- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what response (a) it, (b) SEPA and (c) Scottish Water has made to the Environmental Standards Scotland report, Storm overflows - An assessment of spills, their impact on the water environment and the effectiveness of legislation and policy, which was published in September 2024.
Answer
The Scottish Government will be responding to Environmental Standard Scotland’s (ESS) report by 4 March 2025, as requested by ESS. Scottish Water and SEPA have also been asked to respond to the report by the same deadline.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Borders regarding the situation at the Knoll Hospital, Duns, and the reported need to close the hospital in order to undertake remedial works due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
Answer
The Chair and Chief Executive of NHS Borders met with myself on 30 January to discuss the situation with Knoll Hospital. NHS Borders have also been providing regular situation reports to the Scottish Government updating them on developments.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a detailed timeline showing the work that NHS Scotland Assure has done in (a) surveying sites to check whether reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) is present, (b) identifying any RAAC and the level of remedial action that is required and (c) ensuring that appropriate action is taken by NHS boards to address the presence of RAAC where it has been found.
Answer
Following the collapse of a school roof in 2018, the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS), alerted NHS Scotland Assure to the issue and the following steps were then taken:
- May 2019 - The Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS), alerted Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) to the issue in May 2019, this was circulated to NHS Scotland
- February 2020 – paper presented by NHS Scotland Assure to the NHS Strategic Facilities Group outlining a proposal for identifying and managing RAAC across the NHS estate
- May 2021 – NHS Assure gather a local assessment of RAAC from each local NHS Board, and conclude that a national survey programme would be best;
- November 2022 – a lead adviser is appointed and the desktop survey programme starts.
- December 2022 – NHS Scotland Assure commissioned a survey team to establish the extent of RAAC across the NHS Scotland Estate and the condition it is in.
- January 2023 – Desktop review begins
- July 2023 – Phase 1 Discovery survey work begins
- April 2024 – Discovery survey programme complete (except for several revisits and several later additions)
- May 2024 – three pilot detailed surveys commissioned to inform a programme to undertake a detailed survey of all buildings with RAAC in the NHS Estate.
- June 2024 – two pilot detailed surveys completed to inform a Phase 2 Survey Programme
- October 2024 – Scottish Government commissioned an Annual Inspection Programme to complete annual re visits required during the 2024/25 financial year
- November 2024 – Annual Inspection Programme commenced
- November 2024 – procurement of a Phase 2 Survey Programme
It is the NHS Boards responsibility for any actions identified in the Survey reports to be undertaken timeously.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify the process and outcomes of the three detailed pilot surveys commissioned in May 2024, as outlined in the progress report, Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) across the public sector in Scotland, provided for the Building and Fire Safety Ministerial Working Group, which was published in September 2024.
Answer
The pilot surveys' purpose was to prove the methodology proposed to be adopted in the more detailed Phase 2 survey programme.
The pilots utilise point cloud technology which creates a digital representation of the area being assessed. This method provides an accurate and detailed picture of the structure's shape and dimensions, including identifying any areas of deflection, sagging, or damage that are not visible to a visual inspection. By comparing point clouds captured at different times, surveyors can monitor any changes in the condition of the RAAC structure over time. This is particularly important for NHS sites, as we will likely be using these sites for many years to come and we want to minimise the time and disruption of each survey.
The result of the point cloud surveys inform the location of intrusive surveys required by the surveying Structural Engineer. Once access has been provide in the required locations the surveying Structural Engineer will conduct their detailed surveys and provide a report on the observations.
Two of these pilot surveys were completed, the third has had a Point Cloud completed but requires a follow-up survey. The two completed Pilot surveys satisfactorily proved the methodology which has been adopted in the procurement of the full Phase 2 survey programme. In the two completed Pilot surveys the Structural Engineers Report has identified remedial actions but nothing critical.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its reported position that remedial works to address the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in NHS buildings should come out of the capital budgets of NHS boards.
Answer
The Scottish Government have confirmed that they will provide an additional capital allocation to NHS Borders to allow them to remediate the RAAC situation at Knoll hospital. For other potential RAAC related issues across the NHS Scotland estate, requests for additional capital funding will be considered on a case by case basis.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that nurses and midwives can access sustainable and progressive opportunities to influence policy, practice, national and local strategy to achieve change, as it committed to in the recommended actions of the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce.
Answer
As set out in answer to Parliamentary Question S6W-34995 on 27 February 2025, the implementation phase of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has now begun, and two Implementation Delivery Groups are being established to oversee swift delivery of all 44 recommended actions. One group, chaired by the Interim Chief Nursing Officer, will meet at the end of February and then recurrently every 6 - 8 weeks. A further Implementation Delivery Group will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and will meet in Spring and then every six months. These two Groups will ensure that priorities are clearly defined, progress is measurable, and key milestones are met. A detailed work plan and timeline to guide the delivery of the recommended actions will be agreed in Spring.
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
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin developing the new entry routes into nursing and midwifery with dedicated funding for them, as outlined in the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce recommendations.
Answer
As set out in answer to Parliamentary Question S6W-34995 on 27 February 2025, the implementation phase of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has now begun, and two Implementation Delivery Groups are being established to oversee swift delivery of all 44 recommended actions. One group, chaired by the Interim Chief Nursing Officer, will meet at the end of February and then recurrently every 6 - 8 weeks. A further Implementation Delivery Group will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and will meet in Spring and then every six months. These two Groups will ensure that priorities are clearly defined, progress is measurable, and key milestones are met. A detailed work plan and timeline to guide the delivery of the recommended actions will be agreed in Spring.
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
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the work it will do to ensure that there is consistent, sustainable provision of taster sessions across health and social care so that people across many different backgrounds can experience nursing and midwifery, and whether it will clarify what work it will do to ensure that these sessions will help people to experience roles in remote and rural areas as well as support access to these roles.
Answer
As set out in answer to Parliamentary Question S6W-34995 on 27 February 2025, the implementation phase of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has now begun, and two Implementation Delivery Groups are being established to oversee swift delivery of all 44 recommended actions. One group, chaired by the Interim Chief Nursing Officer, will meet at the end of February and then recurrently every 6 - 8 weeks. A further Implementation Delivery Group will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and will meet in Spring and then every six months. These two Groups will ensure that priorities are clearly defined, progress is measurable, and key milestones are met. A detailed work plan and timeline to guide the delivery of the recommended actions will be agreed in Spring.
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
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects that the mechanism or toolkit that it has committed to developing for staff in the recommended actions of the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce will be available for staff to use.
Answer
The implementation phase of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has now begun, and two Implementation Delivery Groups are being established to oversee swift delivery of all 44 recommended actions. One group, chaired by the Interim Chief Nursing Officer, will meet at the end of February and then recurrently every 6 - 8 weeks. A further Implementation Delivery Group will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and will meet in Spring and then every six months. These two Groups will ensure that priorities are clearly defined, progress is measurable, and key milestones are met. A detailed work plan and timeline to guide the delivery of the recommended actions will be agreed in Spring.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin the review of the predicted absence allowance in the staffing level tools used by NHS Scotland, as it committed to in the recommended actions of the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce.
Answer
As set out in answer to Parliamentary Question S6W-34995 on 27 February 2025, the implementation phase of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has now begun, and two Implementation Delivery Groups are being established to oversee swift delivery of all 44 recommended actions. One group, chaired by the Interim Chief Nursing Officer, will meet at the end of February and then recurrently every 6 - 8 weeks. A further Implementation Delivery Group will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and will meet in Spring and then every six months. These two Groups will ensure that priorities are clearly defined, progress is measurable, and key milestones are met. A detailed work plan and timeline to guide the delivery of the recommended actions will be agreed in Spring.
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
