Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-15309

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 13 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers value-based pricing to be a devolved matter and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

The regulation of pricing of medicines is listed as a reserved matter under Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998. The proposals for Value Based Pricing of medicines licensed from 1 January 2014 are being taken forward in negotiations between the UK Government’s Department of Health and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

The Scottish Government is currently seeking clarity on the evidence provided to the Health and Sport Committee on 14 May 2013 by the UK Government which suggested for the first time that aspects of value based pricing may be considered by the UK Government to be devolved.

Question reference: S4W-15304

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 12 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what organisations were consulted on the development of the bed planning tool prior to its announcement in the news release of 8 May 2013.

On 8 May 2013 we announced the development of a new bed capacity and performance planning tool to support NHS boards. The tool is being developed to ensure that hospitals and communities have the right beds in place to treat patients as Scotland’s health service face the challenge of an ageing population.

The Bed Planning Tool will be evidence based and developed in consultation with clinical professionals from across NHSScotland to instil and ensure a consistent approach. This consultation will take place throughout the initial development phase.

Question reference: S4W-15303

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 12 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when guidance was issued on the bed planning tool.

On 8 May 2013 we announced the development of a new bed capacity and performance planning tool to support NHS boards. The tool is being developed to ensure that hospitals and communities have the right beds in place to treat patients as Scotland’s health service face the challenge of an ageing population. Guidance has not yet been issued as the bed planning tool is currently under initial development.

Question reference: S4W-15307

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 12 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence the bed planning tool uses to project the number of beds needed.

Question reference: S4W-15305

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 12 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what stage of development the bed planning tool has reached.

On 8 May 2013 we announced the development of a new bed capacity and performance planning tool to support NHS boards. The tool is being developed to ensure that hospitals and communities have the right beds in place to treat patients as Scotland’s health service face the challenge of an ageing population.

The Bed Planning Tool is in the initial stages of development. It will be developed in consultation with clinical professionals from across NHSScotland to instil and ensure a consistent approach. This new tool will be used alongside the established workforce planning tools which have been made mandatory that all NHS boards use.

Question reference: S4W-15306

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 12 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when NHS boards will start using the bed planning tool.

NHS boards combine workforce and financial plans in their annual Local Delivery Plans (LDP’s), which include a consideration of the number of beds required.

We envisage that the Bed Planning Tool will help NHS boards to develop their LDPs, at least in part, for the financial year 2014-15 and fully from 2015-16 onwards.

The Bed Planning Tool will also be subject to a process of continuous review and improvement to take into account new factors that emerge in healthcare planning.

Question reference: S4W-15261

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 11 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS staff who have already signed confidentiality agreements are still bound by the terms of these agreements.

This is an issue between individual NHS Boards and their employees.

NHSScotland does not have any policies which would prevent, or condone the prevention of staff from raising valid concerns about patient safety and quality. Quite the opposite, each Health Board has a robust “Implementing and Reviewing Whistleblowing Arrangements in NHS Scotland” PIN policy in place.

These policies encourage staff to raise concerns and any clause which sought to prevent an individual from raising a protected whistleblowing disclosure would be illegal and therefore unenforceable.

Question reference: S4F-01460

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 June 2013

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to improve detection of cervical cancer.

Question reference: S4W-15258

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 10 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS staff sought protection from the so-called whistleblowers charter in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Question reference: S4W-15259

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 10 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether any NHS boards are not implementing a policy of refraining from using confidentiality clauses and non-derogatory statement clauses in respect of compromise agreements and, if so, which.

Chamber and committees