Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-26523

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many physician associates are employed by each NHS board.

The information requested on how many physician associates are employed by each NHS board is not centrally available.

ISD holds information on the Physician Assistants sub-job family within medical and dental support which includes the following sub-categories:

Physician Associates
Physician Assistants (Anaesthesia)

The whole time equivalent for Physician Assistants by NHS Board can be found on the following table:

Medical and Dental Support Staff – Physician Assistant (WTE)

NHS Boards	Sept 2019
NHSScotland	82.0
NHS Ayrshire & Arran	0
NHS Borders	0
NHS Dumfries & Galloway	0
NHS Fife	4.0
NHS Forth Valley	2.3
NHS Grampian	39.7
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde	1.0
NHS Highland	3.0
NHS Lanarkshire	16.4
NHS Lothian	2.6
NHS Orkney	0
NHS Shetland	0
NHS Tayside	7.0
NHS Western Isles	0
The State Hospital	0
National Waiting Times Centre	6.0
Scottish Ambulance Service	0
NHS 24	0
NHS National Services Scotland 4	0
NHS Education for Scotland	0
NHS Health Scotland	0
Healthcare Improvement Scotland	0

Source - Scottish Workforce Information Standard System (SWISS), Turas People 1

Question reference: S5W-26493

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 9 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S5W-12931 and S5W-20051 by Maureen Watt and Clare Haughey on 5 December 2017 and 3 December 2018 respectively, whether it will provide the same information for (a) each year from 2011-12 to 2015-16 and (b) 2018-19.

The relevant information available at national level is shown in the following tables. The data are sourced from the Costs Book which is the national data collection covering annual expenditure by NHS Boards in Scotland. The figures shown cover expenditure that Boards have identified as relating to Mental Health services delivered in hospitals or in the community, and that are aimed specifically at children and adolescents. Note that, within the Cost Book, some Boards may not distinguish all expenditure relating specifically to this age group meaning some elements of expenditure are likely to omitted. Therefore, year on year trends should be regarded with caution.

Table 1: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Expenditure (£000)

NHS Board	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19
NHS Ayrshire & Arran	2,578	3,276	3,349	3,357	3,788	3,565	3,957	3,734
NHS Borders	766	893	804	807	712	550	994	1,066
NHS Fife	504	577	439	500	178	245	2,917	3,212
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde	15,335	15,113	16,425	14,790	17,453	18,954	18,131	17,676
NHS Highland	143	178	749	122	369	85	2,620	2,942
NHS Lanarkshire	3,586	3,946	4,237	4,435	4,757	5,854	5,939	6,121
NHS Grampian	4,350	3,274	3,135	2,412	4,857	3,040	3,789	5,837
NHS Orkney	5	43	42	44	84	26	79	44
NHS Lothian	8,293	9,237	10,678	11,846	11,734	12,479	13,761	13,643
NHS Tayside	4,543	5,641	5,339	7,690	7,262	6,660	7,166	7,184
NHS Forth Valley	1,806	2,060	1,967	2,267	2,688	2,901	3,053	3,320
NHS Western Isles	160	147	154	396	274	293	270	425
NHS Dumfries & Galloway	1,535	974	875	1,054	1,252	1,609	1,580	1,734
NHS Shetland	199	193	234	214	269	317	314	309
State Hospital	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Golden Jubilee	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Scotland	£43,803	£45,553	£48,427	£49,935	£55,675	£56,580	£64,570	£67,248

Source: Scottish Health Service Costs, Report R300, R340, R04LSX, SFR 5.9 and SFR 8.3, ISD Scotland

Table 2: Percentage of Total NHS Expenditure on CAMHS Services

NHS Board	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19
NHS Ayrshire & Arran	0.39%	0.49%	0.49%	0.48%	0.52%	0.47%	0.49%	0.46%
NHS Borders	0.44%	0.51%	0.44%	0.42%	0.36%	0.26%	0.46%	0.46%
NHS Fife	0.09%	0.10%	0.08%	0.08%	0.03%	0.04%	0.43%	0.47%
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde	0.58%	0.57%	0.61%	0.54%	0.62%	0.64%	0.59%	0.57%
NHS Highland	0.03%	0.03%	0.13%	0.02%	0.06%	0.01%	0.40%	0.43%
NHS Lanarkshire	0.40%	0.43%	0.45%	0.44%	0.44%	0.53%	0.52%	0.52%
NHS Grampian	0.50%	0.37%	0.34%	0.25%	0.47%	0.28%	0.34%	0.52%
NHS Orkney	0.01%	0.11%	0.10%	0.11%	0.19%	0.06%	0.16%	0.08%
NHS Lothian	0.57%	0.63%	0.70%	0.75%	0.71%	0.72%	0.77%	0.74%
NHS Tayside	0.57%	0.69%	0.63%	0.88%	0.81%	0.72%	0.77%	0.75%
NHS Forth Valley	0.38%	0.43%	0.40%	0.45%	0.51%	0.54%	0.55%	0.58%
NHS Western Isles	0.25%	0.23%	0.24%	0.59%	0.40%	0.42%	0.38%	0.58%
NHS Dumfries & Galloway	0.57%	0.36%	0.31%	0.37%	0.42%	0.53%	0.50%	0.51%
NHS Shetland	0.46%	0.44%	0.51%	0.48%	0.57%	0.65%	0.62%	0.59%
State Hospital	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Golden Jubilee	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Scotland	0.46%	0.47%	0.48%	0.48%	0.52%	0.50%	0.56%	0.56%

Source: Scottish Health Service Costs, Report R300, R340, R04LSX, SFR 5.9 and SFR 8.3, ISD Scotland

Table 3: Percentage of Mental Health Expenditure on CAMHS Services

NHS Board	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19
NHS Ayrshire & Arran	4.42%	5.46%	5.49%	5.46%	6.20%	5.47%	5.89%	5.66%
NHS Borders	4.88%	5.91%	5.11%	4.66%	4.36%	3.53%	5.36%	5.34%
NHS Fife	1.07%	1.22%	0.95%	1.07%	0.36%	0.48%	5.35%	6.04%
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde	5.82%	5.67%	6.14%	5.39%	6.21%	6.69%	6.34%	5.91%
NHS Highland	0.29%	0.37%	1.72%	0.27%	0.81%	0.19%	5.19%	4.43%
NHS Lanarkshire	5.14%	5.44%	5.93%	6.16%	6.36%	8.02%	7.92%	7.53%
NHS Grampian	6.21%	4.53%	4.52%	3.42%	6.78%	4.41%	5.16%	7.38%
NHS Orkney	0.40%	3.54%	3.85%	4.11%	9.39%	2.55%	5.56%	2.92%
NHS Lothian	7.08%	8.11%	9.06%	10.02%	9.39%	9.41%	10.08%	9.57%
NHS Tayside	5.81%	5.84%	5.41%	8.31%	7.59%	7.08%	7.60%	7.44%
NHS Forth Valley	4.31%	4.80%	4.67%	5.19%	5.89%	6.21%	6.32%	6.77%
NHS Western Isles	3.46%	3.77%	3.24%	9.52%	5.97%	8.90%	13.58%	19.39%
NHS Dumfries & Galloway	6.24%	4.40%	4.10%	5.02%	5.97%	7.41%	7.00%	7.66%
NHS Shetland	22.75%	18.75%	22.58%	18.75%	19.41%	20.48%	18.28%	14.18%
State Hospital	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Golden Jubilee	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Scotland	4.99%	5.07%	5.40%	5.52%	5.99%	6.04%	6.68%	6.61%

Source: Scottish Health Service Costs, Report R300, R340, R04LSX, SFR 5.9 and SFR 8.3, ISD Scotland

Question reference: S5W-26517

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has commissioned into the impact of the language used in, and how best to frame, messaging regarding healthy weight, nutrition and physical activity.

Public health messaging on diet, weight and physical activity is an important and sensitive area of work to which we will be giving more attention, drawing on the evidence and learning from other policies. Over the coming year, with NHS Health Scotland and other stakeholders, we will be considering what action national agencies and frontline services should take to ensure our messaging will be effective in promoting positive health change without stigma or discrimination.

More generally, the Scottish Government commissions market research where necessary to ensure that communications are informed by audience insight. Communications are also informed by behavioural insights and evidenced models of behaviour change.

As part of a wellbeing pilot project to tackle underlying causes of various health risk behaviours, including physical inactivity and poor diet, we have commissioned independent qualitative market research with target populations to inform how messages are framed and the language used. The research has highlighted factors that contribute to people undertaking behaviours that are bad for their health and the communication approaches that will be most effective in encouraging behaviour change to improve health outcomes. The findings will inform the development of a mental health and wellbeing pilot campaign in February 2020.

Question reference: S5W-26529

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25944 by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 November 2019, by what date it will meet Parkinson's UK Scotland and the other key stakeholders to discuss taking forward the recommendations of the report.

We have recently written to Parkinson’s UK to ask them to meet with Scottish Government officials early in the new year to fully discuss and consider the recommendations in their report, “Get it on Time”.

We will also continue to engage with all stakeholders in the neurological community in order that we can ensure that everyone living in Scotland with neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, is able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put the patient at the centre of their care.

Question reference: S5W-26516

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what input experts in psychology had in developing its strategy, A healthier future: Scotland’s diet and healthy weight delivery plan.

Psychology expertise has been critical to the development and implementation of two key policies in the Diet & Healthy Weight Delivery Plan .

NHS Health Scotland led the development of standards for weight management services for children and adults in collaboration with an expert reference group which included significant input from clinical and health psychology. The standards recognise the key role of psychology in delivering a comprehensive service that ensures mental health and wellbeing needs are effectively considered and supported. The standards, published in July 2019, were endorsed by the British Psychological Society.

The British Psychological Society, clinical and health psychology experts also contributed to the development of the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention, Early Detection and Early Intervention Framework . We are now working with them to expand on the detail of their recommendations for training, education and clinical input required across all levels of the framework. Co-production, person centred approaches and value-based care which is sensitive to stigma and discrimination are key components of effective implementation.

Question reference: S5W-26518

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of demand for weight management services.

Since the 1st of October 2019, NHS Boards have been collecting a standardised core dataset for weight management services. This data will provide a rich and invaluable source of evidence, demonstrating the demand for, and effectiveness of, programmes and interventions. As well as supporting national reporting, the dataset will inform local service planning and evaluation, and inform how best to improve access to services for high risk and vulnerable groups. In 2019-20, the Scottish Government has allocated an additional £3 million to NHS Boards for better access to services for those with, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes and £1.7 million for improvements and expansion of weight management services for children and young people.

Question reference: S5O-03900

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 December 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government about the UK and Ireland staging the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Question reference: S5W-26439

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26177 by Michael Matheson on 18 November 2019, what processes have been developed to ensure continued driver safety in the intervening period.

The safety of road users is our number one priority.

Until the sensors to detect whether there is a risk of ice forming are installed, specialist weather forecasting and close observation of the structure will indicate whether physical measures will need to be taken to clear any ice. In the rare circumstances where ice does form, traffic management will be implemented to facilitate ice clearance, and road users will be alerted in advance to minimize disruption.

Question reference: S5W-26480

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 3 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it records information on how many medication errors are made every year in the NHS, and, if so, whether it will provide the figures for each year since 2007.

Question reference: S5W-26481

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 3 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the role that automated medicine cabinets can play in reducing deaths linked to medication errors in the NHS.

Automated or semi-automated medicines cabinets are used to promote quicker access to medicines, allow automatic ordering of medicines and release nursing time. There is limited published evidence that these cabinets reduce deaths linked to medication errors. This is more likely to be addressed by access to clinical decision support systems provided through Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (HEPMA) implementation.

Chamber and committees