Jackie Baillie

10 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the demand for independent advocacy services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04931 on 23 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/parliamentary…

10 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the recommendations contained in the Equality and Human Rights Commission report on its inquiry into human trafficking in Scotland; what action it will take in response, and when.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Human trafficking is an abhorrent crime and the Scottish Government is committed to making further progress in tackling the criminals who engage in it and supporting the victims who are subjected to it. We supported the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s …

10 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been conducted on non-pharmacological interventions in pain management, including alternative and complementary therapies, since 2007.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The UK Clinical Research Network Portfolio Database is a register of all research funded by the UK Government, Research Councils and Partner Charities. It documents that 16 studies on the non-pharmacological management of pain have been completed since 2007 w…

10 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether alternative therapy treatment for which a patient with chronic pain is referred is provided free of charge.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Clinicians in NHSScotland can only refer a patient for complementary therapy where their NHS board agrees to the referral. In such instances the treatment is provided free of charge. Members of the public are free to use complementary therapy services privat…

10 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to enable a GP to assess the competence of an alternative therapy practitioner to whom a patient with chronic pain is referred.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance HDL (2005) 37, issued to NHS boards in August 2005 sets out the framework for the provision of these services in the NHS and clarifies that any NHS clinician wishing to make a referral for alternative treatment would be required to be satisfied of th…

10 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the referral pathway is for a patient with chronic pain who is referred for alternative therapy.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We recognise that complementary therapies may offer relief to some people living with long term conditions including chronic pain, however, the Scottish Government does not fund or deliver complementary therapies directly. It is open to NHS boards to make co…

9 Jan 2012 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s most recent estimate is of the number of women in Scotland who have received breast implants manufactured by PIP.

6 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether the NHS should undertake corrective surgery for breast implants where these have been manufactured by PIP, or if the private sector should do so at no cost to the patient.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04844 on 16 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/parliamentar…

6 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding for corrective surgery for breast implants where these have been manufactured by PIP.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No additional funding will be made available to NHS boards. Where PIP implants have been provided by the private sector, it is expected that private health care providers will provide, without charge, the same level of service as NHSScotland would provide to…

6 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with private health providers about breast implants where these have been manufactured by PIP.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has had no direct discussions with the private healthcare sector, who have had the input into the work of the Department of Health's Expert Group. However, we will initiate such discussions as we consider to be necessary.

6 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many women have had ruptured breast implants since 2007-08.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are no reports of the rupture of breast implants provided by NHSScotland since 2007-08. We have no information on the number of implants provided by the private healthcare sector which have ruptured.

6 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether corrective surgery is required for women with breast implants where these have been manufactured by PIP.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04844 on 16 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/parliamentar…

6 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government about breast implants where these have been manufactured by PIP.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: My officials have been in regular contact with colleagues in both Department of Health and The Medical and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA), most recently 6 January when the Chief Medical Officers in the UK discussed the outcome of the expert review group …

6 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it is providing to women who have had breast implants where these have been manufactured by PIP.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has advised women that there is no evidence for the routine removal of PIP silicone breast implants but where a woman has concerns about their implant they should contact the surgeon or organisation who put the implant in. Further inf…

6 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many women have had breast implants (a) on the NHS and (b) privately where these have been manufactured by PIP.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4F-00931 on 12 January 2012. The answer to the First Ministers parliamentary question is available on the parliament’s website, the official report can be viewed at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…

19 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been made on the merging of West Dunbartonshire and East Dunbartonshire children’s panels as part of the reforms to the children’s hearings system.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Under Section 4 of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011, there will be one national Children’s Panel. Discussions with local authorities regarding the establishment and membership of the Area Support Teams are continuing.

12 Dec 2011 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the balance of spending between administrators, beds and nursing staff in the NHS.

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what cost benefit analysis it has carried out of newer medicines used for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Answer · Michael Matheson: New medicines for the treatment of hepatitis C have recently come onto the market in 2011-12 with many more in the pipeline in coming years, making this a fluid and rapidly advancing clinical environment. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) advises NHS …

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards treat intravenous drug users who have hepatitis C.

Answer · Michael Matheson: It is estimated that 90% of Scotland’s hepatitis C infected population has injected drugs. It is a matter for individual clinical discretion and the patient concerned as to whether or not an individual is stable enough to commence treatment, however ongoing i…

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the implementation of the Hepatitis C National Action Plan by NHS boards.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Hepatitis C Action Plan came to an end in March 2011. Government policy is now set out in the Sexual health and BBV Framework which was launched in August 2011. The Framework is monitored by a robust governance structure, regular reporting and annual mult…

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason funding for hepatitis C treatments is now set at 1,200 patients, in light of the target number of treatments in 2010-11 being 1,500 patients.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The original treatment targets for hepatitis C were set out in the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan, which was published in 2008. These targets were aspirational and, although supported by significant investment, they were challenging. In 2009-10 it became app…

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have yet to implement managed clinical networks for hepatitis C.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Local Managed Care Networks (MCNs) have been established in all large and medium-sized NHS boards across Scotland. Small NHS boards have established links with larger MCNs in line with their scale and infrastructure. Many of these Managed Care Networks have …

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a link between the incidence of hepatitis C and deprivation.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There is a clear link between hepatitis C and deprivation. Among people diagnosed hepatitis C antibody positive in Scotland, in excess of 50% reside in the most deprived quintile. For this reason one of the five high level outcomes within the Sexual Health an…

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to identify people with hepatitis C who have not been diagnosed and whether it will consider introducing a targeted screening programme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government published the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework in August 2011. This includes recommendations that early diagnosis of individuals affected by blood-borne viruses, including hepatitis C, are a priority area for activity for …

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are estimated to have hepatitis C and how many (a) have been diagnosed, (b) are receiving treatment and (c) are waiting for treatment to commence, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In 2009, 39,000 people living in Scotland were estimated to be chronically infected with hepatitis C. In terms of question (a), 16,500 (42%) of those estimated to be chronically infected were estimated to have been diagnosed by the end of 2009. More recent d…

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Women’s Aid about changes to housing benefit regulations and the potential impact on refuge accommodation.

Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Women's Aid (SWA)'s views on the proposed changes to Housing Benefit were sought and reflected in the Scottish Government's response to the Department for Work and Pensions. SWA also submitted their own response to the consultation, which can be acce…

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to mitigate the impact of housing benefit changes in relation to foster carers.

Answer · Keith Brown: Once the finalised details of the Welfare Reform Bill provisions as they relate to housing benefit for foster carers are available, we will work closely with stakeholders to assess the potential impacts and agree any mitigating action as appropriate. The Sco…

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA about the new housing benefit regulations in relation to foster carers and whether it considers that there will be an impact on the provision of foster care.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is in regular communication with COSLA about the full range of proposed housing benefit changes contained in the Welfare Reform Bill, and the issue of the impact on foster carers and the provision of foster care has been discussed in t…

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many foster carers in social housing will be affected by changes to housing benefit regulations in light of reports that those of working age living in under-occupied homes could be penalised for having a spare room.

Answer · Keith Brown: Due to the small numbers of households with foster children identified in either the Scottish Household Survey or Family Resources Survey, it is not possible to provide a robust estimate of the number of households in the social rented sector affected. Furth…

30 Nov 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will maintain the level of council tax benefit going to local authorities in any revised system from April 2013, despite a 10% reduction in the funding transferred by the UK Government.