Chamber and committees

Please note that data regarding the number of COVID-19 vaccination sessions delivered are held by individual NHS Health Boards.

It is important to be clear that there has been no change in the Scottish Government’s policy on the remuneration arrangements for independent contractors or those working within a primary care settings participation in the COVID Vaccination programme.

The Scottish Government wrote to Health Boards on 5 March 2021 to ensure that the original policy was being properly implemented. Following this, a number of Boards adapted their approach.

This information is not held centrally. It is the responsibility of territorial Health Boards to ensure there is adequate provision of NHS Pharmaceutical Care Services, working with community pharmacy contractors listed on the Boards Pharmaceutical List.

The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 set out the responsibilities for community pharmacy contractors to notify Health Boards when there are instances in which the contractor is unable to provide those NHS services.

The Scottish Government hold regular meetings with Community Pharmacy Scotland, the recognised representative body of community pharmacy contractors in Scotland as set out in the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and over the last 12 months, Scottish Government officials and Community Pharmacy Scotland representatives have met on a bi-weekly cycle to discuss a range of issues related to the community pharmacy network in Scotland.

In the last 12 months, Scottish Government officials have met with the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists on two occasions and the Pharmacists Defence Association on two occasions.

The Complex Pelvic Mesh Removal Service in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC) is managed through a Service Level Agreement with NHS National Services Scotland (NSS). The service reports to NSS on a number of indicators, including patient experience data, any significant adverse events and waiting times. This information will be used for comparison across the UK specialist centres, and will support quality assurance and improvement.

In addition, NHS Scotland is taking part in the development of a UK-wide Pelvic Floor Registry, which will aim to monitor and improve patient safety. It will record surgical mesh implants, and related medical devices, given to patients, and the organisations and surgeons that have carried out the procedures.

The registry will also collect information about patients that receive alternative procedures that do not include a medical device or implant so that outcomes can be compared and complications can be understood.

The main aim of the registry is to improve patient safety. It will mean that patients can be traced in the event of a product recall or safety concern relating to a specific type of implant or treatment. Outcomes data collected by the registry will also be used to improve procedures offered to future patients.

NHS Scotland will pilot the registry in Scotland and the NHS GGC will be involved.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00790 on‎ 13 July 2021. 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

528 applications have been approved and when the next payment is made in July, £534,359 will have been paid from the Scottish Government mesh fund. This includes fees paid to GPs for providing proof of complications.

The Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Bill was introduced on 23 June 2021. It is published on the Scottish Parliament website .

Social workers have made an immense contribution as Scotland has dealt with, and continues to recover from, the pandemic. Supporting and resourcing social workers to work from home is primarily a matter for their employer.

We are aware of the stresses and emotional impact being felt by health and social care staff at this time. Enhanced wellbeing support services, backed by £5 million, are in place, including the National Wellbeing Hub. The Hub includes resources specifically for social workers and to support home working. In addition, the Scottish Association of Social Work has been given £50,000 this year to provide a peer support service covering a range of issues including wellbeing and resilience.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00649 on 5 July 2021. 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/votes-and-motions/votes-and-motions-search.