Irene Oldfather

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a commitment to securing long-term funding for the Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The ScottishGovernment has been working with Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company (URC)and local partners, including North Ayrshire Council, Communities Scotland andScottish Enterprise Ayrshire, to assist in the development of comprehensiveregeneration propo…

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on maintaining the established network of urban regeneration companies.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government places great importance on creating a wealthier and fairer Scotland. We therefore value the contribution being made by the current network of urban regeneration companies (URCs) across Scotland to achieve the long-term, lasting transfo…

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to meet representatives of the Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish Governmentofficials are in regular contact with representatives of Irvine Bay Urban RegenerationCompany and the Minister for Communities and Sport intends meeting representativesof Irvine Bay URC shortly.</p>

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) European Commission in relation to Scottish structural fund programmes submitted for approval and admissibility.

Answer · Jim Mather: Discussions on the Scottish Structural Funds Programmes, including the exchange of information on progress with European Commissionnegotiations, have taken placeon a number of occasions between officials of the Scottish Executive and the relevantUK Government…

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms exist to ensure that home care services, such as free personal care, are delivered professionally, respectfully and effectively.

Answer · Shona Robison: Support services,which may include care at home or free personal care services, are regulated bythe Care Commission under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act, its associatedregulations, and taking account of the National Care Standards.</p><p>In addition, t…

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider setting up a working group to examine what action could be taken to reduce the prevalence of elder abuse in Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the memberto the answers to questions S3W-1115 and S3W-1118 both answered on 27 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www…

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to improve advocacy services for elderly people in receipt of home care services.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Governmentrecognises the important role that advocacy and similar support services can providefor those who may need such assistance. Various grant schemes operated by the ScottishGovernment provide considerable financial support to a range of na…

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to meet urgently representatives of Age Concern Scotland, Action on Elder Abuse and other advocacy agencies for elderly people to gain further information about the experiences of their membership in respect of abuse at the hands of carers.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish governmentofficials already meet frequently with a wide range of older people’s representativesto be able to implement the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 effectively and they will continue to do so.</p>

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current procedures are for vetting the suitability of people who apply to work as carers (a) in care homes and (b) as home care providers.

Answer · Shona Robison: Care serviceproviders, including those who provide care home and care at home services, areregulated by the Care Commission under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act2001 and its associated regulations. Under the regulations a provider shall notemploy any pe…

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether current procedures to ensure the protection of elderly people are adequate.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1114 on 27 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to reduce incidences of elder abuse in a (a) person’s home and (b) care home.

Answer · Shona Robison: Reducing incidencesof abuse is everyone’s responsibility. In addition to the legislation outlined inthe answer to question S3W-1114 on 27 June 2007, the Scottish Government sponsors the Care Commissionand the Scottish Social Services Council to ensure that na…

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take following the release of the results of a survey by the UK Department of Health which show that Scotland has the worst record in the UK for the abuse of elderly men and the second worst record for elder abuse overall.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Governmentrecognises the reality of elder abuse and is tackling this through implementingthe Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 andthe Protecting Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. Theformer will introduce a wide range of measur…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what staff-to-resident ratio it recommends for nursing homes with patients who have dementia.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Regulation ofCare (Scotland) Act 2001 removed the statutory distinctionbetween residential care homes and nursing homes. All such services are now registeredas care homes, as defined in that act.</p><p>The Regulation of Care (Requirements as to Care Servi…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training it recommends for staff responsible for dispensing medication in nursing homes.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Regulation ofCare (Scotland) Act 2001 removed the statutory distinctionbetween residential care homes and nursing homes. All such services are now registeredas care homes, as defined in that act.</p><p>The National CareStandards for Care Homes for Older P…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues in relation to the use of Kirkton chairs and other forms of restraint in nursing homes.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Regulation ofCare (Scotland) Act 2001 removed the statutory distinctionbetween residential care homes and nursing homes. All such services are now registeredas care homes, as defined in that act.</p><p>The National CareStandards for care homes for older p…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to encourage mobility in elderly residents of nursing homes.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-824 on 20 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures can be taken to encourage bone density, thereby reducing fractures, in elderly nursing home residents.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Regulation ofCare (Scotland) Act 2001 removed the statutory distinctionbetween residential care homes and nursing homes. All such services are now registeredas care homes, as defined in that act.</p><p>The Scottish Governmentrecently issued guidance to NH…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to nursing homes to ensure that dementia patients receive adequate exercise.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Regulation ofCare (Scotland) Act 2001 removed the statutory distinctionbetween residential care homes and nursing homes. All such services are now registeredas care homes, as defined in that act.</p><p>The National CareStandards for care homes for older p…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the fact that the proposed community casualty unit at Ayrshire Central Hospital in Irvine is expected to take away 60% of casualty cases from Crosshouse Hospital accident and emergency (A&E) department in Kilmarnock and that Crosshouse Hospital will not now be required to pic…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-645 on 13 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its decision to retain the accident and emergency unit at Ayr Hospital and the outstanding plan for a community casualty unit at Ayrshire Central Hospital in Irvine, how it will fund and staff both units.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-645 on 13 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what facilities are planned for the community casualty unit at Ayrshire Central Hospital in Irvine.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-645 on 13 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website; the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on the future of accident and emergency services at Ayr Hospital, whether it will confirm that the proposed community casualty unit at Ayrshire Central Hospital in Irvine will go ahead as planned.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-645 on 13 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website; the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the decision taken by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to remove donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine from the approved prescription list for the treatment of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has noplans to review this decision. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) is the bodywhich reviews decisions by National Institute and Clinical Excellence (NICE) withregard to their applicability in Scotland. In this case, NHS QIS en…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to providing specialist training in dementia-related issues for care home staff.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Regulation of Care (Scotland)Act 2001 and its associated regulations require a care home provider to ensure thatat all times suitably qualified and competent persons are working in the care hometo meet the individual needs of care home residents.</p><p>St…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to increase the number of dedicated dementia nurses in hospitals.

Answer · Shona Robison: We have established new workforceplanning arrangements in Scotland to help match the supply of staff to the workforce demandfrom NHS boards. Board plans published in April 2007 provide staffing projectionsfor all staff groups to deliver their planned patient …

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards employ dedicated dementia nurses.

Answer · Shona Robison: We do not holdthis information centrally.</p>

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that NHS boards have a strategy in place for dementia patients who are admitted to hospital for treatment of an unrelated condition.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Quality Improvement Scotlandare currently developing standards for an Integrated Care Pathway for dementia,which includes an accreditation process toensure this is delivered. A draft is currentlyout for consultation to June 2007 and thestandards and accre…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhat discussions it has had with the Care Commision about improving support services for dementia patients in (a) nursing homes and (b) hospitals.

Answer · Shona Robison: I am meeting the Care Commission’sConvener and Chief Executive on  2 July 2007when a wide range of strategic issueswill be discussed.</p><p>The current regulatory framework,including the National Care Standards, requires care homes and independent hospitalsto…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivehow it intends to improve advocacy services for dementia patients living in nursing homes.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Mental Health (Care andTreatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 places a duty on health boards and localauthorities to secure the provision of appropriate independent advocacyservices for all people with mental disorders, including those with dementia. Throughthe i…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it has any plans to review dementia support services.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-554 on 14 June 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website; the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…