Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.

a) There is no specific workforce data collected for neuropsychiatrists in Scotland or the rest of the UK. This is not a specialty or sub-specialty of psychiatry and would usually be a special interest of doctors trained in Old Age or General Adult Psychiatry. As part of higher psychiatry training programmes resident doctors are able to undertake additional training in this area such as a masters degree and placements in liaison psychiatry.

b) Neuropsychologist is not a recognised job role within NHS Scotland. Postgraduate Applied Psychologists (mainly Clinical Psychologists) may undertake further training to various levels in neuropsychology. NHS employing Boards make decisions about what additional training may be required to meet the needs of their population. Every year NHS Education for Scotland (NES) undertakes an annual commissioning process with Boards to discuss their psychological workforce development and training needs. NES supports the provision of Neuropsychology training at the University of Glasgow which is highly valued by Boards.

Our Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy lays out our vision for improving mental health so anyone who needs help can get the right help, in the right place, at the right time for any aspect of their mental health. We expect that mental health care and treatment will be delivered in a person-centred manner to meet each individual’s needs. This includes people whose mental health has been affected as a result of Parkinson’s disease.

We expect all NHS Boards in Scotland to adhere to current guidelines and follow best practice when providing care for people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions.

Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy published in 2023, sets out a long-term vision, and a set of outcomes, for the mental health and wellbeing of the population.

In September 2023, we published the National Specification for Psychological Therapies and Interventions, and Mental Health Core Standards to ensure effective, equitable, efficient and high-quality person-centred care is delivered consistently across Scotland. The Specification and Standards set out what we expect in terms of care in Psychological Therapies and Adult Secondary Services.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.

The Scottish Government has worked closely with Parkinson’s UK Scotland over a number of years, including awarding £174,184 over three years to fund the development of Parkinson’s Connect in Scotland. This refers people to tailored advice and support, including mental health and wellbeing for people with Parkinson’s and their families. We will continue to work with Parkinson’s UK Scotland to ensure the best outcomes for people with Parkinson’s.

Clozapine is available to NHS Health Boards in Scotland to prescribe as appropriate to patients with Parkinson’s Disease.

It is for Health Boards to implement treatments within services, and the decision to prescribe Clozapine would be a clinical one based on an individual patient’s symptoms and condition.

There is no funding solely allocated to the Respiratory Care Action Plan (RCAP) in 2025-2026. However, a number of the commitments in the Plan are being addressed by work that is part of other Scottish Government strategies– such as the Cleaner Air for Scotland Strategy, Warmer Homes Strategy, and the refreshed Tobacco Action Plan - or by additional funding we have provided to NHS Boards on a broader basis to make improvements that apply regardless of condition. This means it is difficult to break down funding we provide to various areas and organisations that is spent on delivering commitments listed in the RCAP.

For example, we are investing a record £21.7bn in our NHS in Scotland in 2025-2026, this includes £200m to reduce waiting times, which will deliver additional MRI, CT, ultrasound and endoscopy procedures and supports the delivery of the RCAP commitment to improve and simplify access to appropriate diagnostic tests.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-22819 on 23 November 2023. 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

As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, and the Scottish Government does not hold the information, I have asked them to respond. Their reply is as follows:

Scottish Water measures the performance of its partner organisations through a structured framework that ensures alignment with its standards for safety, health and wellbeing, cost management, efficiency, and service excellence. Executive Director led Strategic Boards, and Senior Manager led Operational Boards are in place to review performance, and set direction for future strategic improvements.