52 staff were re-deployed. The deployed com…

2 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any closure of community hospitals in Dumfries and Galloway is in accordance with its policy aims and objectives.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As I stated in Parliament in May, community hospitals form an integral part of local health-care delivery systems, providing care closer to people’s homes which is personalised, holistic and patient-centred. In April 2020, following the emergence of the COVI…

31 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of reports that a GP is only visiting the Leadhills Surgery once monthly, and what its position is on whether such a GP schedule meets the policy aims regarding universal access to healthcare.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government understands that there is normally a GP or practice nurse routinely present at Leadhills Surgery every week. There has recently been reduced presence due to annual leave but patients were able to see a doctor in the main surgery in Mof…

24 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses supplied to each NHS board in 2022 to date, broken down by manufacturer.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This data is not held by Scottish Government or currently available in the format requested. Public Health Scotland (PHS) collect and report vaccine data for Scotland. Data is not published by vaccine type/manufacturer. However, the COVID-19 Statistical Rep…

13 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its timetable is for introducing legislation on restricting promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10773 on 23 September 2022.As committed to in our Programme for Government, the Public Health (Restriction of Promotions) Bill will be introduced to the Scottish Parliament in the 2022-23 parliamentary year.All…

13 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote the adoption of the intelligent Liver Function Test (iLFT) pathway across NHS Scotland through its Modern Outpatient Programme.

Answer · Maree Todd: Scottish Government is working in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) and Modernising Patient Pathways Programme to explore the feasibility of further national action to improve early detection and treatment of liver diseases. Health …

11 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05616 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 14 January 2022, whether the "fully funded free school milk scheme for primary age pupils" referred to will be launched in August 2023.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Ministers are committed to developing a Scottish school milk scheme to replace current subsidy arrangements. We are working with stakeholders and local authority partners to develop a fully funded universal school milk scheme for primary and special …

11 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publicly consult on a proposed domestic replacement to the EU School Milk Subsidy Scheme.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Somerville: Scottish Ministers are committed to developing a Scottish school milk scheme to replace current subsidy arrangements. We are working with stakeholders and local authority partners to develop a fully funded universal school milk scheme for primary …

6 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent reassurances it has sought from NHS Dumfries and Galloway that its out-of-hours service is running safely.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Patient safety is our utmost concern and the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that patients continue to receive high quality Out of Hours services. Officials work closely with Out of Hours services across Scotland, including NHS Dumfries and Gallo…

6 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that there were 14 unfilled shifts within the NHS Dumfries and Galloway out-of-hours service on 26 September 2022.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Patient safety is our utmost concern and the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that patients continue to receive high quality Out of Hours services. My officials have been in contact with NHS Dumfries and Galloway and have been advised that, on 26 …

6 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the potential impact on the patient experience of multiple GP practices across significant geographical areas being run under what is reportedly more recognisable as a franchise business model.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government believes that the independent contractor model of general practice is the model preferred by most GPs and is committed to maintaining it to ensure general practice remains an attractive profession (the BMA’s “The future of general prac…

6 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the quality of GP services being delivered in their area.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government regularly discusses the quality of GP services with clinical and management leads for NHS boards.

6 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP surgeries in Scotland are currently without a permanent GP.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This information is not held centrally. There are no GMS practices in Scotland without a partner and only a handful of 2C practices, mostly providing services to niche population groups, without a permanent GP.

6 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the remote management of GP practices by partners who do not treat patients onsite.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The GP contract regulations require all GP practice partners to be sufficiently engaged in providing primary medical services in Scotland. It is for the partners to determine how best to meet the clinical needs of their patients and to ensure there are suffic…

6 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects GPs holding telephone consultations with patients to be able to offer them an in-person appointment if clinically required, and, if so, within what timescale.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government expects GPs to provide face to face appointments where clinically required within a timescale determined by the need of the patient.

29 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take in light of reports that Gretna Dental Practice will no longer provide NHS services.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is responsible for putting a framework in place that is conducive to the encouragement of NHS dental services. Part of that framework includes providing funding, through the emergency support payments, multiplier payments, and bridging…

29 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the current levels of commission charged on the sale of park homes in Scotland. 

Answer · Patrick Harvie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09994 on 16 August 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committe…

22 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for maintaining telecoms infrastructure in Scotland.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Responsibility for maintenance of telecoms infrastructure in Scotland falls upon the operator responsible for delivering that infrastructure.

20 Sep 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what accountability mechanisms are available to communities who believe they are receiving inadequate GP services.

5 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its declaration of a climate emergency in 2019, along with a policy of encouraging more renewable electricity generation, whether an expansion of low-cost wind energy generation in Scotland will result in lower electricity bills.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not have powers to act in this area (as the generation, transportation and supply of electricity is reserved to the UK Government). Electricity is a commodity traded on the wholesale energy market across GB, the price of which is…

5 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce any reliance on agency nurses in the NHS.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is taking appropriate steps to ensure we have the necessary staffing in place to support our NHS services. Over the lifetime of this parliament we are committed to investing more than £11 million in further domestic and international r…

5 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average hourly rate of pay is for a nurse employed through an agency, and how this compares with the rate of pay for a nurse employed directly by the NHS.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. Pay for directly employed staff would depend on a number of variables like the Banding of the nurse, the length of the shift and whether the shift takes place at night or over the weekend when an unsoci…

30 Aug 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports property purchases, direct payments to property owners and the use of non-disclosure agreements as a means of removing objections to large-scale windfarm applications.

29 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any concerns by Unison regarding reports of unsafe working practices in NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is not aware of concerns being raised by Unison regarding unsafe working practices at NHS Dumfries and Galloway. The Health Secretary has been absolutely clear that when someone raises concerns about safe staffing and patient safety, …