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-06243

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the minutes and decisions of the Effective Prescribing Group.

Question reference: S5W-06240

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) current and (b) future areas of focus are for the Effective Prescribing Group and its subgroups.

The Effective Prescribing Programme is currently focusing on: the clinical effectiveness of biological medicines; developing a clinical consensus approach to particular clinical areas; scaling up the holistic review of patients on multiple medicines; supporting the implementation of Prescribing Strategies; and Review of NHS Boards’ use of formularies to support effective use of medicines.

Future areas of focus have yet to be considered and agreed.

Question reference: S5W-06124

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 25 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the uptake rate has been for the (a) shingles and (b) flu vaccination in each year that it has been available.

(a) Shingles vaccine uptake rate for the routine and catch up cohorts for each year of the programme is presented in the following table.

Age cohort

Year	Age 70	Age 76	Age 77	Age 78	Age 79
2013-14	59.7	-	-	-	55.6
2014-15	58.7	-	-	54.9	55.0
2015-16	54.4	23.1*	22.8*	50.9	-

* additional cohorts added in February 2016 so coverage is lower than that of the aged 70 and 78 years who were eligible since September 2015.

Vaccine coverage for those aged 71 and 72 years who were aged 70 in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 programmes increased to 64.6% and 67.4% respectively, showing that vaccination of these groups who remain eligible is still taking place on an opportunistic basis and it is expected that this will continue.

(b) Influenza vaccine uptake is monitored by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) based on aggregate level data for all population groups eligible for free influenza vaccine in Scotland and published routinely throughout the influenza season in our HPS Weekly National Influenza Reports:

(http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/resp/seasonalinfluenza.aspx?subjectid=00#report ). The population groups recommended for the free influenza vaccine have changed over the years as new evidence is considered by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the eligible groups are stated annually as part of the Chief Medical Officer's (CMO) seasonal influenza vaccination letter.

These population groups (as defined by their age and/or by the presence of underlying chronic health conditions) are listed in table 1. We have provided vaccine uptake for these groups for the years 2000-01 to 2016-17 (as at week ending 15^th January 2017, please note this is provisional data). The risk groups have been identified as being at increased risk of influenza infection and severe presentation or complications of influenza infections, and/or as posing an increased risk of transmitting influenza to vulnerable individuals. Vaccine uptake for the different groups is derived from a number of data sources, which are described in more detail in the following table.

Table 1: Cumulative influenza vaccine uptake in Scotland by eligible group since 2000-01 to 2016-17 (as at week ending 15^th January 2017)

Eligible group	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03						2003-04							2004-05							2005-06					2006-07									2007-08							2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12
65 years and older¹	62.4%	64.3%	67.5%						72.2%							71.0%							77.8%					75.2%									74.3%							76.3%	75.0%	75.2%	76.2%
Under 65 at risk²	NA	NA	NA						NA							39.3%							46.3%					37.8%									44.4%							47.8%	51.1%	56.1%	56.4%
2 and 3 year old children³	NA	NA	NA						NA							NA							NA					NA									NA							NA	NA	NA	NA
2 to under 5 year old children not yet in school ⁴	NA	NA	NA						NA							NA							NA					NA									NA							NA	NA	NA	NA
Primary school pilots⁵	NA	NA	NA						NA							NA							NA					NA									NA							NA	NA	NA	NA
Full primary school implementation⁶	NA	NA	NA						NA							NA							NA					NA									NA							NA	NA	NA	NA
Eligible group				2012-13				2013-14									2014-15												2015-16							2016-17 (provisional)
65 years and older¹					76.8%							76.9%									76.3%									74.5%								71.4%
Under 65 at risk²						56.1%								57.4%								54.0%									48.0%								42.7%
2 and 3 year old children³							NA								50.6%									NA								NA								NA
2 to under 5 year old children not yet in school ⁴										NA								NA							56.4%								57.1%								55.3%
Primary school pilots⁵											NA								67.2%							NA								NA								NA
Full primary school implementation⁶													NA							NA							71.80%								71.20%								71.7%

1. End of season vaccine uptake for seasons 2010-11 to 2015-16 for the 65 years and older group is based on GP claims for payments for influenza vaccinations. In-season vaccination uptake estimates for season 2014-15 for this group are based on weekly automated extracts from GP software. In 2016-17 vaccine uptake thus far is from estimated data received weekly by HPS and is correct as at week ending 15th January 2017.

2. End of season vaccine uptake estimates is based on weekly automated extracts from GP software. In 2016-17 vaccine uptake thus far is from estimated data received weekly by HPS and is correct as at week ending 15th January 2017.

3. In 2013-14 all two and three year old children (regardless of whether or not they were in a clinical at risk group, age as on 1st September 2013) were eligible for influenza vaccination, as partial implementation of the extension of the seasonal influenza programme to all children. End of season vaccine uptake estimates are provided for 13-14 only as this group became part of the 2 to under 5 year age group from 2014-15 onwards (see point 4 below). This data is based on weekly automated extracts from GP software. In 2016-17 vaccine uptake thus far is from estimated data received weekly by HPS and is correct as at week ending 15th January 2017.

4. In season 2014-15 eligibility for influenza vaccination was extended to all 2-5 year old children not yet in school (regardless of whether or not they were in a clinical at risk group, age as on 1st September 2013). End of season vaccine uptake estimates for each season is based on weekly automated extracts from GP software. In 2016-17 vaccine uptake thus far is from estimated data received weekly by HPS and is correct as at week ending 15th January 2017.

5. The pilot programme in Scotland in 2013-14 targeted a subset of primary school aged children, in preparation for full primary school roll out of the childhood influenza vaccine programme in 2014-15. Aggregate level data on number of eligible pupils per school and number of children vaccinated was collated nationally on a weekly basis, end of season figures provided here include children vaccinated at mop up sessions, but not children vaccinated at GPs. In 2016-17 vaccine uptake thus far is from estimated data received weekly by HPS and is correct as at week ending 15th January 2017.

6. In season 2014-15 all primary school aged children across Scotland were eligible for influenza vaccination. Aggregate level data on number of eligible pupils per school and number of children vaccinated is collated nationally on a weekly basis. Figures provided include children vaccinated at mop up / community sessions, but not children vaccinated at GPs. In 2016-17 vaccine uptake thus far is from estimated data received weekly by HPS and is correct as at week ending 15th January 2017.

Question reference: S5F-00793

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 January 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2017

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the recent claim by Bliss Scotland that three quarters of the country's neonatal units do not have enough nurses.

Question reference: S5W-05997

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 23 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to raise public awareness of any benefits of taking vitamin D supplements.

Question reference: S5W-05994

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 23 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) physical and (b) mental health benefits of taking vitamin D supplements.

Current Scottish Government advice on vitamin D is based on recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), which advises all four UK administrations.

As part of its recent review on vitamin D, SACN considered all relevant evidence suggesting links between vitamin D and various health conditions. SACN concluded that the risk of poor musculoskeletal health (e.g. rickets, osteomalacia, fracture prevention) is increased with low vitamin D levels. SACN found insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions on the impact of low vitamin D levels for non-musculoskeletal health outcomes (including cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease and neuropsychological functioning, such as dementia, autism and depression).

Question reference: S5W-05995

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 23 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to encourage more people to take vitamin D supplements.

The Scottish Government has recently updated its advice on vitamin D supplementation for ages 6 months and over in line with the new Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recommendations on vitamin D. The revised guidance is set out in full at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Healthy-Living/Food-Health/vitaminD

We are currently considering how best to raise awareness of the new recommendations amongst the general public, particularly those most at risk of vitamin D deficiency. In addition, healthcare professionals play an important role in raising awareness of the importance of vitamin D with their patients and we are working with NHS Boards and other partners to ensure that healthcare professionals are fully aware of the new recommendations.

Supplements containing vitamin D are already available free of charge for pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children eligible for the Healthy Start scheme. In addition, the Scottish Government will offer free vitamins, which contain the recommended daily dose of vitamin D, to all pregnant women from Spring 2017.

Question reference: S5W-05996

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 23 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to (a) the public, (b) NHS boards and (c) health professionals regarding the use of vitamin D supplements.

Question reference: S5W-05998

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 23 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people in Scotland may have vitamin D deficiency, broken down by age group.

Question reference: S5W-06074

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many night feeding machines are available for cancer patients, broken down by NHS board area.