The Scottish Government supports NHS Health Boards in their efforts to ensure that they have the right staff in place to meet the healthcare needs of the local population.

NHS Lothian have advised that when the decision was taken to temporary close its Paediatric In-Patient Unit at St John's Hospital on 7 July 2017, a commitment was made to operate a Short Stay Paediatric Assessment Unit (SSPAU) between 08:00hrs to 20:00hrs, Monday to Friday. NHS Lothian have confirmed that since the introduction of the temporary model, the Board has been able to keep the SSPAU open at the weekends through staff undertaking additional shifts coupled with the use of locum cover. Due to unplanned absence, at short notice, the Board was unable to staff a safe rota for both the 3 and 9 December, resulting in the SSPAU closing on these days.

The Board commissioned the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) to review the work undertaken to secure a sustainable 24/7 staffing model. The College has carried out a review and produced a report which was received by the Board in the Autumn. It concluded that option one remained both the RCPCH’s and NHS Lothian’s preferred option for St John's Paediatric services i.e. 24 hour consultant and Tier 2 [middle grade] cover. The College recognised that the development of this model was a long-term solution depending upon the successful recruitment of staff.

NHS Lothian has confirmed that the decision to close the SSPAU on the weekends of 23-24 and 30-31 December has not been taken lightly and was made following detailed discussion with consultant staff representation from St John’s Hospital. The Board advised that this discussion recognised the pressures staff were experiencing in supporting out of hours cover, over and above their normal shifts due to vacancies.

The Scottish Government is continuing to work with NHS Lothian to ensure that the services on offer at the St John’s in-patient paediatric ward remain safe and sustainable in the long-term. The Chief Medical Officer and the NHSScotland Director of Performance and Delivery met with NHS Lothian on 23 October. Amongst the issues discussed was the history on recruitment, sickness absence and the filling of rotas.

NHS Lothian has given an assurance that it is committed to increasing staffing levels and reinstating the 24/7 model.

The Scottish Government’s Capital Investment Group (CIG) oversees the approval process for business cases across NHSScotland and provides the necessary assurances that proposals are robust, affordable, deliverable, and that they are in line with wider NHS policy. Following consideration by the CIG, approval was given for the Initial Agreements for the NHS Highland “North of Scotland Elective Care Centre” and the Golden Jubilee National Hospital "Ophthalmology Unit Development’" on 28 September 2017. The Business Cases for these elective centres are now under development.

The Initial Agreements for the remaining centres continue to be developed, supported and informed by a range of national planning work, and will be considered by the CIG in due course. In line with the original commitment, the programme to deliver the elective centres remains on track for completion by the end of 2021.

In order to provide effective assistance to Ministers, special advisers work closely with the Ministerial team and with civil servants and may give assistance and advice on any aspect of Scottish Government business. Medical advice in relation to mesh is provided to both Ministers and officials by appropriately qualified and experienced clinical personnel.

The Scottish Government supports NHS Health Boards in their efforts to ensure that they have the right staff in place to meet the healthcare needs of the local population.

NHS Lothian have advised that when the decision was taken to temporary close its Paediatric In-Patient Unit at St John's Hospital on 7 July 2017, a commitment was made to operate a Short Stay Paediatric Assessment Unit (SSPAU) between 08:00hrs to 20:00hrs, Monday to Friday.

NHS Lothian have confirmed that since the introduction of the temporary model, the Board has been able to keep the SSPAU open at the weekends through staff undertaking additional shifts coupled with the use of locum cover. Due to unplanned absence, at short notice, the Board was unable to staff a safe rota for both the 3 and 9 December, resulting in the SSPAU closing on these days.

The Board commissioned the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) to review the work undertaken to secure a sustainable 24/7 staffing model. The College has carried out a review and produced a report which was received by the Board in the Autumn. It concluded that option one remained both the RCPCH’s and NHS Lothian’s preferred option for St John's Paediatric services i.e. 24 hour consultant and Tier 2 [middle grade] cover. The College recognised that the development of this model was a long-term solution depending upon the successful recruitment of consultants, Advance Nurse Practioners (ANP) and Specialty and Associate Specialist Doctors.

NHS Lothian has given an assurance that it is committed to increasing staffing levels and reinstating the 24/7 model.

The Scottish Government supports NHS Health Boards in their efforts to ensure that they have the right staff in place to meet the healthcare needs of the local population.

We have been assured by NHS Lothian that despite significant investment, the Board continued to face challenges with recruitment and sustaining a 24/7 workforce. Therefore it reluctantly took the decision, in the interest of children and their families, to implement an interim model on 7 July 2017.

The Board commissioned the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) to review the work undertaken to secure a sustainable 24/7 staffing model. The College has carried out a review and produced a report which was received by the Board in the Autumn. It concluded that option one remained both the RCPCH’s and NHS Lothian’s preferred option for St John's Paediatric services i.e. 24 hour consultant and Tier 2 [middle grade] cover. The College recognised that the development of this model was a long-term solution depending upon the successful recruitment of consultants, Advance Nurse Practioners (ANP) and Specialty and Associate Specialist Doctors.

NHS Lothian has given an assurance that it is committed to increasing staffing levels and reinstating the 24/7 model.

While the whistle-blower raised concerns about St Johns Hospital specifically, NHS Lothian subsequently carried out an internal review of three of its acute hospitals. The independent Review, led by the Professor Derek Bell, will not only investigate the allegations made by the whistle-blower but will also review the findings from NHS Lothian's internal review, including St Johns Hospital, the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the Western General hospital.

As I said to the member, I expect the review to conclude early in the New Year.

Scottish Government data collation procedures only allow to distinguish between serious and slight injuries for such instances and these were set out in the answer to S5W-12702. It is not possible to directly attribute the wearing of a helmet to the injuries sustained in all of the situations contained in these statistics, however the Scottish Government encourages all cyclists to undertake safeguards and to wear a suitable helmet in line with advice in the UK Highway Code.

From the December 2017 timetable change some services on the North Berwick route serving Wallyford and Musselburgh have been strengthened from three to six cars providing more seating capacity. Services on the route continue to be provided by Class 380 trains, with plans for further capacity to be provided by the end of 2018 when all peak services will be provided with 6 cars.

It is the role of the Scottish Government to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards so they can deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations. The provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local Boards, taking into account national guidance, local service needs and priorities for investment.