- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what changes have been made to the National Drugs Mission plan to reflect the extension of the mission to alcohol, and how this has been communicated to (a) NHS boards, (b) local authorities and (c) local Alcohol and Drug Partnerships.
Answer
No changes have been made to the National Mission.
The National Mission was established to improve and save lives of people impacted by drugs. However, many service improvements supported by the Mission, such as residential rehabilitation, addressing stigma and improving the workforce, address both alcohol and drug issues. Meaning the work of the National Mission has consistently saved and improved the lives of people impacted by alcohol as well as drugs.
NHS boards, local authorities and local Alcohol and Drug Partnerships are long standing partners in our work on harmful alcohol and drug use and they have recognised that many aspects of the National Mission are bringing benefit to people impacted by both drugs and alcohol.,
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand access to alcohol related brain damage (ARBD) residential rehabilitation services.
Answer
The Scottish Government is currently working with representatives from our Residential Rehabilitation Development Working Group to ascertain whether the existing ARBD unit, managed by Penumbra for NHS Lothian, meets the Scottish Government’s definition of a residential rehabilitation service.
We have set out a clear definition of what counts as residential rehabilitation and have used it consistently. We are expecting to receive the appropriate advice on this in due course, after which point we will be able to develop a position on including this type of service under our definition of residential rehabilitation in the future.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the environmental assessment of the dualling of the A96 will be published.
Answer
It is expected that the draft outcomes from the Review, which includes a climate compatibility assessment and other impact assessments, will be consulted on this Autumn, before a final decision can be reached.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28615 by Christina McKelvie on 9 August 2024, how any insights gained from the core minimum dataset, which is expected to be published in December, will be utilised to improve residential rehabilitation services.
Answer
The Scottish Government will carefully consider the key insights from the experimental core minimum dataset when the first batch of information is published by Public Health Scotland in December 2024.
It should be noted that this first publication is likely to be limited to reflect only the number of placements reported in the monitoring period. Similarly, the dataset will not provide specific recommendations on what is required to improve rehabilitation services, but will help us understand possible issues for exploration.
A greater level of insight and data will be available for publication, including average treatment length and outcomes, as the dataset continues to develop and become more mature.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether the definition of "rehabilitation" has been altered to include any form of "residential placement", in light of reported concerns that this potentially dilutes the understanding of what constitutes true rehabilitation.
Answer
No - we have set out a clear definition of what counts as residential rehabilitation and used it consistently since its publication in 2021.
The Scottish Government uses the Residential Rehabilitation Development Working Group definition of residential rehab as "facilities offering programmes which aim to support individuals to attain an alcohol or drug-free lifestyle and to be re-integrated into society, provide intensive psychosocial support and a structured programme of daily activities, and which residents are required to attend over a fixed period of time."
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how the forthcoming UK Alcohol Treatment Guidelines will (a) influence the national specification for alcohol treatment in Scotland and (b) ensure consistency across both alcohol and drug treatment services.
Answer
The UK clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment (UKCGAT) will help to influence the national specification and subsequent overarching guidance for alcohol treatment in Scotland through looking to introduce new approaches to treatment and will apply to a broad range of settings including primary care, hospital and justice settings.
The UKCGAT aims to develop a clear consensus on good practice and help services to implement interventions for alcohol use disorders that are recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The intention is to promote and support consistent good practice and improve the quality-of-service provision, resulting in better outcomes, similarly to the Orange Book supporting treatment for drugs misuse and dependency.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the core minimum dataset is transparent and accessible to the public and stakeholders, in order to foster accountability and continuous improvement in rehabilitation services.
Answer
The Scottish Government responded to calls for more transparency and accountability by working with Public Health Scotland, who were commissioned to carry out an evaluation of the residential rehabilitation programme, including the establishment of an experimental core minimum dataset.
The core minimum dataset was developed with input from the Monitoring and Evaluation Advisory Group. This includes input from individuals with lived experience of substance use, allowing robust data to be collected to help both the development and outcomes of this work to be more transparent and accountable.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that the definition and delivery of rehabilitation services meet the comprehensive, long-term care needs of those seeking recovery.
Answer
Residential rehabilitation services in Scotland are regulated by appropriate governing bodies independent of the Scottish Government; namely the Care Inspectorate, Healthcare Improvement Scotland or the NHS.
It is the responsibility of these bodies to monitor and ensure that residential rehabilitation services are providing safe, quality support to people in recovery across the country.
The Scottish Government are working with regulators and providers to develop and publish a series of “Principles for Residential Rehabilitation” to support regulatory bodies with their evaluation of RR providers, and to empower individuals to understand what they should expect from a stay in residential rehab, including pre-rehab support and appropriate aftercare.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 September 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what support is being given to staff in the NHS who feel burnt out.
Answer
Scottish Government funding of over £2.5m has been committed to support the mental health and wellbeing of health and care staff in 2024-25. These resources include a 24/7 compassionate listening service, confidential mental health treatment through the Workforce Specialist Service and access to psychological therapies and interventions.
Prioritising these treatment and therapeutic programmes reflects our commitment to offer care and support to those staff suffering from burnout, stress, anxiety and other conditions. In addition, the National Wellbeing Hub offers a range of self-care wellbeing resources and signposting to relevant mental health and support services.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether the environmental assessment of the dualling of the A96 has been completed.
Answer
It is expected that the draft outcomes from the Review, which includes a climate compatibility assessment and other impact assessments, will be consulted on this Autumn, before a final decision can be reached.
