Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21151 on 19 September 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/questions-and-answers .

We do not recognise the source of the data you refer to that shows excess deaths in Scotland to be 10.1% above average.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) report the age-standardised rate of excess deaths to be 6% and 1% above expected levels for the first quarter (Q1) and second quarter (Q2) of 2023 respectively, and 4% below expected levels for the third quarter (Q3).

As has been established practice for many years, the staff and vehicle required to move critically ill patients is determined based on circumstances and clinical need. Our specialist neonatal transfer service (ScotSTAR) will transfer those babies by air or road in specialist ambulances equipped to care for neonates.

ScotSTAR will be introducing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which will have variations between emergency and scheduled/planned transfers. NHS Grampian will be on the outer limits for drivers but expectation would be that the journey will be done without a break.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

The Scottish Government aims to publish our new palliative and end of life care strategy for consultation in Spring 2024.

The Best Start emphasises parents as key partners in caring for their baby and aims to keep mothers and babies, and families together as much as possible in the crucial early weeks, with services designed around them.

We have a number of measures already in place to support families who have babies in neonatal care including:

• Providing accommodation for parents to stay on or near neonatal units;
• Roll out of the Young Patients Family Fund (formerly the Neonatal Expenses Fund) to support families with the costs of travel, accommodation and food whilst their baby is in neonatal care;

And

• Repatriating babies to their local neonatal units as soon as clinically possible.

In addition, as part of Best Start, Boards have introduced Transitional Care facilities in maternity units, which keeps babies with their mothers on the postnatal ward with in-reach support from neonatal staff, and neonatal community care, which allows babies to get home sooner, supported by the community team. We continue to look to find opportunities to minimise separation, whilst providing safe care.

The Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) helps to offset the cost of any accommodation required by eligible visitors.

The YPFF terms and conditions direct claimants to access NHS Board visitor accommodation in the first instance. Where this is not available, private accommodation (e.g. hotel) can be booked and the fund’s terms and conditions direct the NHS Board to book on behalf of the claimant where this is possible.

This process helps to ensure that most claimants avoid having to pay large accommodation bills upfront. My officials have not been alerted to an issue with this process, however, I have asked them to write to YPFF administration teams in NHS Boards to remind them of the importance of taking action to reduce unnecessary temporary financial pressures on families.

As part of the next phase of the work Scottish Government have commissioned Consulting firm RSM-UK to undertake detailed modelling work to fully map the capacity requirements across the system to inform further capacity building and implementation of the new model.

In the meantime discussions are underway in the regional forum to prepare and plan for the changes, which will be further informed by the modelling. The Scottish Government has provided funding to the Boards hosting the Neonatal Intensive Care units to build the capacity required in the intensive care units.

I can confirm that no Cabinet Secretary or Minister has accrued charges due to the personal usage of their government issued mobile phone or other electronic devices.

On appointment, ministers are offered electronic equipment to assist them in carrying out their official duties. I have included table which outlines the devices used by each of the ministers.