- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 May 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 May 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for families to receive payment from its recently-announced COVID-19-related death in service benefit for NHS staff, including for families of staff who were not covered by the existing schemes; when this benefit will be operational, and how quickly the money will be distributed.
Answer
The NHS Scotland Coronavirus Life Insurance Scheme 2020 is now operational. The application and timescales mirror the existing Scottish Public Pension Agency (SPPA) process for claiming a death in service benefit, and can be found on the SPPA website. Employers are familiar with this process and will be able to fully assist any applicants.
SPPA expects to deliver any payments in line with existing arrangements for the pension scheme. Short term survivor pensions will in most cases be administered by the employer immediately following the date of death, and lump sum payments will usually be made within 21 days of a completed application being received by SPPA.
This is a process which is tried and tested, is familiar to employers and will ensure equality across the NHS workforce.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 May 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 May 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline will be for the full resumption of (a) bone infusions, (b) radiotherapy and (c) other cancer treatments following the end of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Answer
Cancer treatment has not stopped in Scotland. Vital cancer treatments and emergency, maternity and urgent care will continue where clinically agreed. The majority of cancer treatments have continued throughout this pandemic. However, some patient’s treatment plans have changed to minimise their individual risk of COVID-19. Those that require changes will always be made on a clinical basis and should be made in discussion with the patient and clinical team. We very much understand the concerns of patients whose treatments have been postponed. Clinical guidance is being developed to ensure patients in most urgent need of treatment are seen as priority, and that all patients throughout Scotland have equity of access to treatment.
Alongside this is our current work to restart paused NHS services across primary, secondary and acute care, of which on broad indication is given in the "COVID-19 Framework for Decision Making – Scotland’s Route map through and out of the crisis document" published on 21 May. As we work with Boards, Royal Colleges, Unions and other partners we will be focussed on clinical advice and will set out our decisions for Phase 1 activity and the evidence and rationale on which these decisions are made.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 13 May 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how much it invests in protecting people with pre-existing respiratory illnesses, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and what plans it has to invest more, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer
The Scottish Government provides baseline funding to NHS Boards, which Boards use to best meet the healthcare needs of their resident population including protecting people with pre-existing respiratory illnesses, such as COPD. Additional funding to deal with coronavirus is being made available to NHS Boards through Local Mobilisation Plans.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 April 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, what consideration it has given to increasing the number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) being admitted to virtual wards, so that clinicians can better monitor this at-risk group while they are at home, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer
The Scottish Government is aware that this is a worrying time for people but, it is absolutely vital that people stay at home during this time in order to protect those most at risk and the NHS.
The Scottish Government is proactively providing guidance to groups who require to increase social distancing, such as those adults with underlying respiratory conditions. This guidance can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-tailored-advice-for-those-who-live-with-specific-medical-conditions/ .
Treatment plans are specific to individuals and should not be changed without advice from a medical professional. If an individual is receiving treatment for a respiratory condition, it is important that they take extra care of their overall wellbeing, and attending hospital appointments is part of this. Clinical teams will try to minimise the time people spend in hospital departments, for example arranging telephone or Near Me video consultations.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 April 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it holds centrally a list of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Answer
This information is not held centrally. Individuals with severe COPD who are in the group to be shielded were identified using national NHS databases and prescribing data from GP systems. The Scottish Government has written to those patients identified with advice on how to protect themselves and access the care and treatment they need during the COVID-19 incident.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 April 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, what steps it is taking to ensure that all patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can receive their prescriptions safely, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer
Those who are at the highest risk are being told that the safest course of action is to stay at home at all times and avoid all face-to-face contact for at least twelve weeks from 26 March, except from carers and healthcare workers who you must see as part of your medical care. Guidance on shielding can be found at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-shielding .
This group includes those who have severe COPD, the definition of which can be found on the Scottish Government website - https://www.gov.scot/publications/covid-shielding-contacts/pages/highest-risk-classification/.
This group will be provided with specific support, including collection and delivery of prescriptions where no other help such as family and friends is available. Individuals will receive a personal letter telling them how to access this support.
For people with COPD and other respiratory conditions who do not fall into the category above, the Scottish Government has published guidance and this will be reviewed and updated regularly: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-tailored-advice-for-those-who-live-with-specific-medical-conditions/ .
Public health advice is also regularly updated and can be found at: Coronavirus (COVID-19) on NHS Inform and at Public Health Scotland: https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19/ .
If patients do not currently have prescriptions collected or delivered, this can arranged by:
- Asking someone who can pick up their prescription from the local pharmacy, and leave them at their door for them.
- contacting your local authority who will be able to arrange for your medicines to be delivered to your home.
- If patients get medicines or equipment from their hospital care team, they will make arrangements to have them delivered.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 31 March 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether, in light of the Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board Judgment of 11 Mar 2015, it considers that clinicians and alcohol drug partnerships are obtaining informed consent from patients at regular intervals, and informing those patients about the adverse consequences of prescribing methadone over long periods.
Answer
It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on clinical decisions. All medicines should be prescribed based on clinical need and discussed with patients within the context of their long-term recovery. Prescribers should follow national and local prescribing guidance in prescribing methadone, benzodiazepines and other medicines that might be used to manage people with problematic drug use.
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Current Status:
Withdrawn
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the position of the UK or the EU on fishing rights in relation to the trade negotiations between the two administrations.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2020
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 February 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has explored the possibility of a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not undertaken any feasibility for a bridge to Northern Ireland and has no plans to do so.
Both I and the Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure, have written to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, stating this is not a priority for either Government and the UK Government’s lack of engagement does not respect devolution in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
We believe infrastructure investment should focus on projects that improve lives, boost our economy, support communities and work towards Net Zero. That is how we are planning Scotland’s future infrastructure investment.
