Parliamentary questions
Cathy Jamieson
1,344 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to determine why Scotland has a higher rate of suicide than England and Wales.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The UK Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness is partly funded by the Scottish Government to research the key factors underlying suicide within Scotland, for those people who have been in recent contact with Mental Health…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the rate of suicide in Scotland given that it is higher than in England and Wales.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Since 2001-03 the suicide rate in Scotland has reduced by 10%. The Scottish Government is committed to reducing suicide in Scotland by 20% by 2013. The government''s commitment is supported by <i >Choose Life,</i> our 10 year strategic framework and action pl…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to collect data from GPs on the number of people recorded as having (a) schizophrenia and (b) bipolar disorder.
Answer · Shona Robison: As part of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) of the General Medical Services contract, GP practices hold a register of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychoses - the Mental Health register. The combined number of patients per 1…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to develop services for people with dementia given the prediction by Alzheimer Scotland that the number of people with dementia will increase by 75% by 2031.
Answer · Shona Robison: Dementia is a priority for the Scottish Government and we have already put in place and planned a range of practical measures to improve early diagnosis, information, support and care management that is making a real difference not just to those with dementia…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to collect accurate statistics on dementia in light of the Audit Scotland report, Overview of mental health services, which identifies underreporting as an issue.
Answer · Shona Robison: Under the GMS contract GPs are paid for maintaining a register of patients with a diagnosis of dementia. We recognised in 2007 that the number of people on the dementia register was less than we expected from survey data available. That is why we put in place…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when external auditors will report on progress on the recommendations made in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of mental health services.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Audit Scotland record in the report that they will commission external auditors to evaluate progress made by the Scottish Government and local partners against the recommendations made in the report, using the self-assessment checklist for local partners appe…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address mental health services where there have been long waiting times for access to treatments.
Answer · Shona Robison: In most cases, those requiring access to mental health services already receive treatment well within 18 weeks. However, for those areas where delays do occur, we are considering new waiting times targets.</p> <p >We are currently working to establish by Apr…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether data on waiting times for mental health services are now being collected routinely.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24333 on 11 June 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/Apps2/B…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to monitor the allocation of resources at local level to support the move from hospital to community services for people with mental health problems.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards and local authorities have responsibility to work in partnership and allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, within the context of the Scottish Government''s key strategic objectives and commitments.</p> <p >Allocation of re…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in improving provision of psychological therapies for people with mental health problems.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are working closely with NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and NHS boards to develop a range of initiatives to support the development around our commitment to expand and increase access to psychological therapies to meet patient''s needs better and sooner.…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will assess the effectiveness of action taken by local authorities and NHS boards to identify and address gaps in services for children, adolescents and older people with mental health problems in light of the findings in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of mental health servic…
Answer · Shona Robison: As part of our ongoing twice yearly performance management reviews with NHS boards and partners we will be reviewing progress against the published challenging national performance targets which cover the full spectrum of mental health.</p> <p >Specifically …
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to assess more accurately the number of people who have mental health problems.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are three main approaches. Firstly, clinicians routinely collect diagnostic information in the course of their practice and this information may be aggregated to provide national information about particular conditions. Examples of this are the use of r…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the results of the rotavirus vaccination programme in the United States of America.
Answer · Shona Robison: Vaccination policy in Scotland is informed by recommendations by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the UK-wide independent advisory committee that provides advice to all UK health departments on vaccination. In making their statement…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on parents and low-income families who are required to take time off work to look after children affected by the rotavirus.
Answer · Shona Robison: No such assessment has been made.</p>
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the provision of a rotavirus vaccine in light of the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland’s priorities for health protection for 2008 to 2010.
Answer · Shona Robison: Vaccination policy in the Scotland is informed by recommendations by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the UK-wide independent advisory committee that provides advice to all UK health departments on vaccination. The JCVI have conside…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to raise awareness of the rotavirus.
Answer · Shona Robison: Regular briefings to professionals on a range of organisms, including rotavirus, are provided by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) via the HPS surveillance systems and through the HPS weekly report, which is available on the HPS website. At present no public f…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated the cost of providing a universal rotavirus vaccine for children.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the UK-wide independent advisory committee which provides advice to the UK health departments on vaccination issues, considered the cost of providing a universal rotavirus vaccine for children prior …
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its report on the implementation of quality standards for community mental health services.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) published the standards for integrated care pathways in mental health (Bib. number 44374) in December 2007 and established an accreditation system which was rolled out to the NHS boards in December 2008.</p> <p >Th…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the provision of crisis and out-of-hours services for people with mental health problems.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The national standards for crisis services was published in 2006, followed by the Crisis Toolkit in 2008; both key parts of the Scottish Government''s work with partners in recent years on strengthening community mental health services and reducing inappropri…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to collect better information on community mental health services in light of the comments in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of mental health services.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government began the Mental Health NHS Benchmarking Project in 2007, to obtain more comprehensive information around both inpatient and community services.</p> <p >Common definitions of community mental health services have been established acro…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to collect data on the length of bed occupancy in psychiatric inpatient units to inform future planning of services.
Answer · Shona Robison: Through the Mental Health Benchmarking Project we have developed a balanced scorecard which measures 20 indicators to ensure information is available to allow NHS boards to measure and compare performances. One of these indicators is specifically around lengt…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that single outcome agreements include outcomes for mental health.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is not the purpose of single outcome agreements (SOAs) to provide a comprehensive description of all services provided by partners within a community planning partnership (CPP). SOAs set out strategic priorities for a local area, described as local outcome…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in the recruitment of consultants specialising in old age psychiatry in NHS Highland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Highland indicate that they currently hold three older adult psychiatry vacancies within NHS Highland. The older adult psychiatry North Highland post has been created by innovative service redesign with the inclusion of additional sessions to incorporate …
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that older people in each NHS board area have access to psychological services.
Answer · Shona Robison: We have a specific commitment to increasing the availability of evidenced based psychological therapies for all ages and are working closely with NHS Education for Scotland and NHS boards to deliver on this commitment and meet patients needs better and sooner…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to collect national data on mental health officer vacancies.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A staffing statistical survey is undertaken on a yearly basis and asks each local authority for the number of currently unfilled vacancies as at 31 March of that year.</p>
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the likely shortage of mental health officers as highlighted in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of mental health services.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has continued to monitor Mental Health Officer (MHO) numbers over the past four years, by means of an annual MHO workforce survey, to assess the Scottish position and assist local services to address workforce planning. This annual sur…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when data on the availability of psychological therapies will be available.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are putting in place arrangements to collect accurate and complete data based on common definitions that link therapies to particular conditions. The first stage of that work has been completed with the publication of <i >The Matrix - a Guide to delivering…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to record and publish data on waiting times for psychological services.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of waiting times for patients. That is why we are continuing to look at ways to improve and expand waiting times information across NHS services.</p> <p >We have a specific commitment to improving access to e…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to record vacancy data for psychologists.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The National Services Scotland, Information Services Division (ISD) and NHS Education for Scotland Psychology Workforce Planning Project plans to initiate recording and reporting of psychology vacancy data during 2010. Information on the current data reported…
26 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the recruitment of consultant psychiatrists to fill vacancies in NHS (a) Lanarkshire, (b) Highland and (c) Ayrshire and Arran.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The current number of consultant vacancies in psychiatry within NHSScotland and the indicated boards is as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=168 valign=top > <p align=center >NHS Board</p> <p a…