Chamber and committees

Transport Scotland obtains detailed information on levels of development from local planning authorities. This is used as an input to the regional transport model which provides forecast changes in travel demand. A transport appraisal using information from the model in relation to the capacity of strategic routes, including the A720, is currently underway to identify mitigation needed to address the cross boundary impacts of development proposed in the South East Scotland Strategic Development Plan.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information for independently contracted practices. It does expect patients to be offered an appointment with a member of GP practice staff within two days; the latest figures (Health & Care Experience Survey 2015/16) show that 91.8% of people were able to get a consultation within that time.

The figures on the percentage of patients in 2015-16 able to arrange an appointment with a member of GP practice staff within two days by board are given in the following table:

The Scottish Parliament recently passed the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2015. The 2015 Act is currently being implemented and contains several measures which strengthen the provisions in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 that promote and protect service users’ rights. This includes giving service users more control over their representation and strengthening the position of advance statements and advocacy which help service users express their will and preferences.

The Scottish Government is engaging with stakeholders about how the work to implement the 2015 Act can be used to further promote the rights of service users, including those in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

As part of the draft plan on implementation of UNCRPD, the Scottish Government committed to consulting on the Scottish Law Commission’s review of Adults With Incapacity (AWI) legislation with particular reference to issues around deprivation of liberty and thereafter to carry out a scoping exercise in relation to a wider review of AWI legislation. That consultation has concluded and the Scottish Government is now actively engaging with service users and stakeholders to determine the focus for areas of reform.

The Scottish Government is working with partners to support delivery of the national dementia post-diagnostic service offer, which is underpinned by a national target that everyone diagnosed from 1 March 2015 is offered the service.

National post-diagnostic performance data, subject to a nationally comparative validation process, will be published for the first time in December and will show how many people have been offered the service between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2015

The Scottish Government is working with partners to support delivery of the national dementia post-diagnostic service offer, which is underpinned by a national target that everyone diagnosed from 1 March 2015 is offered the service.

Since April, Integration Joint Boards are formally responsible for commissioning dementia services, including post-diagnostic services, in their area. Responsibility for the delivery of those services remains with the statutory body tasked with leading the service in each area and this is determined locally.

Other national activity to support service delivery includes work by NHS Education for Scotland and Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Focus on Dementia Unit to help embed consistent quality principles into post-diagnostic support training and practice; and work by NHS National Services Scotland to ensure post-diagnostic data quality and consistency

I welcome the contribution of this survey to the important issue of pressure area care for wheelchair users.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland has recently consulted on revised Standards for Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers. The revised Standards will be published later in September and will emphasise the importance of an assessment of the risk of pressure ulcer development being undertaken as part of initial admission or referral to inform care planning and the need for regular re-assessment to ensure safe, effective and person-centred care.

The care and support provided to wheelchair users will vary according to the unique circumstances of each person, but will always be made taking into account the person's clinical needs as well as what matters to them.

The provision of NHS wheelchairs in Scotland, including adjustable, tilt-in-space chairs, is via one of the five NHS Scotland centres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Edinburgh or Glasgow. Decisions are made on a clinical basis, in consultation with the patient, taking into account the person’s individual needs to ensure that the most appropriate type of wheelchair is provided in each case.