Elaine Smith

11 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost was of the 2006 to 2012 Northern Isles ferry services contract.

Answer · Keith Brown: The net annual operating subsidy paid to NorthLink Ferries Ltd is set out in the following table: Contract Year (July to June) Grant Contract Year 1 (2006-07) £29.5 million Contract Year 2 (2007-08) £28.4 million Contract Year 3 (2008-09) £32.3 milli…

20 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to women with breast implants who wish to breastfeed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05118 on 30 January 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

20 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers breastfeeding to be safe for mothers with PIP implants.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05118 on 30 January 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

20 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given to women with PIP implants who wish to breastfeed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is not aware of any new evidence that suggests that Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) breast implants affect breast milk. We therefore advise that mothers who wish to start /or continue breastfeeding their babies should do so. The situation…

20 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the joint statement on the development of a federation of colleges in Lanarkshire was agreed by the boards of Cumbernauld College, Motherwell College and South Lanarkshire College.

Answer · Michael Russell: Colleges are under no obligation to report to ministers the manner in which they make individual decisions or announcements. Ministers however expect college boards of management to follow good practice at all times.

20 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the chairs and principals of Cumbernauld College, Motherwell College and South Lanarkshire College consulted the relevant trade unions prior to issuing a joint statement on the development of a federation of colleges in Lanarkshire.

Answer · Michael Russell: Colleges are independent employers of staff and are expected to take their own decisions on engagement with staff and trade unions. While ministers have no direct role in this area, they expect colleges to follow good practice at all times.

20 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the impact would be on Coatbridge College of a federation of colleges in Lanarkshire.

Answer · Michael Russell: The creation of a federation of colleges in Lanarkshire, and its impact, would be in the first instance a matter for the colleges concerned. Colleges have a responsibility to ensure that the public funds they receive deliver the best outcomes for learners. Mi…

20 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the minutes are available of recent discussions between the chairs and principals of Cumbernauld College, Motherwell College and South Lanarkshire College regarding the development of a federation of colleges in Lanarkshire.

Answer · Michael Russell: The minutes of any discussions which might take place between individual colleges would not routinely be held centrally. No minutes of the type described are held by the Scottish Government.

20 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the chairs and principals of (a) Cumbernauld, (b) Motherwell and (c) South Lanarkshire colleges regarding the development of a federation of colleges in Lanarkshire.

Answer · Michael Russell: While we have engaged closely with college chairs and principals as we pursue the reform of post-16 education, we have had no separate discussions with these three colleges alone on the subject of a federation of colleges in Lanarkshire. I have met the variou…

7 Dec 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to prevent hospital-acquired infections.

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent consideration it has given to the use of new technologies for the prevention of healthcare associated infections.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) National Advisory Group was established in May 2011 and meets quarterly. As part of its remit, it has a role in advising the Scottish Government on the use of new technologies for the prevention of healthcare associat…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures there are to maintain staff numbers at Monklands Hospital to replace those staff affected by the recent norovirus outbreak.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Symptoms from Norovirus usually last for 24 to 48 hours. In line with infection control guidance, staff are required to be symptom free for more than 48 hours before returning to work. NHS Lanarkshire have confirmed that they are covering any staffing shortf…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that patient care is not compromised while hospital wards are closed as a result of outbreaks of norovirus in NHS Lanarkshire.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lanarkshire are responsible for the provision of high quality, safe and sustainable local healthcare provision in line with national policy and guidelines. The health board has confirmed that it ensures each local hospital site has an annual Norovirus Pr…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what ward closures there were in Monklands Hospital in 2011 and for what reason.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lanarkshire have confirmed that, including the most recent outbreak of norovirus at Monklands Hospital (at certain points since 29 November wards 6,14 and 16 to 22 have been closed), the main reason for ward closures in 2011 to date has been appropriate i…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in 2011 to prevent outbreaks of norovirus.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: On 7 October 2011, the Scottish Government wrote to all NHS boards in connection with “Preparing for Winter 2010-11”. The purpose of the letter was to ensure that NHS boards were fully prepared for winter in order to minimise any potential disruption to NHS s…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to the NHS has been of outbreaks of norovirus in each winter since 2007.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Outbreaks of norovirus will incur additional costs for NHS Scotland as a result of increased length of stay for patients in hospital, additional treatment costs, ward closures, etc. Information about these costs is not, however, collected centrally.

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what factors contribute to outbreaks of norovirus in NHS hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Health Protection document “Norovirus Outbreak Preparedness, Control Measures & Practical Considerations for Optimal Patient Safety and Service Continuation in Hospitals” was first issued in 2007 and then revised and reissued on 30 September 2011. Sectio…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place for reporting outbreaks of norovirus.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The chief nursing officer wrote to all boards on 14 December 2009 informing them on the procedures for reporting outbreaks of norovirus. This guidance is still extant and in use. Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) - Reporting of Incidents and Outbreaks an…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients with underlying health conditions have died as a result of norovirus or had norovirus listed as a contributory cause of mortality in each winter since 2007, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information which is available is given in the following table. National Records of Scotland (NRS) statistics on winter mortality are based on the numbers of deaths which were registered between 1 December and 31 March, inclusive. The following figures ar…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it gives to NHS boards to prevent outbreaks of norovirus.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Health Protection Scotland document Norovirus Outbreak Preparedness, Control Measures & Practical Considerations for Optimal Patient Safety and Service Continuation in Hospitals was first issued in 2007 and revised and reissued on 30 September 2011. Secti…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures NHS boards have in place for the containment of norovirus.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Individual boards have their own procedures in place to contain norovirus. These will be based on the national guidance from Health Protection Scotland Norovirus Outbreak Preparedness, Control Measures & Practical Considerations for Optimal Patient Safety and…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients in NHS Lanarkshire have contracted norovirus in each winter since 2007, broken down by hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the total number of patients who have contracted norovirus in NHS Lanarkshire is not available. The number of laboratory confirmed cases of norovirus infection that are reported to Health Protection Scotland by NHS board is provided in the ans…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have contracted norovirus in each winter since 2007, broken down by NHS areas.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the total number of patients who have contracted norovirus is not available. The number of laboratory confirmed cases of norovirus infection that are reported to Health Protection Scotland (HPS) are provided for each NHS board and calendar yea…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many wards in NHS Lanarkshire have been closed due to norovirus outbreak in each winter since 2007, broken down by hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The relevant details are in the following table. Nhs Lanarkshire: Hospital Ward Closures/Partial Ward Closures: 2007–2010 Year Hairmyres   Monklands Wishaw Acute Sector Total Primary Care Sector Total Total 2007 13 7 6 26 11 37 2008 1 3 1…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many wards have been closed due to norovirus outbreak in each winter since 2007, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland monitors and publishes ward closures due to presumed or confirmed norovirus outbreaks via a point prevalence surveillance. This is Management Information data and not Official Statistics. Norovirus point prevalence reporting commenc…

5 Oct 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote culture, heritage and the arts in Coatbridge and Chryston.

4 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-00297 by Keith Brown on 9 June 2011, when the consultation of stakeholders regarding the new contract for rail passenger services will begin and whether it will include the trade unions.

Answer · Keith Brown: Preparatory work is currently being undertaken to consider the contents of any future contract for rail passenger services. This includes a public consultation, expected later this year and a series of stakeholder events being arranged to highlight and promot…

21 Sep 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that there are sufficient staffing levels at Monklands Hospital.

12 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether section 20(7) of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 confers on ministers the power to make a final decision following the examination of the North Lanarkshire local plan.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Section 20(7) gives ministers the powers to direct that the plan will only be constituted if and when approved by ministers.

12 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that every household in a community affected by a local plan should be consulted as part of the local plan examination process.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The purpose of such examinations is to examine issues raised in representations on the planning authority’s proposed plan. The proposed plan itself will have been subject to public consultation, and the public will have had the opportunity to make representat…