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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: S5W-23723

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the plans by the NHS genomic medicine service in England to do so from 2020; whether it plans to roll out whole genome sequencing for children with undiagnosed conditions and, if so, when.

The Scottish Government’s Programme for Scotland 2018-19 has a commitment to continue the development of genomics medicine in Scotland. This includes an investment of £4.2 million towards the enhancement of NHS Scotland genetic capabilities for the diagnosis of rare diseases.

This investment will build on previous investment, current practice and experience gained in genomic technologies; including the continued development of genomic tests, ongoing collaboration between the Scottish Genomes Partnership and Genomics England using whole genome sequencing to help provide a diagnosis for NHS Scotland patients with an undiagnosed rare disease, as well as improved data analysis, sharing and storage.

Experience and evidence gained from this investment along with growing evidence from other sources will inform long-term strategy and help develop effective delivery of the most appropriate testing methodology within routine service.

Question reference: S5F-03414

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 June 2019

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-23272

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 3 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the reported decline in the number of podiatrists working in the NHS will worsen patient outcomes across a number of areas, including diabetes and amputation prevention, musculoskeletal complications and falls prevention.

At 31 March 2018, there were 655.7 wte podiatrists working in NHS Scotland; this reflects a vacancy rate of 5.4% as opposed to a vacancy rate of 1.2% at 31 March 2013. This can be explained to some extent by the age profile of this workforce, the percentage of podiatrists in the 50+ age group has increased from 29.6% in March 2013 to 39.1% in March 2018.

In recent years podiatry services across Scotland have been redesigned to ensure that patients with the most urgent clinical need are seen by a podiatrist and those that do require personal footcare are redirected to a more appropriate service.

I meet bi-annually with the Allied Health Professions Federation (Scotland) whose membership includes the College of Podiatry (Scotland). A representative from the College was present at my last meeting with the Federation on 14 May 2019, and we discussed recruitment issues for all Allied Health Professions.

Question reference: S5W-23271

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to reverse the reported decline in the number of podiatrists working in the NHS in Scotland.

At 31 March 2018, there were 655.7 wte podiatrists working in NHS Scotland; this reflects a vacancy rate of 5.4% as opposed to a vacancy rate of 1.2% at 31 March 2013.

A Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions recruitment campaign is being developed to make these attractive career choices for new entrants, and to encourage existing practitioners to consider working or returning to practice in Scotland. This campaign will aim to create positive professional role models; emphasise the professions' flexibility and extensive opportunities for personal and professional development; reflect the diversity of Scotland's population and promote diversity in the workforce, and be designed around the needs of different audiences (such as young people, mature students, people from disadvantaged communities, people with disabilities and people from ethnic minority communities).

Question reference: S5W-22999

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 21 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the purpose and remit is of the system of regional cancer networks, and how they are held accountable for their decisions.

The terms of reference and remit of the 3 Scottish Cancer Networks is described in MEL 10 (1999) https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/1999_10.htm . Each regional network has a multi-professional Regional Cancer Advisory Group (RCAG), Chaired by a Chief Executive, which provides oversight and governance of strategic decisions and data collection and analysis. The RCAG's report into the regional Chief Executive Boards which include representation from across Health & Social Care. The RCAG's operate under the guidance outlined within HDL (2001) 71 https://www.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/mels/HDL2001_71.htm .

Question reference: S5W-22998

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 21 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the clinical impact has been of offering of a lower dosage of docetaxel for breast cancer treatment, and what impact this has had on survival rates.

Following the publication and review of both the Healthcare Improvement Scotland and Immediate Risk Group (IRG) reports the practice of NHS Tayside offering lower doses of chemotherapy, as standard to all relevant patients, has now ceased.

The clinical impact is described in the IRG report - estimating the additional risk of recurrence as 1-2% or 1 patient per year in NHS Tayside. This is considered by the immediate Risk Group to be a small risk which would be extremely unlikely to impact on survival rates.

Question reference: S5F-03364

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 May 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 May 2019

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-23001

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19373 by Jeane Freeman on 8 November 2018, whether it will provide an update on each NHS board's frequency of the use of (a) Oncotype DX and (b) other breast cancer tumour profiling tests.

Question reference: S5W-23000

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that all NHS boards follow best practice guidelines regarding breast cancer treatment.

Following the identification of the variation in practice in NHS Tayside, the Northern Cancer Alliance has commissioned an independent review of all Clinical Management Guidelines (CMG) for cancer in the North of Scotland - this is expected to take 12-18 months.

These guidelines will also be benchmarked against existing CMG in the West and South East Cancer Networks to give confidence that consistent guidelines are in place across NHS Scotland and to ensure equity of cancer treatment provision.

Question reference: S5O-03260

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what scope it considers citizens' assemblies could have in the governance of Scotland.