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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6O-02604

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the social justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the support available to families experiencing poverty, including as a result of high energy costs.

Question reference: S6W-20840

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how its recent statutory Guidance on the Provision of Equipment and Adaptations will assist in the delivery of enhanced patient care and a successful wellbeing economy.

One of the key principles of the Guidance on the Provision of Equipment and Adaptations is to ensure that people are able to access support at the point they feel they need it, including for advice and signposting. Fair and consistent access to suitable assessments should be available on a non-discriminating, tenure neutral and human rights basis.

The timely provision of equipment and adaptations can reduce risk and injury, help with people’s confidence and their mental well-being, and may prevent unnecessary admission to hospital or care settings.

It is also a cost-effective solution which can contribute significantly to the streamlining of service responses and pathways, and support wider agendas including, hospital discharge and avoidance of admission, prevention and early intervention, frailty pathways, Anticipatory Care Planning, Mental Health & Dementia, child development, and the management of long-term conditions, including end of life care.

These interventions can allow people to do more for themselves and avoid the need for additional, more expensive, input from other services, and compliments rehabilitation intervention, for people of all ages.

Question reference: S6W-20838

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what interaction its ministers have had, or plan to have, with representatives of the healthcare and assistive technology sector.

Scottish Government officials have regular engagement with the assistive technology sector, including through the Technology Enabled Care programme and British Healthcare Trades Association. An equipment and adaptations guidance Implementation Group is also being set up by officials, which will include engagement with the sector, including representatives of the healthcare and assistive technology sector.

Question reference: S6W-20841

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to monitor the implementation of its statutory Guidance on the Provision of Equipment and Adaptations by (a) Integration Joint Boards and (b) NHS boards, including in relation to the expectation that all partnerships will review current practice using new baseline assessment tools.

Question reference: S6W-20839

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the (a) NHS, (b) Integration Joint Boards and (c) patients to embrace existing, new and emerging assistive technologies in health and social care.

The Scottish Government published new guidance on the provision of equipment and adaptations in January 2023, this includes advice on the use of Technology Enabled Care (TEC) and assistive technology. The guidance recommends that Health and Social Care partners, with their Housing colleagues, work together to maximise the opportunities provided by TEC, developing local strategy and policies, which help people to choose their own digital solutions as part of self-management and earlier intervention approaches, as well as utilising technology to address issues of isolation and frailty.

Officials are now in the process of setting up a guidance Implementation Group, with the aim of working with the sector to ensure the guidance is fully embedded across Scotland. This will include making use of the new Baseline Assessment Tool to benchmark services against the Key Actions within the guidance. We expect the evaluation work to commence in the Spring of 2024, once we are through the pressures of winter.

Scotland’s Digital Health and Care Strategy also outlines how technology will be used to reshape and improve services, support person-centered care, and improve outcomes.

Furthermore, the procurement and funding of our Connect Me digital platform has enabled access to this remote monitoring system for all Territorial Health Boards and Partnerships. The Connect Me programme provides the opportunity for IJBs to consider redesign of care pathways to incorporate digital solutions thus releasing resource capacity in their delivery services.

Running parallel to the Connect Me programme is the Digital Health and Care Directorate’s programmes for Social Care and Telecare. Both programmes work to support the social care sector (from IJBs and local authorities, to support and care provider organisation) in embedding the use of digital solutions for citizens.

Question reference: S6O-02527

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it will provide to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and other stakeholders to assist with hosting the Nordic Music Days festival, which is being held in Scotland for the first time in 2024.

Question reference: S6O-02413

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being provided to Social Security Scotland, in light of the continued transfer of cases from the Department of Work and Pensions and increase in applications.

Question reference: S6O-02380

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make the community central to its plans for a just transition for Grangemouth.

Question reference: S6O-02111

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to improve effective communication and collaboration between health and social care providers.

Question reference: S6O-01991

Asked by: Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the final report of the National Autism Implementation Team’s adult neurodevelopmental pathway trials, which were conducted within four NHS board areas, will be available.