- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 February 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 27 February 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve mental health service provision for autistic people, in light of a recent survey by the Autistic Mutual Aid Society, which indicated that a quarter of people were denied this support because they are autistic.
Answer
The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to improving the lives of autistic people in Scotland through The Scottish Strategy for Autism and values the involvement of autistic people in the strategies planning and decision.
Local provision of mental health support for autistic people is the responsibility of the local NHS Boards The Scottish Government is clear that all NHS Boards must ensure that their services are planned efficiently so that patients - including autistic people - have swift and safe access to the full range of services they need. Nationally, support is also available through NHS 24, the Samaritans, Breathing Space and NHS Living Life.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 February 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 27 February 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve mental health support for farmers.
Answer
The Scottish Government made a clear commitment to improving mental health provision including specifically those in rural areas through the Mental Health Strategy published in 2017 and Better Mental Health in Scotland: PfG delivery plan published in 2018.
The National Rural Mental Health Forum was established in 2017 through Scottish Government funding and helps people in rural areas including farmers to maintain good mental health and wellbeing. Members of the forum include National Farmers Union Scotland, Scottish Tenant Farmers' Association and the Scottish Farmer.
Currently, the Forum are linking with the work being done by the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group who have been established to drive delivery of the Suicide Prevention Action Plan.
As part of the broader programme of work to enhance digital services, NHS 24 will roll out video-conferencing clinics trials between October 2019 and March 2020 to improve access to psychological assessment and therapies in rural areas through the use of technology such as video-conferencing.
Furthermore, in December 2018 the Scottish Government published its first national strategy to help tackle social isolation and loneliness and build stronger social connections. As part of this, and in recognition of the distinct needs of those in rural communities, including farmers, we will engage with bodies like Scottish Rural Action and Scotland’s National Rural Mental Health Forum.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 4 February 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in relation to the statistics in the ISD publication, Cancer Incidence Projections for Scotland 2013-2027, which show that the number of new cases of female breast cancer is projected to increase by 27% between 2008-12 and 2023-27, from just over 22,400 cases to nearly 28,600.
Answer
We are committed to improving the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare for all people living in Scotland who are affected by any form of cancer. This is reflected in our £100 million, 5 year national cancer strategy, ‘Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action’ .
It is welcome that overall cancer incidence has decreased over the past 10 years, but we want to help reduce that further.
We will continue to take bold and progressive preventative strategies, such as a minimum unit pricing for alcohol, to encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyles thereby reducing their risk of developing cancer.
People can survive for longer after treatment the earlier a cancer is diagnosed - around 85.2% of breast cancers are detected at early stages (stage 1 or 2). That is why we will continue to work - through our National Screening, and Detect Cancer Early (DCE) programmes - toward identifying breast cancers at the earliest stage, and to continue to drive down the existing inequalities gap.
We continue dialogue with breast cancer charities to focus on improving breast cancer services for everyone in Scotland who needs them.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 4 February 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in relation to statistics in the Royal College of Radiologists report, The breast imaging and diagnostic workforce in the United Kingdom, which state that 20% of breast radiologists in Scotland are expected to retire between 2015 and 2025.
Answer
Numbers of clinical radiology consultants in NHSScotland have increased in this government by 45.4%: from 223.5 WTE in September 2006 to 325.0 WTE as at September 2018.
We have also enhanced the supply of doctors to fill radiology training posts, with 26 new training places between 2014 and 2017 – an increase of 20%. We are continuing to invest in radiology specialty training and from 2018-23 we are increasing trainee posts by 50.
While it is possible to retire at 55, there is no fixed retirement age. We seek to make use of consultants and their experience wherever we can. Many doctors who retire continue to work on an ad hoc basis for NHS Scotland through the NHS Staff Bank.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 February 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what it will do to improve cancer treatment waiting times in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, in light of it reportedly being the worst performing NHS board for the 31-day target and the second worst for the 62-day target.
Answer
Latest published data from ISD show that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde narrowly missed the 31 day (95%) standard in Q3 2018 (July - Sept) with 94.8% of patients receiving treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat with an average wait of seven days (above NHS Highland, Tayside, Lothian and Grampian).
While the average wait for patients on the 62 day pathway was 46 days NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s performance against this 62 day standard at 76.5% is not acceptable and as such the Scottish Government published the £850 million Waiting Times Improvement Plan on 23 October 2018. The Plan sets out a series of actions to ensure the future delivery of waiting time standards for patients across Scotland by Spring 2021. Investment will support reforms to increase capacity, increase clinical effectiveness and efficiency as well as implementing new models of care. The immediate focus is on improvements for patients whose treatment is urgent, who have a suspicion of cancer, and those who have been waiting longest for an appointment.
Following the development of the Effective Cancer Management Framework in 2018 an experienced Cancer Service Manager is providing tailored support to NHS Boards across Scotland including NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 February 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland report, Progress Review of Provision of Forensic Medical Services to Victims of Sexual Crime, what progress is being made with relocating the Archway service to alternative premises in Glasgow city centre.
Answer
The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland chairs a Taskforce set up to provide national leadership for the improvement of healthcare and forensic medical examination services for people who have experienced rape and sexual assault.
Following a rigorous options appraisal exercise in 2018, the Taskforce is supporting each of the 14 Territorial Health Boards to develop person centred, trauma informed services as close as possible to the point of need, supported by regional centres of expertise.
The Taskforce National Co-Ordinator is working closely with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the West of Scotland Boards, on proposals for a new multi-agency facility within Glasgow City Centre which will support delivery of this model. These plans are in progress.
The Scottish Government has committed £8.5m over three years to support Health Boards across Scotland to deliver consistent and sustainable services and to help embed the published Healthcare Improvement Scotland Standards.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 February 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-01442 by Jeane Freeman on 22 January 2019 (Official Report, c.3), in light of the announcement of the review into the reported multiple problems at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital; who will carry out the review out; what its scope will be, and what the timetable is for completion.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21250 on 25 January 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at .
It will be for the independent Chair to determine the detailed scope and the timeframe for the review.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 25 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that more than £15 million was spent by Glasgow City Council on supply teachers in 2017-18, which represented a £1.5 million increase on the previous year.
Answer
The recruitment and deployment of teachers is a matter for local authorities and it is for them to determine what best suits their local needs.
We value the important contribution that all teachers make to the education of our children and young people. Supply teachers play a key role, not only in covering for unforeseen teacher absences, but they also provide invaluable cover to enable teachers to undertake professional development. The spend reported by Glasgow City Council on supply teachers represents a small percentage of their overall spend on schools.
We are also working with local government and teacher unions to make the employment for supply teachers more streamlined, when it is required.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 17 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20711 by Clare Haughey on 8 January 2019, by what date the update on recruitment will be provided.
Answer
As referred to in my answer to question S5W-20711, a reporting template was issued to all the Integration Authorities in December for completion.
Policy officials are currently in the process of receiving and collating this information. I expect to be able to report on progress in February 2019.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes active travel.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2019
