Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-27168

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what research it is undertaking into the reasons for asthma affecting women more than men.

The Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO) provides funding opportunities for applied health and social care research in Scotland, which includes research on gender differences in asthma, through CSO’s open competitive grant schemes and similar schemes run by the National Institute for Health Research. The quality of applications to these schemes is assessed through independent expert peer review with funding recommendations made by independent expert committees. CSO also funds the NHS Research Scotland Respiratory Research Specialty Group, which facilitates the set up and conduct of clinical studies on respiratory diseases such as asthma.

CSO has funded one study through its grant schemes relating to asthma effects in women. This was a systematic review of the scientific evidence on the role of sex steroid hormones for the prevention of asthma and allergy in women. A summary of this study is at: https://www.cso.scot.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/Focus-on-Research-CZH-4-1083.pdf .

Question reference: S5W-27169

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to the use of preventative, as opposed to reactive, treatments to reduce the death rate from asthma.

Prevention is a key priority in our consultation on the draft Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland. We know that reducing the risk of respiratory conditions including asthma, means reducing or avoiding exposure to common risk factors. We have set out ambitious aims to tackle the health implications in respect of smoking, clean air, healthy weight and the importance of vaccinations. Our key plans can be found at: A healthier future: Scotland’s diet and healthy weight delivery plan , Raising Scotland's tobacco-free generation: our tobacco control action plan 2018 and Cleaner Air for Scotland: the road to a healthier future .

Question reference: S5W-27210

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of there being no statutory waiting time for return chronic pain patient appointments, what analysis it has carried out of the waiting times being experienced by people requiring such appointments.

Question reference: S5W-27215

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a statutory time limit for return chronic pain appointments similar to that in place for new patients, in light of figures released under freedom of information, which record that clinics dealt with 20,117 new and around 40,000 return appointments in 2018.

Question reference: S5W-26728

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 13 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government who determines the dosage, e.g. 5mg, 10mg or 20mg, of liothyronine (T3) in tablets that can be sourced by pharmacists for people with an under-active thyroid.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers are responsible for developing medicine, including determining the strength/dose, formulation and recommendations on appropriate dosages/quantity to be taken. Pharmaceutical companies invest in and undertake extensive research into developing and testing the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines. All medicines must be fully researched and tested before they can be licensed and prescribed to patients across NHSScotland. The licencing of medicines is a reserved matter for the UK Government. When a medicine is no longer in patent, it can be manufactured as a generic by any other pharmaceutical manufacturer.

Question reference: S5W-26730

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether people who require liothyronine (T3) medication should have to purchase this from overseas due to a lack of availability in Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not support importing any medicine, whether licenced or not, from abroad for medical use. All Health Boards in Scotland have confirmed that they are committed to:

1. a holistic and safe review of patients prescribed T3 which is undertaken by a healthcare professional based on the needs of the individual patient.

2. clinicians initiating and continuing T3 where it is safe and clinically appropriate to do so, as agreed with a NHS consultant who specialises in endocrinology.

Question reference: S5W-26727

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the impact of the availability of liothyronine (T3) on people with an under-active thyroid.

The Scottish Government is supportive of the guidelines published by the British Thyroid Association in 2015. These are that T4 remains the treatment of choice in hypothyroidism. However, each Health Board in Scotland has confirmed that they are committed to clinicians initiating and continuing T3 where it is safe and clinically appropriate to do so, as agreed with an NHS consultant who specialises in endocrinology.

Question reference: S5W-26804

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether GPs can choose not to prescribe drugs to people who are being seen by an endocrinologist because of cost reasons.

Question reference: S5W-26803

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances GPs can choose not to prescribe drugs that are available on their NHS board's formulary.

Question reference: S5W-26729

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 8 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether pharmaceutical companies produce various dosages, e.g. 5mg, 10mg or 20mg, of liothyronine (T3) medication, and what its position is on whether these should be made available to people with an under-active thyroid.

Liothyronine (T3) is licenced and available for use in the UK in 5 microgram, 10 microgram and 20 microgram strengths.

All medicines are prescribed based on clinical need. Doctors and other prescribers should always discuss treatment options with individuals. Prescribing decisions are based on national clinical guidelines which outline recommendations for effective practice based on current evidence.