SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Gender Violence
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the 16 days of activism against gender violence. (S3O-8428)
The 16 days of global activism to tackle violence against women are an important time of the year. It is with great pride that I will wear the white ribbon during that period to raise awareness of the issue.
I acknowledge the important work that continues to be done on the issue. However, I am sure that the minister would want the Scottish Parliament as a whole to resist the temptation to become complacent or self-congratulatory on the issue, given the continuing scale and impact of domestic abuse on individuals, families, public services and our economic and social wellbeing. What discussions has the minister had with the women's Scottish Trades Union Congress, which held a successful conference this week, on how the issues can be addressed in the workplace and on how violence against women can be tackled in order to address the broader issue of the gender gap in Scotland and the United Kingdom?
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing had a meeting with the STUC women's committee yesterday. That specific issue was not raised, but we are happy to meet the committee at any time to discuss the particulars of the 16-day campaign or any of the other issues. Through the national group on violence against women, which I chair, we try to consult every stakeholder on a regular basis to ensure that they have the maximum opportunity for input to the development and delivery of our strategy. I am happy to take on boards the points that have been made by Johann Lamont.
NHS Boards (Activities of Charities)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it appropriate for national health service boards to proscribe the activities of independent charities. (S3O-8396)
I am not aware of any cases of NHS boards proscribing the activities of independent charities.
The cabinet secretary is perhaps unaware that, despite not having received a single complaint about the provision of refreshments for patients, their visitors and staff at Inverclyde royal hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde proposes to impose a model of refreshment provision that has been developed to address inadequacies in the provision in Glasgow hospitals, thereby rendering redundant the local charity, the League of Hospital Friends. Having been made aware of that, does the cabinet secretary share the sense of revulsion that is felt by local residents at the heavy-handed, overbearing and dictatorial attitude of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde towards that highly respected local charity?
I have said previously in the chamber that I value highly the work of organisations such as the League of Hospital Friends. Volunteers do an immense amount of work in the NHS and I am very grateful to them for that. If there are particular details around the issue that Ross Finnie has raised of which I am not aware, I would be happy to have a discussion with him in order to understand fully the point that he is making.
Question 3 was not lodged.
NHS Medical Staff (Recruitment and Retention)
To ask the Scottish Executive what incentive schemes national health service boards have in place to ensure the recruitment and retention of medical staff, particularly in remote and rural areas. (S3O-8423)
A cash incentive scheme is available to NHS boards to support the recruitment of general practitioners in remote, rural and deprived areas. Every GP taking up a post in one of those areas is awarded a payment of £5,000, which is supplementary to the general golden hello payment for GPs. Beyond that, there are no further direct incentives in remote and rural areas. In the longer term, the joint Scottish Government/NHS Scotland medical workforce reshaping project aims to ensure stability and sustainability of the medical workforce throughout Scotland.
The minister may be aware that there is a particular problem in NHS Highland with the recruitment and retention of consultants specialising in learning disabilities. That is now a greater problem, following the sad death of Dr Iain White. The minister may also be aware of problems in recruiting and retaining other medical staff, such as dentists and doctors, in remote and rural areas. Will she consider extending the golden hello payments to other forms of staff in remote and rural areas and increasing funding to health boards that find themselves in that position?
I am more than happy to discuss further with Rhoda Grant the issue of learning disabilities—clearly, there are some specific circumstances in that regard.
I acknowledge the success of the dental facility at Lochshell near Wick, and I thank the cabinet secretary for that. However, does she agree that we still have a problem recruiting and retaining dental specialists such as orthodontists?
I acknowledge that point. As I have said previously to Jamie Stone and other members who rightly raise the issue of access to dentistry generally in Scotland, and to the specialisms that Jamie Stone mentioned, we are making real progress. More people are registered with a dentist than ever before and the number of people on waiting lists is coming down, but we still have considerable work to do. We have followed on the measures that were put in place by the previous Administration to address those challenges and we will continue to seek to address them, because people should have the access to dentistry that they have not always enjoyed in the past.
With regard to recruiting and retaining medical staff in remote and rural areas, does the minister agree that innovative training and the implementation of new technologies such as telehealth would make that work even more attractive?
I agree, and I hope that Mary Scanlon recognises that we are working in both of those directions. In response to Rhoda Grant, I mentioned the remote and rural health care strategy. As Mary Scanlon knows, that covers a number of issues related to how we train staff to better encourage them to take up posts in remote and rural areas. Mary Scanlon is to be commended for the way in which she pursues telehealth issues. I agree with her that telehealth has fantastic potential. I mentioned to her last night that I was in Orkney earlier this week and witnessed its telemedicine diabetes clinic, where someone in Orkney had a consultation with a clinician in Aberdeen. That is just one of many examples of how we can ease the challenges in rural areas through greater use of technology. I look forward to seeing that use of technology increase in times to come.
Question 5 was not lodged.
Older People (Long-term Care Wards)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve standards of care in long-term care wards for older people. (S3O-8441)
The Scottish Government and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland are leading on a range of initiatives to improve services for older people in the national health service, including those in long-term care wards. Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of opening the Elmview ward at Stratheden hospital in Cupar, which is a good example of the type of facility that can dramatically improve the standard of care in a long-term ward for people with dementia.
Despite the example that the minister cited, she is no doubt aware of the high level of dissatisfaction in some health board areas with out-of-date and poor physical environment, standards of care, indignity—including issues around toileting—insufficient activity and occupational therapy services. In the redesign of services for the elderly, does she have any plans for independent audit and monitoring of such care, including the physical environment in which it is delivered? Further to that, is she considering developing a toolkit to dignity-proof care, as suggested by the Royal College of Nursing Scotland?
We certainly expect boards, through their capital programmes and investment in the hospital estate, to do what NHS Fife has done, which is to consider the reprovisioning of long-stay wards. Although the emphasis is on maintaining people in the community, when people require to stay in hospital, their ward essentially becomes their home. It is therefore important that a homely environment can be created, which is certainly what has been done with the facilities in Elmview ward. As we move forward with reshaping older people's services, we will have to consider the issue of long-stay wards as part of future provision. That will very much be part of the debate and discussion.
Does the minister agree that it is far preferable that older people stay out of hospital wards for as long as possible? That is why I commend Newbyers village care home in Gorebridge, which provides sheltered accommodation for elderly people. Following on from Mary Scanlon's question, the care home makes innovative use of e-health and telehealth, which suggests that either the minister or the cabinet secretary may wish to visit the facility.
I would certainly be happy to visit that facility. It is always important to highlight good practice and facilities that others can learn from. Although we want to help people to live in the community for as long as possible, there will be people who, because of their profound needs, at some point may no longer be able to do that. It is therefore important that the long-stay wards that we provide are of a standard of which we would all be proud. I am keen to see the reprovisioning of such wards, as has been achieved at Elmview ward in Fife.
Ferry Service (Gourock to Dunoon)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take following the European Commissioner for Competition's decision concerning the ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon. (S3O-8385)
We welcome the findings of the European Commission's investigation into Scotland's ferry services. Those conclusions will allow us to secure the future of the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service. I will meet local stakeholders in Dunoon next Monday to explain to them the implications of that decision and to discuss the way forward for the ferry service.
As the minister knows, I have a long-standing interest in shipbuilding; I have raised with him in the past the issue of the age of the vessels on the service between Gourock and Dunoon. The MV Jupiter is 35 years old and the MV Saturn is 31 years old. Will the minister open dialogue with shipbuilders in Scotland to give them the opportunity to tender for any new builds that the route undoubtedly needs?
We have already asked Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd to investigate the provision of a vessel for any new operator there may be. Under the European Commission's ruling, the new operator would not be required to use that vessel, but by ensuring that an appropriate vessel is available, we hope to have the widest range of interest. I have spoken to the managing director of Ferguson Shipbuilders regarding the previous tender for the Islay vessel. At that time, the yard did not feel able to tender. The only other yard in the United Kingdom that is interested in such vessels is Appledore in the south-west of England. However, I am keen that Scottish companies should have the maximum opportunity to build new vessels for our ferry services.
Does the minister share my view that there is demonstrable public support for an unrestricted passenger and vehicle service between the town centres of Gourock and Dunoon? Can he confirm that Government policy is consistent with European Union regulations, which stipulate that the successful tendering company should provide vessels without frequency restrictions and compatible with the Dunoon linkspan?
We intend to go to tender on the basis of an unrestricted service frequency. One of the bonus findings of the European Commission's investigations was that the restrictions are no longer required. We will be able to subsidise only the passenger element of the service. We are seeking to ensure that any vessel that is brought to the route is compatible with the linkspan at Dunoon, which we are anxious to see come into service.
People's Charter
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to a request from the people's charter's Scottish organising committee to endorse the charter. (S3O-8446)
I have received a letter from Elaine Smith on behalf of the people's charter's Scottish organising committee. The letter will receive a formal response shortly, but I will make two points today. First, I welcome some of the charter's high-level aspirations, given their broad similarity to the Scottish Government's economic purpose and strategic objectives. Secondly, I note that the charter is primarily about influencing United Kingdom Government policy.
Given that some of the charter's aims chime with the Government's aims, does the cabinet secretary agree that it would be logical for the Government to support the charter, which simply sets out a programme for challenging the economic crisis and delivering a fairer society, to put people first? Will he attend the people's charter event in the Parliament on 25 November? That would allow him to learn more about the charter from the trade unions and the Scottish organising committee.
If Elaine Smith will forgive me, I will consider her request that I attend the event on 25 November.
“Shaping the Future of Care Together”
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding the possible impact on Scottish local authorities of proposals in the green paper, "Shaping the Future of Care Together". (S3O-8361)
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing wrote to the UK Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham, on 30 July requesting both an early and detailed explanation of the proposals set out in the green paper, "Shaping the Future of Care Together", and a commitment to give full consideration to the need to take into account the impact on Scottish Government responsibilities. Scottish Government officials subsequently met representatives of the Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions on 21 August. They met again on 6 November, joined by representatives from Her Majesty's Treasury, specifically to discuss the proposals in the green paper.
Figures in local government have expressed concern to me that one effect of distributing care money differently, as proposed in the green paper, will be on the Barnett formula. That has obvious implications for the future levels of funding that may be allocated to Scottish councils. Can the minister expand on the point and offer some reassurance that the budgets of Scottish councils will not be adversely affected if the proposals in the green paper are carried forward?
I recognise the concern to which the member refers. We were keen that discussions should take place because changing the benefits system in the way that is proposed has profound implications for our ability to deliver social care in Scotland. I assure the member that we are putting that point forcefully, to ensure that there is no negative fallout for local authorities or the social care system in Scotland. We will continue to do so.
That concludes general questions.
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