Parliamentary questions
Annie Wells
659 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many instances there have been of the use of drones to deliver drugs to prisons since 2022 to date.
Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:Since 2022, and up to 9 December, there have been 42 recorded drone incidents that resulted in a successful and confirmed recovery of dr…
3 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to support any people wishing to access Medication Assisted Treatment services who experience travel barriers due to cost and/or distance.
Answer · Neil Gray: Pilots of a non-statutory support scheme began in spring 2023, with funding provided for distribution by local services to remove the barrier of transport costs for people with substance dependency, when accessing treatment. These Pathfinders, also covering p…
3 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to re-evaluate the amount that an applicant can claim from the Young Patients Family Fund.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has no current plans to re-evaluate the amount that an applicant can claim under the Young Patients Family Fund.
3 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to specifically address the misuse of opiates/opioids.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Drug Deaths Taskforce was set up in 2019 to provide evidence-based expert advice on tackling the misuse of drugs. Toxicology results tell us that opiates/opioids were, and still are the main substances implicated in drug deaths in Scotland, with polydrug …
3 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to reduce Medication Assisted Treatment waiting times.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government continues to support local areas provide medication assisted treatment.The Scottish Government also has overall Drug waiting times in terms of accessing services, for which a target was set that 90% of people accessed treatment within …
3 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many claims have been made to the Young Patients Family fund within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in 2024.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Latest full year data on the Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) is available for financial year 2023-24. In 2023-24 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde reported that 4007 claims were made.
3 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many claims have been made to the Young Patients Family Fund in each year since 2021.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Since the launch of the Young Patients Family Fund in July 2021, Health Boards have reported the following number of claims were made.2021-224,9832022-238,4372023-2410,765
3 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce any stigma for individuals accessing or wishing to access Medication Assisted Treatment.
Answer · Neil Gray: Work on developing a Stigma Action Plan has taken place, alongside progress with the National Collaborative, who are publishing a Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use on 11 December 2024.The Charter was developed by a wide network of people …
3 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to prevent drug misuse deaths that have been classified as intentional self-poisonings, as set out in statistics published in 2023 by the National Records of Scotland.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is firmly committed to reducing deaths by suicide, whether this is by intentional self-poisoning or any other method.Our 10 year suicide prevention strategy and action plan - published jointly with CoSLA - aims to tackle the root cause…
3 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to re-evaluate the eligibility criteria for potential applicants to the Young Patients Family Fund.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We continue to monitor the impact and effectiveness of the Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) and keep this under review.
3 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce any barriers to accessing direct contact with workers for those accessing Medication Assisted Treatment services.
Answer · Neil Gray: From 2022 Local services have been directed to implement the Medication Assisted Treatment standards. MAT Standard 1 has an aim to ensure individuals get into treatment and have access to workers on the same day they ask for it.The Scottish Government also pr…
26 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the reported increase in cocaine use, in light of reports that it has overtaken heroin as the drug of choice among people starting specialist treatment.
Answer · Neil Gray: It is crucial that we continue to prioritise surveillance to better understand and respond to emerging drug trends. RADAR reports and other surveillance measures play a vital part in providing us with an early warning and to alert services and people who use …
26 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to improve the outcomes for the treatment of drug addiction co-dependency.
Answer · Neil Gray: We are working to improve outcomes for people receiving drug treatment by recognising family members can play an important role in a loved one’s recovery. MAT Standard 2 ‘Choice’ and MAT Standard 8 ‘Independent Advocacy’ states i…
26 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is working to reduce the number of drug-related deaths, in light of reports that it has doubled its spending on tackling drug- and alcohol-related deaths over the last decade, and that the number of drug-related deaths has increased by 12% in t…
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government and our partners remain dedicated to bringing innovative and structural change to this complex issue and remain fully committed to reducing drug deaths and harms.On 31 October, Audit Scotland published a report on alcohol and drug serv…
26 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the most common cancers associated with alcohol misuse are.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government promotes healthy living and encourages the reduction in alcohol consumption by highlighting the risks of drinking too much alcohol on the NHS Inform website.Guidance from the Chief Medical Officer is clear that drinking more than 14 un…
26 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of patients currently waiting to begin treatment for cancer it estimates are for cancers associated with alcohol misuse.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
26 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the reported 19% rise in contacts relating to domestic abuse involving children in the first six months of 2024-25, according to the NSPCC.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: I recognise that domestic abuse can have significant physical, social, and emotional impacts on children. While one child experiencing domestic abuse is one too many, it is positive that children are reaching out to Childline to seek support. I welcome the NS…
26 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to increase awareness of rehabilitation services among women.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The provision and improvement of residential rehabilitation services for women and those with childcare responsibilities is one of the key focuses of the Scottish Government’s National Mission to improve and save lives impacted by substance use.We have …
25 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in advance of the winter months.
25 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it defines "reasonable overnight accommodation costs" for parents with a baby in neonatal care accessing the Young Patients Family Fund, and how this is applied in practice to ensure that parents are adequately supported to stay with their baby.
Answer · Jenni Minto: In the context of the Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF), ‘reasonable overnight accommodation’ is defined as the most cost effective accommodation available. Health Boards have flexibility in relation to how much should be provided in each case but…
25 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to publish its plans for overnight accommodation for parents as part of the implementation of the new model of neonatal care.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has directed NHS Boards to move forward with detailed implementation planning led at a regional level, with a designated lead Chief Executive Officer to deliver this programme from planning to full implementation.Accommodation is a key…
20 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has regarding combining the methadone substitution programme with residential rehabilitation, in light of reports that this method has a higher success rate of 29%.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government agreed with the recommendations of the Drug Deaths Taskforce in that more choice should be available on the types of Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) offered to individuals where appropriate.PHS and the Scottish Government have worked…
20 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support individuals who are affected by the physical and mental side effects of prolonged methadone use or misuse.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises the work being done by local services, including community and grass roots organisations, in supporting individuals affected by the physical and mental side effects of methadone use as an evidence-based first line treatment …
20 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what investment it is making in preventative measures in relation to heroin addiction.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government remains committed to funding local services who make decisions on commissioning and planning services for people impacted by drugs, including heroine. Funding to local areas where decisions on preventative measures are taken remains at…
20 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to mitigate any significant side effects and risks associated with prolonged methadone use.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises that the prescribing of methadone, and all forms of OST, is a matter for clinicians in consultation with individuals and that the risks of prolonged use and any possible side effects are a matter for clinicians who are bound…
20 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that prescribed methadone is not misused.
Answer · Neil Gray: In accordance with codes of practice and clinical guidelines, administration of methadone is usually supervised to ensure it is not misused. Supervised administration is in place for community pharmacies, justice settings and in third sector services, includi…
20 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Medication Assisted Treatment standards have been fully implemented.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has committed to full implementation of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards 1-10 in community and justice settings by April 2025, and for this implementation to be sustained by April 2026.The implementation of the MAT standar…
20 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it can provide to confirm that 90% ofMedication Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards 1-5 were fully implemented as ofApril 2024.
Answer · Neil Gray: Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes a Benchmarking Report each year to demonstrate progress being made by local areas in their implementation of the Medication Assisted Treatment standards. The Report each year includes a detailed breakdown on the three st…
19 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the national service specification for alcohol and drug services will (a) address the reported decline in individuals accessing structured alcohol services and (b) ensure that every patient's needs are met.
Answer · Neil Gray: The national specification is the first stage of developing national standards and regulations for substance use services. The specification will outline the types of services which should be made available within all local areas. The second phase will be the…
19 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the findings of the Audit Scotland report, Alcohol and drug services, will be incorporated into the national service specification for alcohol and drug services.
Answer · Neil Gray: The purpose of the National Specification is to provide clarity on the range of substance use support services which should be available in local areas as the first phase in developing National Standards and regulations. The specification will take into accou…