Chamber and committees

Over 1.6 million vaccines have been procured for this year’s seasonal flu programme – 200,000 additional flu vaccines more than last year. This is enough vaccine for 80% of all eligible age groups.

FTE Staff Numbers are provided in the annual reports published by Accountant in Bankruptcy on its web-site – www.aib.gov.uk

For ease of reference, the collated information is set out in the following table - the numbers quoted relate to the position as at 31 March.

The number of (a) female and (b) male retail apprenticeships over each of the last five years are detailed in the following table:

The most recent Scottish data available on uptake of flu vaccination is available at https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/resp/influenzareports.aspx  

The amounts are set out in the following table.

I refer the member to answer to question S5W-20134 on 4 December 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Information on delays within the Scottish Breast Screening programme are recorded by six regional Breast Screening centres.

As of September 2018, the delays range from 1 to 2 weeks ahead of schedule to 23 weeks over. Delays can vary from centre to centre and across the mobile units managed by each screening centre. Delay is monitored locally and reported monthly to National Services division who commission and manage the programme. The screening centres are required to submit a robust action plan detailing the initiatives and timescales to reduce delays.

The reasons for delays are multi factorial and may include increases in the eligible population to be invited, changes at GP practice level, staffing or equipment issues and adverse weather events.

There is no centrally held information on what the longest and average waiting time has been for breast screening in each year since 2010-11, broken down by NHS Board.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland set clinical standards for breast screening invitations, uptake and referral rates to reduce breast cancer mortality and ensure breast screening takes place in a timely manner and in line with the advice of the UK National Screening Committee.

The Scottish Government has also set two standards for patients diagnosed with cancer. The first is that patients who have been urgently referred with a suspicion of cancer or are referred from one of the national cancer screening programmes, should begin treatment within 62 days. The second standard is that all patients diagnosed with cancer, irrespective of the route of referral, should begin treatment within 31 days from the date that the decision to treat was agreed with the patient.

These standards help to speed up the screening and diagnostic pathway and reduce the period of uncertainty that can exist whilst trying to establish a diagnosis. While there is no centrally held information on average waiting times for breast screening these standards provide assurance to patients that the immediate cancer control measures are being started as soon as possible.

This Government has always prioritised tackling fuel poverty and is committed to ensuring that everyone in Scotland lives in a warm home that is affordable to heat, no matter where they live.

We are on track to deliver our 2016 Programme for Government commitment to make half a billion pounds available over the 4 years to 2021 to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency.

Screening aims to detect breast cancers at the earliest opportunity, maximise the success of treatment and reduce mortality from breast cancer. The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) currently recommends that all eligible women aged 50 to 70 are invited to breast screening every three years.

The NHS Scotland Breast Screening programme (SBSP) is responsible for ensuring this recommendation is implemented. National Services Division who commission and manage the programme work closely with each territorial NHS Board to ensure eligible women are invited for breast screening timeously.

Over 750,000 women are invited for breast screening every 3 years. Given the size and scale of this national programme delays may occur. These can vary from screening centre to screening centre and across the mobile screening units managed by the six regional screening centres. Any delay is monitored locally and reported monthly to National Services Division who commission and manage the SBSP.