- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the number of road deaths increased by 17% between April 2022 and March 2023, what assessment it has made of the Road Safety Framework and the Vision Zero goal for no serious injuries or road deaths by 2050.
Answer
The Scottish Government is clear that one life lost on our roads is one too many and along with partners is committed to eradicating fatal and serious collisions on our roads.
Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 sets out a vision for Scotland to have the best road safety performance in the world by 2030 and an ambitious long term goal where no one is seriously injured or killed on our roads by 2050. For the first time, a full range of mode and user specific targets for key priority groups such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and over-represented age groups have been created to focus our partners on key priority areas.
The framework is supported by annual delivery plans that includes a wide range of road safety initiatives from road safety partners. These initiatives are continuously monitored through our three tier governance structure, with progress and outcomes published within our annual reports on the Transport Scotland website.
In addition, our Road Safety Framework Fund gives road safety partners the opportunity to co-design and co-deliver road safety initiatives that support the delivery of the framework. A condition of the grant funding is that each project is independently evaluated to determine the impact it is having on road safety performance.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of the new model of neonatal intensive care recommended by the 2017 Best Start report, whether the number of "local" neonatal units is anticipated to increase in order to minimise separation from families when babies are born prematurely and require specialist care.
Answer
The Best Start, published in January 2017, outlined a new model of neonatal service provision which emphasises parents as key partners in caring for their baby; aims to keep mothers and babies together as much as possible, with services designed around them; and suggests care for the smallest and sickest babies is consolidated to deliver the best possible outcomes.
We currently have 15 Neonatal Units in Scotland, each providing care for babies in their area. The new model of neonatal care will focus on the most preterm and sickest babies who will receive specialist complex care in fewer centres. Evidence tells us long term health outcomes will improve for those babies if cared for in higher volume units.
To aid with implementation we will work with regional chief executives and strategic planning leads to undertake modelling and capacity work to help develop local implementation plans.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its announcement on 25 July 2023 that three specialist intensive care neonatal units will be based in Aberdeen Maternity Unit, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, when the units will become operational.
Answer
We are planning on the basis that the full model should be implemented by mid 2025.To aid with implementation we will work with regional chief executives and strategic planning leads to undertake modelling and capacity work to help develop local implementation plans. It is important that the whole multidisciplinary team are involved in developing local plans, including obstetric and maternity staff.
For parents of babies currently in neonatal care, there will be no immediate change. This model of care is based on how neonatal care has been delivered in Scotland for many years. For example, babies born in the Borders needing specialist intensive care have for many years received intensive care in Edinburgh or Glasgow, before being transferred back to hospitals closer to home as their condition improves.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the 76 recommendations from the Best Start report on maternity and neonatal care in Scotland, which was published in 2017.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to improve provision of maternity and neonatal services through implementation of The Best Start: A Five Year forward plan for Maternity and Neonatal care in Scotland.
We receive regular reporting from Health Boards showing they are on track to be delivered by the revised end date of mid 2024 for the majority of the recommendations and for continuity of carer to be implemented within the lifetime of this Parliament.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns over safe staffing levels in midwifery, what action it is taking with NHS boards to ensure that women receive appropriate maternity aftercare following birth in hospitals, midwife-led birthing units and community settings.
Answer
NHS Boards are responsible for planning and providing services based on the needs of their local population, this includes women who receive maternity aftercare following birth in hospitals, midwife-led birthing units and community settings.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many claims have been made to the Young Patients Family Fund since it was first introduced in 2021, and how many claims have been successful.
Answer
The Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) has been available since July 2021. We ask NHS Boards to report on the number of claims, including successful claims, which have been made to the fund.
In 2021/22, NHS Boards reported that 4,983 claims were made under the YPFF and all claims were successful.
For reporting period 2022-23, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18948 on 21 June 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
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 7 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement that landline phones will be installed across the Scottish prison estate for use by people in custody, how much the procurement and installation costs of this scheme will be for HMP Grampian.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
SPS has assessed the procurement and installation costs for the project at HMP Grampian as £554,995 (excluding VAT). The cost includes all cabling and preparatory works associated to the project at HMP Grampian, as well as the materials and the associated required testing and commissioning works.
Permanent In Cell Telephony means individuals in prison can maintain purposeful family contact, including with children, which we know is important for good mental health and wellbeing, and for reducing the risk of reoffending upon return to communities. In Cell Telephony will also support SPS’ longer term ambitions for in-cell technology, with additional educational opportunities and giving those individuals in prison greater control over their own lives, again supporting reintegration into the community and reducing the risk of reoffending.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 7 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost has been of providing people in custody in HMP Grampian with mobile phones, since the policy was announced in April 2020.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
During the period April 2020 to June 2023 the total costs are assessed as £477K.
Permanent In Cell Telephony means individuals in prison can maintain purposeful family contact, including with children, which we know is important for good mental health and wellbeing, and for reducing the risk of reoffending upon return to communities. In Cell Telephony will also support SPS’ longer term ambitions for in-cell technology, with additional educational opportunities and giving those individuals in prison greater control over their own lives, again supporting reintegration into the community and reducing the risk of reoffending.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 2 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to meet the short-term action in the Women's Health Plan to establish a dedicated menopause policy post within the Scottish Government.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09277 on 4 July 2022. 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 .
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported 24% shortfall in clinical radiology consultants, which is forecast to increase to 34% by 2027.
Answer
We continue to invest heavily in our future consultant workforce and have been increasing the number of available training places in Radiology in line with recommendations made by the Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group (SSoTTG).
In 2018 we committed to increasing the Clinical Radiology training establishment by 10 places per year over a five year period. That commitment was met in full last year, bringing the total number of extra places created in this specialty since 2014 to 68, with 10 additional Clinical Interventional Radiology training places also being created over the same period.
The SSoTTG is actively considering the need for further uplifts as part of its annual review of medical training establishments and will be making recommendations later this year for expansion taking place in 2024.