Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02548 on‎ 27 September 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Details on the current estimated cost of each of the sections in preparation can be found in relevant scheme assessment reports published on the Transport Scotland website at https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a96-dualling-inverness-to-aberdeen/ .

Delivery of any section of the programme can only commence if approved under the relevant statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable and funding mechanism for progress can be set in line with available budgets.

As part of the general funding available to NHS General Dental Services, dental practices are required to ensure practice information leaflets, including information on appointments, is available in large print form. This is checked as part of the Practice Inspection Process.

Dental practices are also able to access interpretation services through their local NHS Board.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01813 on‎ 11 August 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The ability to access public services offered online by local authorities and other public bodies is critical, and our experiences of the pandemic have highlighted the pressing need to close the digital divide.

Since May 2020 the Scottish Government has invested £48 million through the Connecting Scotland programme to provide a device, connectivity, as well as training and support to those on low incomes, allowing them to realise the full benefits of being online, including accessing local authority services.

Connecting Scotland is delivered in collaboration with key partners, including local authorities, COSLA, SCVO and third sector organisations.

The recently published report Connecting Scotland - A Year in View sets out the scale of the investment and the impact of the programme. So far, Connecting Scotland has brought 40,000 people online and is on the way to reaching 60,000 by the end of 2021. As set out in the Programme for Government, by the end of this Parliament, we will ensure Connecting Scotland has supported up to 300,000 households to get online, backed by £200 million of investment.

The Programme for Government, published on 7 September, includes a commitment to develop and publish a new national strategy for palliative and end of life care over the coming year. Officials have commenced the planning process for developing the strategy and stakeholder engagement work will be commencing in the coming months.

As the national agency for sport, sport scotland is committed to supporting community sport clubs to offer local opportunities for participants and athletes to get involved and develop in sport. sport scotland have a range of programmes to support clubs. These include:

• Club and Communities Framework
• Scottish Governing Bodies of sport (SGBs) investment
• Community Sport Hubs
• Direct Club Investment
• Help for Clubs website
• The Changing Lives through sport and Physical Activity programme
• Awards for All
• Sports Facilities Fund

The majority of these programmes are offered across all invested SGBs.

Since March 2020, community sports clubs have been able to access a range of support from the Scottish Government and sport scotland to support them through the pandemic. This included:

• Retail, Hospitality, Leisure Support Grants
• Small Business Support Grants
• Retail, hospitality and leisure businesses 100% rates relief
• Strategic Framework Business Fund
• sport scotland web resources on staying connected with club members, managing club finances, and maintaining sports facilities during the pandemic
• sport scotland guidance on safely returning to sport and getting facilities fit for sport as restrictions were lifted
• sport scotland COVID Officer e-learning module

Diagnostic information on osteoporosis, or on medical adherence, is not centrally held by Public Health Scotland. Patients are not routinely tracked year on year and so this analysis is not available. In addition, medicines that are commonly prescribed for osteoporosis may also be prescribed for other conditions.

The number of prescriptions for drugs commonly used for osteoporosis in 2020-21 was 495,340, received by 76,898 individuals. These data relates to community dispensing only. In addition, calcium and vitamin D supplements are also widely used as part of prevention and treatment for osteoporosis.

Scottish Government recommends that patients regularly review their medication with their physician to ensure that their medication plan continues to be appropriate for their conditions and needs. A GP or pharmacist should be consulted if a patient is considering stopping a course of prescribed medication.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02989 on‎ 27 September 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government welcomes the Migraine Trust report as an important document setting out some of the difficulties faced by people living with migraine. At the start of this year the Modernising Patients Pathway Programme (MPPP) initiated a Headache Management Pathway. This process is well underway, focusing initially on migraine. This developing pathway addresses key areas outlined in the Migraine Trust report and has representation from pharmacy, general practice, emergency medicine and neurology. I understand that the migraine section is due to be completed by the end of 2021 and will review the Migraine Trust report as part of that process.

More widely, the Centre for Sustainable Delivery continues to support work on Active Clinical Referral Triage. This works aims to ensure that patients with neurological conditions who require appointments most urgently are seen as soon as possible, while those who may not benefit from a Consultant appointment are returned to the GP with advice and guidance. The Centre is also working to expand Discharge Patient Initiated Review, which aims to avoid unnecessary return appointments, again supporting access for those patient who need to be seen in a timely manner.

As indicated in the report, a majority of the responding NHS health boards have reported having a headache service. Within smaller health boards, this may be as part of a general neurology service, or a referral route to one of the tertiary services.

To support workforce capacity and planning, Scottish Government will publish a National Workforce Strategy by the end of this year, which supports the remobilisation, recovery and renewal of Health and Social Care Services. The Strategy will articulate a long-term health and social care workforce vision, alongside our priorities for workforce growth, recruitment, retention, training and development, and will build upon our ongoing work to support Boards’ workforce capacity.

Officials recently met with the Migraine Trust to discuss current issues regarding migraine care in Scotland and potential areas for future progress and partnership working, and the Scottish Government is happy to work further with stakeholders in raising awareness of Migraine Awareness Week going forward.