Chamber and committees

Normal governance mechanisms are in place to ensure that that treatments are planned by a multi-disciplinary team who are accredited specialists and who undergo regular revalidation.

The recommendation of any medical intervention is based on risk versus benefit considerations. These risks being those actual and immediate ones and those anticipated by the anticipated progression of the underlying condition leading to complications (including limited treatment options, increased complication rates and including worsening health compromise, disability and /or further limitation of life expectancy). Benefits from successful treatment have to be viewed within the context that all treatments (or having no treatment) carries inherent risks as described and that successful treatment (partial or complete) are expected to have short and long term benefits for the individual patient. The process of consent for treatment is a culmination of a process that seeks to address the risk / benefits described above. Accepting that there is a range in the way that any individual patient will be affected by an underlying condition, the nature of MPS is such that their management and any treatment offered has to be individualised. Bone marrow transplant (BMT) is offered on the basis of these risk / benefit assessments in the context of the utility of BMT compared with other treatment options and all treatments have limitations and therefore fluctuating risk / benefits.

There are established guidelines for identification and reduction of allergic reactions throughout Medical services to minimise risk. Protocols include seeking a history of allergy before medical interventions at risk of producing an allergy.

The decision to change the name of the group from the ‘Expert Ferry Group’ to the ‘Ferry Industry Advisory Group’ was taken in order to better reflect the remit and role of the group.

There is no change to the remit or function of the Group and after consideration it has been decided, for the time being, to continue with the current membership.

The Transport Scotland website will be updated in due course and the membership, terms of reference and minutes of meetings will be published.

The Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands separately meets with the STUC, and all the key unions with an interest in ferry services on a regular basis to discuss a range of relevant matters relating to the ferry services supported by the Scottish Government.

The Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan (VRDP) annual report is currently being drafted.

Updated growth forecasts for Clyde and Hebrides routes have been produced, based on 2017 and 2018 carryings.

The report will also take into account the findings now emerging from the Outer Hebrides, Mallaig & Armadale, and Craignure STAGs.

A draft report will be circulated to key stakeholders at the end of May and will be available for discussion at the next meetings of the regional Ferry Stakeholder Groups in June 2019.

We aim to publish the final report by the end of August 2019.

Based on data provided to the Information Services Division of NHS Scotland, less than 5 patients in Scotland with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) who received a bone marrow transplant had a reported diagnosis of bone-marrow transplant rejection between April 2006 and March 2018. It is not possible to break the information down further because the small number of patients carries the risk that in doing so individuals are identified. Data is held by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde which hosts the designated paediatric Stem Cell Transplantation Unit and is also recognised as the lead paediatric centre for Inherited Metabolic Disorders (IMD) in Scotland.

Transport Scotland officials held ongoing discussions with CalMac Ferries Ltd. throughout the period of disruption, when MV Isle of Lewis experienced mechanical breakdown at Castlebay Ferry Terminal 14 April to 18 April 2019, due to a problem encountered with the vessel’s bow thrusters. These discussions included the reason for the mechanical failure, the progress of repairs, resilience measures to ensure lifeline connectivity throughout the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) network was maintained, and details of any cancelled, amended or additional sailings.

Discussions between officials and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) were not required, as discussions regarding technical issues with vessels fall within the remit of the vessel owners, CMAL, and the operator, CalMac.

The disruption impacted on;

(a) All sailings (1 return sailing each day) of MV Isle of Lewis were cancelled (Castlebay - Oban - Castlebay) on Sunday 14th April until Tuesday 16th April.

On Wednesday the 17th of April, the sailing from Castlebay departed late at 1345 arriving in Oban at 1830; departing Oban at 1900 and arriving in Castlebay at 2345. Normal scheduled service resumed on Thursday 18 April.

(b) Passengers were re-routed on the Mallaig-Lochboisdale service, which provided additional sailings to maintain lifeline connectivity. Additional sailings on the Sound of Barra were also made available to passengers. For Castlebay to Oban over the period 14 April to 17 April inclusive, there were 31 vehicles booked. For Oban to Castlebay there were 72 vehicles booked for the same period. Foot passengers are not required to book, therefore numbers affected are not available.

(c) There was minimal impact on MV Isle of Lewis crew members as they remained on board for the duration of the disruption. The MV Isle of Lewis crew changeover took place on Wednesday 15 April as planned, although slightly later than scheduled at 1830 instead of 1330.

An additional crew was brought in on call back to operate the additional sailings operated on the Sound of Barra route to maintain lifeline connectivity.

(d) CalMac undertook frequent communications with local businesses and hauliers. Commercial traffic was able to travel on the Mallaig-Lochboisdale route and across the Sound of Barra. CalMac informed the local community as soon as the vessel was repaired. On Wednesday 17 April, MV Isle of Lewis sailed to Oban and returned outside of the normal timetable to reduce the effects on businesses as much as possible.

MV Isle of Lewis’ most recent period in dry dock for scheduled annual maintenance work was 28 January to 14 February 2019.

The cost of repairs to the vessel after the technical incident at Castlebay Ferry Terminal on Barra in April 2019 was £4,189.

Between June 2016 and June 2018 there were a total of sixteen meetings between Ministers and/or Transport Scotland officials and Pentland Ferries regarding the potential introduction of reduced ferry fares to Orkney. Ministers participated in four of these meetings, with support from officials.

In addition, there have been a number of related telephone discussions which took place over the same period between Pentland Ferries and Transport Scotland officials.

Pentland Ferries are a wholly private, commercial unlimited company, and as such it is their decision to take on what data is made publically available. However, I am aware that Transport Scotland officials have previously requested such information from Pentland Ferries without success.

The Scottish Government is in regular contact with Dumfires and Galloway Health & Social Care Partnership (DGHSCP) as part of their active engagement with the Scottish Government's Improving GP Sustainability Working Group. As part of this work officials, including professional advisers undertook a series of GP practice visits in the Dumfries and Galloway area in February 2019 to offer further support.

They are currently exploring opportunities to help improve recruitment and retention through working with the Scottish Government funded Scottish Rural Medical Collaborative (SRMC). They are also working on improving GP wellbeing due to the tragic incident of a GP who took their own life in Lockerbie last year.

Our strategy to recruit and retain GPs underpins our commitment to recruit 800 additional practicing GPs by 2027, and is backed but our commitment to invest an additional £250 million in direct support of general practice by the end of this parliament.