Parliamentary questions
Dorothy-Grace Elder
645 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being introduced to meet the Scottish Intercollegiate Network guidelines in respect of breast cancer care.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Cancer is one of three clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Scottish Cancer Group leads and directs Scotland's cancer strategy. A broad range of initiatives is being pursued with the aim of providing the best quality care possibl…
5 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the standard set by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland for the number of breast care nurses of one whole time equivalent nurse per 150 breast cancers per year is being met.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The information is not available centrally in the format requested.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Cancer is one of three clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Clinical Standards Board for Scotland (CSBS) have developed core principles for all…
5 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a need to procure more mobile breast screening units to address the requirements of mammogram screening being extended to women up to 70 years of age.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given today to question S1W-9620.
5 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any increase in the number of static or mobile units serving the Scottish Breast Screening Programme since its inception in 1988.
Answer · Susan Deacon: When the breast screening programme was introduced in 1988 there were seven static screening assessment centres and nine mobile units. A further three mobile units were commissioned in 1998. A rolling mobile unit refurbishment/replacement programme is in plac…
5 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when full implementation of extended mammogram screening to age 70 will commence.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I have commissioned a task group to look at the detail of extending the upper age of routine invitation for breast screening and to prepare an implementation plan. I expect the group's plan to include advice on a number of issues including timescale and mobil…
5 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any increase in the number of breast lump clinics in mainland Scotland since October 1999, what the locations are of clinics in each health board area and what the proposed sites are of any new breast lump clinics.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The information is not available centrally in the format requested.<P>Cancer is one of three national clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland. Specialist Breast Clinics are available throughout Scotland. Mainland clinics are as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLS…
5 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many women attended mammogram screening in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97, (c) 1997-98 and (d) 1998-99 and what percentage this was of eligible women.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The number of women aged 50-64 years who were invited for breast screening and the number and percentage of those who attended in years 1995-96 to 1998-99 is given in the table below.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=570><TR><TD WIDTH="22%" VALI…
5 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will allocate resources to health boards for the testing of the HER-2 gene in metastatic breast cancer.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There is insufficient evidence to support routine HER-2 gene testing in the adjuvant treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
5 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many breast reconstruction nurses are employed by each health board and whether these positions are full or part time.
Answer · Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally in the detail required.
4 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any compensation from the Ministry of Defence in respect of any environmental damage caused by the military exercise which took place off Cape Wrath earlier this year.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: There is no reason to believe that the military exercise, which took place off Cape Wrath earlier this year, caused any environmental damage. The issue of compensation does not, therefore, arise.
31 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many trained paramedics are currently working on ambulances and where any geographical areas of shortage are.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There are 605 paramedics in Scotland. There are vacancies in some parts of Scotland, but local managers ensure that paramedics are available on every shift. Earlier this year, the Executive demonstrated its commitment to paramedic training by providing additi…
31 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to increase numbers of paramedics being trained for ambulance services.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer Ms Elder to the answer I gave to question S1W-9503 on 21 September.
31 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to aid the ambulance service in Glasgow in terms of extra staffing and equipment in view of reported staff concerns about response times in Glasgow.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The revenue allocation for the Scottish Ambulance Service for 2000-01 included an additional £500,000 to enable it to put an extra 20 emergency ambulance staff into Glasgow. On 2 August, I was pleased to open a new £1.2 million ambulance station at Shieldhall…
31 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what particular plans it has to reduce waiting lists in parts of Scotland where patients have been on waiting lists longer than 12 months.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Reducing waiting time for patients at each stage of their care is at the heart of the Executive's plans for the modernisation and improvement of the NHS in Scotland. A small number of patients are currently waiting more than 12 months for inpatient and day ca…
31 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce hospital waiting lists.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Reducing waiting is one of the Executive's most important objectives for the health service in Scotland. Action to reduce hospital waiting lists is primarily for health boards and NHS Trusts, and health boards have agreed waiting list targets to be achieved b…
30 Aug 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what immediate plans it has to address the grievances of public sector workers following the Unison led day of action.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Local authority pay is matter for the local authorities and unions to resolve. The Executive has no representation in these negotiations.
24 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take in response to the report by Professor David Hole and Dr Paul Symonds at Glasgow University regarding the increased likelihood of women from poorer backgrounds developing cervical cancer.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive's commitment to public health in general and cancer in particular are set out in the White Paper<I> Towards a Healthier Scotland. </I>The links between deprivation and cancer are recognised, into which the paper from Professor Hole and …
17 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to ensure that the economic and social contribution which older people make to society is recognised and valued by the public.
Answer · Iain Gray: Older people have demonstrated that age is no barrier to enriching our society. The Scottish Executive is determined to remove barriers and negative attitudes towards older people. We are working to put in place policies which will help older people play thei…
15 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it intends to make to Her Majesty's Government in relation to the impact on crime in Scotland of any proposed relaxation of the ban on handguns.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a range of subjects including firearms legislation. I understand that the UK Government has no plans to lift or relax the ban on handguns.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Scottish Executive is aware…
15 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the provision of mobile phones for social workers in the community, given the potential benefits in relation to staff safety as well as client care.
Answer · Iain Gray: It is for the local authorities or employers of social workers to determine the appropriate level of technical aids and assistance their staff should have.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Association of Directors of Social Work (ADSW) has identified that mobile phones …
15 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the adequacy of the supply of mobile phones for community care and district nurses in Scotland, given the potential implications for nurse safety as well as patient care.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for NHS employers to determine adequate levels of mobile phone provision for community care and district nurses in Scotland.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Following the launch of the Occupational Health and Safety Strategy, <I>Towards a Safer, Healthier Workplace <…
15 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the adequacy of staffing levels and training levels for staff in children's homes in Glasgow.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: No. It is for the local authority and the managers of individual establishments to ensure appropriate staffing levels and training. At national level, we have committed £6.2 million over the next three years to setting up the Residential Childcare Training In…
15 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to deal with any violence against staff in children's homes in Glasgow.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: This is a matter for the local authority and the managers of the establishments. Managers are required by statute to determine arrangements for sanctions, relevant to the care and control of children looked after and in accordance with stated functions and ob…
15 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation it intends to propose to ensure that hospitals are not able to remove and retain organs from dead children for the purposes of research without prior parental consent.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-9037.
15 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what compensation is available to NHS patients who believe they have suffered as a result of age discrimination and what efforts have been made to make information on compensation claims available to any such patients.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Compensation is offered to NHS patients only where the medical negligence has been established.
15 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce new measures or disciplinary procedures in order to prevent any age discrimination in the NHS.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There are already mechanisms for investigating allegations of age discrimination in the NHS. The Scottish Executive will continue to consider how NHS Scotland's management of older patients in general can be improved. We have recently issued guidance about re…
15 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the setting up of a public inquiry to examine the influence of age discrimination in the provision of care to patients in the NHS in response to the concerns raised by the Health and Community Care committee on 31 May 2000 (Official Report, col. 974-975).
Answer · Susan Deacon: I have asked the Chief Medical Officer to lead an Expert Group to address the care of older people in NHS Scotland acute and primary care services. The group will develop policies to ensure that ageism has no place in NHS Scotland.
21 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to investigate claims reported in Scotland on Sunday on 16 July 2000 by the former head of the Cardiac Transplantation Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Mr Nalk, about anaesthetists.
Answer · Susan Deacon: This is a matter for North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust, which has management responsibility for the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The Trust has, however, advised me that no junior trainee in anaesthesia is expected to undertake the anaesthetic managemen…
20 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce measures to ensure that the spinal health of workers such as shop assistants, catering staff, nurses and others is protected by the adequate provision of seating.
Answer · Susan Deacon: This is a matter for the Health & Safety Executive.
20 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to investigate the death of baby Britney Smith of Forfar in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I understand that a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in Tayside and that the matter is currently being investigated.