Found: In February 2020, the World Health Organisation warned that, alongside the outbreak of COVID-19, the

Found: In February 2020, the World Health Organisation warned that, alongside the outbreak of COVID-19, the

Found: including falling real-terms funding, new technologies and the legacy of Covid-19 and associated public health

Found: pig in a poke by exempting a number of HFSS foods from its list of ‘less healthy’ food in the Health

Found: (2003-2005) and Senior Scientist ‘Food Structural Design’ (2005-2007) of the Unilever Food and Health

Found: income families.4 This makes lower income family shopping absolutely critical to both the financial health

Found: Early support around weaning with good investment into both health visiting and paediatric nutritionists

Found: fact that a food falls into this catergory does not necessarily mean that it is detrimental to health

Found: They include as referenced, negative impacts on the environment, as well as negative impacts on our health

Found: This safeguards animal health. So far, Brexit has had no impact on standards or guidance.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the regulation, or other oversight, of the sale of plant biostimulants, including consideration of their efficacy, safety and ecological impacts.

Answered by Lord Douglas-Miller - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The existing UK regulatory regime for the manufacture and placing of fertilisers on the market in the UK is fragmented and in need of modernisation. There are currently no specific requirements for plant biostimulants in domestic fertilisers legislation. However, Defra intends to improve on this by consolidating and streamlining the statute book and putting in place a conformity assessment framework for fertilisers. The framework will smooth the route to market for new and innovative products which are less polluting to the environment or are less resource intensive in their creation.

To support reform of fertilisers legislation Defra has funded a review of the evidence for the safe and effective use of plant biostimulants and a review of methods for evaluating methods for verifying the efficacy of plant biostimulants.

The potential impact of a chemical on plant health, including soil microbiomes is already considered, as appropriate, as part of HSE’s robust risk assessment process for pesticides and for biocides. In our regulatory programmes we do not assess the impacts of chemicals specifically on human and animal microbiomes and are not currently considering the introduction of such measures.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following concerns raised by farmers regarding changes to the standard of food imports, what steps they are taking to address the impact of post-Brexit trade deals on British farmers.

Answered by Lord Douglas-Miller - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

All food and drink products imported into the UK, including those from countries we have trade agreements with, must comply with the UK’s import requirements and standards. The independent Trade and Agriculture Commission concluded that our Free Trade Agreements with Australia, New Zealand and CPTPP are consistent with the maintenance of UK statutory protections in relation to animal and plant health, animal welfare and the environment.

Supporting UK food and agriculture is an integral part of the UK’s trade strategy. The Prime Minister made this clear at the Farm to Fork Summit in May 2023 and in his open letter to farmers. This letter, alongside the 2022 National Food Strategy, sets out the principles that guide our approach to agriculture and trade. We are putting farmers at the heart of British trade by delivering new export opportunities, protecting our sensitive sectors and our high food safety standards, upholding UK production standards and removing market access barriers.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what subscriptions to (a) newspapers, (b) magazines and (c) online journals his Department has paid for in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The following is a combined list of subscriptions that the Defra Library and Communications have paid for over the last three financial years. Some are in print and some are online. Not everything on the list was purchased in all three years – subscriptions change on demand and to reflect usage. Information on any subscriptions from other team budgets is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.

Defra Library purchases magazines and journals for Defra, Animal and Plant Health Agency and Natural England staff to support them in their role. The Communications team purchases newspapers for monitoring the media coverage of issues in Defra’s remit.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have reviewed the decision of the Care Quality Commission to approve the registration of Gender Plus Healthcare in east London, which runs the private Gender Plus hormone clinic set up by former Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service specialist Dr Aidan Kelly, and which can refer patients aged 16 to 18 for cross-sex hormone treatment.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England, and one of its statutory responsibilities is to assess and register providers of regulated activity, as set out in schedule one of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. Gender Plus Healthcare is a United Kingdom based private gender clinic offering a range of treatment options, including hormone treatment, for those aged 16 years old and over.

In January 2024 the CQC approved Gender Plus Healthcare’s registration to carry out the regulated activity of treatment of disease, disorder, or injury, with the provider having met the CQC’s requirements for registration. The registration by the CQC was on the condition that the provider must not carry out the regulated activity of treatment of disease, disorder, or injury, on those under the age of 16 years old, at any location.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network World Happiness Report, published on 20 March; in particular, the finding that the happiness of young people under the age of 30 in the UK has declined.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The Government is committed to improving the well-being of individuals in every area of the UK as set out in our (attached) update on the Well-being mission in January 2024. We continue to engage with new data and evidence in the delivery of all Levelling Up Missions, including on how we can improve well-being.

This includes considering the work of Professor Lord Richard Layard, one of the authors of the World Happiness Report, and other experts in our ongoing work on this mission.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the major conditions strategy will be published.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Our intention is to publish the Major Conditions Strategy in the summer of this year.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to help the mental health of boys who were impacted by the lockdown restrictions.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We want to ensure that all children and young people get the mental health support they need, including boys.

By the end of 2023/24 the overall spending on mental health has increased by more than £4.7 billion in cash terms since 2018/19 (before the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were introduced).

There are now around 400 mental health support teams in place across England, covering 3.4 million children or around 35% of pupils in schools and colleges. We estimate this will increase to 44% by April 2024 and we are working to increase this coverage to 50% of pupils by March 2025.

There are also currently around 65 locally funded early support hubs in England. These hubs are open to those aged 11 to 25 years old and, importantly, they are for anyone who may not meet the threshold to receive National Health Service support. Following a competitive commercial process from hubs across the country, the government is now providing up to £8 million to 24 existing hubs to provide even more support. This means children and young people, including boys, who are experiencing feelings of anxiety or stress will have a physical space to go to in their community when their problems first emerge, without the need for a referral.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, and the viability of introducing similar provisions for England.

Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

With regard to access to the countryside, England has a comprehensive network of public rights of way and the public has the ‘right to roam’ over many areas of wild, open countryside. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 currently provides the public with a right of access to areas of mountain, moor, heath, down, registered common land and coastal margin in England. There are no plans to change this.

The Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors for people’s health and wellbeing and is committed to ensure that everyone lives within 15 minutes’ walk of a green or blue space. As part of this we are completing work on the 2,700 mile King Charles III England Coast Path, and delivering the £16m Access for All programme across our protected landscapes, national trails, forests and the wider countryside to make access to green and blue spaces more inclusive.

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Found: established in the 2018 Act, and (iii) the potential harm to future life chances, income, health

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Found: stakeholders and regulators to ensure robust assessments for protection of the environment and human health

Found: Discussions focused on priority areas such as future health, future power, and standards and interoperability

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Found: Multiple attacks have impacted health and education facilities.

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Found: Government confirms scope of Essex mental health inquiry

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Found: the Convention to list lindane therein with a sp ecific exemption for the use of lindane as a human health

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Found: unit MASA Medical authorised sickness absence Min Minutes MOD Ministry of Defence NHS National Health

Found: not detract from personal safety standards as laid down in Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health

Found: Services Officer branch, details of the Financial Incentives for Direct Graduate Entry Environmental Health

Found: routine biosecurity measures proposed for GL45 (e.g. disinfecting vehicles, disinfecting clothing, health

Found: 7 of 87 The 2023 statutory nature conservation advice was informed by the Defra/Animal and Plant Health

Found: Health and safety standards Bus, coach, and vocational HGV drivers must meet higher health standards

Found: licence before undertaking the theory, case study ad practical demonstration modules: Option 1’)Option 1: health

Found: This is because a person with an unassessed health condition, who would have been prevented from being

Found: Health and safety standards Bus, coach, and vocational HGV drivers must meet higher health standards

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Found: Not measurable within timeframes N/A Bradford Improved physical and mental health Achieved Medium

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Found: Social infrastructure and services, which includes education, health, water and sanitation, and other

Found: GGEF Green Growth Equity Fund GoI Government of India GW GigawattsHMG His Majesty’s Government HSES Health

Found: Energy Security and Net Zero; Mims Davies MP to be a Minister of State (Minister for Disabled People, Health

Found: bef ore the ET but I make no finding in this regard as Dr Armes does not allege that his protected/health

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Found: It came from the cross -examination of the claimant who all along had raised health and safety concerns

Found: In 2021, Op Courage was launched as a bespoke mental health support for veterans supported by professionals

Found: stakeholders and regulators to ensure robust assessments for protection of the environment and human health

Found: commission of offence Prosecution is likely to have detrimental effect on victim's physical or mental health

Found: with a multi-agency panel on a weekly basis which includes representatives from police, primary mental health

Found: Information to be checked (tick when complete) ☐ Children’s services ☐ Police ☐ Health ☐ Education

Found: Upon review, the guidance in the authorities drawn together in Secretary of State for Health v Rance

Found: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding summer holiday-makers, as well as Hajj and Umrah

Found: A winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise (2022), Unimed helps to improve health outcomes around the

Found: of alcohol and tackling the effects of harmful drinking, using scientific evidence on alcohol and health

Found: sought from the commissioners for standards 4 communities and partners across many sectors including health

Found: without restriction for a WCaG application , subject to the usual site-specific factors, plant health

Found: from helping to reverse biodiversity decline and increasing green jobs to aiding physical and mental health

Found: to provide a full menu of exercise options in a confined space, helping to advance understanding of health

Found: consultancy McBains have been appointed to provide project management, cost management, design and health

Found: The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Found: biometric information is required for applications made in the UK if exempt and t he Immigration Health

Found: Health Service foundation trust; and (b) in relation to Wales - (i) a Local Health Board established

Found: The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) does not apply.

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Found: to local character and history, and create places that are safe, inclusive, accessible and promote health

Found: fitness - Excluding motorised vehicles, firearms, swimming, and skating E(e) Medical or health

Found: Guidance Clostridioides difficile ribotyping service: how to access Guidance to help health

Found: From: UK Health Security Agency Published 1 November 2008 Last updated 11 April 2024

Found: code (DE 6/14 and DE 6/15) Defra pre-notifications submitted on IPAFFS Although the CHED-PP ((Common Health

Found: -20 00:00:002024-03-01 00:00:00IT61610Software Maint & Support Costs_61610VEA712761P5086745SOW 20 - Health

Found: Pay_26205SPL0FTI003701P5084484QAT Non Functional Testing – Extension of Services122190DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Found: Transparency data UKHSA spend over £25,000: 2024 Details of UK Health Security

Found: Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy The Coal Authority 22/02/2024 Personal Protective Equipment Health

Found: ambulance, prison and related servicesOther occupationOther occupationx1171Health services and public health

Found: What percentage of yellow card reports are estimated to be filled out by health professionals ? 3.

Found: On a bimonthly basis, our Executive Committee considers a risk assessment of our financial health with

Found: this page Print this page Explore the topic Death and bereavement Northern Ireland Health

Found: after retirement Baseline mortality Standard table Adjustment Males Retirements in normal health

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Found: Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics, Performance February 2024

Found: Out of Area Placements in Mental Health Services, January 2024

Found: 2024 Get emails about this page Print this page Explore the topic National Health

Found: It enables doctors to give advice to their patients about the impact of their health condition on their

Found: 2024 Get emails about this page Print this page Explore the topic National Health

Found: 2024 Get emails about this page Print this page Explore the topic National Health

Found: 2024 Get emails about this page Print this page Explore the topic National Health

Found: 2024 Get emails about this page Print this page Explore the topic National Health

Found: Children’s Health in Northern Ireland 2022/23

Found: Reference for the Lampard Inquiry To investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of mental health

Found: From the Rt Hon Vic toria Atkins MP Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 39 Victoria

Found: other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health

Found: HCPC fee increase consultation Letter from the Health and Care Professions Council to the HSCS Convener

Found: Edinburgh , the ORR has a responsibility for ensuring railway companies protect passengers from any health

Found: Restricting promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar, or salt Letter from Public Health Scotland

Found: the child has previously absconded and is likely to abscond again and it is likely that the child’ s health

Found: foodstandards.gov.scot 1 Clare Haughey MSP Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport

Found: Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA); and •presence of caring responsibilities The Health

Found: gave the Secretary of State a power to amend transitional dates in relation to the model forms of health

Found: There are very rare circumstances when a GBGBlicensed trainer suffers from health or mental health

Found: How will the Scottish Government balance public health policy, and ensure that the approach to the

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Found: play a significant role in this fishery , driving demand and imposing requirements on species, fish health

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Found: Is radiological/heavy metal contamination and the impacts on human health a matter that is devolved to

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Found: Former Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care data charges and devices: FOI release

Found: Since 2012/13, disabled people are identified as those who report any physical or mental health condition

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Found: Social Value Engagement Hub: Working to create Social Value Action Plans with customers to ensure core health

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Found: working together across Scottish Government departments that are working on policies about culture and health

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Found: and care service reform and improving population health.

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Found: The Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP today announced the reappointment

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP today announced the reappointment

Found: Quality and Improvement section of the NHS Recovery, Health & Social Care budget: FOI release

Found: 14 • At a sector level, worker shortages in March were most reported in construction ( 35.1%), health

Found: Social Value Engagement Hub:  Working to create Social Value Action Plans with customers to ensure core health

Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on funding commitments for the research priorities identified in the report of the James Lind Alliance's Priority Setting Partnership for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), which was published in May 2022.

Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

The Scottish Government has no plans to create specific funding commitments for the research priorities identified in the report of the JLA PSP on ME/CFS

Within the Scottish Government, funding of Health and Care Research comes under the remit of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO).

The CSO's Translational Clinical Studies (TCS) Committee and Health Improvement, Protection and Services Research (HIPS) Committee each meet twice per year to consider funding applications. Details of the application process are published on the CSO website.

https://www.cso.sc ot.nhs.uk/grant-funding/response-mode-funding-schemes/

Applications on the underlying causes, diagnosis, treatment and management of ME/CFS are welcomed. Any such applications would go through CSO's standard independent expert review process to allow funding decisions to be made.

Through UK-wide funding agreements, researchers based in Scotland are able to access research funding programmes administered by the National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR). Within their individual remits, these programmes can consider applications for research in ME/CFS. CSO is working with the health research community in Scotland to ensure awareness of these opportunities and to maximise the number of high quality applications from Scotland to the NIHR research funding programmes going forward.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing with territorial NHS boards to develop best practice guidelines on communicating alternative pathways to primary care to the public.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

The Scottish Government has established procedures for sharing information on communications campaigns and messaging at key points with territorial health boards. For example, this may involve presenting the results of creative or message testing or post-campaign evaluations. The learnings from these can be applied to the communications activity undertaken by territorial health boards.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many inpatient beds for children and young people have been available in each NHS board in each year since 1999.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

Table 1 provides the average available number of staffed beds that were recorded for paediatric/child and adolescent specialties in Scotland for each year from 2001-02 to 2022-23. Information on bed numbers prior to 2001-02 is not available. A figure showing the amount of these beds that were recorded for psychiatric child specialties is also provided.

Due to the way specialties are recorded for beds data, it is not possible to use the Public Health Scotland beds statistics to estimate the total number of beds that are available for use by different services and/or departments. For example, selecting the Paediatric specialty grouping will only provide a partial picture of the staffed beds that are used for children’s services. This is because many beds used for children are not recorded under paediatric specialties and are instead recorded under more specific specialties, such as Haematology, Neurology and Respiratory Medicine.

Furthermore, the specialty recorded for a bed depends partly on what the patient is being treated for: therefore, for some wards, the mix of specialties may change over time.

Due to the volume of data included, a table including a full breakdown by NHS Board has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 64979).

Table 1: Average available staffed beds in paediatric/child & adolescent specialties, NHSScotland, 2001-02 – 2022-23

Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Education for Scotland has undertaken any work to support (a) the development of best practice guidelines and (b) training opportunities for GP receptionists.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) support the development and delivery of healthcare education and training for the NHS, health and social care sector and other public bodies. This includes the development of best practice guidelines as appropriate.

With regards to GP receptionists, NES published the Core Competency Framework for General Practice Administration Staff and Practice Managers in September 2023, which includes an accompanying learning needs analysis tools and training packages.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to ensure that a more preventative approach to the health and wellbeing of young people is being adopted within communities across all government portfolio areas.

Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

The Scottish Government wants to ensure that every child can attain the highest level of health and wellbeing possible.

Between pre-birth and starting school, all children in Scotland are entitled to support from our universal Health Visiting service. In addition, 3- and 4-year-olds are entitled to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare (ELC). We have also invested in targeted early years interventions such as the Family Nurse Partnership, ELC funding for eligible 2-year-olds and perinatal and infant mental health services. This work is underpinned by our Early Child Development Transformational Change Programme which focuses on prevention, better integration of policies, identifying policy and implementation gaps, and building collaboration across the whole system.

The health and wellbeing of school-aged children is also supported by Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). Health and Wellbeing is one of the eight curricular areas in CfE and is one of the three core areas that are the responsibility of all staff in a school. Furthermore, the Scottish Government has invested in the recruitment of School Nurses and School Counsellors, both of whom are able to prevent the escalation of health and wellbeing concerns.

Our work across all child health and wellbeing interventions continues to be guided by ‘Getting it right for every child’ (GIRFEC). GIRFEC is embedded across Scottish Government portfolios and helps to safeguard, support and promote the health and wellbeing of all children and young people.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what review it will undertake of the funding formula for health services, in light of the projected population growth in the NHS Lothian area.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

We remain committed to ensuring funding is distributed equitably across the country as set out in the 2021-22 Programme for Government. The existing National Resource Allocation Formula (NRAC) is updated on an ongoing basis for a range of factors including population demographics, relative health needs and remote and rural factors. We will continue to assess the need for a more detailed review of the formula, in line with developments in National Care Service funding and Integration reform.

Public Health Scotland review the calculations each year, which informs the geographical allocation of the NHS budget, ensuring resources are distributed fairly. The Scottish Government is not involved in the calculation of the target values. However, we use the formula to ensure appropriate allocation of resource. In 2024-25, we will provide an additional £31.1 million in parity funding, ensuring that all Boards remain within 0.6% of their target.

Work to determine how the review should be taken forward is underway, with an initial meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation (TAGRA) having taken place to consider the next steps to determine scope and timing of the review.

Please note that the main driver of the NRAC formula is the population size of each area for the target year and as such each run incorporates the most up-to-date population information available. This includes the latest population estimates (including census data) and sub-national projections published by National Records of Scotland (NRS).

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to (a) promote the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in public spaces and (b) improve the availability of BSL education, in light of the aims of Sign Language Week, which takes place from 18 to 24 March 2024.

Answered by Gilruth, Jenny - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of Sign Language Week in promoting British Sign Language (BSL) given its positive impact on both culture and community in Scotland. During this week the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills reiterated support of BSL and the Scottish Government’s commitments within the BSL National Plan 2023 – 2029.

In response to (a), the Scottish Government published the BSL National Plan 2023 – 2029 in November 2023. This plan sets out our approach to making Scotland the best place in the world for BSL users to live, visit, work, and learn; it sets out 45 commitments across ten priority areas including health, education, and justice. The BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 also requires listed authorities to publish their own Authority Plans; they are our key partners in promoting the use of BSL in public spaces.

In response to (b), the Additional Support for Learning Act places education authorities under duties to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils, including those affected by deafness. The level of support required, and input from a specialist teacher of deaf children and young people, will vary depending on a child’s individual needs. To support deaf children and young people the Scottish Government provides funding of £150,000 to The Scottish Sensory Centre to support staff training enabling effective support to deaf pupils. In addition, Education Scotland has developed a professional learning resource which seeks to support practitioners to engage more effectively with British Sign Language users. This can be found on their website at the following link: https://education.gov.scot/resources/good-practice-in-working-with-deaf-learners-their-parents-and-families-bsl-plan/

Education Scotland has published a BSL toolkit setting out the key national legislation and General Teaching Council for Scotland standards which practitioners should be aware of when working with BSL users. Information to help practitioners understand BSL, Deaf culture and identity is provided throughout the Toolkit alongside some of the key definitions and terms used when working with parents and families. You can view the Toolkit here: British Sign Language (BSL) - Toolkit for Practitioners | Resources | Education Scotland . Education Scotland also published resources to help families support their children’s learning, which can be found at: BSL | Parentzone Scotland | Education Scotland

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26010 by Fiona Hyslop on 18 March 2024, which job-related and professional training courses, which amounted to £58,408.55, were completed in (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23. 

Answered by Hyslop, Fiona - Minister for Transport

The amount of £58,408.55 is in relation to 2022-23 only. In 2021-22 the equivalent amount was £31,663.82.2021-22 – a total of £31,663.82 related to job-related and professional training courses. These included:

1. Health &Safety Training Courses

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what targeted training is currently offered to teachers to help them to assess, monitor and improve the health and wellbeing of pupils.

Answered by Gilruth, Jenny - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

In June 2021, the Scottish Government published a new professional learning resource for school staff aimed at providing essential learning required to support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing https://www.cypmh.co.uk/

Education Scotland also offers a comprehensive suite of professional learning resources to support teachers in assessing, monitoring, and enhancing the health and wellbeing of pupils. These include trauma-informed training delivered to over 1,000 practitioners in collaboration with NHS Education for Scotland. Additional Education Scotland resources, such as the Cycle of Wellbeing and Positive Mental Wellbeing guide practitioners in fostering positive change, are also available.

The Inclusion, Wellbeing, and Equalities Professional Learning Framework , launched by Education Scotland in November 2023, further supports educators in building capacity and understanding across the four key themes of Inclusion, Rights and Equalities, Relationships and Wellbeing and Care.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent review it has undertaken of the provision of sexual health and wellbeing services for young people.

Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

There has been no formal review of the provision of sexual health and wellbeing services for young people, however the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that young people across Scotland have access to these services. In 2023 we published our Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus (SHBBV) Action Plan, particular attention was paid to young people in the development of the plan. We have allocated multi-year funding to a range of projects to help deliver this goal, details of these projects were published alongside the SHBBV Action Plan.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to any NHS boards that choose to outsource health services to the private or voluntary sectors or to charity organisations.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

The Scottish Government remains committed to keeping the NHS true to its founding principles – publicly-owned, publicly-operated, and free at the point of need.

Health Boards might arrange treatment for some patients outwith NHSScotland for clinical reasons in exceptional circumstances. In all patient cases, the originating Health Board retains responsibility for the funding, consultation, diagnosis and treatment of their patients.

Guidance on establishing the responsible commissioner has been issued to NHS Boards from the Scottish Government to ensure services are always provided in the best interests of the patient: https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/cel2013-06.pdf .

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is the national authority for the development of evidence-based advice, guidance and standards for health and care professionals. All Independent Healthcare Service providers, are required to register with HIS who regulate such services in Scotland. It is a matter for HIS to detail specific guidance available, however more information is set out on their website: https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/inspections-reviews-and-regulation/regulation-of-independent-healthcare/ .

Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many whole-time equivalent advanced nurse practitioners are currently employed within primary care.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

Advanced Nurse Practitioners are employed within a range of settings within Primary Care.

The 2023 General Practice Workforce Survey ( https://turasdata.nes.nhs.scot/data-and-reports/official-workforce-statistics/all-official-statistics-publications/general-practice-workforce-survey-2023/annual-report/?pageid=10709 ), reports that there are 553.7 whole-time equivalent (WTE) Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) employed by and working in General Practices.

Alongside this, the ‘Primary Care Improvement Plans - Implementation Progress Summary’ ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/primary-care-improvement-plans-summary-implementation-progress-march-2023/ ) reports that a total of 219.9 WTE ANPs employed by Health Boards within Urgent Care services.

The latest NHS Scotland Workforce data published by NES ( https://turasdata.nes.nhs.scot/data-and-reports/official-workforce-statistics/all-official-statistics-publications/05-march-2024-workforce/ ) shows that there are 4.8 WTE ANPs employed by the Scottish Ambulance Service, as well as 1.0 WTE ANP employed by NHS 24.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to consider self-referral routes within primary care to services that currently require prior GP referral.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

The Primary Care Multi-Disciplinary team may include local physiotherapy services, community mental health services and community links worker services. These services can often be seen safely and effectively without a prior GP referral.

Through our Phased Investment Programme, which will strengthen the evidence base on the national context for implementation of primary care multidisciplinary teams, we will consider any existing barriers to effective multidisciplinary team working, including any barriers regarding patient pathways to services.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11374 by Aileen Campbell on 28 September 2017, whether it will provide an update on what preventative action (a) Health Protection Scotland and (b) each NHS board has taken to warn of tick-related health conditions; what (i) posters, leaflets and other information have been issued and (ii) events have been organised on this topic (A) routinely and (B) since 2017, and what analysis it has carried out or plans of the effectiveness of this.

Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26312 on 8 April 2024. 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 .

Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland have Lyme disease.

Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

This information is not held centrally. Public Health Scotland published a Gastrointestinal and Zoonoses report on 7 February 2023 which provides figures and trends of Lyme Disease. The report can be found at Gastrointestinal and Zoonoses - Biennial report 2020 to 2021 - Gastrointestinal and Zoonoses - Publications - Public Health Scotland .

If you have an enquiry relating to this publication, please email [email protected].

Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on cancer research in each year since 2011-12 in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms, broken down by spending through (i) NHS Research Scotland and (ii) other routes.

Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

Within the Scottish Government, funding for Health and Care Research comes under the policy remit of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO)

(A) The following table provides the amount in cash terms of CSO cancer research funding per year from 2011-12

Column 1 - NHS Research Scotland (NRS) - includes funding for the NRS Cancer Research Network; the CSO component of funding for the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow (co-funded 50:50 with Cancer Research UK); NRS Career Research Fellowships in cancer

Column 2 - Direct Funding - includes cancer projects funded through the CSO grant funding committees; Academic Fellowships in cancer funded through the CSO capacity building programmes; the CSO component of collaborative research project and fellowship funding with cancer research charities

Column 3 - total CSO cancer research funding by year

To note - for multi-year projects and fellowships, the funding figure is allocated to the year corresponding to the start date (in the case of cancer charity collaborations the funding is allocated to the year of the collaboration agreement)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure equitable access to Auditory Verbal therapy for all deaf children under the age of five whose families want them to learn to listen and speak.

Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

Auditory Verbal UK is a suitable therapeutic intervention for some young people, and it remains an option that can be pursued by local health boards.

The provision of services including suitable therapeutic intervention remains a matter for local authorities and health boards.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to (a) raise awareness of and (b) improve (i) diagnosis and (ii) treatment of Lyme disease.

Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

The Scottish Government is committed to continuing its work on preventing, raising awareness and improving our understanding of Lyme disease and ticks.

The Scottish Government-led Lyme Disease Awareness Raising Group will run the Lyme Disease Awareness Raising Campaign in May 2024 to coincide with National Lyme Disease Awareness Month. During which patients, activists, educators and Government will share information through social media and other platforms to raise awareness of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.

In May 2023, the group ran the Lyme Disease Awareness Raising Campaign which saw posters in community pharmacies across Scotland. The campaign was supported by PR activity, organic social media and stakeholder engagement for wider messaging dissemination. In addition to the posters, pharmacies were provided with information cards for customers to take away which included a QR code to link to further information on NHS Inform

A follow up campaign was carried out in summer 2023, with posters provided for display in local libraries, GP surgeries, community and leisure centres to highlight signs and symptoms to people holidaying in Scotland and may have missed the May campaign.

The campaign assets were shared with a variety of stakeholders including Visit Scotland, the Lyme Resource Centre, and Ramblers Scotland. A small-scale evaluation was undertaken in July in relation to engagement and impact of the May campaign.

The Scottish Health Protection Network (SHPN), comprising Public Health Scotland (PHS) and NHS Health Boards, as well as Local Authorities and other agencies with a responsibility for public health, formed a Lyme disease group as a subgroup of the Gastrointestinal Infections and Zoonoses (GIZ) group at the beginning of 2016.

The Scottish Government continue to work closely with PHS and the as well as the SHPN Tick Borne Diseases subgroup which has developed content for an e-learning module to be made accessible through Turas for all health care workers in Scotland which is hoped to be ready this spring. The module covers an overview of ticks and tick borne diseases and focusses on the common presentations of Lyme disease which will allow care workers to diagnosis and treatment for the diseases early.

In addition, the Scottish Government will continue to use its own platforms to highlight the need to be tick aware and to set out the signs and symptoms of possible infection.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) NHS Scotland and (b) the relevant NHS boards regarding the provision of recurrent funding for (i) existing and (ii) future Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

Officials met with every Health Board’s Cancer Management Team in March 2024 to discuss their plans for implementing, or sustaining, a Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service. All possible funding options for both existing and future services will require careful consideration, locally and nationally.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the submissions to the Wolfson Economics Prize 2021, in response to the problem question, "How would you design and plan new hospitals to radically improve patient experiences, clinical outcomes, staff wellbeing, and integration with wider health and social care?", have influenced Scottish Government policy on the design of healthcare facilities.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

Scottish Government policy for design quality in healthcare (DL(2010)19) looks to ensure that these elements are considered by designers and NHS Boards. This is assessed by the NHSScotland Design Assessment Process (NDAP) provided by NHSScotland Assure in conjunction with Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS) is the vehicle for assessing design quality in NHSScotland Capital funded healthcare facilities developments and is an integral part of the Business Case process. The NDAP, along with the Sustainable Design and Construction (SDaC) requirements, ensures that a well rounded and measured assessment is made of the requirements of the objectives of each project they review.

This Wolfson Economics Prize competition of 2021 provided numerous innovative submissions in response to the problem question. Each of the runners up and the winner of the prize provided interesting responses to specific strands of healthcare design. The main themes featured in the Wolfson Economic Prize finalists are embeded in the NDAP and SDaC process to ensure sustainable, Person Centred Care.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on how many patients have been diagnosed with a blood cancer through Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

The recently published University of Strathclyde evaluation report https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/88280/7/Maguire-etal-2024-Final-report-of-the-evaluation-of-rapid-cancer-diagnostic-services.pdf showed that 13.5% of cancers diagnosed through the Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services (RCDS) were blood cancers.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on exact numbers but work is underway with Public Health Scotland to create a national RCDS data-set.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve equity of access to Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services, particularly in Scotland's more remote and rural NHS boards.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

Officials met with every Health Board’s Cancer Management Team in Scotland, including the Island Boards, in March 2024 to discuss their plans for establishing a Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service (RCDS). The commitment remains, as reflected in Scotland’s Cancer Strategy, to achieve population coverage of an RCDS for eligible patients by Spring 2026.

The recent University of Strathclyde evaluation report https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/88280/7/Maguire-etal-2024-Final-report-of-the-evaluation-of-rapid-cancer-diagnostic-services.pdf showed that a virtual model is well accepted by patients and will be considered by Boards in the North of Scotland.

In England, Scotland, and Wales, it's not illegal for someone between the ages of five and 17 to drink alcohol at home or on other private premises. But this does not mean it is recommended. The best advice for young people's health and wellbeing is an alcohol-free childhood.

It was brought to my attention by Police Scotland and social services that children are allowed to consume alcohol from age 5 in their home or private premises.

There is a focus to increase the cost of alcohol to help tackle problems. Scotland has issues with many adults abusing alcohol. I believe this situation doesn't help. We need to support our children to make the right decisions and not hide behind loop-holes in the law but instead change them.

Found: The best advice for young people's health and wellbeing is an alcohol-free childhood.

Communities across North East Scotland have serious concerns about the quality and transparency of the public consultation accompanying SSEN Transmission’s East Coast 400kV Phase 2 project.

SSEN’s engagement with communities has been rushed, and insufficient effort has been made to understand and communicate the full impact of the proposals to impacted communities. There have been inconsistencies between information presented in SSEN’s published material and their contact with community representatives. Many affected residents were unaware of the plans and it has fallen to local campaigners to raise awareness.

These concerns have had a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of residents, who are worried about their health, businesses, property value, cultural heritage, and the loss of prime agricultural land.

The Scottish Government must use all available levers to improve the public consultation processes for energy infrastructure projects and ensure they are carried out with the consent of the affected communities.

Found: These concerns have had a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of residents, who are worried about their health

Found: In relation to health harms, the evaluation found a reduction in alcohol attributable deaths relative