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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: S6W-11939

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any closure of community hospitals in Dumfries and Galloway is in accordance with its policy aims and objectives.

As I stated in Parliament in May, community hospitals form an integral part of local health-care delivery systems, providing care closer to people’s homes which is personalised, holistic and patient-centred.

In April 2020, following the emergence of the COVID Pandemic all areas developed surge plans. As part of this surge planning Dumfries and Galloway command and control took the decision to temporarily close 4 cottage hospital in-patients facilities to allow for surge. It also allowed the partnership to support more people at home, which we knew was the safest place for their care. Additionally, the partnership opened 18 intermediate care beds in Mountainhall Treatment Centre.

Following the pandemic it is essential that services continue to evolve and develop new ways of working that can keep people safe at home, or in a homely setting for as long as possible. However, decisions regarding the future of local services are best done at a local level, in consultation with the local population who use them.

Question reference: S6W-11432

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the potential impact on the patient experience of multiple GP practices across significant geographical areas being run under what is reportedly more recognisable as a franchise business model.

The Scottish Government believes that the independent contractor model of general practice is the model preferred by most GPs and is committed to maintaining it to ensure general practice remains an attractive profession (the BMA’s “The future of general practice” survey 2015 found that 82% of GPs supported maintaining the status quo).

It is for Health Boards to decide who to contract with to provide primary medical services, making use of such resources as the Health and Care Experience Survey which provides an indication of satisfaction rates across a range of local services, including GP practices, in Scotland as they do so.

Question reference: S6W-12212

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how much it has spent in the last five years on broadband and digital infrastructure, broken down by local authority area.

Question reference: S6W-12211

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to any individual households who are experiencing difficulties with connectivity, in light of reported delays to the R100 programme.

The R100 programme comprises of three R100 contracts with BT plc, the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme and commercial coverage. For those within future R100 contract build plans, there are a number of satellite and mobile service providers who can deliver a commercial service in the meantime. Ofcom’s broadband and mobile service checker, which can be found at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/advice/ofcom-checker , can provide more information on what is available in their area.

Our R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme remains available for those whose properties are not expected to benefit from either R100 contract build or commercial coverage.

Question reference: S6W-12062

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 18 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the availability of swimming lessons to young people, in light of reports of waiting lists as long as six years in Dumfries and Galloway.

The Scottish Government have been working with Scottish Swimming, Education Scotland, sport scotland and Scottish Water to develop interventions and approaches to provide opportunities for children to become confident, safer and competent swimmers.

Scottish Swimming aim to run a number of Delivery Model Pilots in 2022-23 to support schools to understand and consider different approaches and models of delivery to help educate and provide opportunities for children across Scotland to experience the water in a fun, safe and inclusive approach. This reflects the many different scenarios faced by schools when deciding how best to support young people to access school swimming.

In terms of the issues reported in Dumfries and Galloway, we understand that the waiting list expanded significantly due to the reduced capacity available to deliver lessons whilst they operated from the temporary swimming pool at Dumfries Ice Bowl. This was then further exaggerated by COVID closures. The local authority are looking at their swimming pool timetables with a view to securing lessons for as many children as possible within their existing resources and available teaching complement.

Question reference: S6O-01601

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what urgent action it is taking to stabilise NHS dentistry services in Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S6W-11733

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses supplied to each NHS board in 2022 to date, broken down by manufacturer.

This data is not held by Scottish Government or currently available in the format requested.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) collect and report vaccine data for Scotland. Data is not published by vaccine type/manufacturer. However, the COVID-19 Statistical Report (publichealthscotland.scot) , last updated on the 02 November 2022, has data on number of citizens vaccinated by health board.

The total number of Covid Vaccinations delivered up to 7th November 2022, was 14,414,300.

Question reference: S6W-11580

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 7 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote the adoption of the intelligent Liver Function Test (iLFT) pathway across NHS Scotland through its Modern Outpatient Programme.

Scottish Government is working in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) and Modernising Patient Pathways Programme to explore the feasibility of further national action to improve early detection and treatment of liver diseases.

Health Boards across Scotland currently have different pathways in place to promote the early detection and management of patients with liver disease.

A consistent approach to technology used across laboratories in Scotland is needed to support national roll out. A National Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) which will be able to deliver iLFTs is currently being rolled out across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-11429

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the remote management of GP practices by partners who do not treat patients onsite.

The GP contract regulations require all GP practice partners to be sufficiently engaged in providing primary medical services in Scotland. It is for the partners to determine how best to meet the clinical needs of their patients and to ensure there are sufficient GPs onsite to provide necessary face to face appointments and home visits.

Health Boards and Health & Social Care Partnerships are responsible for monitoring their contracts with GP practices.

Question reference: S6W-11428

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent reassurances it has sought from NHS Dumfries and Galloway that its out-of-hours service is running safely.

Patient safety is our utmost concern and the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that patients continue to receive high quality Out of Hours services. Officials work closely with Out of Hours services across Scotland, including NHS Dumfries and Galloway to support them in delivering a safe, resilient and sustainable service. Whilst the Out of Hours service in NHS Dumfries & Galloway remains under pressure – as it does across Scotland – the Scottish Government receives regular assurances that there are robust arrangements in place to maintain a safe Out of Hours service and that the Board are working to make the service more resilient for the future. This includes the recent recruitment of two salaried GPs and a sessional GP. I understand that the Board are also working with Scottish Ambulance Service to recruit Advanced Paramedic Practitioners.

Financial Year	Total capital spend (in £m)
2017-2018	66.2
2018-2019	27.1
2019-2020	18.0
2020-2021	21.6
2021-2022	62.3