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-20526

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 7 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to implement the recommendation that was made by the Health and Sport Committee in its 2017 report, Healthcare in Prisons, which suggested that national health workforce data staffing numbers should be recorded separately for prisons.

The Scottish Government's Health and Social Care in Prisons Programme has commissioned NHS Information Services Division to develop a dashboard for healthcare in prisons, which will be in place by Spring 2019 which will cover existing data held by ISD in relation to prisons. We have a phased approach to broaden and improve the data presented and it is anticipated that this will include workforce data. There are plans to develop a full suite of health and social care quality indicators for use in prisons which will be reported through the new dashboard.

Question reference: S5W-20503

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 7 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde decided not to inform patients who underwent surgery using implements processed at Cowlairs Decontamination Unit after the plant lost its approval.

The issues at Cowlairs were not related to the sterilisation of the equipment and therefore no risk to patients that had already been treated. The Scottish Government was content that the Board acted quickly following the closure of the Decontamination Unit and in the best interests of the patients.

The Chief Executive, Jane Grant, wrote to each patient who has been affected by this disruption and has put in place a dedicated phone line for patients who have any concerns.

Scottish Government officials were also in regular contact with the Health Board to support them in taking the necessary steps to ensure the Decontamination Facility met the required standards prior to reopening on 27 November.

Question reference: S5W-20037

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 21 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many operations have been cancelled by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde since the temporary closure of the Cowlairs decontamination unit in Springburn.

The temporary closure of the Cowlairs decontamination unit resulted in 1075 procedures being cancelled by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. Those patients waiting for urgent care procedures have been rescheduled and the remainder will be rescheduled as quickly as possible. The Chief Executive, Jane Grant, wrote to each patient who has been affected by this disruption and has put in place a dedicated phone line for patients who have any concerns.

Scottish Government officials were in regular contact with the Health Board to support them in taking the necessary steps to ensure the Decontamination Facility meets the required standards. The unit reopened on 27 November and is now fully operational.

Question reference: S5W-20613

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 20 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the recent Mental Welfare Commission report, which shows a rising number of young people with mental illness are being treated in non-specialist wards, from 66 admissions in 2016-17 to 90 admissions in 2017-18.

We welcome the publication of this annual report from the Mental Welfare Commission. The report’s findings are always of great help to our work to improve services for children and young people.

We agree with the report’s recommendations to improve the efficiency of bed use, and the provision of intensive psychiatric care. Action 19 of the Mental Health Strategy commits to developing a protocol for admissions to non-specialist wards which is currently being finalised. The Children and Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce will also consider pathways into specialist services for young people as part of our work under Action 20 of the Mental Health Strategy.

Additionally, a new national secure child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient facility will be built by NHS Ayrshire and Arran, with an intended opening date of late 2020.

Question reference: S5W-20581

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 20 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recommendations made by the Wessely review of the Mental Health Act 1983, and how this might impact on the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, particularly regarding the rights of patients to be given more opportunities to challenge detention and legally challenge their treatment.

The Wessely Review recommends many of the aspects which are already provided for in Scotland’s existing mental health legislation. The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 is based on rights and principles and provides safeguards which include that any function should be carried out for the maximum benefit of the patient, with the minimum necessary restriction on the freedom of the patient and having regard to the views of the patient. We have made changes to ensure that people with a mental disorder can access effective treatment quickly and improved legislation through the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2015 to strengthen support for decision making and promote rights.

Most people who use mental health services receive treatment without being subject to an order or certificate under the 2003 Act. If a person needs to be detained, the Act offers patients significant safeguards where compulsory treatment is necessary. Safeguards include a right to appeal, access to independent advocacy and an efficient and independent Mental Health Tribunal which grants and reviews orders for compulsory treatment. Also, the Mental Welfare Commission monitors the use of Scottish mental health law, including compulsory treatment. The Commission has the power to intervene in particular cases if there is evidence of improper care, treatment or practices.

We are making significant investment in the range of mental health support available, which will see issues tackled earlier and, where possible, in the community, while ensuring speedier access to specialist care for those who need it.

Question reference: S5W-20418

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 13 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been detained under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 in each of the last five years.

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland has a statutory responsibility to monitor the use of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. As part of meeting that responsibility, it publishes an annual overview of the use of the 2003 Act. These annual reports include statistics on the number of episodes of compulsory treatment for mental disorder in Scotland. The most recently published report is for the period 2016-2017 and can be found at the following link:https://www.mwcscot.org.uk/media/409318/mha_monitoring_report2016-17_may2018.pdf

In the report, table 2.1 provides figures on the total number of episodes of compulsory treatment across Scotland for the past ten years. Note that the number of individual people given compulsory treatment is not held by the Commission, so the data relates to the number of orders or certificates granted and therefore does not take account of individuals who may be given compulsory treatment on multiple, separate occasions during the reporting period or those who may have several consecutive orders/certificates apply to them as part of one instance of treatment. During the 2016-2017 period, 73% of episodes lasted for 28 days or less.

Previous reports can be found on the Commission's website and statistical information for 2017-2018 will be provided in the Commission’s next annual monitoring report which is due for publication before the end of December 2018.

Question reference: S5F-02876

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 December 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2018

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to a recent survey, which suggests that 51% of teachers believe that their job has a detrimental impact on their mental health.

Question reference: S5W-20088

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment by Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland that treatment for people with chronic chest disease is a "postcode lottery" with more than 129,000 people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a key recommendation in national clinical guidelines, which we expect NHS Boards to follow.

The Scottish Government recognises that pulmonary rehabilitation is an important element of respiratory disease care as it has well established evidence base for its benefits in helping to support self-management and reduce exacerbation and hospital admissions.

Access to pulmonary rehabilitation will form an important part of our Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland.

Question reference: S5F-02807

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 November 2018

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that the number of children being treated for depression in Scotland has doubled in a decade.

Question reference: S5W-19397

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter from the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing to the Scottish Infected Blood Forum and Haemophilia Scotland of 27 September 2018, when it expects to obtain core participant status in the UK Infected Blood Inquiry.