Chamber and committees

The number and deployment of ambulances are operational matters for the Scottish Ambulance Service, in liaison with its planning partners such as NHS boards. NHS Lanarkshire has provided assurances that they have engaged directly with the Ambulance Service as part of the planning process for their interim changes to local trauma and orthopaedic services. This work will continue as part of the implementation plan.

It is important to remember that outpatient appointments account for greater than 85% of all orthopaedic patient contacts and orthopaedic outpatient services will remain at all three of the main acute hospitals in Lanarkshire, including Monklands Hospital, following the implementation of the interim changes. The board, as supported by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland, has been clear that the status quo is unsustainable and that the interim changes are necessary in order to ensure the safety and resilience of local services.

In relation to visitor transport, the health board has confirmed that, of all the presentations to NHS Lanarkshire sites, around 15% are by public transport. NHS Lanarkshire has provided assurances that, to address the transport needs of this group, they are taking forward a number of initiatives including: active engagement with transport providers, through Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), to ensure that the routes and timings offered reflect the requirements of patients, visitors and carers; significant engagement with SPT and community transport providers to develop alternative options for transport, such as evening visitor service and volunteer driver schemes; and improving access to up to date accurate live information on public transport at NHS sites and via the NHS Lanarkshire website.

<>I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01042 on 19 July 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

<>I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01042 on 19 July 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The safety of offshore oil and gas workers in the North Sea remains of paramount importance to the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government continue to have observer status on the governance body overseeing implementation of the recommendations in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review of offshore helicopter safety. Progress has been made on implementing these recommendations in conjunction with the oil and gas industry, helicopter operators and trade unions.

Following the accident involving a Super Puma helicopter in Norway, the CAA introduced restrictions on the use of the EC225LP helicopters prohibiting their use for commercial purposes. After an interim report by the Norwegian accident investigators these restrictions were further extended to prohibit all use of the aircraft until further notice. The Norwegian authorities continue to investigate this accident. The safety of workers is always our top priority and the Scottish Government are content with the CAA’s response to this accident.

It is important there is a collaborative approach to health and safety offshore, including government, the unions, the Oil and Gas Authority and Oil and Gas UK to ensure the continuation and safety of offshore operations in the North Sea. Indeed, Oil and Gas UK has formed a Helicopter Resilience Working Group, which will bring platform operators together to share information and to develop further opportunities to safeguard worker’s safety and collaborate on maintaining and improving production.

<>I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01042 on 19 July 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The NHS Pre-Registration Pharmacist Scheme (PRPS) was launched in 2006 to address identified variations in the quality of pre-registration training provision and assessment during the pre-registration training year, and to meet the needs of the Scottish Government strategy for pharmaceutical care.

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) was tasked with organising and managing the overall centralisation of the pre-registration training year for trainees in both hospital and community pharmacy settings across Scotland.

The primary objective of the scheme is to standardise the training experience for pre-registration trainees in Scotland, regardless of setting.

Currently, 170 PRPS trainees are employed in Scotland by their preferred NES-approved training provider, with their salary and associated costs being covered by a training grant paid to the employer by NES. 1,537 trainees have been funded through the scheme since the first cohort in 2008-09.

Trainees are required to complete an extensive exit questionnaire that seeks their views on each element of the scheme. In addition, NES welcome direct communication from candidates and/or trainees who wish to express a view or comment on any aspect of the scheme throughout the year. Generally, the feedback received is very positive, but all feedback is actively reviewed and, if appropriate, used to develop the processes for future years.

Pharmacy undergraduate and pre-registration education and training in Scotland is highly regarded across the UK. The Scottish PRPS scheme trainees have the highest General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registration exam results of all the regions across Great Britain, and are recognised as an exemplar of practice. In fact, NES are the only region/deanery to have a memorandum of understanding with the GPhC with regard to the trainees on their scheme.

In recognition of the NES scheme, the NHS in Wales and England have plans underway to introduce similar processes to those in Scotland. In addition, the NHS in Wales and Northern Ireland have started exploring the introduction of integrated five year programmes along similar lines.

Health Education England have been working for the last ten years towards reforming pharmacists’ initial education through the Modernising Pharmacy Careers Programme with the aim of also introducing an integrated five year model.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00855 on 30 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00855 on 30 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00855 on 30 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.