Chamber and committees

It is clear that we cannot simply police our way out of the significant and complex challenges we face in terms of drug use. There is strong evidence from around the world to suggest that criminalising drug users only serves to further stigmatise and isolate people, thereby increasing the likelihood of future drug related harm, and even death.

The criminalisation and stigmatisation associated with drug use can also act as a barrier to people accessing treatment and support services that can help reduce the risk of harm and death. As such, our Drug Deaths Taskforce will be considering the merits of a number of approaches closely as part of its work.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-24397 on 18 July 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 .

Appropriate training, revalidation, benchmarking and peer review of clinicians ensures quality of service. Further, surgeons are expected to record the details and outcomes of operations in patients' notes, as per standard practice. Photographic evidence will be taken when appropriate.

NHS Information Services Division records data relating to national routine surgical outcomes.

Scottish Government continue to engage with NHS Lothian regarding their car parking provision at their acute sites, including St John’s Hospital, Livingston. NHS Lothian continue to engage with patients, staff and visitors to address parking related issues at St John’s and to identify and support sustainable alternatives.

A number of proposals are being implemented/considered to improve the parking situation at the site, including:

• Construction of 150 new spaces created on St John's site by late 2021.
• Introduction of a Shuttle bus between the football stadium (38 spaces) and the hospital.
• Additional bus routes and shuttles stopping outside the hospital.
• Encourage staff to register for the ‘lift-share’ programme.

Mesh removal is highly specialised and can involve input from more than one specialty (uro-gynecology, urology, colorectal surgery), and the training followed is defined by recognised professional bodies including Royal Colleges and the General Medical Council. These have responsibility for oversight and assessment, accreditation of training programmes and approval of curricula.

Once certified in a speciality, personal and professional development continues through acquisition of clinical and surgical experience. This is subject to peer review, appraisal and revalidation. With specific reference to the management of mesh complications, this has evolved over-time due to emerging clinical need and with it the necessary skills have been integrated into training. Techniques, procedures and process are "benchmarked" with peers and other centres through publication and comparison of outcomes, direct observation and discussion of technique/ experience.

The care pathway for women who experience complications after mesh surgery is set out in the answer to question S5W-23623 on 6 June 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 .

As part of the investment in the new elective centre at St John’s, Livingston, NHS Lothian are considering additional spaces along with other measures that would improve the current situation at the site. Any proposal to build a multi-story car park, as part of the wider investment in elective care, will be considered by the NHS Capital Investment Group once it has been submitted to the Scottish Government.

All minutes of the Short Life Working Group, established in March in order to improve the services provided to women who have experienced mesh complications, will be published here . Minutes are published following the Group's approval of draft minutes and, to date, the minutes of the Group's first meeting have been published.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-23623 on 6 June 2019, which confirms the availability of both full and partial mesh removal in Scotland. 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 .

As set out in the answer to S5W-23593, Scottish Government recognises a range of inflationary and other cost pressures on the SPS corporate budget. This position is being robustly managed as part of the on-going monitoring of the 2019-20 Justice portfolio and overall Scottish Government budget outturn. As part of this ongoing review, earlier this month we confirmed over £6m in additional funding to SPS towards increased employer pension contributions, following a UK review of public sector pension scheme valuations.

SPS and Scottish Government officials are keeping the overall budget position under review.