- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the National Care Home Contract recognises the complex clinical needs of residents.
Answer
The National Care Home Contract is negotiated annually between COSLA, Scottish Care and CCPS. The Scottish Government is contributing to a range of work streams designed to reform and develop the National Care Home Contract, including in respect of workforce issues and quality and improvement. This will ensure that the National Care Home Contract remains fit for purpose and responsive to the changing needs of care home residents.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with independent care home providers about workforce issues.
Answer
Scottish Government officials are in regular dialogue with providers and receive live updates regarding any current issues. Scottish Government officials also hold a National Workforce Planning Group. This is the main stakeholder group driving the health and social care workforce plan and discussing the challenges facing the health and social care workforce both now and going forward into the future.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 31 October 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11582 by Derek Mackay on 5 October 2017, what plans it has to phase-out fossil fuel vehicles used in (a) the ministerial car pool, (b) Transport Scotland, and (c) other areas of the Government Car Service.
Answer
Our Programme for Government sets out that we will take the lead in promoting the use of ultralow emission vehicles (ULEVs) and phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032, well ahead of the 2040 target recently announced by the UK Government.
The Scottish Government’s fleet replacement policy is to consider a replacement when a vehicle has reached 80,000 miles or six years. The final decision will also depend on the condition and history of the vehicle.
When considering vehicles for the fleet, the replacement will be fit for purpose, be ultra-low emission (where practicable) or offer significantly lower emissions (where practicable) than the vehicle being replaced, whilst ensuring best value for money.
This current strategy will allow us to phase out fossil fuelled vehicles as and when vehicles come to the end of their operational life and suitable replacements are available.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2017
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update of the progress being made by the Scottish Growth Scheme.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2017
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 24 October 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its investment has been in dermatology services in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The allocation of spend is determined by territorial Health Boards. The Scottish Government’s role is to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards to allow them to deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations.
The Scottish Government Modern Outpatient Programme recently invested £80,500 to update and improve nineteen national dermatological pathways in collaboration with Dermatology and Primary Care practitioners. Education events were held across Scotland to promote the pathways amongst clinicians. As a part of this funding, an app has been developed which allows clinicians to access the pathways easily and quickly from their smartphones or surgery computers.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 24 October 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what the recruitment process will be for the appointment of a new chief executive for NHS Orkney after the current postholder takes up a position with NHS Forth Valley; by what date the new chief executive will be in post, and whether it can confirm that the person appointed will carry out their role exclusively for NHS Orkney and not work jointly with another NHS board.
Answer
The recruitment of a new Chief Executive is a matter for NHS Orkney as the employer. NHS Orkney is putting in place interim arrangements while proposals for the appointment of a new Chief Executive are developed.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 5 October 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many vehicles (a) there are in the ministerial car pool and (b) are allocated to (i) its and (ii) Transport Scotland's officials, also broken down by how many are electric.
Answer
The Government Car Service (GCS) operates 24 vehicles of which 6 are hybrid vehicles (3 are plug-in).
The Government Car Service in Scotland (GCS) provides transport for: members of the Scottish Cabinet and Ministers; Ministers of other UK Administrations when in Scotland; the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General; the Permanent Secretary; dignitaries and advisers, with the approval of Ministers.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 September 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many a) consultant and (b) professional dermatologists are employed by each NHS board, also broken down by (i) how many positions have been vacant and (ii) the longest time each board has taken to fill a vacancy in the last 12 months.
Answer
Information on how many (a) consultant dermatologists are employed in each NHSScotland Board is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web link:-
https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2017-09-05/Consultant_Staff_In_Post_J2017.xls
“Professional dermatologists” is not a recognised specialty. However, information on specialist doctors, including dermatology medical staff, is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web link:-
https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2017-09-05/HCHS_by_specialty_J2017.xls
Information on (i) vacant consultant dermatology posts, broken down by NHSScotland Board is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web link:-
https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2017-09-05/Consultant_Vacancies_J2017.xls
Information on (ii) the longest time each NHSScotland Board has taken to fill a vacancy in the last 12 months is not centrally held. Specific local information may be available from individual NHSScotland Boards.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 September 2017
To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards work in partnership to deliver dermatology care, and how this care is delivered.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to making sure that everyone living in Scotland is able to access the best possible care and support. The provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local NHS Boards.
It is for NHS Boards and Integration Authorities to work together to ensure that the best possible dermatology care is provided to individuals in their local areas.
We expect health care professionals to follow agreed local and national guidelines. In relation to dermatology, clinicians should deliver care in line with the dermatological conditions management pathways. As part of The Modern Outpatient Programme, the 19 pathways have recently been refined and revised by dermatology consultants and GPs from across Scotland. The pathways are available via Web based smart technology and are aimed at supporting GPs in the on-going management of these conditions.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 31 August 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 September 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Reform Scotland’s recent publication, Reforming Prison, and its recommendations to stop the use of short prison sentences of less than six months and to introduce a pilot scheme for putting landline phones in prisoners’ cells.
Answer
In the Programme for Government published on 5 September 2017 the Scottish Government committed to extend the legislative presumption against short periods of imprisonment from 3 months to 12 months. Extending the presumption sends a clear signal that short sentences should only be imposed where no other alternatives are suitable, and is part of our wider commitment to shift the emphasis from ineffective short-term imprisonment to greater use of robust community sentences.
Ultimately, sentencing decisions should and do remain a matter for the courts. The presumption is not a ban, and courts retain the discretion to pass the most appropriate sentence based on the facts and circumstances of the case they are dealing with.
There are no current plans to introduce telephones in prisoners' cells in Scotland. The Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service both recognise the importance of individuals maintaining family links during their time in custody, and continue to look at ways in which we can support and enhance this.
