Alex Cole-Hamilton

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of residents being placed in care homes more than two hours from family and wider support networks.

Answer · Neil Gray: Although we have overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, the statutory responsibility for delivering, commissioning, providing appropriate social care capacity at a local level lies with local authorities, NHS boards and integrat…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) care homes and (b) care home places there (i) were in 2015 and (ii) currently are, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Neil Gray: This information is available in the Care home census for adults in Scotland - Statistics for 2014 to 2024 - Care home census for adults in Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland (PHS).2025 information is not yet available, but PHS intend to have th…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the reported shortage of care home places on delayed discharge from hospitals.

Answer · Neil Gray: Public Health Scotland publish Official Statistics on the number of people (aged 18 or over) experiencing a delayed discharge from hospital, including the number of people delayed at the monthly census point broken down by primary reason for delay. The latest…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact in Scotland, what its position is on introducing a new UK-wide minimum wage for care workers, £2 higher than the national minimum wage, to tackle the reported staff shortages in care.

Answer · Tom Arthur: For the 2025-26 financial year, the Scottish Government have invested a further £125 million to enable adult social care workers in the third and private sectors to be paid at least the Real Living Wage rate, £12.60 per hour, which takes the estim…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many care home places will be needed by 2050.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Fiscal Commission’s recent Fiscal Sustainability Report included long term projections of social care spending (including but not limited to care home expenditure). The SFC projected, based on current levels of provision, that social care s…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of future demand for care home places, and how it plans to meet this demand.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Future demand for care home places will be influenced by a multitude of factors, including population demographics and residents' needs, future balance of care across care home and community settings, and technological change.The Scottish Fiscal Commission&rs…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to maintain the viability of the social care sector, in light of reports that more than 60% of social care charities risk imminent closure.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government is committed to developing a sustainable health and social care system that ensures people get the right care, at the right time, in the right place. In support of this, the Budget provides almost £2.2 billion investment for soci…

7 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the resources allocated for dermatology departmentsacross NHS boards have assisted with decreasing waiting times in NHS Lothian,in light of reported figures suggesting that, as of 18 July 2025, 13,312patients are waiting to be seen by a dermatologist in this NHS board.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has allocated over £2.5 million to NHS Lothian for dermatology services and is currently working with the Board to develop a plan to support further reductions to the waiting list backlog.The activity supported by the additional …

7 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39313 by Neil Gray on 28 July 2025,whether the £4 million invested to deliver extra dermatology activity has beenallocated to NHS boards, and, if so, whether there has been a noticeabledifference to waiting times throughout the country as a re…

Answer · Neil Gray: In addition to the £106 million targeted investment announced in May 2025 to address at the longest waits, the Government has now committed a further £4 million to deliver extra dermatology activity, bringing total additional funding for this year…

7 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the decision to suspend liposuction procedures for lipoedema on the NHS, in light of patient-reported outcomes and reports that international clinical practices have been introducing this treatment.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Decisions on the care and treatment of patients are always matters of professional judgement for the responsible practitioner having considered the needs of their patient and relevant clinical guidelines.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (…

7 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve access to evidence-basedtreatments for lipoedema, including manual lymphatic drainage massage andcompression therapy.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with long term conditions including Lipoedema are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put peop…

5 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to discourage NHS dental practices from moving wholly to private practice.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39790 on 1 September 2025. 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-committ…

5 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made providing additional funding to NHS dental practices in order for more people to be registered with them.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Ensuring the sustainability of NHS dental services is a priority for Scottish Government, which is why we introduced dental payment reform in November 2023 to make it more attractive for dentists to provide NHS services, by paying fees that better reflect the…

5 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to conduct a full scale review of the Oral Health Improvement Plan, with the aim of providing higher levels of NHS dentists across the country.

Answer · Jenni Minto: There are currently no plans to conduct a review of the 2018 Oral Health Improvement Plan (OHIP).The OHIP, which was developed in close collaboration with the dental sector, remains a relevant and important cornerstone of NHS dental services policy in Scotlan…

4 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been a review of the guidance released in April 2022 by the National Autism Implementation Team on prescribing ADHD medication to adults following private sector diagnosis, and, if this is not the case, when any such review may take place.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The NAIT guidance has not been reviewed since publication.However, we have begun work to look at the issue of shared care agreements for adults with ADHD which would simplify the process for medication to be prescribed by GPs following a private diagnosis.We …

4 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done to provide extended resources to GP practices that will enable them to provide NHS prescriptions following a private diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Answer · Neil Gray: GPs do not require “extended resources” to provide NHS prescriptions following a private diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. GPs are contracted and resourced to provide appropriate ongoing treatment and care to all their patient…

30 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to ensure the accessibility of train services for individuals with mobility issues, specifically later evening and night time services.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: While, this is an operational matter for train operating companies, the Scottish Government expects that all operators in Scotland provide best possible assistance to all passengers, as appropriate.For ScotRail specifically, the Scottish Government continues …

30 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure that young women and girls in secondary school are being educated regarding menstrual disorders, such as endometriosis, and are made aware of ways that they can access help.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to questions S6W-30034 on 3 October 2024 and S6W-32189 on 23 December 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.pa…

30 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to adopt the 2022 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Guideline regarding the diagnosis of endometriosis in adolescents.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Decisions on the care and treatment of patients are always matters of professional judgement for the responsible practitioner having considered the needs of their patient and relevant clinical guidelines.The Endometriosis Care Pathway has been developed for N…

30 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will address the reported issue of police pensions whose deadlines have been breached four times in respect of their remedial service statement (RSS).

Answer · Ivan McKee: The delivery of the McCloud Remedy is the key priority for the SPPA, balancing the significant and complex work associated with delivery alongside routine administration.The scale of challenge that SPPA has faced in delivering the McCloud Remedy cannot be ove…

29 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received reports of extended delays on NHS Scotland's 111 telephone service.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government have not received reports of any extended delays for patients contacting NHS 24. We monitor NHS 24’s performance closely and remain satisfied that it continues to meet its statutory and clinical obligations.NHS 24 has taken signi…

29 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the efficacy of NHS Scotland's 111 telephone service.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government continues to work closely with NHS 24 as it trials and implements new approaches to service delivery.NHS 24 is also collaborating with key partners, including the Scottish Ambulance Service, to explore improved models of joint working.…

28 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to incorporate awareness of chronic illnesses in the school curriculum.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people receive a broad, inclusive, and supportive education that meets their individual needs. Within Curriculum for Excellence, health and wellbeing is a key area of learning and a …

24 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the PV2 assessment process remains an appropriate methodology for considering new pedestrian crossings.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In accordance with current guidance, the Scottish Government’s position is that the assessment process for new pedestrian crossings should address the three main objectives of safety, convenience and accessibility for the most at-risk users. The PV2 ass…

22 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to enhance and refresh Scotland's Artificial Intelligence Strategy since its last update in 2022.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has committed to launching the AI Scotland programme, announced in the Programme for Government in May, to lead the development of a refreshed national AI plan. This builds on the current AI Strategy, which concludes in 2026.AI Scotlan…

22 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to use AI to prevent children and young people people from accessing and using social media platforms.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Online Safety Act (OSA) is a reserved matter, and enforcement falls under the remit of Ofcom, which is developing codes of practice and guidance for platform providers. These include requirements for platforms to implement age assurance systems to prevent…

22 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce legislation to prevent the loss of jobs due to the development of AI.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Regulation of artificial intelligence is a reserved matter, and the Scottish Government continues to engage with the UK Government on this issue. We understand that the UK Government is preparing to introduce new legislation related to AI, and we will continu…

22 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to broaden the eligibility for free school meals to all primary school children.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government remains committed to making free school meals available for all children in primary schools, saving families taking those meals approximately £450 per child, per year.Currently all primary school pupils in primaries one to five, …

22 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to provide first aid training to (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There is no mandatory curriculum in Scotland and the Scottish Government does not prescribe the content of lessons taught within Scottish schools. The Curriculum for Excellence framework allows teachers to plan and deliver learning which meets the needs of le…

22 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that pupils with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have access to the support that they require.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Education authorities and other agencies have duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils, which includes those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)…