Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13716 on 23 January 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/written-questions-and-answers

In 2019, we published a Neurological Care and Support – a National Framework for Action 2020-25 , with a vision to ensure everyone with a neurological condition can access the care and support they need to live well, on their own terms.

Commitment 12 of the Framework aims to gather better data regarding neurological conditions. The Scottish Epilepsy Register project, funded through the Framework, is focussed on improving data collection and patient safety and driving up standards of care. We are exploring with NHS National Services Scotland proposals to scale up and consolidate the work of the Register, which may ultimately serve as a replicable model for other neurological conditions.

Scottish Burden of Disease data is also available on a number of neurological conditions including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease: Scottish Burden of Disease (shinyapps.io)

I further refer the member to answer S6W-13707 and S6W-13708 on 23 January 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/written-questions-and-answers

Scottish Government has previously invested £180,000 in the development of a national care framework for Huntington’s Disease, with a view to the potential adoption of this approach in other neurological conditions. Our National Advisory Committee for Neurological Conditions will consider whether development of frameworks for additional neurological conditions should be prioritised as part of our ongoing implementation of the commitments within the Neurological Care and Support: Framework for Action 2020-2025 .

The Scottish Health Research Register and Biobank (SHARE) is funded by the Chief Scientist Office. SHARE has been established to create a register of people aged 11 and over and resident in Scotland who are interested in participating in health research studies, including trials in neurological conditions: https://www.registerforshare.org .

The NHS Research Scotland Neuroprogressive and Dementia Research Network is funded by the Scottish Government to deliver cutting edge clinical research in Neuroprogressive conditions and Dementia across Scotland. For example, the network has been key to the delivery in Scotland of the UK-wide MND SMART Trial, with over 200 of the 400 total trial participants as of October 2022 enrolled in Scottish centres https://www.mnd-smart.org.

The Chief Scientist Office is part of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates. Detail on the work of the Chief Scientist Office is available online: https://www.cso.scot.nhs.uk.

Research studies taking place in NHS Scotland and funded by members of the Association of Medical Research Charities are eligible for support through the NHS Research Scotland infrastructure arrangements: https://www.nhsresearchscotland.org.uk/services.

The NHS Research Scotland Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network is funded by the Scottish Government to promote a culture of clinical research in neurological and dementia research across Scotland and to support patient recruitment into high quality studies from both rural and urban areas: https://www.nhsresearchscotland.org.uk/research-areas/dementia-and-neurodegenerative-disease.

I announced on 15 January that fares on the Northern Isles and Clyde & Hebrides ferry networks will be frozen for six months.

Building on the 3 month freeze I announced in early November, ticket prices will be held at current levels until the end of September to help people and businesses in both Shetland and Orkney.

With the fares confirmed, Serco NorthLink Ferries will imminently be opening their bookings until the end of September.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13225 on 13 January 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/written-questions-and-answers

We know that this is one of the toughest winters in the NHS’s 74-year history and long delays clearly demonstrate the challenge our Health Service is facing.

Delayed discharges continue to drive up A&E waits, which is why we are working with hospitals across Scotland, including Inverclyde Royal Hospital to ensure people leave hospital without delay, freeing up vital beds for those who need them most.

Our £50 million Urgent and Unscheduled Care Collaborative looks to drive down A&E waits through, Hospital at Home and our Out-patient Antimicrobial Therapy service which allows patients to be treated at home or in the community.

The Scottish Government has had no discussions with the UK Government regarding any poor customer service processes and response times at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. No businesses have raised any concerns with the Scottish Government on this matter.

The Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) are taking steps to introduce Flying Finish across NHS Boards, to benefit the workforce and the service. Work has already taken place to put in place a national Retire & Return policy within the NHS.

On 30 August 2022 the Interim National Arrangements on Retire & Return was announced, which offers a process that supports retiring employees to return to employment in their health board on a part time basis, should they wish to do so. The process enables retiring employees to continue employment that is suitable to them and the service, taking a person-centred approach which supports and manages the retirement in a tailored and individual way.