Chamber and committees

There is a large range of actions and activities delivered across a large number of organisations which contribute, directly and indirectly, to preventative health. As we noted in our response to the Health and Sports Committee's recent report on preventative action and public health, the Scottish Government does not seek to dictate a single concept of prevention and does not require accounts based on that. Our approach is across a significant number of strategies and policies which – from minimum unit pricing for alcohol to proposals to restrict the marketing and promotion of high fat, salt and sugar foods right through to the reporting of Integration Authorities – are clearly about maximising quality and sustainability in current care arrangements and preventing future harm. It is not, therefore, possible to estimate spend on preventative health.

The review included engagement with key stakeholders including the Patient Advice and Support Service, Scottish Human Rights Commission, Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance and Mental Welfare Commission, and with around 2,500 individuals and groups across Scotland through the Scottish Health Council’s area office network.

An analysis of responses highlighted that the Charter should be revised to include changes in legislation and the publication of new standards since its publication. The review also highlighted that the revised Charter should be effectively promoted so that people are better informed about their rights and responsibilities in relation to health care and health services. As a result the Ministers agreed that the Charter should be revised.

Scottish Government officials have subsequently consulted key stakeholders on the revision of the Charter and are now fact-checking the content and working with NHS Inform to prepare effective promotion of the Charter. Further engagement with external stakeholders and service users to seek their views on the revised document is planned in April and May.

Tables on the numbers of GPs in post and registered patients from 2004 onwards have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre - Bib reference number 60497. Statistics prior to 2004 are not comparable due to the GMS contract and data methodology in place at the time.

The Scottish Government has not held any meetings with health and social care organisations to discuss the specific matter of Workplace Parking Levies.

The Workplace Parking Levy will be a discretionary power for local authorities to implement, should they wish to do so, within the provisions set by the Transport (Scotland) Bill and any subsequent Regulations. The detail on the framework for how such levies will operate, including further exemptions, will the subject of consideration at Stage Two of the Transport (Scotland) Bill.

The number of Scottish domiciled enrolments at Scottish Higher Education Institutions studying various health professional courses in 2017-18 is as follows.

Scottish domiciled enrolments at Scottish HEIs, 2017-18

Further to the answer provided to question S5W-19321, the collated information is undergoing quality assurance checks. We anticipate that the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain (NACCP) will consider the draft findings at its next meeting on 18 March and information will then be published alongside minutes of its meeting in due course. The information disclosed will be in accordance with the data protection laws. Where practitioner groups at NHS Board or national level refer to fewer than 10 individuals this will not be disclosed, as it is considered not sufficiently anonymised by the Office of National Statistics and will be treated as if it is personal data.

The Scottish Government does not hold a breakdown of information on how many people have been referred to residential rehabilitation projects for alcohol and drug addiction since 1999, how much these referrals cost, or the average waiting time information by NHS Board. Service decisions are made by each local area and it would be for individual Health Boards or Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) to provide a complete breakdown of this information.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21594 on 6 March 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities was published in September 2012 and reviewed in September 2017. As a result and in response to views expressed by participants, Ministers agreed that further revision of the Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities is necessary. This work is currently underway and involves engagement with key stakeholders and service users.