Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-28318

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Scotland that, between March and April 2024, 826 patients presented across 21 emergency departments in Scotland, with 12.8% of those being treated on trolleys in the corridor.

As set out in answer to question S6W-28317 on 19 July 2024, any unnecessary delay in hospital is unacceptable and below the standard we would expect. The Scottish Government recognises the relationship between crowding in A&E and increased risk of harm which is why we remain committed to delivering improved A&E performance.

Action is being taken to improve patient flow through our acute sites which will in turn reduce congestion within A&E and bring down waiting times. Through our Urgent and Unscheduled Care Collaborative Programme, we are working with Boards across Scotland to implement a range of initiatives such as improved escalation process and increased clinical support for care home and ambulance crews to avoid unnecessary admission to hospital.

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 reference: S6W-28317

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest report by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Scotland on A&E crowding and corridor waits.

Any unnecessary delay in hospital is unacceptable and below the standard we would expect. The Scottish Government recognises the relationship between crowding in A&E and increased risk of harm which is why we remain committed to delivering improved A&E performance.

Action is being taken to improve patient flow through our acute sites which will in turn reduce congestion within A&E and bring down waiting times. Through our Urgent and Unscheduled Care Collaborative Programme, we are working with Boards across Scotland to implement a range of initiatives such as improved escalation process and increased clinical support for care home and ambulance crews to avoid unnecessary admission to hospital.

Question reference: S6W-28321

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recently published Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Scotland report on crowding in hospitals, whether it will increase the number of general and acute beds within hospitals so that occupancy is at 85% maximum.

The Scottish Government works closely with local teams and expert groups to develop appropriate alternatives to attendance at A&E, minimise the need for admission, reduce length of stay and increase options and processes for timely and appropriate discharge which would in turn improve occupancy levels.

Decisions on capacity levels are ultimately for local health boards and their planning partners to make however, the Delayed Discharge and Hospital Occupancy Action Plan has been put in place to support systems to create the necessary capacity to deal with emerging pressures.

Question reference: S6W-28319

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement the recommendations from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Scotland to prevent inappropriate care and crowding in emergency departments.

The Scottish Government has an existing improvement Programme informed by evidence-based best practice. Through this approach we are working with Health Boards and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) to implement actions that will improve patient flow through our acute sites, in turn reducing A&E waiting times.

We are working with boards to focus on the greatest areas of productive opportunity, many of which, are in line with the recommendations set out in the RCEM guidance, such as strengthening Same Day Emergency Care services, improving access to clinical decision makers from other services and enhancing the escalation process.

We regularly meet with RCEM to discuss this approach and to collectively improve experience for staff and patients.

Question reference: S6W-28320

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to provide additional resource to hospitals to ensure that there is sufficient capacity within emergency departments to safely treat patients.

This Government is committed to ensuring the people of Scotland can access NHS services that meet their needs and provide the highest standard of care in the right place, at the right time.

Health services continue to face sustained pressure, and this is not unique to Scotland - with similar challenges being felt right across the UK. The 2024-25 Scottish Budget provides more than £19.5 billion for health and social care and an extra £500 million for frontline boards. Additionally, we continue to grow our NHS workforce and as at March 2024, NHS Staffing levels are at record high.

We also continue to grow our capacity through the expansion of Hospital at Home services. By providing care in this way we’re enabling more people to receive treatment in the comfort of their own home rather than on an acute ward, relieving pressure on frontline services in traditional hospital settings.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland report h-h-progress-update-march-2024.pdf (ihub.scot) that H@H services prevented over 14,400 people spending time in hospital during April 2023 to March 2024. This represents an increase in bed days of 52% compared to the same period in the previous year.

Question reference: S6O-03765

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 July 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government test TEST

Question reference: S6F-03214

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 July 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 July 2024

To ask the First Minister TEST1

Question reference: S6W-29038

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 October 2024
Current Status: Holding Answer by Jenni Minto on 5 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government asdfd

Question reference: S6W-29035

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government asf

Emma Harper (South Scotland) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government when ministers will be in a position to provide an update to the Parliament on the work of the Chief Medical Officer’s office to review the recommendations of the Cass Review and its implications for Scotland.

S6W-28497

Jenni Minto: Today, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has laid the multidisciplinary team's full report (SG/2024/132) in Parliament. The CMO is also writing to the Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport committee to set out the findings of the multidisciplinary team. Given the significant interest, the full report and the CMO's letter will also be published on the Scottish Government website later today.

Pre-election guidance prevented this update from being provided in the run-up to the UK General Election, but a commitment was made to Parliament to provide this at the first opportunity after the restricted period ended.

The conclusions of the report will now be considered and used to improve gender identity healthcare for children and young people. The Scottish Government will update Parliament after recess.

Question reference: S6W-29036

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 July 2024