Chamber and committees

National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 already states that Scottish Ministers have a duty to secure improvement in the physical and mental health of the people of Scotland. It does not distinguish between the two, nor does it place a higher importance on one over the other. The 1978 Act also states Scottish Minsters have a duty to secure the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, and for that purpose to provide or secure the effective provision of services in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Illness in the 1978 Act is defined as including mental disorder within the meaning of section 328 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

We will also consider how we further improve the physical health of people with mental health problems to address premature mortality as part of ten year vision for mental health in Scotland due for publication later in 2016.

The consultation document makes it very clear that the proposal relates to cleft surgery only. The consultation document can be accessed at: http://www.nsd.scot.nhs.uk/news/index.html

Clear and categoric assurances that, with the exception of surgery, all other cleft services will continue to be delivered locally have been given throughout this process in correspondence with campaigners and MSPs. These assurances have also been given to the National Specialist Services Committee and NHS board Chief Executives, during their consideration of the proposal. The decision whether to accept the proposal rests with Ministers. I will make my decision in due course.

In line with our vision, Scottish Government policies are enabling more people to live longer and more independently in their own homes, which results in fewer people needing residential care. We are providing more than £0.5 billion additional funding over three years to help Health and Social Care Partnerships establish new ways of working, and investing a further £250 million per year to protect and grow social care services.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the quality of care in Scotland and we meet regularly with COSLA, Scottish Care, Coalition of Care and support Providers in Scotland and other key stakeholders in order to do this.

As part of this partnership approach the Scottish Government is a member of the National Contingency Planning Group, which includes providers and is chaired by COSLA. The group works with stakeholders in identifying potential risks which could lead to the disruption of adult social care provision in Scotland.

We are also working with COSLA and care providers to deliver a major programme of reform to adult social care. These reforms will maintain the continuity, stability and sustainability of residential care provision while embedding greater local flexibility, maximising efficiency, improving quality, enhancing personalisation and promoting innovation.

Each Health and Social Care Partnership is required by the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 to put in place a strategic commissioning plan for the integrated functions and budgets that they control.

Before undertaking the strategic commissioning plan, partnerships are required to undertake a strategic needs assessment which considers: needs; population dynamics and projections; service activity; supply and demand; and gaps in provision. This informs their strategic commissioning plan and shapes services and support to deliver better outcomes. It will be for partnerships to determine the need for care home places in their localities and to work collaboratively with others, including providers, to meet that need.

NHS funded fertility preservation is currently offered to patients diagnosed with cancer on a case-by-case basis. This is for clinical reasons, and referring clinicians should take into account a patient's diagnosis, prognosis of cancer treatment and age.

A Scottish Government led working group is being set up to look at access and draw up protocols for fertility preservation for patients with serious medical conditions, prior to fertility compromising treatment or surgery.

The following table shows the number of laboratory confirmed diagnoses of borrelia infection each year but there will be cases which are not captured by surveillance. This is because current guidance states that if a patient presents to their healthcare professional with a history of a tick bite and erythema migrans (rash), antibiotic treatment should be recommended immediately. This treatment renders subsequent samples non-diagnostic and therefore not recorded by surveillance systems.

The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Library and Information Council to provide independent advice to the Scottish Government on library and information services and to act as a leadership body for the sector. Details of library closures for all parts of the UK since 2010 is provided in the following table:

*No return in 2014-15. Libraries across NI operate as single service. Confirmed current figure is 98.

(information provided by SLIC utilising CIPFA data)

SLIC can provide information on the local library landscape in Scotland, and can be contacted using the details below:

Pamela Tulloch

Chief Executive Officer

Scottish Library and Information Council

Suite 2.4

Turnberry House

175 West George Street

Glasgow

G2 2LB

t: 0141 202 2999

e: [email protected]

In line with our vision, Scottish Government policies are enabling more people to live longer and more independently in their own homes, which results in fewer people needing residential care.

Our legislation to integrate health and social care has provided a platform for health boards and local authorities, along with third and independent sectors, to work together to ensure people are supported to live as independently as possible, for as long as possible, in their own homes.