Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-18405

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 13 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the planning group that has been established to improve access to mechanical thrombectomy will report its findings.

Question reference: S5W-18360

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 13 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether frontline non-NHS staff in the health and social care sectors, including those employed by charitable and third sector care organisations, should also be offered season flu vaccinations, and how this could impact on flu incidence and associated absences from work.

The health and safety of frontline non-NHS staff in the health and social care sectors falls under the governance and care of employers and their occupational health systems.

Vaccination against flu should be considered an integral component of standard infection control procedures. Social care providers and independent primary care providers such as GP, dental and optometry practices, and community pharmacists, should arrange vaccination of their staff.

Each year the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer issue a letter to the NHS setting out arrangements for the flu season. This letter highlights the importance of staff or other individuals who may be at risk of occupational exposure being offered the vaccine by employers. This programme is supported by a range of marketing materials to raise awareness amongst staff, including posters and leaflets.

Question reference: S5O-02358

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a timetable of the action that it plans to address overcapacity issues on the A720 Edinburgh city bypass.

The Scottish Government’s commitment through the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal includes up to £120 million for the grade separation of the A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout which will bring improved economic benefits and inclusion across Edinburgh and South East Scotland and is being progressed by Transport Scotland as part of the City Region Deal. Subject to completing the necessary statutory procedures the improvements at Sheriffhall will be delivered within the timeframe of the City Deal.

Additionally Transport Scotland is undertaking a review of the Strategic Transport Projects Review over the lifetime of this parliament. The A720 is a key part of Scotland’s transport network and will be assessed in its entirety within this Review which will gather robust evidence to enable decisions on investment in strategic infrastructure across Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-10657

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 12 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for a cataract operation has been in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S5W-18359

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the first Carer's Allowance Supplement payments will be made.

Question reference: S5W-17906

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of international best practice in the use of Doppler ultrasound scans.

Question reference: S5F-02546

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 September 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 September 2018

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland's call for an increase in the use of the thrombectomy procedure.

Question reference: S5W-18330

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17584 by Jeanne Freeman on 20 July 2018, what its position is on introducing lactate or other tests to help to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Decisions regarding the care and treatment of individual patients are always a matter of professional judgement for the clinician responsible for a patient’s care. Lactate tests are used when clinically appropriate and interpreted in the context of a patient’s clinical condition. Regarding the use of other antibiotic tests, I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-17584 on 20 July 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Question reference: S5W-17903

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether all pregnant women should be offered Doppler ultrasound scans.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline on antenatal care for routine pregnancies advises that routine Doppler ultrasound should not be used in low-risk pregnancies. A recent Cochrane review (2015) found that there is no conclusive evidence of health benefits to mother or baby to support the use of routine Doppler ultrasound scans for low risk or unselected pregnant women. NICE continues to assess studies and evidence which are published in this area with a view to keeping advice on use of scans in pregnancy up to date. Scottish Government has no plans to offer Doppler scans to all pregnant women.

Question reference: S5W-17905

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the use of growth scans and Doppler ultrasound scans could reduce the stillbirth rate.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline on antenatal care for routine pregnancies advises that routine Doppler ultrasound should not be used in low-risk pregnancies. A recent Cochrane review (2015) found that there is no conclusive evidence of health benefits to mother or baby to support the use of routine Doppler ultrasound scans for low risk or unselected pregnant women. NICE continues to assess studies and evidence which are published in this area with a view to keeping advice on use of scans in pregnancy up to date. Scottish Government has no plans to offer Doppler scans to all pregnant women.

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