Chamber and committees

The recent quarterly increase in the rate of neonatal mortality is concerning.

We have asked Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) to look into the increase in neonatal mortality reported in 2021-2022, and although this report has been slightly delayed, we expect HIS to report early in 2024.

Whilst this report will not examine the cases included in the most recent rise, we expect that the findings of that report will help us understand why neonatal mortality may be increasing, and we will look to act on those findings.

Prison healthcare centres can issue condoms for all prisoners including those in the women’s prison estate as part of a range of approaches to support sexual and reproductive health among the prison population.

Table 1 shows total referrals, accepted referrals, total started treatment, total started treatment within 18 weeks of referral and percentage started treatment within 18 weeks of referral at NHS Tayside for 2021, 2022 and 2023 (January to September which is the latest published data).

The Scottish Government national standard is that 90% of children and young people should start treatment within 18 weeks of referral.

Table 1: Number of total referrals, accepted referrals, total started treatment, started treatment within 18 weeks of referral, and percentage stared treatment within 18 weeks from referral to treatment, for calendar years 2021, 2022 and 2023 (January – September), NHS Tayside

Table 1 shows total referrals, accepted referrals, total started treatment, total started treatment within 18 weeks of referral, and percentage started treatment within 18 weeks of referral at NHS Grampian for 2021, 2022 and 2023 (January to September, which is the latest published data).

The Scottish Government national standard is that 90% of children and young people should start treatment within 18 weeks of referral.

Table 1: Number of total referrals, accepted referrals, total started treatment, started treatment within 18 weeks of referral, and percentage seen within 18 weeks from referral to treatment, for calendar years 2021, 2022 and 2023 (January – September), NHS Grampian

The Third Sector plays a key role in providing perinatal mental health support and we are working with stakeholders as we develop this next stage.

Since 2020, over 10,000 people have been supported by the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Main Fund and Small Grants Fund. Between December 2019 and March 2023, over £2.8 million was distributed to 34 organisations to support families across Scotland.

Further details on Perinatal and Infant Mental Health grant funding beyond September 2024 will be issued in coming months.

The new Joint Strategic Board for Children and Family Mental Health, co-chaired by Scottish Government and COSLA, will have a strategic overview of mental health work spanning preconception, the perinatal period, parent-infant relationships, early years (up to 5), children and young people (5-24 year olds or 26 years for care leavers), their families and carers. This will build on the work of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Joint Delivery Board and the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board which both came to an end in March 2023.

Work is underway to set up the new Joint Strategic Board. An early preparatory meeting of the Board took place in November, with the first formal meeting of the Board due to take place in early 2024. Part of this work will involve establishing the precise make up of the implementation groups sitting under the Joint Strategic Board. Whilst the exact remit of these groups has still to be finalised, perinatal and early years mental health has been agreed as a core priority area for the Joint Strategic Board.

In September 2023, organisations in receipt of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Grant funding were informed that this would be extended until the end of September 2024.

A commitment to further grant funding was made in the Mental Health & Wellbeing Delivery Plan and an update will be issued in coming months.

Transport Scotland, through its four Trunk Road Operating Companies and five Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) Concessionaires, is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network, including motorways.? The repair of potholes on all other roads is the responsibility of the local authorities.

Category 1 potholes are defined within the term maintenance contract as those that present, or could present, an immediate hazard to trunk road users. They are typically detected during driven safety related inspections. The following table shows the number of Category 1 potholes recorded since 2019 for each section of network requested.

We recognise the significant impact on people, businesses and communities in areas affected by storm Babet. The Scottish Government is committed to playing its part in helping them through this horrible experience which has destroyed so many people’s property and belongings and established the Storm Babet Ministerial Taskforce to co-ordinate its support for local recovery efforts.

The package of support Scottish Government is providing includes Flood Recovery Grants to assist people whose homes and businesses have been flooded; initiating the Bellwin Scheme to help all Councils cover eligible expenditure for urgent repairs; grants for farmers affected by severe flooding in parts of Scotland to help repair man-made flood banks; and an additional £100,000 for Angus Council’s homelessness prevention efforts to help those families who have lost everything to resettle and rebuild their lives.

Letters offering additional funding have been supplied to each Storm Babet local authority within the red warning area for rain. Residents and businesses impacted can claim grants of £1,500 for damage to their homes and property, businesses can claim £3,000, and should contact their Local Authority for advice.

Details on the Flood Recovery Grants were posted on social media and published on the Scottish Government website on 30 November 2023. The grants and information on how to apply were also publicised on Local Authority websites.

Transport Scotland, through its four Trunk Road Operating Companies and five Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) Concessionaires, is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network, including motorways. The repair of potholes on all other roads is the responsibility of the local authorities.

Category 1 potholes are defined within the term maintenance contract as those that present, or could present, an immediate hazard to trunk road users. They are typically detected during driven safety related inspections. The following table shows the number of Category 1 potholes recorded since 2013 broken down by operational area. A map showing these operational areas can be found here . Data between 2007 and 2013 is not available.