- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what action has been taken to improve uptake of cervical screening among women under the age of 30.
Answer
Increasing participation in the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme is a key objective for the Scottish Government and we are continuing to carry out a range of work to encourage women to attend their screening appointments. This includes a series of national marketing campaigns – the most recent of which particularly targeted younger women, where we know uptake is lower.
We are also investing up to £5m of funding from the Cancer Strategy 'Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action' 2016 in our screening programmes, including cervical screening, to reduce inequalities and encourage participation, especially amongst those least likely to participate.
Scottish Government officials meet cervical screening coordinators from all NHS Boards on a quarterly basis to discuss a range of issues relating to the national screening programme, including promoting screening services and initiatives to improve uptake.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what action has been taken to improve uptake of cervical screening in the most deprived areas of Scotland.
Answer
We are investing up to £5 million from the Cancer Strategy to tackle inequalities in access to screening, including cervical screening. The funds will support new activities, sharing of learning from local practice and innovation, to improve uptake of screening programmes, particularly amongst those least likely to participate.
We are supporting the work of charities like Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust to increase awareness and address some of the barriers to participation. To enable the charity to expand their reach we are funding their innovative new outreach service targeting women less likely to attend. We also supported their first ever Scottish roadshow providing information and support about cervical screening and cervical cancer to high streets and retail parks across Scotland.
Officials continue to work closely with Cervical Screening Coordinators from all NHS Boards to develop local level initiatives to improve uptake for all women and to promote cervical screening services by communicating effectively with a range of audiences.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the reported proposed disposal of 24 Police Scotland buildings, and whether there are plans to close any more.
Answer
As responsibility for the police estate sits with the Scottish Police Authority, the Authority considered and agreed to the disposal of 49 unused Police Scotland properties at a public Board meeting on 2 May 2018.
The Scottish Government understands that 31 unused Police Scotland properties are currently being marketed for sale. Consideration of future plans for the Police Scotland estate are for the Scottish Police Authority.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 18 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12099 by Maureen Watt on 26 October 2017, what its response is to the recent report by the Children's Society, which states that a fifth of girls in the UK have self-harmed.
Answer
Although this is a UK-wide report, we are aware that levels of self-harm are higher in girls than boys in Scotland and it is unacceptable that anyone should feel this way. We want anyone who may be at risk of self-harm to be able to get the help they need quickly – ask once, get help fast.
We are taking forward fundamental improvements to the whole system to achieve this, including establishing a Task Force chaired by Dr Dame Denise Coia, and the Youth Commission on Mental Health. The Youth Commissioners have also been invited to be co-chairs of the Task Force, ensuring young people’s voices are at the heart of these reforms.
All of this work together will help make a real and tangible difference to the support available to our young people, including those at risk of self-harm.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 18 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in the last three years were on NHS waiting lists for mental health treatment where the waiting time target was exceeded and, of these, what information it holds how many paid for private mental health counselling during the period.
Answer
The Scottish Government has figures on people waiting for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and Psychological Therapies, but not on people who have paid for private mental health counselling.
For CAMHS in the last 3 years:
Year | Number of patients seen who had waited over 18 weeks |
2016 | 3,407 |
2017 | 3,577 |
2018 (up to end June) | 2,659 |
For Psychological Therapies the statistics are in development and only the last 3 quarters are considered comparable:
Quarter | Number of patients seen who had waited over 18 weeks |
October-December 2017 | 3,581 |
January-March 2018 | 3,389 |
April-June 2018 | 4,089 |
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how the remaining £500,000 of additional funding for survivors of rape and sexual abuse, which was announced in the Programme for Government, will be distributed.
Answer
The Scottish Government will discuss further with stakeholders how this funding may be allocated, and further details will be provided on this in due course.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how much each rape crisis centre will be given in each of the next three years from the additional £1.5 million that was announced in the Programme for Government; what criteria it will use to determine how this will be allocated, and whether it will set out how each allocation has been determined.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working with Rape Crisis Scotland to seek proposals from each rape crisis centre on how it can best reduce waiting times by utilising additional resources. The outcome of decisions on how to allocate the additional funding will be made public.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 13 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of people who have paid for private mental health counselling in the last three years.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not collect data on the number of patients who have accessed private mental health counselling.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 11 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the question S5W-17888 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 17 August 2018, what date the third specialist endometriosis centre is expected to open.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5O-02319 on 6 September 2018. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the parliaments website, the Official Report can be viewed at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11643&i=105514 .
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 11 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the question S5W-17888 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 17 August 2018, whether the existing specialist endometriosis centres in Aberdeen and Edinburgh include experts in pain management and fertility.
Answer
Both centres are supported by specialist staff for pain management and fertility.