Chamber and committees

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the GB-wide regulator for health and safety at work.

Employers are required to control employees’ exposure to noise and vibration under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and related regulations. This includes carrying out health surveillance to spot early signs of hand arm vibration syndrome and noise-induced hearing loss to ensure employees are not being exposed to excessive noise or vibration.

HSE is not aware of any link between early onset neurological conditions and people who have worked in industries where they are exposed to excessive noise and vibration and currently has no plans to undertake any research in this area.

Researchers can apply to the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office for funding. The CSO's Translational Clinical Studies Committee and the Health Improvement, Protection and Services Research Committees each meet twice per year to consider funding applications. Details of the application process are published on the CSO website. http://www.cso.scot.nhs.uk/funding-2/

Applications looking at the underlying causes, diagnosis and treatment of early onset neurological conditions are welcomed. In common with all other applications, these would go through CSO's standard independent peer review process.

I have today written to the Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) to confirm my decisions in relation to these major service change proposals.

Having carefully considered all the available information and representations, I have decided to approve the Health Board’s proposal to transfer inpatient and day case paediatrics from Ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley to the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow. This has been a difficult decision but in doing so, I recognise that only inpatient and day case paediatrics will be transferred; the majority of patient cases will continue to be seen and treated locally; with the A&E Departments at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and at the RAH continuing to receive paediatric patients who self-present alongside the continuation of outpatient clinics, as well as specialist community paediatric services.

The Board has made a compelling and viable case for these proposals which have attracted overwhelming clinical support. The proposals are consistent with national policy, modern clinical standards and best practice, including the European Association for Children in Hospital (EACH) Charter and the national clinical standards set by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. This is well summarised by the submission of Action for Sick Children Scotland (now Children’s Health Scotland) to the Health Board’s public consultation. The charity framed their submission under each of the 10 articles of EACH Charter, concluding that “the most compelling argument…is that clinical standards are there to support the best quality healthcare for all children in Scotland and we feel this would be best achieved by moving Ward 15 to the RHC.”

Whilst I am convinced that these proposals are in the best interests of local children, and note from the report of the Scottish Health Council (SHC) that the Board has meaningfully engaged with local stakeholders on their proposals, I recognise from the representations received and the stakeholder meetings I have attended that some local people – from the Paisley area, in particular – will be deeply disappointed by this decision. I know that the service many families have received from Ward 15 at the RAH has been highly valued; and that there are understandable concerns about access to the more specialised services which will transfer to the RHC; how these will be integrated into those outpatient and community services that will continue to be provided locally; and how to ensure there is clarity about what support will be offered to families in respect of these changes. This will include transport advice and whether local families can receive financial support for travel to hospital. The Board have provided assurances that this can be provided via the Family Support and Information Service based at the RHC.

That is why I have been clear to NHSGGC that my approval of these proposals is conditional on (i) the Board maintaining and improving community based services, with the aim of maximising local provision, where it is clinically appropriate to do so; and (ii) working directly with families from the Paisley area on specific, individual treatment/service access plans, to be complete before any service changes are made; ensuring that there is a full understanding of what services and support will be available to them, and from where.

I also recognise the local fears expressed during the public engagement and consultation activity that the approval of these proposals could lead to the ‘downgrading’ of the RAH. This is categorically not the case. The Board of NHSGGC has assured me that it remains absolutely committed to maintaining and developing the services provided at the RAH as the main acute resource for the Clyde area. Indeed, in terms of the ward space vacated by this decision at the RAH, the Board will use the ward to optimally improve patient care on the site.

In respect of NHSGGC’s proposals for rehabilitation services in the North East of Glasgow, including the closure of Lightburn Hospital, and having carefully considered all the available information and representations, I am not minded to approve the proposals.

I have been consistently clear during the Board’s review process that their final proposals had to effectively address the concerns which resulted in the Government rejecting the previous Lightburn closure proposals in 2011. As then, a specific consideration in this case was that approval of the proposals would result in the removal of the only significant, established and highly valued healthcare facility from one of the most deprived communities in the country.

I want to be clear that this has been a difficult decision. Like Nicola Sturgeon before me, I fully accept that healthcare services cannot be static; that reform is necessary as set out in our National Clinical Strategy and Delivery Plan; and recognise that the proposals to further develop community based services are largely consistent with the direction of national policy, including the integration of health and social care. However, in light of all the available information and representations, I remain concerned that the proposed replacement local community and support services are not sufficiently developed to authorise the closure of Lightburn Hospital. Given the general access and public health issues recognised by the Health Board as particularly affecting these seriously deprived communities, I welcome the commitment from the Board and its planning partners to develop, as a priority, a Health and Social Care Hub in East Glasgow. I consider this to be an integral part of the Health Board and its planning partners developing a viable and sustainable case for change. Whilst it is reasonable and right for the local Health & Social Care Partnerships to continue to consider how they can appropriately shift the balance of care in line with national policy, I would expect such services to be developed with local communities before any future proposal is considered.

As a result, I am asking the Health Board to work more closely with the local communities. As part of this further work, I would like to see the Lightburn Hospital site considered as the potential location for the new East End Health and Social Care Hub, or another health care use/facilty, for the benefit of the local community. I expect this work to be taken forward with the full and meaningful involvement of local stakeholders.

In 2017-18, the Scottish Government provided £250k to MCR Pathways from the £750m Attainment Scotland Fund in partnership with Glasgow City Council.

We also provide £750k per annum to Intandem, Scotland’s national mentoring programme for looked after children. Intandem, which is delivered by Inspiring Scotland, provides mentors for young people aged between 8-14 years who are looked after by their local authority but living at home. Through our portfolio of 13 partner charities, Intandem matches young people from all across Scotland with trained local volunteers to build positive, trusting, supportive and secure relationships.

EU funding benefits Scotland significantly. Brexit has created uncertainty for communities across Scotland who rely heavily on this investment and are unable to plan beyond the UK’s departure of the EU. We have committed to maintain our current record level of investment in supporting the capacity of Disabled People’s Organisations during the lifetime of this parliament. Through this programme of work, we will explore how disability impacts different equality groups and what this means for our policies, services and communities.

Housing remains a top priority for the Scottish Government and that is not affected by Brexit. We will not allow the UK Government’s approach to Brexit to jeopardise our vision for all people in Scotland to live in high quality sustainable homes that they can afford and that meet their needs. We are committed to maintaining stability in the housing sector so that it can continue to deliver our ambitions.

The Scottish Government has not set a quota for the delivery of accessible homes. It is for local authorities to assess housing needs and demands in their areas and to set out through their development plans and local housing strategies how identified need and demand will be met, including the use of quotas where appropriate. Wherever possible, units funded through the Scottish Government’s affordable housing programme are built to the varying needs standard.

The first Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) electric trains entered service in December 2017. The new class 385 electric trains which will enter service in 2018 will enable the operation of seven and eight carriage length trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow offering a substantial increase in passenger capacity and comfort for travellers on the Edinburgh - Glasgow via Falkirk High route. Analysis undertaken as part of the EGIP business case published in January 2014 indicates that the new longer electric trains will meet passenger demand well into the next decade.

The new class 385 units will be subject to stringent contractual reliability targets which will ensure that the new electric trains will offer significantly improved reliability over existing diesel services.