Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-20050

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on amending the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 to allow NHS boards to agree contracts with community pharmacies to provide vaccinations.

We are in the process of transforming the delivery of vaccination in Scotland, as part of the wider transformation of Primary Care. This work includes consideration of how we might make vaccines available in different ways in the future. As part of this work some NHS Boards are exploring how some vaccines might be provided through community pharmacy or other providers, what the benefits of this might be, and what steps would be needed to make this happen. We have committed to amending s40 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 and will do this in the first available legislative vehicle.

Question reference: S5O-02641

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Education and Skills Committee report, Young People's Pathways: a progress report on Developing the Young Workforce.

Question reference: S5O-02599

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that sufficient supplies of pneumococcal vaccine have been made available for all people aged 65 or over.

GPs have been provided with guidance on the management of eligible patients. Practices have been asked to deliver the programme across the year, rather than linking it to the flu programme as in previous years. This will help ensure stock is available to cover the requirements each month. GPs are being asked to prioritise vaccine to those at high risk.

The pneumococcal vaccination is not required on an annual basis, but is instead a one-off vaccination, so priority is being given to vaccinate those newly diagnosed with conditions in the high risk groups.

Question reference: S5W-19676

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 15 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices have announced plans to cease to provide general medical services in each NHS board area, in each month since January 2016.

Question reference: S5W-19675

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Grampian following the announcement that Deveron Medical Practice is to cease to provide general medical services in April 2019.

Question reference: S5W-19237

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 31 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any issues with the disposal of dangerous hospital waste from NHS boards in Scotland, in light of reports that Healthcare Environment Services Ltd has been stockpiling waste from a number of hospitals in England.

Clinical waste collection continues as normal for NHS Scotland and we are not aware of any issues regarding the disposal of this waste in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is monitoring the situation and receiving regular updates from Health Boards.

In the event of disruption to clinical waste management services at NHS sites across Scotland, all NHS Scotland Boards have contingency plans ready to put into place. The plans ensure that there is sufficient storage capacity for clinical waste to be stored safely on site for a period of 72 hours.

Question reference: S5W-19109

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the reasons for any differences between NHS boards in the uptake rates for breast screening.

There are two reports on breast screening uptake available on the ISD website, the most recent being up to 2012 data that was published in 2013 - see http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Breast-Screening/ .

The main identified reason for differences in uptake in breast screening relates to socio-economic class. Uptake of breast screening between 2003 and 2012 has been about 17-18% lower in women who live in the most deprived areas of Scotland compared with those who live in the least deprived areas. This is why we are investing up to £5m of funding from the Cancer Strategy 'Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action' 2016 to reduce inequalities, raise awareness and improve uptake in screening, particularly amongst those less likely to participate. As part of this work, we are establishing a network, involving clinical and academic experts from across Scotland as well as third sector organisations to identify new activities and learn from local practice and innovation, to improve participation in screening programmes.

Question reference: S5W-19108

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the uptake rates for breast screening have been at each NHS board in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S5W-19110

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to encourage more women to attend breast screening appointments.

The Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme aims to increase the proportion of bowel, breast and lung cancers detected at an early stage. The Programme specifically targets those from areas of deprivation who are less likely to take part in screening and more likely to present at a late stage. A new DCE campaign – Survivors - was launched in September to reduce fear of cancer and remind people of the importance of acting early, whether they’re worried about a potential symptom or invited for screening. The TV advert – which is on screens for six weeks – includes a woman receiving a mammogram to address a key barrier to participation and help normalise the test.

In addition, we are investing up to £5m of funding from the Cancer Strategy 'Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action' 2016 to reduce inequalities, raise awareness and improve uptake in screening, particularly amongst those less likely to participate.

Question reference: S5W-19111

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the 2016 review by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, which found that nearly 4,000 women had not been sent screening invitations, how many of the women affected attended their follow-up screening appointments when invited.