- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 December 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to analyse the reasons for the reported increase in waiting times in ophthalmology services, including the impact of "do not" and "cannot attend" cases.
Answer
Where Health Boards have concerns about cannot attend (CNA) and do not attend (DNA) rates, patients are being contacted and encouraged to attend an appointment when one is offered. Patients are being risk stratified on a continual basis ensuring that those with sight-threatening conditions are prioritised. Health Boards also have strict Health and Safety and infection control measures in place to support patient pathways.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure the financial sustainability of the Cairngorm Mountain Railway.
Answer
The development of a masterplan for the Cairngorm Estate, of which the funicular railway is an important asset, aims to develop an agreed vision and strategies to support the sustainability of the resort. Alongside this, HIE is reviewing operating and governance models for the Estate and will align this work with the outcome of the masterplan. In the meantime, Cairngorm Mountain Scotland Limited (CMSL) continues to work on managing and reducing costs and improving income where possible. HIE is monitoring this and working closely with CMSL on financial matters.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the continued use of the Protect Scotland app after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no plans to continue using Protect Scotland beyond the current pandemic. Protect Scotland relies on the Google/Apple' Exposure Notification System (ENS) to work. Access to this ENS technology has only been granted for use during the Covid-19 pandemic and will be disabled on a regional basis when it is no longer needed.
As part of the Digital response to the pandemic we will publish a refreshed Digital Health & Care Strategy in 2021. This will build on some of the progress and learning we have seen this year, including on the use of Protect Scotland.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 November 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its decommissioning plans are for the NHS Louisa Jordan facility.
Answer
The lease for the Louisa Jordan currently runs until the end of April 2021. If it is necessary to do so, we will negotiate an extension to the lease if the facility is still needed to support our pandemic response. In the meantime we are, perfectly sensibly, putting in place arrangements to allow the facility to be decommissioned when it is eventually no longer needed.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 November 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the NHS Louisa Jordan facility.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31712 on 10 September 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 November 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances might the NHS Louisa Jordan facility be used for COVID-19 patients.
Answer
The NHS Louisa Jordan was established to help ensure NHS Scotland had extra capacity to treat patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and stood ready to do so since 20 April 2020. Building the NHS Louisa Jordan was a precautionary action and I was always clear that I hoped it would never be needed to treat a COVID patient. The NHS Louisa Jordan has not been required to treat COVID-19 patients because of efforts made to suppress the virus. If required, the hospital continues to remain ready to accept COVID-19 patients at a few days’ notice.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 November 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what the usage figure for the NHS Louisa Jordan facility has been each month.
Answer
The usage figures for the NHS Louisa Jordan:
September - 2612 attendees
October - 2916 attendees
November to date (19 November) – 2600 attendees
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it held with Highlands and Islands Enterprise Board and the board of the Cairngorm Mountain Railway regarding removing the funicular railway and replacing it with a gondola service, such as the scheme at Ellmau in Austria, prior to the recent announcement of funding for repairs to the railway.
Answer
Scottish Government held regular discussions with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) during the development of the Cairngorm Mountain Full Business Case which considered a range of options, including removal of the funicular and replacement with a gondola. Scottish Government was represented at meetings of HIE’s Board and its Risk and Assurance Committee meetings, at which Cairngorm was regularly discussed, as well as meetings of the Board’s sub-group on Cairngorm.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what benefits it considers repairs to the Cairngorm Mountain Railway will bring compared with its replacement with a gondola service.
Answer
The Cairngorm Mountain Full Business Case concluded that reinstatement of the funicular is more cost-effective and will provide a service that is less prone to severe weather related disruption than replacement with a gondola service. The funicular will attract greater visitor numbers and therefore have greater local economic impact.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated lifespan of the Cairngorm Mountain Railway will be following the repairs to the system.
Answer
Highlands and Islands Enterprise is confident that, together with a robust care, maintenance and replacement programme, the reinstatement works now underway will secure use of the funicular for many years.