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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-30163

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 7 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers root canal procedures to be classed as urgent dental care.

Root canal procedures, including the opening of the root canal, removal of pulp, and the application of an appropriate temporary filling, can currently be carried out within an Urgent Dental Care Centre (UDCC).

Root canal treatments rely on the use of dental equipment that produces an aerosol which could increase the risk of transmission of coronavirus from asymptomatic patients. Due to this, these procedures should not be carried out in general practice at present to ensure the safety of patients and staff, and prevent community transmission of coronavirus. Patients requiring urgent root canal procedures should be referred to an UDCC.

Question reference: S5F-04243

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 June 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5O-04442

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of BAME health and social care workers have been risk-assessed for COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-29308

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what research it is (a) carrying out and (b) supporting on vitamin D deficiency and its impact on COVID-19 severity and mortality.

The Scottish Government through the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) and NHS Research Scotland (NRS) is providing support for research studies taking place in Scotland that have been prioritised through the Urgent Public Health Research into COVID-19 process managed by the National Institute for Health Research. This process, which is based on independent scientific advice and operates on an agreed UK-wide basis, helps to ensure that the best use is made of the constrained resources and capacity available to support clinical research in the NHS. It prioritises studies that hold the most promise for addressing COVID-19 challenges, and helps ensure no duplication of effort. Currently, no studies in Scotland investigating vitamin D levels and COVID-19 disease are being supported by CSO and NRS.

Public Health Scotland’s Scottish Public Health Network and Knowledge Services teams have been working with colleagues in both public health pharmacy and public health nutrition in local NHS Boards on a rapid synthesis of the existing evidence base on the need for vitamin D supplementation, over and above existing guidance on vitamin D supplementation, and the role high dose vitamin D may have in the treatment of people with COVID-19. This work is still at an early stage.

Question reference: S5W-29310

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent international research on the links between low vitamin D levels and COVID-19 severity, what consideration it has given to testing vitamin D levels in (a) hospital patients and (b) care home residents.

Question reference: S5W-29309

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what research it is (a) carrying out and (b) supporting on the impact of low levels of vitamin D on high-risk COVID-19 groups, including (i) black and minority ethnic people, (ii) obese people and (iii) older people (A) in and (B) outwith care homes.

Question reference: S5W-29311

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the provision of free vitamin D supplementation to include all high-risk groups for COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-29312

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent research, including in connection with the COVID-19 outbreak, what action it is taking to update public health guidance on vitamin D supplementation, and how it will promote this as widely as possible.

The Scottish Government published guidance on 2 April 2020 on Vitamin D for all ages in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was updated on 3 June 2020 and is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/vitamin-d-advice-for-all-age-groups/

Food Standards Scotland has shared current advice on vitamin D supplementation as part of series of social media posts highlighting key dietary messages.

The guidance and action to raise awareness of it are being kept under regular review, guided by the evidence.

Question reference: S5F-04193

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 June 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-29413

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 8 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when urgent cancer operations and treatment that were cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic will resume, and when cancer screening programmes will recommence in (a) Lothian and (b) across Scotland.

The majority of cancer treatments have continued through the pandemic including by using private sector capacity in Scotland is to support urgent cancer surgery. Some cancer treatment plans have been altered to minimise patients’ individual risk of COVID-19. On 2 June we published a framework to ensure that cancer surgery is prioritised consistently across Scotland and patients in the most urgent need are prioritised appropriately. We have made clear to boards our expectation of cancer treatment being a priority through the recovery period and this framework will support this across all health boards, including NHS Lothian.

The Scottish Government advised Parliament on 30 March that the pause to the breast, bowel and cervical screening programmes is temporary and would be reviewed after 12 weeks, or earlier if indicated by the evidence. Each screening programme has a programme board which is meeting virtually during this time to urgently commence planning for the restarting of screening.

We continue to advise the public that it is important for those in between screening appointments or awaiting a rescheduled appointment to be aware of any symptoms or signs of the conditions screened for. More information is available at http://www.nhsinform.scot/screening . Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their GP practice immediately.