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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-21261

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 4 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in relation to statistics in the Royal College of Radiologists report, The breast imaging and diagnostic workforce in the United Kingdom, which state that 20% of breast radiologists in Scotland are expected to retire between 2015 and 2025.

Numbers of clinical radiology consultants in NHSScotland have increased in this government by 45.4%: from 223.5 WTE in September 2006 to 325.0 WTE as at September 2018.

We have also enhanced the supply of doctors to fill radiology training posts, with 26 new training places between 2014 and 2017 – an increase of 20%. We are continuing to invest in radiology specialty training and from 2018-23 we are increasing trainee posts by 50.

While it is possible to retire at 55, there is no fixed retirement age. We seek to make use of consultants and their experience wherever we can. Many doctors who retire continue to work on an ad hoc basis for NHS Scotland through the NHS Staff Bank.

Question reference: S5W-21262

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what it will do to improve cancer treatment waiting times in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, in light of it reportedly being the worst performing NHS board for the 31-day target and the second worst for the 62-day target.

Latest published data from ISD show that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde narrowly missed the 31 day (95%) standard in Q3 2018 (July - Sept) with 94.8% of patients receiving treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat with an average wait of seven days (above NHS Highland, Tayside, Lothian and Grampian).

While the average wait for patients on the 62 day pathway was 46 days NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s performance against this 62 day standard at 76.5% is not acceptable and as such the Scottish Government published the £850 million Waiting Times Improvement Plan on 23 October 2018. The Plan sets out a series of actions to ensure the future delivery of waiting time standards for patients across Scotland by Spring 2021. Investment will support reforms to increase capacity, increase clinical effectiveness and efficiency as well as implementing new models of care. The immediate focus is on improvements for patients whose treatment is urgent, who have a suspicion of cancer, and those who have been waiting longest for an appointment.

Following the development of the Effective Cancer Management Framework in 2018 an experienced Cancer Service Manager is providing tailored support to NHS Boards across Scotland including NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

Question reference: S5W-21131

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland report, Progress Review of Provision of Forensic Medical Services to Victims of Sexual Crime, what progress is being made with relocating the Archway service to alternative premises in Glasgow city centre.

The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland chairs a Taskforce set up to provide national leadership for the improvement of healthcare and forensic medical examination services for people who have experienced rape and sexual assault.

Following a rigorous options appraisal exercise in 2018, the Taskforce is supporting each of the 14 Territorial Health Boards to develop person centred, trauma informed services as close as possible to the point of need, supported by regional centres of expertise.

The Taskforce National Co-Ordinator is working closely with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the West of Scotland Boards, on proposals for a new multi-agency facility within Glasgow City Centre which will support delivery of this model. These plans are in progress.

The Scottish Government has committed £8.5m over three years to support Health Boards across Scotland to deliver consistent and sustainable services and to help embed the published Healthcare Improvement Scotland Standards.

Question reference: S5W-21127

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-01442 by Jeane Freeman on 22 January 2019 (Official Report, c.3), in light of the announcement of the review into the reported multiple problems at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital; who will carry out the review out; what its scope will be, and what the timetable is for completion.

Question reference: S5W-20989

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 25 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that more than £15 million was spent by Glasgow City Council on supply teachers in 2017-18, which represented a £1.5 million increase on the previous year.

The recruitment and deployment of teachers is a matter for local authorities and it is for them to determine what best suits their local needs.

We value the important contribution that all teachers make to the education of our children and young people. Supply teachers play a key role, not only in covering for unforeseen teacher absences, but they also provide invaluable cover to enable teachers to undertake professional development. The spend reported by Glasgow City Council on supply teachers represents a small percentage of their overall spend on schools.

We are also working with local government and teacher unions to make the employment for supply teachers more streamlined, when it is required.

Question reference: S5W-20987

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 17 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20711 by Clare Haughey on 8 January 2019, by what date the update on recruitment will be provided.

Question reference: S5O-02792

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes active travel.

Question reference: S5W-20702

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recommendation by the Children & Young People's Mental Health Taskforce to reduce the waiting time target for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) from 18 to 12 weeks.

The Children and Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce Delivery Plan set out its intention to develop a reduction in CAMHS waiting times to within 12 weeks for assessment and start of treatment, by 100% service as a measure. The Scottish Government will consider this recommendation as the work on this measure is developed by the Taskforce.

On 19 December, the Minister for Mental Health announced £4 million investment in additional CAMHS staff. On the same day, Better Mental Health in Scotland , our delivery plan for the mental health actions in the Programme for Government, was published. This sets out a comprehensive package of measures that will improve the support provided to children and young people with mental health issues and their families. This package will support a shift in mental health services towards early intervention by a wider range of services. It is backed by £250 million of additional investment. Investing in early intervention, as well as, additional CAMHS staff is one of the key recommendations of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce designed to reduce CAMHS waiting times.

Question reference: S5O-02763

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of a recent survey by WWF Scotland, how it supports small businesses to prepare for the risks posed by climate change.

Question reference: S5W-20711

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 8 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18352 by Clare Haughey on 20 September 2018, whether it will confirm how many of the 800 additional mental health workers that it committed to recruiting in its mental health strategy have been appointed.

We have recently agreed a reporting framework with the Chief Officers of Integration Authorities on the development of this commitment and who are recruiting the additional mental health workers for their areas.

The reporting framework involves quarterly updates being provided to the Scottish Government on progress including how many additional mental health workers have been recruited. A reporting template was issued to all the Integration Authorities in December for completion therefore once this information has been received and collated, an update on recruitment can be provided in early 2019.