Chamber and committees

I wrote to the Health and Sport Committee on 16 November to provide an update on the Scottish Government’s progress on implementing the recommendations of the Montgomery Review of Access to New Medicines.

Since publication of the Montgomery Review in December 2016, we have been working closely with relevant partners, stakeholders, patient representatives, the third sector and the pharmaceutical industry to consider the most appropriate and effective way to take forward the recommendations.

Copies of the letter are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 59333)

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally as this is a matter for the Department of Work and Pensions. A DS1500 form is issued when there is a terminal illness and the prognosis is that the patient may live less than 6 months, it is provided by a GP to the patient, or patient's representative, and it is for them to forward to the Department of Work and Pensions to fast tracks claims when applying for certain benefits.

The Scottish Government believes that young carers should be supported to have a life similar to their non-carer peers which includes having access to leisure and recreational activities.

The Scottish Government engaged with COSLA as part of the development of the new package of support for young carers that the First Minister announced on
20 September 2017. This package includes the proposed specific young carer element to the Young Scot National Entitlement Card which will provide targeted, non-cash rewards and benefits to young carers. Young Scot will work with a group of young carers to ensure the rewards are appropriately tailored to their needs. Young Scot will be engaging with local authorities and businesses over the rewards and benefits to be offered through the scheme, which will be rolled out from April 2019.

The Scottish Government has regular contact and discussion with NHS Boards covering matters relating to finance and performance. Details of engagements undertaken by Ministers since 2008 is available on the Scottish Government's website at the following addresses:

https://beta.gov.scot/publications/?term=ministerial&publicationTypes=transparency_data

This information is not readily available from National Services Scotland prescription data systems.

Information on whether every pupil is able to access water when at school is not held centrally. The Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008 require schools to provide access to fresh, plain drinking water at all times. It is for local authorities to ensure they are fulfilling their duties as set out in the Regulations.

The Scottish Care Homes Census published by ISD Scotland provides information on the number of registered Care Homes places in each local authority area in Scotland at http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Care-Homes/Previous-Publications/index.asp

The number of registered Care Homes places for years 2006-2016 can be found in data table 3 published on 25th October 2016 and for years 2000-2005 in data table 3 published on 29 October 2013.

The Scottish Government has no plans to review CEL 12 (2012). It is for the integration authorities, working with their local partners, to commission services and supports to meet the needs of their local populations, including their palliative and end of life care needs.

We are working on up-to-date advice for Joint Integration Boards, to support them in ensuring appropriate care.

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 is due to come into effect on 1 April 2018. There is currently no centrally held data for the number of people receiving respite breaks.

The Scottish Health Survey for 2012-2015 shows that around 2% of carers aged 16 and over said they received support through a short break or respite care service. This is equivalent to over 15,000 carers in Scotland.

I also refer the member to the answer to question S5W-11158 on 21 September 2017. 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

Hepatitis C (HCV) prevention remains a priority for the Scottish Government as set out in our Sexual Health and Bloodborne Virus Strategy. All NHS Boards and partners continue to work to prevent new infections, promoting best practice in relation to HCV prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Monitoring the impact of our investment in prevention and treatment strategies on the incidence of infection remains a challenge as new infection incidents are difficult to measure directly, given that the infection can be asymptomatic and undiagnosed. However, there is evidence to suggest that the prevalence of injecting drug use in Scotland has decreased in recent years, which indicates that the overall number of HCV infections in people who inject drugs is likely to have decreased. In Scotland, HCV is mainly transmitted among injecting drug users.