Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-08796

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the observation by NHS Lanarkshire in its consultation, Achieving Excellence that “onerous and stretched out of hours and on-call rotas for consultants impacting on recruitment and retention was identified as a challenge of the current clinical model which has elective and trauma services provided across three sites”, what action it will take to ensure that (a) it will increase the size of the workforce and (b) the situation does not lead to a removal or reduction of services.

It is the responsibility of NHS boards to plan and deliver clinical services.

In preparing their workforce plans, Boards are required to consider relevant local issues and demographics, and ensure all working patterns are safe and sustainable. Under this government NHS Lanarkshire has seen a rise of 69.6% in Consultant staff numbers from 266.3 to 451.5 WTE and an all staff rise of 14.3% from 9,265.1 to 10,589.0. Whilst the number of staff is up, we recognise that there is also increasing demand on services which, of course, has an impact on staff. That is why it is so important for Health boards to continuously improve their workforce planning, and this Government is providing them whit the tools to do so.

We’ve committed to enshrining safe staffing in law; placing the nursing and midwifery workforce planning tools on a statutory footing. A consultation on legislative proposals was launched on 12 April and will run until 5 July. To gather as many views as possible, regional events will also take place across Scotland during the consultation period.

Question reference: S5W-08798

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to ensure that orthopaedic services at Wishaw General Hospital are provided in a high-quality environment with safe patient care and that the staff are fully trained to provide this.

The Scottish Government’s position on Patient Safety is very clear – it is, and will remain, paramount. Scotland is a world leader, internationally recognised for the improvements in care and safety its Patient Safety Programme has brought about.

NHS Lanarkshire are responsible for the planning and provision of local services, including orthopaedic services, in line with national policies and frameworks.

Healthcare professionals undergo extensive training and education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels to specified curricula standards, including being assessed on competencies in diagnosis and treatments which includes providing a good standard of practice and care. These curricula are developed by relevant Royal Colleges and Faculties and are approved by the respective regulators.

Question reference: S5W-08794

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support NHS Lanarkshire in meeting the primary care sector workforce capacity requirements identified by the consultation, Achieving Excellence.

On Friday 10 March 2017, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport announced an additional £71.6 million will be invested in direct support of general practice, helping transform the way services are delivered in the community. The funds will directly support general practice in 2017-18, by improving recruitment and retention, reducing workload, developing new ways of delivering services and covering pay and expenses.

This new funding forms the first stage of the Scottish Government’s commitment to invest an extra £250 million in direct support of general practice per year by 2021 – as part of a pledge to increase overall annual funding for primary care by £500 million by 2021.

Question reference: S5W-08799

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 11 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it position is on how the proposal by NHS Lanarkshire to establish dedicated resources to encourage staff to work for the board for longer period reflects on the overall NHS workforce planning strategy since 2007.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to a sustainable NHS. The National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan, which will be published in Spring 2017, will take full account of the many demographic and other influences on our NHS workforce, ensuring it continues to deliver high quality care for generations to come. However, while the Scottish Government provides the policies, frameworks and resources for high quality healthcare in Scotland, it remains the responsibility of NHS Boards – including NHS Lanarkshire – to plan their workforce in order to deliver those services. As part of this planning process, Boards must take account of Scotland’s ageing population and consider how they can support an older workforce.

Question reference: S5O-00996

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when its officials last met Atos Healthcare.

Question reference: S5W-08668

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 10 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to Ineos regarding the working practices, terms and conditions and pension arrangements of employees on the Forties pipeline following the company's purchase of it, and whether any guarantees were given.

Question reference: S5W-08741

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 9 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding Commitment 29 in its Mental Health Strategy 2012-15 to publish guidance setting out the evidence base for employability and mental health.

Question reference: S5W-08793

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 3 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position will be on any recommendation for a reduction in neonatal services in NHS Lanarkshire arising from the consultation, Achieving Excellence.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with NHS Boards to provide the best neonatal care for babies and families in Scotland. This is reflected in the Scottish Government review - The Best Start - a five year forward plan for maternity and Neonatal are in Scotland. Scottish Government continues to work with NHS Boards through the implementation of The Best Start to ensure appropriate cot capacity and the best care for babies.

Question reference: S5W-08748

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 27 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the integration of health and social care has had on services that aim to support people with mental health problems find and retain paid employment.

The Scottish Government holds the principle that care services should be as well-coordinated and seamless as possible. Our programme of health and social care integration, which brings together NHS and Local Authority care services, is helping to deliver this. With a greater emphasis on community-based and more joined-up, anticipatory and preventative care, integration aims to improve care and support for people who use health and social care services. Improving the wellbeing of people with mental health problems is a key priority for Integration Authorities, who recognise that employment is an important factor in promoting wellbeing and recovery.

The Mental Health Strategy 2017 – 2027 focuses on the important role of getting a job and staying in work. In particular, action 37 commits to exploring with others innovative ways of connecting mental health, disability, and employment support in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-08750

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 27 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to employers regarding supporting people to recover from mental health problems.

The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, part of NHS Health Scotland, to provide information and advice on workplace health and wellbeing. The Centre, and the network of advisers in territorial NHS Boards, offer free and confidential advice on a wide range of issues relating to health, safety in the workplace. This includes promoting wellbeing in the workplace, managing sickness absence and supporting employees to return to work.

Health Working Lives runs training courses for employers on managing and promoting good mental health in the workplace.