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Four authors, who are subject matter experts in peace processes and international law, are undertaking the necessary research to inform the thinking on Scotland’s Peace Institute. The research commission was put out to competitive tender at the start of the year and following assessment of the bids received we awarded the contract to the successful consortium of researchers. The total cost of the contract is £30,000.

Good governance and regulation is not captured by a single number. We will work with public bodies leaders and other stakeholders in the coming months, to agree the optimal public body landscape for achieving improved outcomes, good governance and regulation. The spending review provides a platform for engagement ahead of the next budget. We do not intend to take the same approach as set out by the UK Government, but we do need to reshape and refocus. We will work together across the public sector to look creatively at reform in order to become more efficient and deliver better outcomes.

The National Treatment Centre (NTC) Programme will deliver the single biggest increase in protected planned care capacity ever created in NHSScotland. The network of 10 NTCs will deliver capacity for over 40,000 additional planned procedures and diagnostic care across 12 specialties.

Within the next 18 months, NTCs will open in NHS Fife, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Highland and at NHS Golden Jubilee specialising in orthopaedic surgery. On 13 April, we also announced £1.8m of funding to purchase a private hospital in Ayrshire (Carrick Glen) to be developed into a new National Treatment Centre specialising in orthopaedics.

As well as significant investment in new infrastructure, the new NHSScotland Centre for Sustainable Delivery is also leading work to explore new and innovative ideas to reduce In Patient / Day Case and Outpatient waiting times. Examples include:

• The rollout of Active Clinical Referral Triage, to provide patients with information about non-surgical interventions and self-management options;
• Patient Initiated Reviews, enabling patients to be escalated if their condition deteriorates and reduces routine appointments while supporting patients in a safe and clinically appropriate manner; and
• Enhanced Recovery after Surgery pathways, designed to support patients achieve faster recovery after surgery.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08953 on 24 June 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

To date 10 patients have requested referral to either Dr Veronikis or Professor Hashim. It is possible, however, that this number will increase once the contract arrangements with Dr Veronikis have been finalised and the formal referral pathways are in place.

The Affordable Housing Supply Programme was allocated £134 million in Financial Transactions in 2022-23 and we have recently agreed that £60 million will be made available for the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme and £74 million for the Charitable Bond demand led programmes in 2022-23. A further £92 million in Financial Transactions was allocated to the wider housing budget for 2022-23, with £12 million of this earmarked for historic carry forward commitments. All options are being actively considered to maximise the use of the remaining Financial Transactions to support the delivery of homes.

For complex mesh removal surgery, case review by a specialist multi-disciplinary team (MDT) is seen as pivotal in ensuring that all clinical considerations are taken into account in the planning of surgery which meets the needs of the patients. With the agreement of the independent providers, prior to referral, patients will be discussed by the MDT in Glasgow to ensure that they are fit for surgery and that all relevant diagnostic investigations have been undertaken. If, after careful consideration by both the MDT and the patient, it is agreed that surgery is appropriate and the patient wishes to be referred to either Dr Veronikis or Professor Hashim, the team in Glasgow will facilitate this in conjunction with their local specialist within their local Health Board who will then share in the ongoing care of the women following their surgery.

Anyone who wishes to be referred to either Dr Veronikis or Professor Hashim should firstly discuss their case with their GP who will refer them to the local specialist within their Health Board. If considered appropriate they would then be referred to the Complex Mesh Surgery Service for consideration by a full multi-disciplinary team (MDT). The MDT will undertake an appropriate clinical assessment and ensure that all relevant investigations are undertaken to support shared decision making. If, after careful consideration by both the MDT and the patient, it is agreed that surgery is appropriate and the patient wishes to be referred to either Dr Veronikis or Professor Hashim, the team in Glasgow will facilitate this in conjunction with their local specialist within their local Health Board.

We recognise the impact long waiting times can have on a patient, from both a clinical and mental health perspective. At this stage in recovery from the pandemic, long-waiting patients must be considered a priority.

Work is underway, through the Care and Wellbeing Portfolio, to provide more active support to people whilst they are waiting for treatment. This will include the launch this summer of a national system that will provide information on waiting times by health board and by specialty.

More information on ‘waiting well’ and accessible services will also be made available for people to manage their conditions while they wait for treatment.

The contract negotiations with Dr Veronikis are progressing and are expected to reach a positive conclusion imminently. No patients can be referred until this process is complete, however referrals for those who wish to travel for treatment by Dr Veronikis will begin as soon as possible after the contract has been concluded. All negotiations with Spire Healthcare, Bristol are complete and contracts have been signed. For the small number of patients who have requested referral to Spire Healthcare, arrangements for referral are now beginning and it is anticipated that the first patients will travel for treatment shortly.