- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 17 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when in 2022 the next iteration of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework will be published.
Answer
Work on the refresh of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework is underway. It is anticipated that it will be published in Autumn 2022.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many MS specialist nurses were in post in each of the last five years.
Answer
Information on the number of MS specialist nurses were in post in each of the last five years is not centrally held.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) data by NHS Board from 2009 to the most recent data published in September 2018, can be found at:
https://turasdata.nes.nhs.scot/media/4ndpx4za/clinical_nurse_specialists_s2018.xlsx
Given data quality concerns all historical data, whilst published, should be treated with caution.
A national review into the CNS role and definition is currently underway, NES will work with NHS Boards to cleanse their CNS data once this is complete.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that the pyramid of support, as outlined in its neurological care and support framework, is effectively implemented for MS patients throughout the Western Isles, in light of reports that such patients often require complex tailored packages of care and support, which may rely on treatment that is unavailable in that area.
Answer
The Board is ensuring the pyramid of support for patients with MS by working in partnership with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Neurology Service who provide a specialist neurology service through a Service Level Agreement. The NHS Western Isles Neurology Team has weekly discussions with their NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde colleagues to discuss the Team’s caseload.
NHS Western Isles is also working to meet Commitment 9 in the Neurological care and support: framework for action 2020-2025, namely testing innovative ways of delivering health and social care, including new roles and new arrangements for co-ordinating care and support for people with neurological conditions such as MS.
The Board also aims to recruit to an Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist – Neurology role who will work with the current Parkinson’s specialist nurse to support people with neurological conditions including MS that require specialist support, ensuring equity of care.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 17 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the feasibility of achieving the 2024 target for the elimination of hepatitis C.
Answer
The Scottish Government remains committed to achieving the 2024 elimination of hepatitis C target; however, we must acknowledge the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on all our health services.
We are working closely with the Scottish Health Protection Network hepatitis C Elimination group and Public Health Scotland to understand the current Hepatitis data. We are actively considering where focused interventions would bring about the biggest impact and support us to reach our target of elimination. We intend to include concrete proposals in the next iteration of the sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses Framework, which we expect to publish later this year.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 12 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a study in the medical journal, Health Affairs, stating that, in the United States, there were 10% fewer COVID-19-related deaths in unionised, compared with non-unionised, care homes, whether there are similar comparative figures available for Scotland, and, if not, whether it will commit to compiling them.
Answer
We do not have similar figures in Scotland because we do not hold data on whether a care home has unionised staff. There are no plans to collect that information, however in May 2021, the Care Inspectorate published a report analysing different factors affecting Covid-19 care home deaths (e.g. care home size, care home provider).
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 5 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether its officials were formally directed by any of its ministers to undertake the arrangements necessary for the contract for the production of Hulls 801 and 802 following the advice from officials on the advisability of proceeding with the arrangements for the award of this contract.
Answer
Ministers did not direct officials or CMAL to enter into the contract; nor did officials or CMAL seek such a direction or “written authority” from Ministers. Transport Scotland and CMAL ensured that Ministers were informed of, and accepting of, the risks associated with this contract following which Ministers provided some additional assurances sought by CMAL. These exchanges have been set out in the public record since 2019.
The Auditor General confirmed last week that Audit Scotland was “clear in our judgment that there was no formal written authority”.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07775 by Humza Yousaf on 19 April 2022, for what reason it is reportedly taking a different approach to NHS England.
Answer
In line with JCVI advice, adults aged 75 years and over, and residents in a care home for older adults, as well as individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed, will be offered an additional booster dose in spring 2022, at least 24 weeks after their last dose.
As per clinical guidance in the Green Book, health boards have the flexibility to offer spring boosters sooner than this (at least 12 weeks since last dose) where appropriate, to help provide additional protection during the spring and summer months. Those eligible will receive a scheduled appointment letter and should wait to be contacted.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 4 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether any documents recording any communications regarding events leading up to and including the award of the contract for the production of Hulls 801 and 802 have been destroyed, and, if so, whether the destruction of any such records complies with the standing arrangements for the retention of government records.
Answer
We welcome the scrutiny into the procurement, award and regrettable delays associated with Hulls 801 and 802. We have engaged fully with both the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee (RECC) inquiry, and with Audit Scotland’s recent review and have endeavoured to provide all requested information. In recent evidence, the Auditor General confirmed that there is no evidence that material has been deliberately destroyed that otherwise should have been retained as part of the formal record, although it is noted that a specific response cannot be located.
The Scottish Government is fully committed to compliance with the requirements of the Public Records (Scotland) Act. The Scottish Government therefore follows procedures that aim to ensure that all employees, contractors, agents, consultants and other trusted third parties who have access to any information held within the Government, are fully aware of and abide by their duties under the Act.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 4 May 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether the current (a) Deputy First Minister and (b) Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans was asked for and gave his formal approval to the contract arrangements for the production of Hulls 801 and 802 during their ministerial roles at the time.
Answer
The current Deputy First Minister approved the financial implications of the contract award prior to the announcement by the First Minister on 31 August 2015 that Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) were the preferred bidder.
The current Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans approved the award of the two shipbuilding contracts for Hulls 801 and 802 by CMAL to FMEL as the preferred bidder on 21 August 2015.
The Minister for Transport & Islands agreed for CMAL to proceed to contract award with FMEL on 14 October 2015 following the expiry of the 10 day standstill period.
There was no Ministerial direction in relation to the contract award and Ministers did not direct CMAL to enter into the contract. The contract was awarded by CMAL in its capacity as procuring authority.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason people in Scotland have to wait until at least 24 weeks after their first COVID-19 booster before having their second booster, in light of people in England reportedly being able to have their second booster after 12 weeks.
Answer
On 21 February 2022, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that a Spring booster dose be offered in Scotland for the following groups.
- adults aged 75 years and over;
- residents in care homes for older adults;
- individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed.
The spring booster dose will usually be offered around 6 months after the last dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Some people may be invited sooner than this (but at least 3 months should have passed since their last dose) to help protect them against any increase in coronavirus infections.
NHS Scotland are contacting those eligible to arrange appointments.
More information on this can be found at Coronavirus (COVID-19) booster vaccination | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot).
