���˿���

The Scottish Government’s Capital Investment Group (CIG) oversees the approval process for business cases across NHSScotland and provides the necessary assurances that proposals are robust, affordable, deliverable, and that they are in line with wider NHS policy. Following consideration by the CIG, approval was given for the Initial Agreements for the NHS Highland “North of Scotland Elective Care Centre” and the Golden Jubilee National Hospital "Ophthalmology Unit Development’" on 28 September 2017. The Business Cases for these elective centres are now under development.

The Initial Agreements for the remaining centres continue to be developed, supported and informed by a range of national planning work, and will be considered by the CIG in due course. In line with the original commitment, the programme to deliver the elective centres remains on track for completion by the end of 2021.

While the whistle-blower raised concerns about St Johns Hospital specifically, NHS Lothian subsequently carried out an internal review of three of its acute hospitals. The independent Review, led by the Professor Derek Bell, will not only investigate the allegations made by the whistle-blower but will also review the findings from NHS Lothian's internal review, including St Johns Hospital, the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the Western General hospital.

As I said to the member, I expect the review to conclude early in the New Year.

Scottish Government data collation procedures only allow to distinguish between serious and slight injuries for such instances and these were set out in the answer to S5W-12702. It is not possible to directly attribute the wearing of a helmet to the injuries sustained in all of the situations contained in these statistics, however the Scottish Government encourages all cyclists to undertake safeguards and to wear a suitable helmet in line with advice in the UK Highway Code.

From the December 2017 timetable change some services on the North Berwick route serving Wallyford and Musselburgh have been strengthened from three to six cars providing more seating capacity. Services on the route continue to be provided by Class 380 trains, with plans for further capacity to be provided by the end of 2018 when all peak services will be provided with 6 cars.

It is the role of the Scottish Government to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards so they can deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations. The provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local Boards, taking into account national guidance, local service needs and priorities for investment.

There are no current guideline judgements or sentencing guidelines in relation to the sentencing of people aged under 18 convicted of culpable homicide. Section 118 and section 189 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 provide authority for the court to issue a guideline judgement when dealing with a sentence appeal. In addition, the independent Scottish Sentencing Council is able to propose sentencing guidelines for approval by the High Court.

In the case of guideline judgements, it is a matter for the court to determine what issues could be covered. In the case of sentencing guidelines, it is a matter for the Sentencing Council to determine what issues could be covered.

There are currently 400 trainee technicians in the Scottish Ambulance Service. The main duties of technicians include:

•  Assessing and managing patients using appropriate techniques

• Conveying patients to hospital, or another setting if necessary

• Supporting paramedics to carry out interventions as required

• Ensure equipment is safe, clean and in good working order

Training of ambulance technicians is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone living in Scotland with are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

Through clinical guidelines issued by The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) ‘107 Diagnosis and management of headache in adults’ variation in practice and outcomes should be reduced. Implementation of guidelines is the responsibility of each individual NHS board. A new SIGN Guideline on the Prevention and treatment of patients with episodic and chronic migraine is currently in development.

In addition to the SIGN Guideline there are a set of clinical standards on headache that form part of the Clinical Standards for Neurological Services. These standards are currently being reviewed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

The National Advisory Committee for Neurological Conditions is currently collating data on the number of patients in Scotland with Migraine or other headache types, in order to understand the prevalence of Headache in Scotland.

Headache is one of the group of neurological conditions that is being considered during the development of the National Action Plan on Neurological Conditions.