Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-12302

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage innovation in the public sector procurement of medical devices.

The Scottish Government is committed to sourcing innovative solutions to address key challenges that face our NHS, that have been trialled and validated to work across the health ecosystem in Scotland.

In order to encourage and contribute to the delivery of innovation in general across the Scottish public sector, the Scottish Government have worked closely with NHS National Services Scotland to develop a new, national, business led innovation service called Scotland Innovates. The new service provides a central portal for suppliers to submit innovative solutions for assessment across the entire public sector, including Health.

The Scottish Government recently launched the Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) Pathway. This aims to provide a once for Scotland approach to the identification, assessment and accelerated adoption of innovative health technologies, including medical devices, that could have a transformative impact on recovery, reform and sustainability within health and social care in Scotland.

It is for NHS Boards to decide whether to procure health technologies. However, Boards receive support from the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) who provide evidence and advice on the use of new and existing health technologies when they are likely to have significant implications for people’s care.

Question reference: S6W-12251

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will correct and republish Scotland's National Strategy for Economic Transformation, originally published on 1 March 2022, which incorrectly states that Scotland has "a quarter of Europe’s wind potential".

Question reference: S6W-12250

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6T-00960 by Lorna Slater on 15 November 2022, how it will communicate to the Parliament what the correct figure is for Scotland's share of Europe's offshore wind potential, and how long it will take to publish the correct figure.

Question reference: S6O-01656

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding the impact in Scotland of the UK Government decision to restrict the use of security cameras made by companies subject to Chinese National Intelligence Law.

Question reference: S6W-12305

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 30 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to improve rehabilitation and recovery since the publication of the report, Rehabilitation and Recovery: A Once for Scotland Person-Centred Approach to Rehabilitation in a Post-COVID Era, in June 2022.

The Scottish Government has awarded funding of £444,000 in 2022-2023 to support the delivery of the Once for Scotland approach stated in the plan.

We have awarded the Care Inspectorate £194,000 to enable them to build on the learning from the Care About Physical Activity (CAPA) programme. The project will work across care homes, care at home, housing support and day services for adults.

£250,000 has been awarded to Thistle Foundation to deliver a range of organisational development interventions to support rehabilitation teams to reshape their rehabilitation services.

The Scottish Government is in the process of establishing an advisory Board, which will help to identify local rehabilitation leads, ensuring appropriate appointments to take forward the aims identified in Rehabilitation and Recovery.

Question reference: S6W-12301

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 30 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government which stakeholders have identified rehabilitation leads within their organisations to lead on delivery of recommendations in the report, Rehabilitation and Recovery: A Once for Scotland Person-Centred Approach to Rehabilitation in a Post-COVID Era.

Establishing a Rehabilitation Governance Board is one of the delivery outcomes of the Rehabilitation and Recovery: A Once for Scotland Person-Centred Approach to Rehabilitation in a Post-COVID Era. The approach paper states that we will “Develop clear reporting and accountability arrangements to ensure delivery of the recommendations”. The Scottish Government is in the process of establishing the Board, which will help to identify local rehabilitation leads, ensuring appropriate appointments to take forward the aims identified in Rehabilitation and Recovery. Recruitment to the Board will begin in the New Year and it is expected members will represent a broad-range of rehabilitation workforce and may be drawn from NHS Boards, Health and Social Care Partnerships and third sector partners.

Question reference: S6W-12303

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support growth in the Scottish healthcare and assistive technology sector.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the use of technology in healthcare environments to improve health outcomes and to create jobs. Support includes the funding of the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre and the Medical Devices Manufacturing Centre at Heriot Watt University.

The Scottish Government has also provided City Region Deals funding to develop innovation development capacity across Scotland, including the Inverness Campus which will generate new commercial opportunities in the sector including for companies developing products and services to help with assisted living.

The enterprise agencies also support with a suite of financial support and guidance including through R&D grant funding.

Question reference: S6W-12304

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to its consultation on community equipment and housing adaptations draft guidance.

Question reference: S6W-12207

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any barriers that may prevent those outwith the COVID-19 vaccine priority groups from receiving a booster dose this winter, should they wish to get one, or if the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends they do so.

Decisions to prioritise one population group over another for vaccination are not taken lightly, nor are they straightforward. That is why our prioritisation decisions have been, and will continue to be, guided by the independent expert advice provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and senior Clinicians.

As with previous campaigns, vaccinations will be offered first to frontline health and social care workers and those most vulnerable to the effects of the virus. Information on the Winter Vaccines programme including eligible groups can he found here .

Full information on the considerations made by the JCVI with regards to which groups have been offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine can be found here .

Question reference: S6W-12190

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether people outwith the COVID-19 vaccine priority groups will be able to access a booster dose at a cost this winter should they not be covered by Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommendations and guidance.

Decisions to prioritise one population group over another for vaccination are not taken lightly, nor are they straightforward. That is why our prioritisation decisions have been, and will continue to be, guided by the independent expert advice provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and senior Clinicians.

NHS Scotland will never ask someone to pay for the flu or COVID-19 vaccines if they are eligible. If they are not eligible for a free flu vaccine then they may be able to get vaccinated for a small fee at their local pharmacy. Please note it is not possible for anyone to pay for the COVID-19 vaccination, and there are currently no plans to implement this as an option.

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