Cathy Jamieson

11 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many house repossessions there have been in the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

3 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many home repossessions there have been in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Alex Neil: There are no separate repossessions figures available for Scotland.</p> <p >Data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders show the following numbers of repossessions in the UK in each of the last five years: </b></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring has taken place of how health boards are implementing the requirements of Prudent Antimicrobial Prescribing: The Scottish Action Plan For Managing Antibiotic Resistance And Reducing Antibiotic Related Clostridium Difficile Associated Disease.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Antimicrobial teams in NHS boards are responsible for monitoring the development, implementation and compliance monitoring of antimicrobial policy in their area. The Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group regularly liaise with each NHS board''s Antimicrobia…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with broadband providers regarding improving broadband access in rural areas.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28478 on 10 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to improve broadband access in Ayrshire.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has already made significant progress in improving broadband access in Ayrshire, through successful completion of the Broadband Reach Project in May 2009. The project, delivered by Avanti Communications Ltd, has provided an affordable,…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued guidance to NHS boards on the use of disposable curtains in hospitals as part of a programme to prevent healthcare associated infection.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No such guidance has been issued. The procurement and use of disposable curtains is a matter for individual NHS boards to decide.</p>

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have established dedicated isolation units in hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The census of single room provision undertaken by Information Services Division of National Services Scotland in November-December 2006 did not gather these data. However, the NHS in Scotland has just procured an Asset Management system which will be rolled o…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of beds in acute hospitals is in single rooms, broken down by health board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As part of the work undertaken by a Steering Group considering single room provision in NHS Scotland Information Services Division of National Services Scotland undertook a census of the number of single rooms in Scottish Hospitals during November-December 20…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase the availability of isolation facilities in hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23325 on 11 May 2009 for some information on isolation facilities. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> …

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many single rooms were created in hospitals as part of refurbishment and improvement programmes in 2007 and 2008 and have been created in 2009.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28438, on 5 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase single room accommodation in hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has committed £1.676 billion to capital investment over three years and is developing a performance management regime for NHSScotland, which includes the condition of the Estate. An Asset Management System to support this has been proc…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place for the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate to undertake announced and unannounced visits beyond the acute sector.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate was established to undertake a rigorous programme of inspections in acute hospitals and to date, has visited three sites. Details of these inspections and any follow up action which may be required will be published on …

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on examining whether there is a case for establishing a norovirus reference laboratory.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The HAI Task Force considered a paper on the establishment of a norovirus reference laboratory in Scotland at its last quarterly meeting held on 30 September 2009. In light of comments made by task force members, a revised paper will be presented at the next …

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken by Health Facilities Scotland to undertake an audit of facilities for storing excess soiled bedding and clothing.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: An evaluation of storage facilities will be undertaken by NHS boards as part of the Estates Monitoring Tool developed by Health Facilities Scotland. Testing of the tool will begin in January 2010 and monitoring will go live from April 2010.</p>

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to progress a full analysis of the role of microbiologists and what the outcome has been of the Chief Nursing Officer’s raising this matter with the Chief Medical Officer.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Infection Control Doctors Network was recently established. This body, together with the Scottish Microbiology Forum, will allow for a full analysis of the role and tasks undertaken by microbiologists. A full analysis has begun and a report will go to the…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether academic medical microbiology capacity has been reviewed by universities, as recommended by the Heathcare Associated Infection Task Force, and what recommendations have been made as a result.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Chief Medical Officer has arranged a meeting for next month to progress a review of medical microbiology capacity. It is, therefore, too early to provide any information on recommendations at present.</p> <p >NHS Education Scotland is also developing a f…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the development of an estates monitoring system in conjunction with NHS Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Estates Monitoring Tool will be rolled out to all NHS boards between January and March 2010 and will go live from April 2010. Health Facilities Scotland has also organised training days in December 2009 for the NHS so estates professionals are fully conve…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether every NHS board now has in place a programme of planned preventative maintenance reflecting the requirements of prevention and control of infection.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28464 on 6 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further consideration has been given to the provision of temperature-controlled, sensor-operated, flow-regulated taps in hospital wards and departments.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The benefits and drawbacks of sensor operated taps are discussed at the Scottish Engineering Technology Advisory Group which comprises the most senior engineers in NHSScotland. NHS boards are empowered to decide on a risk assessment basis where these devices …

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider withholding planning permission for large-scale biomass power stations that cannot demonstrate the sustainability of their intended feedstock.

Answer · Jim Mather: Ensuring that biomass supplies are sustainably sourced is a key aim in the development of the Scottish Government''s bioenergy policies. We are taking a number of constructive steps to ensure that biomass for heat and electricity is sustainably produced.</p> …

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that disaggregating the waste wood stream into recyclable and contaminated material would increase recycling and decrease landfill.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government''s view is that the separating of any waste, including wood, into recyclable and non recyclable materials would have a positive effect on recycling rates whilst also reducing waste going to landfill.</p> <p >As part of our consultatio…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider banning all waste wood from landfill.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Section 5.3 of the Zero Waste Plan consultation paper is currently seeking views on the topic of landfill bans. This section can be accessed via the following link: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/08/19141153/12">http://www.sco…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider capital support for investment in biomass energy generation plant that is compliant with the EU Waste Incineration Directive.

Answer · Jim Mather: There is no Scottish Government capital support scheme targeted specifically at biomass energy plant that is compliant with the EU Waste Incineration Directive.</p> <p >Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) is the main national grant scheme aimed at encouragin…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by NHS boards in developing planned preventative maintenance programmes reflecting the requirements of prevention and control of infection.

21 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31889 by Andy Kerr on 2 March 2007, what the median hospital waiting time is for patients diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The majority of patients who require treatment for myasthenia gravis is undertaken mainly in primary care and hospital outpatient settings, with a small number of cases being treated as inpatient and day cases.</p> <p >Information on waiting times is only a…

21 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have myasthenia gravis, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The exact number of patients who have myasthenia gravis in Scotland is not available centrally, however an estimate of this can be provided from a sample of Scottish General Practices. It is estimated that the number of patients who consulted a member of the …

21 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to support people with myasthenia gravis.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government''s approach to providing services for people living with long term conditions, such as myasthenia gravis, is outlined in the Long Term Conditions Action Plan, which was issued to NHS boards as CEL 23 (2009) on 16 June 2009.</p> <p >I…

20 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much grant funding each local authority has provided to community councils in each of the last five years.

Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.</p> <p >It is for each individual local authority to decide the level of funding it awards to the community councils in its area.</p> mso-

20 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is provided to community councils by local authorities.

Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.</p> <p >It is for each individual local authority to decide the level of support that it provides to community councils in its area.</p>

20 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to support community councils.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government, in partnership with COSLA and the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC), are developing a package of measures to raise the profile and effectiveness of community councils throughout Scotland.</p> <p >A <i >Model Scheme of…