Chamber and committees

Information on waiting times for weight management services is not held centrally.

The Scottish Government continues to fund NHS Boards to deliver adult and child weight management services through the Outcomes Framework (£3m in 2018-19). While it is for individual Health Boards to determine the provision required to meet local needs, NHS Health Scotland and Boards are in the process of developing guidance on minimum standards and pathways in order to improve the quality and consistency of services, and equity of access.

This work is one of a wide range of actions for helping people eat better and achieve a healthier weight set out in the Scottish Government’s delivery plan, ‘A Healthier Future’. The plan also reflects the commitment to invest an additional £42 million over 5 years in integrated weight management services for people with, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes.

The full delivery plan can be accessed here: www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781787810556 .

The full Type 2 Diabetes prevention framework can be accessed here: https://www2.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00538389.pdf

Information on enrolments at Scottish Higher Education Institutions (“HEIs”) is collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (“HESA”), which uses the Joint Academic Coding System (“JACS”) codes to record the chosen field of study. These provide specific information on ‘Health Psychology’ and ‘Clinical Psychology’ disciplines. However, other psychology disciplines have also been included as some Health & Clinical psychology courses will be grouped in the more ‘general’ categories.

Postgraduate enrolments in psychology disciplines at Scottish HEIs, 2015-16 to 2016-17

The workforce data collected on psychologists in Scotland does not provide a breakdown on their areas of work in respect of weight management. In terms of the expected number of psychologists, I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20785 on 17 January 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 .

The workforce data collected on psychologists in Scotland does not provide a breakdown on their areas of work in respect of diabetes or obesity. However, all psychologists have general psychology training which includes behavioural change.

There are currently 765.5 WTE clinical psychologists in post. Since September 2017, the clinical psychology workforce has grown by 36.0 WTE (4.9%). In addition,
‎ 237 individuals are training for various post-graduate qualifications in applied psychology, including 181 on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, who will be fully qualified to become Clinical Psychologists upon course completion. On average, ten years after graduating, 70.8% of graduates are still employed in NHSScotland Psychology Services.

The Scottish Government has committed to continuing to maintain or exceed EU environmental standards, in the event of Brexit, including air quality standards. Steps have been take to ensure air quality legislation continues to function on EU exit.

In developing the Scottish Respiratory Care Action Plan we will consider all evidence that is relevant in the Scottish context.

There is an established process for licensed medicines to be appraised through the Scottish Medicines Consortium and we expect companies to follow this route. I am pleased that Vertex Pharmaceuticals have announced that it will make a new submission to the SMC for Orkambi.

Meantime, PACS Tier Two allows clinicians to apply for individual patient access to medicines which would otherwise be routinely unavailable to them, such as Orkambi. I welcome Vertex’s commitment to make Orkambi available to the NHS through PACS Tier Two at a discounted price and would strongly encourage clinicians to make use of this system if they judge this medicine as appropriate for their individual patient’s needs.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-19618 on 2 November 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 .

Our Facilities Management Office is aware of the Estates and Facilities alert regarding electrical socket inserts or covers, which was issued by the Department of Health and NHS National Services Scotland in 2016. Electrical socket inserts or covers are not used anywhere within the Parliament complex and relevant staff and contractors will be reminded that this situation must be maintained.

On the 30 June 2016, NHS National Services Scotland issued to NHS Scotland an 'Estates and Facilities Alert' about electrical socket covers/protectors. The alert is available online: http://www.hfs.scot.nhs.uk/publications/1481217513-EFA%202016%20002.pdf

All other safety alerts are available on the Health Facilities Scotland website: http://www.hfs.scot.nhs.uk/publications-/iric-safety-alerts/

This alert stated that in certain circumstances, the use of plastic 13A electrical socket inserts (sold as safety accessories), can overcome the safety features designed into socket outlets. The alert was distributed to Estates Managers, Risk Managers, Health Centres, Health & Safety, Care Home Services, Community Care, Learning Disability Units, Loaned Equipment Stores, Safety Representatives, Social Services, Supplies/Procurement, Wards, All users.

The alert actioned the following to be complete by December 2016:

• 13A electrical socket inserts should not be used in health or social care premises, nor supplied for use in a home or residence
• Any socket inserts currently in use should be withdrawn and responsibly disposed of.