Jackie Baillie

21 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-12473 by Michael Matheson on 31 January 2013, whether it will publish (a) national and (b) local implementation plans for self-directed support.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The national strategy for Self Directed Support was launched on 23 November 2010. It sets out a 10 year vision which aims to give people more choice and control over their health and social care and support. The publication of local self-directed support imp…

21 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is less funding in 2014-15 to assist local authorities with the implementation of self-directed support.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The transformation funding, provided on a short term basis, has been allocated over a three year period between 2012-2015. The higher level of funding in the year 2013-2014 was intended to take into account the likely commencement of the Social Care (Self-dir…

21 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what proportion of transitional costs for self-directed support has been spent on (a) staffing and (b) services.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. It is a matter for each local authority to decide how they will spend their transformation funding.

21 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-12472 by Michael Matheson on 31 January 2013, whether the SDS Programme board has made a recommendation on the commencement of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The SDS Programme Board has made a recommendation of 01 April 2014 as the target commencement date for the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013. I have approved this as the target commencement date for the Act.

21 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Golden Jubilee National Hospital has used non-NHS surgeons to carry out spinal surgery since 2007 and, if so, what the cost was.

Answer · Alex Neil: No, the Golden Jubilee National Hospital has only used NHS consultants to carry out spinal surgery.

21 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government where NHS Ayrshire and Arran patients attend spinal surgery.

Answer · Alex Neil: During the year 2011-2012 most Ayrshire and Arran spinal surgery patients were seen in their local hospitals with some patients being treated in either the Southern General Hospital or Golden Jubilee National Hospital.

21 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards provide access to spinal surgery.

Answer · Alex Neil: During the year 2011-2012 all boards with the exception of NHS Western Isles and NHS Orkney undertook spinal surgery.

21 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether spinal surgery is subject to a waiting times guarantee and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Alex Neil: Spinal treatment is one of a small number of exceptions to the Treatment Time Guarantee, which came into effect on 1 October 2012. This was because at the time of taking the legislation through Parliament it was clear that there was significant capacity issue…

20 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many hospital wards were closed due to norovirus in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12 and have been closed in 2012-13, broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) hospital.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. Health Protection Scotland (HPS) monitors and publishes point prevalence surveillance data on a weekly basis by board reporting the number of hospitals and wards closed due to presumed or conf…

19 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that a structured education programme for all patients with type 1 diabetes is being implemented.

Answer · Michael Matheson: From 2013 we will monitor the provision of structured education for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes through the Scottish Diabetes Survey. Our Diabetes Action Plan, published in 2012, fully recognises the important role that structured education can pl…

19 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff each NHS board has to ensure that patients being treated for cancer are provided with follow-up health checks following surgery and whether it considers that these numbers are sufficient.

Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested on how many staff each NHS board has to ensure that patients being treated for cancer are provided with follow-up health checks following surgery and whether it considers these numbers are sufficient is not held centrally. It is for…

19 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the number of NHS staff in West Scotland there are to provide patients being treated for cancer with follow-up health checks following surgery.

Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested on the number of NHS staff in West Scotland there are to provide patients being treated for cancer with follow-up health checks following surgery is not held centrally.

19 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what aftercare treatment is available for patients being treated for cancer.

Answer · Alex Neil: The initial diagnosis, subsequent treatment and the ongoing aftercare that may be required by patients with cancer is a top clinical priority for both the Scottish Government and NHSScotland. The nature of aftercare required for patients treated for cancer wi…

19 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that patients being treated for cancer receive follow-up health checks following surgery.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, the NHS and local authorities to support a whole system redesign of care following active treatment of cancer. The overall aim of this transforming care after treatment programm…

19 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how regularly patients being treated for cancer receive follow-up health checks from a consultant following surgery.

Answer · Alex Neil: It is for clinicians to determine the frequency of follow up checks from a consultant following surgery for patients with cancer. It is expected that the necessity for and regularity of these checks will vary according to tumour type and will be determined by…

14 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the annual returns from local authorities setting out how they have implemented the Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009.  

Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Ministers will publish and lay before the Scottish Parliament by 30 September 2013 a report on the performance by local authorities of their function and performance in relation to the Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009.

14 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that local authorities comply with the Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009.

Answer · Keith Brown: Compliance of the Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009 is a matter for local authorities, not the Scottish Government.

14 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what resources it currently allocates to each local authority to enable them to carry out their duties under the Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is providing local government in Scotland with almost £11 billion in 2012-13. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having …

14 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the provision of resources to enable local authorities to carry out their duties under the Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13108 on 8 March 2013. 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/Apps2/Business/…

14 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the names of the members of the project board that monitored the implementation of the Wheelchair and seating services modernisation: Action Plan; and when the project board last met.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Wheelchair and Seating Services Project Board (WSSPB) oversaw the modernisation project and last met on 10 December 2010. Wheelchair Seating Services Modernisation Project Board: Membership Chair: Richard Carey Chief Executive Officer, NHS Grampian Ge…

14 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what changes there have been to the eligibility criteria for powered wheelchairs since 2007-08.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Standards and Eligibility Working Group (SEWG), a sub group of the Wheelchair and Seating Services Project Board, produced clarification of clinical criteria for the provision of attendant controlled and dual controlled powered wheelchairs. Clarification…

14 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what changes there have been to the eligibility criteria for wheelchair services since 2007-08.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There have been no changes to eligibility criteria for wheelchair services since 2007-08. The current criteria for wheelchair services are available from the Rehabilitation Technology Information Service (ReTIS) website: http://www.retis.scot.nhs.uk/groups/…

14 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time has been for someone to be provided with a wheelchair in each year since 2007-08, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is not held centrally.

14 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has allocated annually to each NHS board for wheelchair and seating services since 2007-08.

Answer · Michael Matheson: A total of over £16 million was allocated to NHS boards from 2007 to 2012 to support improvements in wheelchair services. The Wheelchair and Seating Services (WSS) modernisation project allocations from 2007 to 2012 are provided in the following table WSS Mo…

14 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed the implementation of the Wheelchair and seating services modernisation: Action Plan and whether all recommendations in the action plan have been met.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Wheelchair and Seating Services Project Board developed, monitored and supported the implementation of the Wheelchair and Seating Services Modernisation project. The project board was wound up in December 2010, following which the Wheelchair and Seating S…

9 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a copy of (a) an adverse event and (b) a critical incident report is routinely provided to staff who are directly involved.

Answer · Alex Neil: NHS Boards are responsible for the local management of adverse events and the expectation is that all staff involved in such incidents, are made aware of any learning resulting from them. This expectation is set out in the Scottish Government’s Staff Gover…

9 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is issued to NHS boards on dealing with (a) adverse events and (b) critical incidents.

Answer · Alex Neil: In addition to a range of statutory requirements, a range of guidance has been provided to NHS Boards to deal with adverse events/critical incidents. This guidance can be found at: http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland published the…

9 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) critical incidents and (b) adverse events there have been since 2007-08 and, of these, how many have resulted in death, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally.   There is no nationally or internationally agreed definition of adverse event, Healthcare Improvement Scotland has been asked to develop a national approach to the management of adverse events and this will include a…

8 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to issue additional guidance on evictions in the context of changes to the housing benefit system and, if so, what the guidance will contain.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that eviction is the last resort. In August 2012, it introduced regulations under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 which require landlords to have exhausted all attempts to resolve the arrears with the tenant be…

8 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to issue additional guidance on the collection of arrears in the context of changes to the housing benefit system and, if so, what the guidance will contain.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government has funded the Chartered Institute of Housing to provide guidance to social landlords on the UK Government’s reforms to housing benefit. This includes guidance on the collection of arrears specifically and asks landlords to identify wh…