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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-05513

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of A&E (a) admissions and (b) waiting times in 2016, broken down by (i) age profile and (ii) NHS board.

Question reference: S5W-05727

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether statistics on the performance of G4S regarding the Scottish Prison Service escort/transport contact are kept centrally and, if so, whether these will be published.

Question reference: S5W-05725

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what key performance indicators are stipulated in the escort/transport contract with G4S and the Scottish Prison Service.

Question reference: S5W-05726

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any sanctions for non-performance stipulated in the escort/transport contract between G4S and the Scottish Prison Service and, if so, what they are.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

I would advise that the information which answers the member’s question is accessible on the SPS website in Schedule D of the Court Custody and Prisoner Escort Services (CCPES) contract and Section 14 of the Minute of Agreement, held at:

http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Publications/Contracts7.aspx

Question reference: S5W-05316

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 12 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider repealing section 242 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 on the grounds that it may deprive an adult with capacity the right to refuse treatment.

The Scottish Government is not currently considering repealing section 242 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (‘the 2003 Act’).

Section 242 sets out the circumstances and safeguards for the giving of certain treatment to a person where the giving of medical treatment is authorised by virtue of other sections of the 2003 Act or by the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. The section sets out the giving of relevant treatment both to persons who are capable of consenting (including where the person consents) and those who are not capable of consenting.

Whilst not the only criterion, significant impairment of decision-making ability because of mental disorder (as defined by the 2003 Act) is taken into account when treatment is authorised by the 2003 Act. Significantly-impaired decision making ability is used rather than incapacity as it was recommended as one of the criteria in Chapter 2 of the 2001 report by the Millan Committee which forms the basis of the 2003 Act.

Alongside the requirements and safeguards in section 242 for the giving of treatment, any function carried out under the 2003 Act must be in line with the principles set out in section 1, including the present and past wishes and feelings of the patient; the importance of the patient participating as fully as possible; and the importance of providing maximum benefit to the patient.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring Scotland's mental health law continues to build on the 2003 Act. The recent Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2015 was the outcome of the McManus review and strengthened measures in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment)(Scotland) Act 2003 that promote support for decision making. The 2015 Act is currently being implemented and we are looking at ways to further promote rights-based practice under the 2003 Act in areas such as treatment, including when updating the statutory guidance in the Code of Practice.

An upcoming review which will consider whether the provisions in the 2003 Act fulfil the needs of people with learning disabilities and autism, which may include the giving of treatment under the Act to persons with learning disabilities and autism.

Question reference: S5T-00307

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of an increase in the number of people dying in hospital while waiting to be discharged because their care package had yet to be finalised.

Question reference: S5W-05312

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards are in place to ensure that the security measures specified by the UK Government for the transportation of controlled drugs are adhered to by (a) NHS boards and (b) private and independent pharmacies.

The Scottish Government issued guidance to NHS Scotland following the introduction of the Health Act 2006 by the UK Parliament and the governance arrangements for controlled drugs which the Act and subsequent relevant Regulations put in place:-

www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2007_14.pdf

www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2008_07.pdf

The legislation requires all healthcare organisations holding stocks of controlled drugs to appoint Accountable Officers responsible for the safe, appropriate and effective management and use of controlled drugs.

In NHS Scotland, Controlled Drugs Accountable Officers (CDAOs) are responsible for ensuring the safe management and use of controlled drugs within their organisation. CDAOs should ensure that their own organisation, and those providing services to their organisation, have adequate and up-to-date Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in relation to controlled drugs. The CDAO Network publishes and updates guidance on good practice in the management of controlled drugs in primary care, including monitoring, auditing and reporting:-

www.knowledge.scot.nhs.uk/media/CLT/ResourceUploads/4055959/Primary_Care_Guide_Scotland_v.2.0_171114.pdf

In addition, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the pharmacy regulator in Great Britain, sets standards for all registered pharmacies which includes requirements for medicines to be stored securely and supplied safely to patients, and for each pharmacy to identify and manage risks associated with the service they provide. GPhC inspections cover the full range of services a pharmacy provides, including any medicine delivery services.

The GPhC also shares intelligence and works collaboratively with various regulatory bodies and organisations across Great Britain, such as the Home Office, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and local Controlled Drug Accountable Officer Networks to help achieve collective patient safety and public protection aims.

Question reference: S5W-05313

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that pharmacies are correctly auditing their couriers on a routine basis to ensure that they are fit for purpose, as specified in UK Government guidelines.

Question reference: S5W-05335

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many psychiatric care units there are, broken down by NHS board.

The Inpatient Bed Census for mental health, addictions and learning disability identifies 95 NHS Scotland facilities containing wards covered by the census. Anyone with a mental illness can be treated in these wards.

Undertaken in 2014 and 2016 the Inpatient Bed Census has provided detailed data that identifies the status of bed usage across Scotland and provides a basis for planning and development of future mental health services. The census shows a continuing reduction in the number of psychiatric inpatients, with more people being treated in a community setting or while living at home. This reflects the longer term shift in the provision of care from hospital based to community based and that bed occupancy was 85% - achieving the best practice figure set by the Royal College of Psychiatrists for provision in meeting need across Scotland.

NHS Board	Hospital
NHS Ayrshire & Arran	Ayrshire Central Hospital
	Crosshouse Hospital
	Ailsa Hospital
	Arrol Park Resource Centre
	East Ayrshire Community Hospital
NHS Borders	Galavale Hospital
	Borders General Hospital
	Melburn Lodge
NHS Dumfries & Galloway	Allanbank
	Darataigh
	Midpark Hospital
NHS Fife	Whytemans Brae Hospital
	Stratheden Hospital
	Queen Margaret Hospital
	Lynebank Hospital
NHS Forth Valley	Falkirk Community Hospital
	Bo’ness Hospital
	Bellsdyke Hospital
	Stirling Community Hospital
	Lochview Hospital
	Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre
	Forth Valley Royal Hospital
NHS Grampian	Bennachie View Care Home
	Glen O’ Dee Hospital
	Royal Cornhill Hospital
	Inverurie Hospital
	Fraserburgh Hospital
	Seafield Hospital
	Rehabilitation Hospital
	Pluscarden Clinic
	375 Great Western Lodge
	Elmwood
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde	Dumbarton Joint Hospital
	Vale of Leven Hospital
	Ravenscraig Hospital
	Inverclyde Royal Hospital
	Dykebar Hospital
	Royal Alexandra Hospital
	Larkfield Unit
	Blythswood House
	Royal Hospital for Sick Children
	Parkhead Hospital
	Stobhill Hospital
	Leverndale Hospital
	Mansionhouse Unit
	Rowantree Nursing Home
	Darnley Court Nursing Home
	Gartnavel Royal Hospital
	Birdston Nursing Home
	Waterloo Close
	Netherton
	Rowanbank
	Skye House
NHS Highland	Argyll & Bute Hospital
	Migdale Hospital
	St Vincent’s Hospital
	New Craigs Hospital Inverness
	Mid-Argyll Community Hospital
NHS Lanarkshire	Coathill Hospital
	Monklands Hospital
	Cumbernauld Care Home
	Cleland Hospital
	Hatton Lea Care Home
	Kirklands Hospital
	Airbles Road Centre
	Hairmyres Hospital
	Udston Hospital
	Caird House
	Wishaw General Hospital
NHS Lothian	Herdmanflat Hospital
	Royal Edinburgh Hospital
	Tippethill Hospital
	St John’s Hospital
	Ferryfield House
	Primrose Lodge
	Glen Lomond
	Camus Tigh
	Dunedin
	Craigshill Care Home
	Ellen’s Glen House
	Findlay House
	Midlothian Community Hospital
	Murraypark Nursing Home
NHS Tayside	Strathmartine Hospital
	Dudhope House
	Discovery Unit, Clement Park Care Home
	Murray Royal Hospital
	Arbroath Infirmary
	Stracathro Hospital
	Whitehills Hospital
	Crieff Community Hospital
	Carseview Centre
	Kingsway Care Centre
NHS Western Isles	Western Isles Hospital
State Hospital	State Hospital, Carstairs

Question reference: S5W-05330

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much each NHS board is spending on social care, also broken down by the amount spent in each year since 2007.

NHS Board accounts do not separately identify spending on social care, which prior to April 2016 was a function of Local Government. Since April 2016, NHS and Local Government have been jointly responsible for the delivery of health and care through Health and Social Care Partnerships.

Total NHS investment in integration amounts to £380 million in 2016-17 and, as set out in the Draft Budget for 2017-18, will increase to £487 million next year.

In 2016-17, NHS Territorial Boards contributed £250 million to Health and Social Care Partnerships to support the delivery of improved outcomes in social care and deliver the Living Wage for social care workers. This is set out in the following table for each Territorial Board.

Territorial Boards	£000
Ayrshire & Arran	19,331
Borders	5,267
Dumfries & Galloway	7,597
Fife	16,832
Forth Valley	13,259
Grampian	23,030
Greater Glasgow & Clyde	59,354
Highland	15,279
Lanarkshire	31,493
Lothian	35,281
Orkney	1,073
Shetland	1,024
Tayside	19,536
Western Isles	1,644
Total	250,000