Chamber and committees

This information is not centrally held.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) waiting time data is collected to allow measurement of the allied health professional MSK target. Physiotherapy is one of the 4 MSK professions (physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy and orhtotics) included and measured for this target. MSK physiotherapy data has been collected from July 2015 but only as NHS Boards were able to provide data of sufficient quality for publication. The MSK data is considered to be developmental.

Further information on waiting times can be found on the ISD website - http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Waiting-Times/

The information requested is not held centrally. Mesh used in a transvaginal setting is procured directly by Health Boards and ‘transvaginal mesh kits’ have never been procured through national contracts. The amount of mesh procured cannot be accurately established, given that there are a range of suppliers and varying units and systems within Health Boards to procure small volume medical devices, such as mesh, as required.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14195 on ‎20 February 2018. 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

My officials meet regularly with NHS Lothian to discuss waiting times including the specialty of urology. I am aware that waiting times for urology in NHS Lothian is below the level I expect. NHS Lothian has received £3.7 million as part of the £25 million initially issued to Boards from the £50 million announced at the end of May 2018. The Board are using £162,000 for urology services to support additional outpatient activity and theatres with a further £344,000 allocated for urology diagnostic tests. This should support activity for around 1,500 patients. I expect to see improvements during this year.

The recently published programme for Government committed me to publish a plan to substantially and sustainably improve waiting time performance in the face of rising demand for services - this plan will be published shortly.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) holds annual negotiations with Scottish Care, the representative body of the independent care home sector, to set appropriate and consistent fee levels across Scotland for publicly funded clients as part of the National Care Home Contract.

A programme of work around the reform of the NCHC undertaken by COSLA and Scottish Care has led to a significant uplift in the NCHC rate in 2018-19 of 3.39%, using detailed benchmarking data to accurately reflect the cost of providing care to care home residents.

In recognition of the costs of residential care to self funders, we have increased the Free Personal and Nursing Care payments to self-funders with inflation in 2018 to £174/week for personal care and £79/week for nursing care. We are proud of the continued provision of free personal care to over 65s, and from 1st April 2019, those under the age of 65 will also benefit from this policy.

This information is not held centrally. NHS Scotland health boards have fully devolved responsibilities for the for the recruitment, retention and deployment of staff. The Scottish Government works closely with boards to support their recruitment efforts.

Under this government, whole time equivalent staffing levels have increased by over 12,000 (Sept 06 – June 18). Quarterly statistics on vacancies, staffing and turnover are published by NHS Information Services Division.

Over the next 3 years the Scottish Government is investing over £4 million in recruitment and marketing campaigns, which will focus on on attracting GPs, social care workers, nurses and midwives to NHS Scotland.

The information in relation to delayed chemotherapy treatments is not collected or held centrally. However on 26 September 2018, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed since January 2018 16 patients at the Royal Hospital for Children have had their chemotherapy treatment delayed.

As the lead public body for our historic environment Historic Environment Scotland (HES) promotes the use of traditional building materials (which can be locally sourced) in relation to the care and maintenance of historic building stock, where appropriate, including in relation to historic properties in the care of public bodies. HES works closely with the Scottish Stone Group and wider stone industry sector to support the production and use of natural Scottish stone. HES has an ongoing Collaborative Partnership Agreement with the British Geological Survey in order to promote the use and production of natural stone in Scotland. As part of this Agreement, HES launched a publicly accessible Building Stone Database for Scotland in June 2018 to provide information on historic and current sources of traditionally used building stone across Scotland.

As part of the organisation's Action Framework for traditional building materials, due to be finalised later this year, HES is committing to producing guidance on the specification and procurement of traditional Scottish materials, including stone, for public bodies. HES has also produced a ‘Managing Change in the Historic Environment guidance note on External Walls’ which acknowledges local materials and traditions as an important element in defining the character of the building in question. The guidance note also promotes maintenance and appropriate repair as the best means of safeguarding the character of historic buildings.

The Scottish Government estate comprises 73 buildings of which 18 are Crown owned. Of these 18 there are 2 that make use of local natural stone, these are Saint Andrew's House and Governor's House - both of which are Grade A listed properties in Edinburgh. There is a 'stone graveyard' situated in the grounds of Saint Andrew's House which allow replacement stones to weather over time. Both properties are surveyed annually in line with our Conservation Plan and should there be a need to replace any stone this is undertaken as part of Planned Maintenance for the properties.

Scotland’s built environment has a rich legacy of the innovative use of stone and we are keen to capitalise on and promote the use of our national assets wherever possible. The then-Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy met with the three founders of the Scottish Stone Group in November 2017, which was established to raise awareness of locally sourced stone.

Although it is for local authorities to determine where to source materials the Scottish Government’s architecture and planning policies encourage new development that responds appropriately to its context and which reinforces local identity and character. The use of appropriate materials is recognised as a key consideration in this.