Seòmar agus comataidhean

I announced in December 2016 that we will be taking forward the recommendations from the review, which includes the establishment of a multi-agency taskforce or equivalent group to consider options for the managed entry of new medicines. We are working at pace, in collaboration with stakeholders, to implement the recommendations as quickly as possible.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10189 on 2 August 2017. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10193 on 26 July 2017. 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

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of health research and its contribution to improving patient outcomes and delivering improvements to patient care. Through the Chief Scientist Office the Scottish Government invests over £60m each year into health research. This resource is used to support and encourage research excellence. NHS Research Scotland supports clinical trials across the spectrum of medical conditions with further funding provided to support clinical research networks and research units.

Funding to support research is provided by research grant awards. These researcher led awards are not restricted to any particular clinical area and cover the full clinical spectrum. Further support to Scottish based research is provided by the access given to Scottish based researchers to the National Institute of Health Research.

Recent specific funded research by the Chief Scientist Office in respect to Cystic Fibrosis has been:

Although not the main funder, there are 15 other relevant active research studies in Scotland which are supported both financially and in kind by NHS Research Scotland. These trials recruit adults and children across Scotland.

This information is not held centrally.

NHS Boards are responsible for planning and delivering healthcare services, including specialist services, to meet the assessed needs of their resident populations, taking into account strategic frameworks and guidance, within the allocations provided

People living with cystic fibrosis can access a range of appropriate services via their local NHS Boards, Integrated Joint Boards and a national service. Specialist services for people with cystic fibrosis are delivered via the nationally designated service across 3 specialist centres around the country – in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is also an outreach service in Dundee. The national service shares treatment protocols and guidelines in order to maintain high standards of care across Scotland.

Additionally, there is a National Managed Clinical Network for paediatric cystic fibrosis with well-established transition into adult services.

The core principles of dignity, respect and fairness will be at the heart of delivery of the social security system in Scotland. The Social Security (Scotland) Bill embeds these principles, including a commitment to a human-rights based approach.

Over 2,000 people with recent experience of benefits have volunteered to join our Experience Panels. They will help us design, build and improve the new system including the application process and the language we use. We are also consulting our ill-health and disability stakeholder groups on the use of inclusive language.

We have heard from individuals and organisations that there is too much focus on physical disability within the current system. We are committed to taking a different approach to social security in Scotland. We are designing our new social security system with the help of the Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group, our reference groups and our Experience Panels, which involve over 2,400 people with recent experience of benefits and with their assistance will ensure that both mental and physical disabilities are treated equally. This includes the assessment of disability benefits from application all the way through to final decision.

We encourage all women between the ages of 25 and 64 to take up their invitation for cervical cancer screening. It saves around 5,000 lives in the UK every year and prevents 8 out of 10 cervical cancers from developing. We are working towards increasing participation in the cervical screening programme and are investing up to £5 million from the cancer strategy to reduce inequalities in access to screening.

We also know that almost all cervical cancer is caused by HPV. Uptake rates for the HPV vaccination programme in Scotland continue to exceed 80% and we will continue our efforts to ensure that Scottish girls benefit from this vaccine, which will save lives.

Whilst the HPV vaccine offers protection against the most common causes of cervical cancer it does not protect against all types of HPV that cause cervical cancer. Therefore, the combination of the vaccination and attending cervical screening from 25 years of age will offer the best possible protection against cervical cancer.