Asked by: Whitfield, Martin (Scottish Labour - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support the mental health and wellbeing of NHS physiotherapists, in light of reported concerns regarding staff morale and stress due to increased workloads and shortages.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
From 2024-25, Scottish Government are dedicating over £2.5 million annually to support health and social care staff wellbeing. This funding provides our workforce with access to psychological interventions and therapies, self-service resources through the National Wellbeing Hub and the National Wellbeing Helpline delivered by NHS 24. Registered staff also have access to confidential mental health services through the Workforce Specialist Service (WSS).
These resources play a vital role in helping the workforce manage mental health challenges and maintain their wellbeing, thus enhancing the quality of care they can provide. We will continue collaborating with leaders across the NHS to identify and address areas of stress and to explore additional actions to support staff including physiotherapists.
Asked by: Baillie, Jackie (Scottish Labour - Dumbarton)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Hospital at Home beds are currently provided.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Data published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) showed that in September 2024, Older Adult’s Hospital at Home services provided the equivalent of 510 beds, similar to the size of Royal Alexandra Hospital and larger than University Hospital Wishaw.
Between July and September this year, Hospital at Home services for Older People grew by almost 14% compared to the same period in the previous year with over 4,000 patients managed by the service.
Hospital at Home capacity is in place across a range of other pathways such as Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy, Respiratory and Heart Failure. Published data is not currently available.
Asked by: Baillie, Jackie (Scottish Labour - Dumbarton)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the £2.2 billion funding that was announced for primary care services in its draft Budget 2025-26.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Further detail on the Scottish Government’s proposed £2.2 billion funding for primary care can be found in the 2025-26 Level 4 tables published along the Budget itself - Supporting documents - Scottish Budget 2025 to 2026 - gov.scot.
In addition to the direct funding increase of over £160 million (7.8%) for primary care, we plan to further invest in primary and community care services from the commitment to provide £100 million “Reform and Improvement measures funding” to alleviate waiting time and hospital occupancy pressures.
Asked by: Greer, Ross (Scottish Green Party - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce any requirements on local government pension schemes in Scotland regarding community wealth building and local investment, in light of reports of the UK Government setting out its intention to do so for local government pension schemes in England and Wales.
Answered by McKee, Ivan - Minister for Public Finance
The Local Government Pension Scheme in Scotland is in a very strong position and the Scottish Government continues to engage with the 11 Scottish Local Government funds, which each have responsibility for their own investments.
We are monitoring developments in England and Wales to inform decisions around our approach to Scotland.
Asked by: Burnett, Alexander (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Aberdeenshire West)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to introducing a compensation scheme for individuals who have installed underfloor foam insulation under the ECO4 insulation scheme.
Answered by Allan, Alasdair - Acting Minister for Climate Action
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a UK Government scheme that is paid for by energy suppliers and administered by Ofgem. It is a requirement of the ECO scheme that installers meet national retrofit standards and provide a guarantee. The UK Government has published advice for homeowners about their consumer rights, if insulation has been wrongly installed or the quality of workmanship and materials is unacceptable. 2.0_Green_home_energy_consumer_guide_FINAL_links.pdf
The design of the ECO scheme is set out in regulations approved by the Westminster Parliament and as directed by UK Ministers. Consumer protection, as well as regulation of the financial services sector and business regulation more generally are reserved matters for the UK Government. Consumer compensation schemes will therefore be a matter primarily for the UK Government to consider.
Scottish Ministers have repeatedly raised our concerns and proposed changes to the ECO scheme to the previous UK Government.
Asked by: Grant, Rhoda (Scottish Labour - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that it is currently completing the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) stage 2 (concept design) of the project, by what date the Belford Hospital replacement in NHS Highland will complete RIBA stage (a) 5 (manufacturing and construction) and (b) 6 (handover); how much subsequent funding it will provide to the NHS board to complete all outstanding work and requirements and reach RIBA stage 7 (use), and by what date the facility will be open to patients.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
We have confirmed that the replacement of the Belford Hospital is a strategic priority, and the 2025-26 Draft Budget has provided the necessary funding to allow the development of the business case to restart. NHS Highland is responsible for the delivery of the project and should therefore be able to provide information on the timeframe for the project in due course.
Asked by: Fraser, Murdo (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the proposal in the draft Budget 2025-26 to reduce spending at Ferguson Marine by one quarter will have on employment at the yard.
Answered by Forbes, Kate - Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic
Following the successful handover of the MV Glen Sannox in November 2024, the draft budget for 2025-26 includes the capital funds required for the completion of Glen Rosa (vessel 802). There are also capital funds included, subject to Parliamentary approval and financial and legal due diligence, for capital investment in the shipyard to modernise operations and enhance productivity, positioning the yard to secure future contracts. Operational matters, including the utilisation of the workforce, are decisions for the yard.
Asked by: Lennon, Monica (Scottish Labour - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve coordination of care between primary and secondary care services for long-term conditions such as Crohn's disease and colitis, in accordance with the shift to community-based healthcare outlined in its Programme for Government 2024-25.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
The Scottish Government’s strategic priorities are to shift the balance of care closer to people's homes and drive a proactive approach of early intervention and prevention, which will help reduce demand for acute care.
We are increasing capacity and access to Primary Care by the end of 2026, through our reform programme, shifting the balance of care to preventative and community-based support. This will be done by improving the use of multi-disciplinary working to support better, patient-centred care pathways and improve service capacity in GP and frontline community services, including additional funding to support the Primary Care Phased Investment Programme.
We are committed to ensuring that people living in Scotland with long-term conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and person-centred. Action which the Scottish Government is taking includes:
Asked by: Briggs, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Lothian)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that young people with cancer are included in the delivery of the ambitions set out in the Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-2033.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
The ambitions set out in our Cancer Strategy 2023-2033 align with those of ‘The Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care - The Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland 2021–2026’. This sets out Scottish Government’s commitment to improving services nationally for children and young people specifically. This is delivered by the Managed Service Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MSN CYPC).
Children, young people and their guardians have the opportunity to engage and share their experiences of cancer services to inform improvements, and to support delivery of strategy ambitions, through the MSN’s National Youth Advisory and Parent and Family Forums.
Asked by: Briggs, Miles (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Lothian)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on delivering action (a) 1, (b) 4, (c) 5 and (d) 6 in its cancer strategy for children and young people 2021-26.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Progress against all actions of the Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care The Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland 2021–2026 continue to be taken forward by the Managed Service Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MSN CYPC).
The 2023-2024 MSN CYPC Annual Report, which includes detail on progress across all actions, will be published shortly on the MSN CYPC website – www.msncypc.nhs.scot