Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-08169

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03517 by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021, and the National Services Division review of NHS Scotland’s genomics services, what steps are being taken to align the timing of the publication of advice by the Scottish Medicines Consortium with the commissioning of companion diagnostic tests in order to prevent delays for patients getting advanced therapies.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) currently provides early information to National Services Division (NSD) on cancer medicines in clinical development that are expected to require a companion diagnostic through regular horizon scanning reports; these are also discussed at regular meetings between the SMC and NSD. To support financial and service planning, the SMC also provides Health Boards – in confidence - with information on medicines that may require a companion diagnostic through regular forward look reports which include emerging new medicines, including Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs).

The Scottish Government recognises that an improved streamlined process for the implementation of new genetic tests linked to a Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC)-approved medicine is required. A key priority of the Scottish Genomics Leadership Group will be to review how horizon scanning for new medicines is linked to implementation of testing for Scottish patients to prevent delays for patients getting access to advanced therapies. Close collaborative working with the pharmaceutical industry will be essential to this process.

Question reference: S6W-08167

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03514 by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021, what engagement the National Services Division and Scottish Genomics Leadership Group are having with the pharmaceutical industry and academia on the design of sustainable genetic laboratories and frontline genetics services that would benefit patients and attract clinical research to Scotland.

Engagement is ongoing with industry, academia and other interested stakeholders in the expansion of NHS Scotland capabilities for genomics. Over the coming months we will be expanding the membership of our Scottish Genomics Leadership Group (SGLG) and relevant work streams to include a wider pool of stakeholders than those currently on the SGLG. This expanded structure will consider the recommendations from the Genetic Major Service Review as well as considerations for further genomics expansion.

Our genetic laboratories are engaged with NHS Board Research and Development departments as well as a number of academic institutions and charity organisations regarding clinical research in Scotland.

In particular, the genetic laboratory in Glasgow has been working with the Glasgow Precision Oncology Laboratory (GPOL), oncology colleagues and eHealth to build a platform for the delivery of clinical trials in cancer patients. This platform will enable the delivery of clinical grade next generation sequencing as well as novel systems for the collation of all diagnostic results including genomics, for cancer patients.

Question reference: S6W-08166

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03514 by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021, whether the outcome of the National Services Division review of NHS Scotland’s genomics services will be published.

The NHS National Services Division (NSD) commissioning team have completed a Major Service Review of the current Genomics service. The final report has been shared with NHS Board Chief Executives, the Scottish Genomics Leadership Group, Trade Union representative, Medical and Laboratory Directors for the boards that host the Genomic Laboratories, the document is now available on the (NSS)NSD website at the following link:

https://www.nss.nhs.scot/specialist-healthcare/specialist-services/genetic-and-molecular-pathology-laboratories/

Question reference: S6W-08163

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 12 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that genetic testing is embedded as a standard of care in the treatment pathways for people with cancers.

The Scottish Government fully recognises the role of genomics in improving patient outcomes particularly for people with cancer. Our genetic laboratories across Scotland already provide a range of cancer genetic tests to support the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

We have committed £6.2 million of funding to genomics in 2022-23 which will support expanding our genomics capabilities in NHS Scotland.

Furthermore, we have provided funding to NSD to establish a Transformation Team led by a Lead Clinical Scientist alongside resource that specialises in transformative programme management and Data Analytics. The Team will be operational from June 2022.

This team will be responsible for delivering the rapid adoption of a number of genetic tests for cancer across the genetic laboratories as well as developing an action plan for the implementation of the recommendations from the Genetic Laboratory Major Service Review.

Over the coming months we will be expanding the membership of our Scottish Genomics Leadership Group (SGLG) and relevant work streams to include a wider pool of stakeholders than those currently on the SGLG. This expanded structure will consider the recommendations from the Major Services Review as well as considerations for further genomics expansion. The availability of genetic testing for the treatment of cancer as a standard of care will be a key consideration of the work taken forward.

Question reference: S6W-08162

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 12 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the NHS Workforce Strategy, what level of additional staffing it considers will be needed by Scotland’s genetic laboratories in future years to ensure that patients can benefit from advances in precision treatments, and what steps it is taking to recruit and retain laboratory staff with the necessary skills to undertake, report and advise multi-disciplinary oncology teams on genetic test findings.

The Genetic Laboratory Major Service review considered the workforce requirements for our future genomics capabilities in NHS Scotland. A link to the report is available here:https://www.nss.nhs.scot/specialist-healthcare/specialist-services/genetic-and-molecular-pathology-laboratories/

In line with the recommendations from the Major Service Review, the NSD Transformation Team will consider the workforce planning requirements to implement the recommendations from the report in developing the action plan.

Over the coming months we will be expanding the membership of our Scottish Genomics Leadership Group(SGLG) and relevant work stream to include a wider pool of stakeholders than those currently on the SGLG. This expanded structure will consider the recommendations from the Major Service Review as well as considerations for further genomics expansion.

One of the workstreams will lead on workforce planning and will be done in partnership with relevant Trade Union representatives.

Question reference: S6W-08165

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03514 by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021, whether the National Services Division review of NHS Scotland’s genomics services has been completed; (a) whether and (b) what recommendations have been made to the Scottish Genomics Leadership Group, and what actions will be taken on the basis of any recommendations to ensure that appropriate planning and decision-making processes are in place for genetic testing availability in Scotland.

The NHS National Services Division (NSD) commissioning team have completed a Major Service Review of the current Genomics service. The final report has been shared with NHS Board Chief Executives, the Scottish Genomics Leadership Group, Trade Union representative, Medical and Laboratory Directors for the boards that host the Genomic Laboratories, the document is now available on the (NSS)NSD website at the following link:https://www.nss.nhs.scot/specialist-healthcare/specialist-services/genetic-and-molecular-pathology-laboratories/

All of the recommendations from the report were put to the Scottish Genomics Leadership Group on the 24 February 2022.

The NSD Transformation Team which will become operational in June 2022 will develop an action plan for the implementation of the recommendations from the Review

Question reference: S6O-01059

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it last corresponded with Poppyscotland regarding support for veterans.

Question reference: S6W-08129

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 April 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 3 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults diagnosed with cystic fibrosis saw a psychosocial professional within the last 12 months at their annual review, as set out in the NHS service specifications for cystic fibrosis care.

People of all ages in Scotland living with Cystic Fibrosis have access to Specialist Cystic Fibrosis Centres. These include a Clinical Psychologist who forms part of the multidisciplinary team supporting the patient and their family.

Patient referrals will be made to the psychologist for in-patients, out-patients and those whom the multi-disciplinary team have specific concerns about. National Services Scotland- who commission adult CF Services- receive data about the work carried out by clinical psychologists within the annual reports for each Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre. This data, however, does not specifically state how many patients were seen by the psychologist at their annual review and instead relates to referrals and care episodes.

Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Services are commissioned and delivered by Local Health Boards, therefore information is not held centrally on the percentage of children who have seen a psychosocial professional at their 12 month review.

Question reference: S6W-07489

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the number of lung cancer nurse specialists (LCNSs), in light of the target recommended by the Lung Cancer Clinical Expert Group of 80 new lung cancer patients to every whole-time equivalent LCNS.

Question reference: S6W-07492

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 April 2022

Chamber and committees