Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government are committed to making improvements at the Haudagain roundabout once work on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route scheme is finished, and are reviewing the programme in light of the new completion date.

The average response time for an ambulance in the NHS Grampian area in 2013-14 is 7.2 minutes for Category A incidents and 8.9 minutes for all emergency incidents (including Category A and B incidents). This excludes incidents where an ambulance had been dispatched but then stood down.

The number (headcount) of GPs in post in NHS Grampian by local authority area for 2009 to 2013 is included in Table 1.

Table 1: Number (headcount) of GPs in post in NHS Grampian by local authority area for 2009 to 2013

Source: Information Services Division Scotland

Ref: IR2014-02107

42,859 emergency incidents were attended by the Scottish Ambulance Service in the NHS Grampian area in 2013-14. This excludes urgent and routine incidents.

As I announced last week following the issue of the intention to award letter to Connect Roads, the project is now scheduled to be completed ahead of programme in winter 2017.

Influenza vaccine uptake is monitored by Health Protection Scotland based on aggregate level data for all population groups eligible for free influenza vaccine in Scotland. These population groups (as defined by their age and/or by the presence of underlying chronic health conditions) are listed in table 1. These groups have been identified as being at increased risk of influenza infection and severe presentation or complications of influenza infections, and/or as posing an increased risk of transmitting influenza to vulnerable individuals. Data are collected at the aggregate level and a breakdown by the age groups requested in the question is not routinely available. We have therefore provided the standard data for the eligible groups. The population groups recommended to receive the influenza vaccine have changed over the years as new evidence is considered by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and the eligible groups are stated annually as part of the Chief Medical Officer's seasonal influenza vaccination letter. Vaccine uptake for the different groups is derived from a number of data sources, which are described in more detail below.

Table 1: Cumulative influenza vaccine uptake in Scotland by eligible group over the last five influenza seasons (October to mid-May).

1. End of season vaccine uptake for seasons 2010-11 to 2013-14 for the 65 years and older group is based on GP claims for payments for influenza vaccinations. In season vaccination uptake estimates for season 2014-15 for this group is based on weekly automated extracts from GP software.

2. End of season vaccine uptake for seasons 2011-12 to 2013-14 for the under 65-year-olds in a clinical at risk group (excluding pregnant women without clinical risk group and carers) is based on GP claims for payments for influenza vaccinations. End of season vaccine uptake for season 2010-11 and in season vaccination uptake estimates for 2014-15 for this group is based on weekly automated extracts from GP software.

3. End of season vaccine uptake estimates for seasons 2010-11 to 2013-14 and in season vaccine uptake estimates for season 2014-15 for pregnant women in a clinical risk group and pregnant women not in a clinical risk group are based on weekly automated extracts from GP software. Particularly high uptake of vaccination in season 2010-11 was associated with media coverage of cases of severe influenza infections in pregnant women, some with fatal outcome.

4. In 2013-14 all two and three-year-old children (regardless of whether or not they were in a clinical at risk group, age as on 1 September 2013) were eligible for influenza vaccination, as partial implementation of the extension of the seasonal influenza programme to all children. End of season vaccine uptake estimates for season 2013-14 is based on weekly automated extracts from GP software.

5. In season 2014-15 eligibility for influenza vaccination was extended to all two to five-year-old children not yet in school (regardless of whether or not they were in a clinical at risk group, age as on 1 September 2013). End of season vaccine uptake estimates for seasons 2014-15 based on weekly automated extracts from GP software.

6. The pilot programme in Scotland in 2013-14 targeted a subset of primary school aged children, in preparation for full primary school roll out of the childhood influenza vaccine programme in 2014-15. Aggregate level data on number of eligible pupils per school and number of children vaccinated was collated nationally on a weekly basis, end of season figures provided here include children vaccinated at mop up sessions, but not children vaccinated at GPs (one NHS island board delivered the primary school aged pilots in the GP setting).

7. In season 2014-15 all primary school aged children across Scotland are eligible for influenza vaccination. Aggregate level data on number of eligible pupils per school and number of children vaccinated is collated nationally on a weekly basis; in season data is provided to week 48 of 2014 (week ending 30 November 2014). Figures provided include children vaccinated at mop up/community sessions, but not children vaccinated at GPs (one NHS island board delivered the primary school aged pilots in the GP setting).

The Scottish Government recognises the important role football plays in communities across Scotland and believes grass roots football is a key area in helping the Scottish Government achieve several sporting, health, community and educational ambitions.

The most recent sportscotland investment in Scottish Football Association (SFA) activities and programmes is £1.656 million, covering a 15 month period from 1 Jan 2014 to 31 March 2015, of which £1 million contributes towards the delivery of the SFA’s 10-year youth action plan. As the current investment represents the final year of a 10-year support commitment, the SFA are in the process of submitting a new four-year development plan for funding consideration by the sportscotland board, which would run from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2019. The new development plan will identify SFA plans and priorities in the area of youth football, along with other SFA development activities and programmes.

NHS Grampian closed the Lowit Unit to inpatients on 12 September 2014. NHS Grampian is reviewing its Tier 4 services with a view to supporting the pathway and proposed transitions in care as part of the overall preparation for the new Regional Young Peoples Unit that is scheduled to open in summer 2015.

All existing resources will be used to provide sustainable and modern services for patients in NHS Grampian requiring high levels of Tier 4 care and treatment for their complex and severe mental health conditions. This will be via the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services based at Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital and the Young Peoples Department in Aberdeen.

Information obtained from NHS Grampian indicates that they spent £5.2 million in 2012-13 and £4.1 million in 2013-14. That equates to 0.73% of the NHS Grampian’s resource budget in 2012-13, falling to 0.55% in 2013-14. This is in the independent sector to help deliver the inpatient and day case legal treatment times guarantee and other waiting time standards.

The Scottish Government policy is very clear that NHS boards should use NHS funding to build sustainable capacity. The use of the private sector should only be used in the margins to deal with short-term capacity issues.