Chamber and committees

The Integration Joint Boards (IJB) Chief Officers Group is currently working to build a picture of which IJBs have formally adopted the terms set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) since its agreement earlier this year.

Although this work concluded earlier this year at a national level, timescales associated with local adoption of the MOU are expected to vary depending on the existing arrangements between individual Hospices and IJBs.

As set out in the Scottish Governments Rights, Respect and Recovery strategy we continue to support Harm Prevention work on a national level; this includes the potential provision of naloxone to first responders such as the Police.

Dialogue is ongoing between the Scottish Government and Police Scotland, with the latter recently establishing a short life working group to address; along with partners, the subject of Police access and carriage.

The inspection of drug addiction services is not within the remit of Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

Scottish Government did, however, commission the Care Inspectorate to review the way all 29 Alcohol and Drug Partnerships in Scotland used and applied the Scottish Government's 'Quality Principles' which set out the standard expectations of care and support in drug and alcohol treatment services. The Care Inspectorate's 2017 report, 'Alcohol and Drug partnerships - A report on the use and impact of the Quality Principles through validated self-assessment', can be found here - https://www.careinspectorate.com/images/documents/3850/Alcohol%20and%20Drug%20Partnerships%20-%20use%20and%20impact%20of%20the%20Quality%20Principles.pdf .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-25421 on  26 September 2019. 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 .

I agree with the member’s aspiration that there should be an equitable and consistent provision of services for people with eating disorders across Scotland.

As referenced in the answer to question S5W-24291, we have committed to Scotland-specific clinical guidelines, produced by SIGN. Additionally, we understand that the Mental Welfare Commission intend to publish a needs assessment report in 2020, outlining the current availability of Eating Disorders services. These two pieces of work will inform the level of support and resources that will be required by NHS Boards.

Scottish Government officials have been in discussions with the Royal College of Psychiatry’s Eating Disorders faculty over the course of 2019 in relation to a needs assessment, and a review of the existing evidence base.

As referenced in the answer to question S5W-25424, we understand that the Mental Welfare Commission intend to publish a needs assessment report in 2020. This report will outline the current availability of Eating Disorders services, and together with the SIGN guidelines, will inform future improvement work.

The Scottish Government is clear in our engagement with NHS Boards that patients should be assessed according to their clinical need. Our expectation is that those who need immediate treatment, whether for an eating disorder or for any condition or disorder requiring access to mental health services, will receive that care quickly – whether that takes place in specialist settings, or via the work of community mental health teams.

Community mental health teams already provide a range of services for different conditions, including Eating Disorders, covering a range of intensities. The forthcoming SIGN guidelines for Eating Disorders will outline the evidence for treatment, and will be an important consideration to further inform how local areas respond to individual cases.

The Cullen Centre provides an outpatient service for patients with an eating disorder who require support. This can include home visits where necessary, which would take place if patients have been clinically assessed as requiring it.

The Scottish Government notes that the Scottish Medicines Consortium has undertaken recently an assessment of the “CAR-T” cell therapy submission Kymriah ® (tisagenlecleucel) for paediatric patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia ( SMC2129 ) and adult patients with diffuse large cell B lymphoma ( SMC2200 ). In this assessment, the SMC’s existing methods and processes proved to be suitable for the consideration of gene therapies. The independent SMC does of course keep these matters under review.

NHS boards are required to make every effort to ensure the safety of patients' belongings while they are in hospital, and to have appropriate security arrangements in place. The Scottish Government welcomes suggestions to further increase safety arrangements, and will continue its work with NHS Boards to consider potential improvements that can be made.