- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 December 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 9 January 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of all involvement by former or current special advisers in providing advice to (a) ministers and (b) officials on the use of transvaginal mesh implants.
Answer
In order to provide effective assistance to Ministers, special advisers work closely with the Ministerial team and with civil servants and may give assistance and advice on any aspect of Scottish Government business. Medical advice in relation to mesh is provided to both Ministers and officials by appropriately qualified and experienced clinical personnel.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 9 January 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12864 by Shona Robison on 29 November 2017, in light of the consultation discussing the need for "greater co-operation and data sharing between the professional regulators and other parts of the healthcare regulatory system" and highlighting the role of the Care Quality Commission as a system regulator, how this could be achieved, given that Scotland does not have a system regulator equivalent to the Care Quality Commission.
Answer
The legislative functions of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) are broadly similar to those of the Care Quality Commission.
The functions and powers of HIS include: supporting, ensuring and monitoring the quality of healthcare provided or secured by NHS Scotland and the provision of quality assurance and accreditation. HIS also has powers in relation to inspections and registration of independent healthcare services.
In addition, Scottish Ministers have direction making powers under Section 10A(3) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978: in carrying out its functions, HIS is to act subject to, and in accordance with, such directions as may be given by the Scottish Ministers.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 9 January 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of six new elective treatment centres, which were announced in October 2015.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s Capital Investment Group (CIG) oversees the approval process for business cases across NHSScotland and provides the necessary assurances that proposals are robust, affordable, deliverable, and that they are in line with wider NHS policy. Following consideration by the CIG, approval was given for the Initial Agreements for the NHS Highland “North of Scotland Elective Care Centre” and the Golden Jubilee National Hospital "Ophthalmology Unit Development’" on 28 September 2017. The Business Cases for these elective centres are now under development.
The Initial Agreements for the remaining centres continue to be developed, supported and informed by a range of national planning work, and will be considered by the CIG in due course. In line with the original commitment, the programme to deliver the elective centres remains on track for completion by the end of 2021.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 9 January 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12864 by Shona Robison on 29 November 2017, in light of the consultation discussing options for reforming the way that professional regulators handle complaints from patients and the public, whether it plans to change the current arrangement, in which NHS boards investigate complaints addressed to themselves first before considering the possible involvement of professional bodies, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
The consultation ‘Promoting professionalism, reforming regulation’ is not due to close until 23:59 on 23 January 2018. As such, it would not be appropriate to comment on future options for the development of professional healthcare regulation.
It is open to anyone to refer a registered health professional to the appropriate regulator when concerns arise about their fitness to practise. Complaints handling procedures vary from regulator to regulator and the wide-ranging consultation seeks views on all aspects of regulation, up to and including the structure and number of the regulators themselves. It is important to note that the professional healthcare regulatory bodies operate on an independent basis, according to their respective legislation, and it is for them to consider and take appropriate action on complaints about registrants’ fitness to practise.
When a complaint is made against an employee, it is right that the Health Board as the employer is allowed the opportunity to investigate properly before making a decision about referring the matter to a professional regulator. However, where clear and serious concerns arise, Boards are entitled to and will often make an immediate referral in the interests of patient safety. The ability of a Board to look into complaints enables them to learn from mistakes and take immediate action to support effective clinical governance.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 9 January 2018
To ask the Scottish Government which international classification of diseases (ICD) for oncology codes were used for brain tumours in the 2016 Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey.
Answer
The 2015 Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey included all cancers covered by the ICD10 codes from C00 to C96 except C44 (malignant neoplasms) and C84 (some types of lymphomas). This is consistent with the approach taken for other UK Cancer Patient Experience Surveys.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 9 January 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12864 by Shona Robison on 29 November 2017, in light of the consultation discussing whether there is scope for achieving a more inquisitorial approach within the existing arrangements with regard to practice investigations and calling for further co-operation with employers to achieve local resolution at an earlier stage where possible, how this could be achieved.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-13567 on
9 January 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
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 8 January 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the Urgent Question regarding NHS Lothian waiting times by Shona Robison on 5 December 2017 (Official Report, c. 75), in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that it was “apparent that the concerns were not restricted to St John’s but went across the acute sites in NHS Lothian”, for what reason its news release of 17 November 2017, Waiting Times at NHS Lothian, announced an independent review into A&E waiting times at St John's Hospital only.
Answer
While the whistle-blower raised concerns about St Johns Hospital specifically, NHS Lothian subsequently carried out an internal review of three of its acute hospitals. The independent Review, led by the Professor Derek Bell, will not only investigate the allegations made by the whistle-blower but will also review the findings from NHS Lothian's internal review, including St Johns Hospital, the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the Western General hospital.
As I said to the member, I expect the review to conclude early in the New Year.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 December 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 January 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12702 by Humza Yousaf on 27 November 2017, what information it has on the type of casualties and injuries sustained, including whether these were head injuries, and whether it considers that the wearing of helmets may have reduced the severity of, or prevented, casualties or head injuries.
Answer
Scottish Government data collation procedures only allow to distinguish between serious and slight injuries for such instances and these were set out in the answer to S5W-12702. It is not possible to directly attribute the wearing of a helmet to the injuries sustained in all of the situations contained in these statistics, however the Scottish Government encourages all cyclists to undertake safeguards and to wear a suitable helmet in line with advice in the UK Highway Code.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 January 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-02275 by Humza Yousaf on 15 September 2016, whether it will provide an update on the plans to increase the quality and capacity of trains serving Wallyford and Musselburgh.
Answer
From the December 2017 timetable change some services on the North Berwick route serving Wallyford and Musselburgh have been strengthened from three to six cars providing more seating capacity. Services on the route continue to be provided by Class 380 trains, with plans for further capacity to be provided by the end of 2018 when all peak services will be provided with 6 cars.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 21 December 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on NHS Lothian no longer having a specialist headache centre, in light of it previously having one in Edinburgh, and what discussions it has had with NHS Lothian on this issue.
Answer
It is the role of the Scottish Government to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards so they can deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations. The provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local Boards, taking into account national guidance, local service needs and priorities for investment.