Chamber and committees

The main Mental Health professional groups that the Scottish Government holds data for are Psychiatrists, Mental Health Nurses and Psychologists, including other psychological clinical staff and therapists. The Scottish Government also holds workforce figures for CAMHS, which are multidisciplinary teams that include, in addition to the professions mentioned above, AHPs, counsellors and social workers.

Under this government (since 2007), the number of:

a. Psychiatric Consultants across all specialities in NHSScotland has increased by 21.6% to 548.8 WTE posts;

b. The Mental Health Nursing workforce in NHSScotland has increased by 34.7% to 9,763.2 WTE posts;

c. Staff providing Psychology Services in NHSScotland has increased by 95% to the current all-time high of 1,359.3 WTE posts; and

d. Staff within CAMHS is up by 83.4% to the current all-time high of 1099.5 WTE posts.

NHS Scotland’s Mental Health Nursing, Psychology and CAMHS staffing numbers were at a record high on 31 December 2021.

Vacancy rates at 31 December 2021 were: 16.6% (107.5 WTE) for Consultant Psychiatrists, 12.4% (1,377.3 WTE) for Mental Health Nurses, 12.3% (191 WTE) for Psychology staff and 14.7% (190 WTE) for staff within CAMHS reflecting demand for staff as services continue to grow.

The Scottish Government also collects and publishes figures for mental health workers recruited under Action 15 of the Mental Health Strategy 2017-27, representing our commitment to recruit an additional 800 mental health workers between 2018-19 and 2021-22, to key settings such as A&E departments, GP practices, police station custody suites and prisons. As at 1 January 2022, 756.9 WTE mental health posts have recruited under Action 15.

The latest Action 15 recruitment figures as at 1 January 2022 can be accessed at Mental health workers: quarterly performance reports - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Despite this workforce expansion, demand for Mental Health Services remains high. The Scottish Government has committed to develop a long-term Mental Health Workforce Plan in the first half of this Parliament, and to ensure that by 2026, 10% of frontline NHS budget is invested in mental health, with 1% directed specifically to children and young people.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08108 on 3 May 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government’s approach to tackling health inequalities focusses on three key aspects of health inequality: mitigating against the socio-economic drivers of inequalities; ensuring fair opportunities for health improvement for all individuals; and ensuring health services are accessible to all.

Our COVID-19 Recovery Strategy sets out our vision for how we will address the systemic inequalities that lead to health inequalities. This includes making progress towards a wellbeing economy and accelerating inclusive person-centred public services. We are committing £4 billion in social security and welfare payments over the next financial year, including £197 million to double the Scottish Child Payment and extend it to under 16s.

Equity and inclusivity will be at the heart of our place-based approach to health, where we are looking at what more we can do to create the right conditions for health and wellbeing within local communities. In addition to community-led initiatives we’re committed to providing £9 million a year for smoking cessation services and £5.7 million for weight management services.

Additionally, the Scottish Government is taking robust action to address racialised health inequalities. We have published the Race Equality Immediate Priorities (IPP), which includes a range of commitments focused on pursuing health equity for minority ethnic people.

Beavers have the potential to bring significant biodiversity benefits to Scotland. They may also have adverse impacts on some land uses. Our main policy focus at this point is to prevent and mitigate negative impacts of beavers before damage can occur.

NatureScot can issue protected species licences to control beavers for the purpose of preventing serious damage to agriculture.

NatureScot also support land and fisheries managers experiencing negative impacts through the Scottish Beaver Mitigation Scheme. The Scheme offers land managers advice and practical assistance with mitigating the impacts of beavers including taking pro-active measures to prevent impacts where appropriate. NatureScot will continue to work with stakeholders on the mitigation scheme looking to develop new and innovative approaches.

Increased use of translocation of beavers will also help prevent negative impacts and as set out in the answer to question S6W-04596 on 24 November 2021, we will also provide both financial and practical support to facilitate this translocation of beavers.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government expects women to receive high quality, safe care including in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia.

We are working with the Scottish Perinatal Network to examine the adoption of PlGF testing for pre-eclampsia in Scotland. This will include consideration of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on PlGF (DG23) that is currently out for consultation and expected to be published in July 2022.

People of all ages in Scotland living with Cystic Fibrosis have access to Specialist Cystic Fibrosis Centres. These include a Clinical Psychologist who forms part of the multidisciplinary team supporting the patient and their family.

Patient referrals will be made to the psychologist for in-patients, out-patients and those whom the multi-disciplinary team have specific concerns about. National Services Scotland- who commission adult CF Services- receive data about the work carried out by clinical psychologists within the annual reports for each Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre. This data, however, does not specifically state how many patients were seen by the psychologist at their annual review and instead relates to referrals and care episodes.

Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Services are commissioned and delivered by Local Health Boards, therefore information is not held centrally on the percentage of children who have seen a psychosocial professional at their 12 month review.

All boiler and heating systems, including Air Source Heat Pumps installed under Warmer Homes Scotland are guaranteed for a 2 year period. Warmworks, the Managing Agent for the scheme provide a one year maintenance warranty with the installer and this runs from the date of the installation for 12 months. Once this 12 month period is up, there is a further 12 month warranty with the boiler/heating system manufacturer. This means the boiler/heating system is covered for a full 2 years from the date of installation.

At the end of this 2 year warranty period all Warmer Homes Scotland customers become responsible for the maintenance of their boilers and heating systems together with any associated costs.

The Minister for Equalities and Older People has agreed to meet with the Chief Executive of Hourglass Scotland in the coming weeks. Officials are arranging a suitable date and time.

Within the Scottish Government funding of health research falls under the remit of the Chief Scientist Office.

Following an independent expert review process, 9 projects were funded through the CSO's Long-term effects of COVID-19 call Long Covid Call – Chief Scientist Office (scot.nhs.uk)

Final reports will be published on the CSO website upon completion of the projects. All the projects are scheduled to complete in Q1/Q2 of 2023.

Project final reports are the result of a collaborative effort between the individual project teams and members of the CSO Public Engagement Group who work together to ensure the reports are written in accessible language. There is therefore an inevitable short delay between the project end date and the publication of the final report.

Our guidance to local authorities on the administration of the cost of living award, available at Local government finance circulars - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) , sets out that councils have discretion to choose how this support is provided to eligible households in order to ensure delivery in April 2022.

All local authorities have now confirmed that most payments are included as a credit in Council Tax Bills for 2022-23.