Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-10657

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 12 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for a cataract operation has been in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S5W-18359

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the first Carer's Allowance Supplement payments will be made.

Question reference: S5W-17906

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of international best practice in the use of Doppler ultrasound scans.

Question reference: S5F-02546

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 September 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 September 2018

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland's call for an increase in the use of the thrombectomy procedure.

Question reference: S5W-18330

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17584 by Jeanne Freeman on 20 July 2018, what its position is on introducing lactate or other tests to help to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Decisions regarding the care and treatment of individual patients are always a matter of professional judgement for the clinician responsible for a patient’s care. Lactate tests are used when clinically appropriate and interpreted in the context of a patient’s clinical condition. Regarding the use of other antibiotic tests, I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-17584 on 20 July 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 .

Question reference: S5W-17905

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the use of growth scans and Doppler ultrasound scans could reduce the stillbirth rate.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline on antenatal care for routine pregnancies advises that routine Doppler ultrasound should not be used in low-risk pregnancies. A recent Cochrane review (2015) found that there is no conclusive evidence of health benefits to mother or baby to support the use of routine Doppler ultrasound scans for low risk or unselected pregnant women. NICE continues to assess studies and evidence which are published in this area with a view to keeping advice on use of scans in pregnancy up to date. Scottish Government has no plans to offer Doppler scans to all pregnant women.

Question reference: S5W-17903

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether all pregnant women should be offered Doppler ultrasound scans.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline on antenatal care for routine pregnancies advises that routine Doppler ultrasound should not be used in low-risk pregnancies. A recent Cochrane review (2015) found that there is no conclusive evidence of health benefits to mother or baby to support the use of routine Doppler ultrasound scans for low risk or unselected pregnant women. NICE continues to assess studies and evidence which are published in this area with a view to keeping advice on use of scans in pregnancy up to date. Scottish Government has no plans to offer Doppler scans to all pregnant women.

Question reference: S5W-17904

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether pregnant women expecting one baby should be offered regular growth scans, as is the case for those expecting multiple babies.

All women are offered two ultrasound scans during pregnancy as part of the screening programme. The first is offered between 11-13 weeks and the second, a foetal anatomy detailed scan is offered around 20 weeks. Any additional ultrasound scans offered will be based on individual risk assessment in line with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance.

Question reference: S5W-17910

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 22 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of which overseas patients are eligible for free primary care checks and care under the new GP contract.

Under the general medical services contract all overseas visitors are eligible to register as patients of a general practice and receive free treatment.

It is a long-standing principle that everybody in Scotland is entitled to register with a general medical practice and receive primary medical services without charge. Patients should register on a permanent or temporary basis depending upon on their length of stay in a practice area and not upon their legal status to remain in the UK. GPs are paid for this work as with any other patient.

Question reference: S5W-17739

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 22 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its policy guidelines on the recording of waiting times for patients whose operations are rescheduled.

The Scottish Government's policy is clear the waiting time for a patient's operation is measured from the time the patient and consultant agree treatment and stops when the patient's operation is undertaken. Therefore impact of rescheduling an operation will not impact a patient's actual waiting time. The Scottish Government has also made clear to NHS Boards that any patient who has an operation cancelled must have their operation rescheduled as quickly as possible and offered the next available admission date.

Chamber and committees