Chamber and committees

We have committed to increase multi-year funding for the third sector and where possible we will do so. However, our ability to fulfil our devolved responsibilities remains hampered by a centralised UK budgeting approach that gives little fiscal flexibility.

Spending plans were contained in the Scottish Budget published on 9 December 2021. As set out in Programme for Government we will double investment in sport and active living to £100 million a year by the end of the Parliament ensuring more people can enjoy active lives as we recover, improving physical, mental and social health. We are working with the National Agency for Sport, sports cotland and other partners to consider how that money can best be invested to deliver against our priorities.

The number of Consultants with a specialty of Obstetrics & Gynaecology working in NHSScotland have increased by 12.8% (from 574.3 WTE as at Sept 2006 to 647.8 WTE as at Jun 2021).

The number of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Consultants working in NHSScotland can be found on the NHS Education for Scotland website on the following link: Medical and Dental | Turas Data Intelligence (nhs.scot)

This information is not held centrally. I would suggest contacting territorial Health Boards directly for this information.

We are committed to ensuring that all children and young people get the support that they need to reach their full potential.

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004 (as amended) places duties on education authorities to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils. Education authorities can ask other agencies (including social work services, NHS Health Boards and Skills Development Scotland) for help in carrying out their duties under the Act.

Children and young people who are unable to attend school due to ill health should continue, wherever they can, to access education. This includes children and young people who are absent from school due to the effects from long Covid.

Where illness leads to prolonged absence from school, Section 40 of the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 places duties on education authorities to educate children and young people to their fullest potential and to make special arrangements for the pupil to receive education elsewhere than at school. Alternative educational arrangements could be provided, for example, at home or within a hospital setting.

Guidance to education authorities and other agencies on their duties under the 2004 Act is provided through the statutory Supporting Learners' Code of Practice. Education authorities and other agencies are further supported through guidance on Supporting Children and Young People with Healthcare Needs in Schools and guidance on the Education of Children Unable to Attend School Due to Ill Health.

Scottish Government officials are continually engaging with NHS Boards to identify particular areas of concern. This includes the gathering of daily capacity and weekly absence reporting from all territorial Health Boards.

Through this ongoing engagement, NHS Highland advise that they have embedded an established structure for daily clinical and care huddles which are designed using the principles of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme. These forums are used for reviewing staffing and escalating any concerns in relation to patient safety and quality and staff wellbeing.

We are fully aware of the unprecedented pressure that the pandemic is putting on services within NHS Highland and across Scotland. That is why we have announced a record £300 million of investment to support Health Boards and their staff over the coming months.

As part of this investment, NHS Highland is receiving additional in-year and recurring finance to support international recruitment of registered nurses and additional Healthcare Support Workers for acute services. The Board has also received a share of in-year investment to provide additional support to its recruitment team and to recruit an international recruitment lead.

Our reducing risks in schools guidance sets out the current COVID-19 mitigations in schools.

Current guidance reflects the best scientific and clinical advice, as well as the current state of the pandemic and the anticipated trajectory of infections. The restrictions, which limit non-essential visitors in schools and early learning and childcare settings, include attendance by parents for nativity plays and similar events. However, we know that many schools and settings plan to use other creative means to present these activities, such as streaming them online or holding them outdoors.

NHS Scotland will consider fertility preservation and gamete storage for patients who have been assessed and referred by the Gender Identity Service as suitable for gender reassignment.

The Scottish Government has received no complaints from local authorities in relation to the Health and Wellbeing Census.

Local authorities administer the Census in their schools to help identify the issues children and young people are concerned about and to tailor their learning, particularly in Personal and Social Education, and their advice and support. These issues may relate to food and nutrition, sleep, relationships, bullying, sexual health, substance use, physical activity as well as social media use and mental and emotional health and wellbeing.

The Census is entirely voluntary, both for local authorities to undertake and to parents/carers and pupils to take part in. This has been made clear to local authorities throughout.

This information is publically available on the Scottish Adoption Register’s Website in the Annual Report for 2021-21

The Scottish Government takes action to ensure that people in Scotland who have not yet registered a donation decision with the NHS Organ Donor Register are able to do so as follows:

• An annual summer public awareness campaign using TV, radio, newspaper, social media, posters in pharmacy windows and on bus shelters and partnership with Health Boards, stakeholder organisations and employers.
• Participation in UK national Organ Donation Week in September each year using radio, newspaper, social media and partnership with third sector organisations and employers.
• Ongoing partnership with Kidney Research UK, who train peer educators to raise awareness of donation in south Asian communities in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
• Letters to young persons reaching aged 16 to inform them of the law on donation and how to make a donation decision.
• The Organ Donation Scotland Website, which provides information on deceased and living donation including information in accessible formats and languages and on faith and donation
• Ongoing social media and additional newspaper media throughout the year using case studies, for example a focus on living kidney donation in the lead up to Christmas.