Chamber and committees

It is up to individual NHS boards to ensure that doctors are appointed to the appropriate grade in accordance with the relevant grading criteria and undertaking work appropriate to that grade.

Grading criteria for doctors are set out in their terms and conditions of service. These have been agreed following negotiations with the Scottish Government, NHS employers in Scotland and the British Medical Association.

As part of the NHSScotland workforce planning process, and to ensure continuity of supply of trainee doctors to meet the future needs of NHSScotland boards, Scottish Ministers control the numbers of funded medical undergraduate and postgraduate training places in Scotland. This is an annual process based upon advice received from Scottish stakeholders who have considered the future supply and demand needs.

All graduates of UK Medical Schools (whether UK domiciled, EEA or overseas students) are eligible to apply to do foundation training, in addition small numbers of applications are received from outwith the UK. Foundation training in the UK is managed on a UK basis through the UK Foundation Programme Office, and entry is a competitive process. Briefly, all applicants are ranked based upon a range of measures (performance in assessments, academic ability), and all applicants rank their preference for all foundation schools (Scotland is a school).

As overall numbers of foundation places are controlled, the Scottish Government cannot guarantee every applicant a place and, in addition, applicants for posts must still satisfy the normal employment checks required by boards where trainees will work. However, in response to unprecedented numbers of medical school graduates from UK medical schools over the last two years, the Scottish and UK Governments have agreed to fund additional foundation training places in Scotland, to accommodate the anticipated extra numbers. We are keeping this situation under continual review, working with our UK partners.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20950 on 19 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20950 on 19 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20950 on 19 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government is aware of legal cases in the USA regarding the use of transvaginal mesh implants.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20950 on 19 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government has been consulted on one agreement since the requirement to consult was introduced on 1 April 2014.

Since October, the Scottish Government has prepared and consulted on revised guidance on settlement agreements for public bodies, including health boards. This includes guidance on the use of confidentiality clauses. The guidance is currently being finalised and will be made available publicly when it is completed. Notwithstanding that, public bodies have been required, since 1 April 2014, to consult the Scottish Government on any proposal to enter into a settlement agreement.

I announced on 27 February 2014 that I expected there to be a presumption against the use of any confidentiality clauses in NHSScotland settlement agreements unless there are clear and transparent reasons for inclusion.

Information on waiting list initiatives is not routinely collected nationally for any specialty, including dermatology patients.