Chamber and committees

The following table provides details of the number of pharmacy degrees awarded by each of the Scottish Schools of Pharmacy and the number of pharmacists joining the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) register each year from 1999 to 2017. The data is provided by the GPhC and is an extract registrant data captured on their recording systems.

The data on the number of registrants joining the GPhC register is based on those registrants for whom a school of pharmacy has been captured in their systems. It is important to note that for older data that preceded the formation of the GPhC (2010), this information may not be complete.

In addition, there is not a direct link between the year of graduation and year of registration. Students graduating in any given year for the time period provided would not be eligible to join the GPhC register until the following year at the earliest because of the requirement to successfully complete a one year pre-registration training and assessment.

Furthermore, for any given year those joining the register could have graduated prior to the previous year as not all graduates immediately commence their pre-registration training. There are also instances where graduates may have undertaken pre-registration in training in other parts of the UK, or abroad in the case for some foreign students.

The Managed Service Network (MSN) – Neurosurgery has developed a brain tumour pathway. A copy of the pathway is available at:

http://www.msn-neuro.scot.nhs.uk/services/pathways/docs/MSN_Brain_Tumour_Pathway_Version_3_9.pdf

Subject to the successful development and implementation of a national eReferral system - details of which can be found at: http://www.msn-neuro.scot.nhs.uk/projects/active-ereferral/ , the MSN intends to launch the pathways throughout Scotland and analyse the variance of compliance. . The MSN will also be auditing the management of patients with brain tumours (benign and malignant), as part of the newly-formed Neurosurgical Research Collaborative (NRC).

The MSN Brain Tumour Pathway states it reflects the NICE guidance currently available at:

NICE: Brain Cancer – Guidelines, Pathways and Quality Standards

Although there is no specific general duty, Scottish Ministers expect Scottish Canals to consult and engage with stakeholders as widely as possible and at appropriate points in the development of projects.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15929 on‎ 26 April 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 used for analysing trends is based on the number of quit attempts made through NHS services and data on that is available for financial years 2009-10 to 2016-17 in the Information Services Divisions latest NHS Smoking Cessation Services Scotland 2016/17 report published in October 2017. Data on numbers of quit attempts for financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 can be viewed in the 2015-16 NHS Smoking Cessation Service Scotland report published in October 2016. No data for 2005-06 is available.

We want to ensure that people living with neurological conditions have consistent access to the best possible care and support. The integration of health and social care places a greater emphasis on community-based and more joined-up and anticipatory care which will benefit a wide range of people including people with neurological conditions. Strategic commissioning plans have been developed by each Integration Authority based upon a strategic needs assessment of local people's needs, including people with neurological conditions.

Data regarding how many people with a neurological condition are being cared for in care homes, broken down by local authority, is currently not held centrally. The Scottish Care Home Census is now collating data on the numbers of long-stay residents that have a neurological condition and the first publication of this data will be in Autumn 2018.

Comprehensive assessments, including any specialist assessments for neurological conditions where this has identified as being required, are undertaken prior to people being admitted to care homes and placed there by the relevant local authority/ integration authority. This incorporates a full needs assessment, including clinical needs of all conditions, particularly for nursing care, as well as a financial assessment.

We are currently developing Scotland's first National Action Plan on Neurological Conditions. This work is being taken forward in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders across the neurological community and a draft plan will be published for consultation in Autumn 2018.

The Managed Service Network (MSN) - Neurosurgery consulted with the Royal College of General Practitioners during the development of the brain tumour pathway.

The MSN has not had direct interaction with audiologists, however, they are working with NSD to establish a ‘base of skull’ national multidisciplinary team meeting for conditions including acoustic neuromas and patients with Neurofibromatosis 2 who may require the support of audiology services in their regional centres.

Information on waiting times is published quarterly by ISD. The next publication will be for the period January to March 2018 and will be published on 29 May 2019 and will show waiting time performance across all NHS Boards.

The Managed Service Network (MSN) - Neurosurgery provides links to third sector organisations on their website and also in clinical areas in the four neurosurgical centres in Scotland.

The impact of a brain tumour is to some extent dependent on location and size (and therefore adjacent structures within the brain). The needs of the post-operative patient with a benign brain tumour during their rehabilitation will form a component of the work the MSN will undertake during the course of 2018-19 as part of the Neurosurgical Research Collaborative (NRC) research programme.

The information requested is provided in the following table. In 2017 private sector operations were less than 0.4% of NHSScotland inpatient and day case operations.

Number of inpatient and day case operations undertaken by NHSScotland and in independent hospitals in Scotland, 1999-2017.