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-03354

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 27 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many people without a fixed address have been discharged from hospital in each year since 1999.

The following table shows the number of patients discharged from hospital where no fixed abode was recorded in each calendar year since 1999.

Year	No fixed Abode
1999	203
2000	194
2001	216
2002	169
2003	145
2004	118
2005	110
2006	133
2007	130
2008	137
2009	133
2010	146
2011	226
2012	219
2013	359
2014	373
2015	342

Source: SMR01, ISD

No-one should be discharged from hospital to a position of homelessness. When a patient is identified as being homeless, it is the responsibility of the local authority to carry out an assessment under homelessness legislation. While the assessment is being carried out they will be entitled to temporary accommodation. Following assessment, if they are regarded as unintentionally homeless they will be entitled to settled accommodation.

Question reference: S5W-03701

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 26 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to address each of the areas of concern raised by the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland in its paper, Young Person Monitoring Report 2015-16.

With regards to recommendation 1, for Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland (RCPysch) – the Scottish Government have already tasked the CAMHS lead Clinicians group to consider standards. RCPsych and the MWC are represented on the group.

Recommendation 2 within the report was for the Scottish Government; recommendations 3-6 are for NHS Health Boards to respond to.

With regards to recommendation 2, work has previously been carried out on behalf of NHS Directors of Planning and the conclusion was that CAMHS intensive psychiatric care units (IPCU) capacity should be developed at regional level. We expect the NHS Board regions to deliver on this.

Question reference: S5W-03411

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 26 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the statistical monitoring reports for 2015-16 published by the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland regarding the levels of compulsory mental health treatment, and for what reasons these levels have risen.

The Scottish Government values the work undertaken by the Mental Welfare Commission in monitoring the use of mental health and incapacity legislation. There are many positives in the report to focus on. The Commission have welcomed the greater use of community-based compulsory treatment orders and a sharp and welcome decline in the use of police stations as a place of safety.

The report is statistical and does not suggest a reason for the increase in use of compulsory mental health treatment. The figures should be seen against a backdrop of rising demand for mental health services, and a greater awareness of mental health issues leading to more people coming forward and asking for help. We will continue to work with the Mental Welfare Commission and stakeholders both to ensure the legislation is used correctly, and to promote patients’ rights more generally.

In certain circumstances, compulsory treatment is essential to provide protection to the patient and others. Where compulsory treatment is used, the rights of patients are safeguarded by legislation – these include a right to independent advocacy, and an efficient Mental Health Tribunal system which grants and reviews orders for compulsory treatment.

Question reference: S5F-00367

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2016

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the statement from the RCN that nursing in Scotland is facing "a perfect storm".

Question reference: S5O-00242

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Funeral Poverty and Funeral Payment Reference Group.

Question reference: S5W-03240

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 18 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish data on how NHS services are performing against the standards set out in the Standards of Care for Dementia.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s (HIS) on-going programme of inspections into older people’s care in acute general hospital settings includes a focus on dementia care and utilises the dementia standards in its inspection methodology. Their reports are published and available on the HIS website.

The Care Inspectorate will carry out 150 dementia-focused inspections in care home for older people in 2016-17. The inspections will focus on how the dementia standards have been applied in practice. An overall inspection report will be published and available on the Care Inspectorate’s website in 2017.

Question reference: S5W-03238

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 18 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it measures performance against the Standards of Care for Dementia and how often it does so.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s on-going programme of inspections into older people’s care in acute general hospital settings includes a focus on dementia care and utilises the dementia standards in its inspection methodology.

A 10-point National Action Plan supports implementation of the dementia standards in acute care and is supported by a national improvement programme.

The Care Inspectorate will carry out 150 dementia-focused inspections in care home for older people in 2016-17. The inspections will focus on how the dementia standards have been applied in practice.

Application of the dementia standards and the human-rights based principles behind them are also the basis for the implementation of the national dementia health and social services workforce skills and knowledge framework Promoting Excellence and the training and resources to support implementation of the national dementia post-diagnostic support Local Delivery Plan (LDP) Standard.

Question reference: S5W-03200

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 17 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides regarding how many MS nurses there should be in each NHS board area.

Under this Government, the number of NHSScotland staff has increased by over 11,000 WTE and the number of qualified nurses and midwives has increased by over 2,100 WTE.

While the Scottish Government provides the policies, frameworks and resources for high quality healthcare, the actual provision of healthcare services – including workforce planning – is the responsibility of local NHS Boards, taking into account national guidance, local service needs and priorities for investment. We expect NHS Boards to plan their facilities and workforce to deliver these services, ensuring the provision of safe, effective and high quality patient care is delivered by the right professional at the right time.

Patient safety is, and will remain, paramount. That is why we have committed to look at placing our innovative workforce planning tools on a statutory footing to ensure safe and sustainable staffing levels. Work will begin this year to engage with stakeholders to shape the consultation.

Question reference: S5W-03355

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 11 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for pain relief injection (a) therapy and (b) review by physiotherapists, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S5W-03358

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) GP surgeries and (b) dentists have a text message service for patients, broken down by NHS board.

This information is not held centrally: it is for independently contracted general medical practices and dental surgeries to decide how best to communicate with their patients. There are no current plans to introduce a national text appointments service for GP surgeries or dentists. Decisions at practice or NHS board level allow solutions to integrate with existing processes and systems, and to be responsive to local circumstances.