Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-12062

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 18 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the availability of swimming lessons to young people, in light of reports of waiting lists as long as six years in Dumfries and Galloway.

The Scottish Government have been working with Scottish Swimming, Education Scotland, sport scotland and Scottish Water to develop interventions and approaches to provide opportunities for children to become confident, safer and competent swimmers.

Scottish Swimming aim to run a number of Delivery Model Pilots in 2022-23 to support schools to understand and consider different approaches and models of delivery to help educate and provide opportunities for children across Scotland to experience the water in a fun, safe and inclusive approach. This reflects the many different scenarios faced by schools when deciding how best to support young people to access school swimming.

In terms of the issues reported in Dumfries and Galloway, we understand that the waiting list expanded significantly due to the reduced capacity available to deliver lessons whilst they operated from the temporary swimming pool at Dumfries Ice Bowl. This was then further exaggerated by COVID closures. The local authority are looking at their swimming pool timetables with a view to securing lessons for as many children as possible within their existing resources and available teaching complement.

Question reference: S6O-01601

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what urgent action it is taking to stabilise NHS dentistry services in Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S6W-11733

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses supplied to each NHS board in 2022 to date, broken down by manufacturer.

This data is not held by Scottish Government or currently available in the format requested.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) collect and report vaccine data for Scotland. Data is not published by vaccine type/manufacturer. However, the COVID-19 Statistical Report (publichealthscotland.scot) , last updated on the 02 November 2022, has data on number of citizens vaccinated by health board.

The total number of Covid Vaccinations delivered up to 7th November 2022, was 14,414,300.

Question reference: S6W-11580

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 7 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote the adoption of the intelligent Liver Function Test (iLFT) pathway across NHS Scotland through its Modern Outpatient Programme.

Scottish Government is working in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) and Modernising Patient Pathways Programme to explore the feasibility of further national action to improve early detection and treatment of liver diseases.

Health Boards across Scotland currently have different pathways in place to promote the early detection and management of patients with liver disease.

A consistent approach to technology used across laboratories in Scotland is needed to support national roll out. A National Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) which will be able to deliver iLFTs is currently being rolled out across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-11428

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent reassurances it has sought from NHS Dumfries and Galloway that its out-of-hours service is running safely.

Patient safety is our utmost concern and the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that patients continue to receive high quality Out of Hours services. Officials work closely with Out of Hours services across Scotland, including NHS Dumfries and Galloway to support them in delivering a safe, resilient and sustainable service. Whilst the Out of Hours service in NHS Dumfries & Galloway remains under pressure – as it does across Scotland – the Scottish Government receives regular assurances that there are robust arrangements in place to maintain a safe Out of Hours service and that the Board are working to make the service more resilient for the future. This includes the recent recruitment of two salaried GPs and a sessional GP. I understand that the Board are also working with Scottish Ambulance Service to recruit Advanced Paramedic Practitioners.

Question reference: S6W-11434

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that there were 14 unfilled shifts within the NHS Dumfries and Galloway out-of-hours service on 26 September 2022.

Patient safety is our utmost concern and the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that patients continue to receive high quality Out of Hours services. My officials have been in contact with NHS Dumfries and Galloway and have been advised that, on 26 September 2022, all shifts were filled and that the Out of Hours service was maintained through this time. I would expect that the Board continues to make every effort to fill all shifts to ensure the resilience of its Out of Hours service.

Question reference: S6W-11429

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the remote management of GP practices by partners who do not treat patients onsite.

The GP contract regulations require all GP practice partners to be sufficiently engaged in providing primary medical services in Scotland. It is for the partners to determine how best to meet the clinical needs of their patients and to ensure there are sufficient GPs onsite to provide necessary face to face appointments and home visits.

Health Boards and Health & Social Care Partnerships are responsible for monitoring their contracts with GP practices.

Question reference: S6W-11430

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP surgeries in Scotland are currently without a permanent GP.

Question reference: S6W-11433

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the quality of GP services being delivered in their area.

Question reference: S6W-11431

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects GPs holding telephone consultations with patients to be able to offer them an in-person appointment if clinically required, and, if so, within what timescale.

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