Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37826 by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 December 2010, when chronic pain patients can expect to have a residential pain management centre in Scotland similar to centres in England.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is being considered as part of the service model for chronic pain being developed by the Chronic Pain Steering Group.</b></p>
16 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37826 by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 December 2010, how many patients were sent to pain management centres outside of Scotland; from which areas, and to which centres.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following table sets out the number of patients, by NHS board, who were referred to pain management centres outside of Scotland in 2008-09, 2009-10 and in 2010-11 (up to 14 September 2010). In all cases, patients were referred to the Royal National Hospit…
9 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what issues it plans to discuss with the Scottish Muscle Network to facilitate the implementation of recommendations in the Cross-party Group on Muscular Dystrophy’s Mackie Report and the Scottish Muscle Network’s report on neuromuscular services.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: My meeting with representatives of the Scottish Muscle Network, which is due to take place early in 2011, has been arranged to discuss taking forward the recommendations in both the mapping exercise carried out by the network and in the <i >Mackie Report</i> …
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive4, if numbers on foundation training programme for trainee doctors reduce, what contingency arrangements are in place for those medical graduates who do not obtain a place.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I have no current plans to reduce foundation training programme places in Scotland.</p>
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37687 by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 November 2010, on what date it will decide on the number of new entrants to the foundation training programmes for trainee doctors for 2011-12 and what the number of new entrants will be.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Further to the answer to question S3W-37687, the number of new entrants to the foundation training programme in Scotland for 2011-12 will remain at 804.</p>
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37686 by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 November 2010, when it will notify the Scottish Funding Council of the number of new entrants to trainee nursing programmes for 2011-12 and what the number of new entrants will be.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Funding Council was informed on 10 December 2010 that the number of student nurses and midwives entering degree programmes in 2011-12 will be 2,700.</p>
1 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether a person sectioned under mental health legislation should be able to access unregulated counselling websites via social networking sites such as Facebook.
Answer · Shona Robison: Clinicians will discuss with their patients all aspects of their care including information and advice on treatment options where the evidence base is strongest and which will achieve the best possible outcomes.</p> <p >Those assessed as requiring evidence …
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a lead clinician for chronic pain and, if so, whether the post is full or part-time and how it is funded.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As indicated in the answer to question S3W-37844 on 6 December 2010, we have been providing funding of just over £60,000 a year since 2009 to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to fund the post of Scottish Government Lead Clinician on Chronic Pain. This is a part-…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what new funding has been provided to tackle chronic pain since May 2007 and how it has been spent.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally, as NHSScotland does not generally quantify the funding attributable to any specific long-term condition. We have however been providing funding of just over £60,000 a year to fund the post of Scottish Gove…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has implemented all the recommendations of the report, Getting to GRIPS with Chronic Pain in Scotland, as the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing undertook to do on 20 May 2008.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The recommendations of the Getting to GRIPS (Getting Relevant Information on Pain Services) with Chronic Pain in Scotland report form the basis of the current work programme of the Chronic Pain Steering Group set up by the Scottish Government Health Directora…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37379 by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 November 2010, what additional funding it will provide for each NHS board currently below its NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) target share.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A decision on the allocations to the NHS boards for 2011-12 will be made following consideration of the NRAC target shares for 2011-12. It is planned to announce funding to the NHS boards in February 2011 following the final stage vote of the Scottish Governm…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37379 by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 November 2010, when additional funding for 2011-12 will be allocated for NHS boards currently below their NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) target share.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A decision on the allocations to the NHS boards for 2011-12 will be made following consideration of the NRAC target shares for 2011-12. It is planned to announce funding to the NHS boards in February 2011 following the final stage vote of the Scottish Governm…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to individual NHS boards of sending patients with chronic pain to pain management centres outside of Scotland was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 and has been in 2010-11.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The cost of sending patients with chronic pain to pain management centres outside Scotland was:</p> <p >(a) 2008-09 - £229,559</p> <p >(b) 2009-10 - £184,937</p> <p >(c) 2010-11 - £206,685 for the first six months. </p> <p >These costs are shared across a…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients with chronic pain were sent for treatment to pain management centres outside of Scotland in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10, broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) treatment centre
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally.</p>
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37378 by Nicola Sturgeon on November 2010, whether all the efficiency savings generated in the health budget line will be retained in that line.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: All the efficiency savings generated by health will be retained within health.</p>
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37378 by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 November 2010, which NHS boards will be unable to retain the efficiency savings that they generate in 2011-12.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following Special Health Boards will not retain efficiency savings on services not delivering direct patient care; NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Health Scotland, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and NHS National Services Scotland.</p>
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37378 by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 November 2010, whether (a) territorial and (b) special NHS boards will be able to retain efficiency savings that they generate in 2011-12.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: (a) All territorial health boards will retain the efficiency savings that they achieve in 2011-12.</p> <p >(b) Four Special Health Boards, the Scottish Ambulance Service, the State Hospital, NHS 24 and the National Waiting Times Centre will retain the effici…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the acceptability of a waiting time of six months for a colonoscopy procedure following a positive test on a bowel screening programme.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Unless there is a compelling clinical reason or the individual patient has indicated a desire to delay longer, no patient should wait longer than the six week standard diagnostic waiting time for a key diagnostic test “ including colonoscopy.</p>
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long it should take for a colonoscopy procedure following a positive test on a bowel screening programme.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The time from bowel screening test result to date colonoscopy performed is a key performance indicator for the National Bowel Screening Programme.</p> <p >In its commitment to continue to drive down waiting times for cancer treatment, the Scottish Government…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it undertakes into mental illness in the student population.
Answer · Shona Robison: In <i >Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland: Policy and Action Plan 2009-2011 </i>we made a commitment to fund NUS Scotland to deliver a three-year project aimed at long-term gains in mental health improvement practices. As part of that project NUS conduct…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what partnership arrangements exist between the NHS and (a) universities and (b) colleges in the provision of mental health services for students.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government published <i >Partnership Matters</i>, first issued in 2005, subsequently refreshed in 2007 and again in May 2009. This is a guidance document which describes the roles and responsibilities of local authorities, NHS boards and voluntar…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that mental health services are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) friendly.
Answer · Shona Robison: Guidance through the Fair for All Agenda, to eliminate and promote equality of opportunity for everyone, is available to help NHS staff understand and meet their responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act, and to support NHS Scotland in implemen…
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to the Glasgow Anti-stigma Partnership report, There’s More to Me.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not intend to formally respond to the Glasgow Anti-stigma Partnership report, <i >There''s More to Me</i>. However, we welcome the findings of this report.</p> <p >We are currently supporting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transg…
22 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the £5 million of Carer Information Strategy funding in the Scottish budget will be used to directly benefit unpaid carers and young carers.
Answer · Shona Robison: The draft budget, including the £5 million for Carer Information Strategies (CIS), has to be approved by the Scottish Parliament. Subject to this approval, the £5 million will be used to support carers and young carers just as the £9 million for CIS over the …
22 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to prevent Scotland falling behind in short breaks provision following the announcement of an additional £400 million for short breaks in England.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are taking action on a number of fronts. <i >The Carers Strategy</i>, published in July, contains a number of different actions to help promote the development of flexible, personalised short breaks services. I announced £1 million for short breaks in 2010…
22 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Barnett consequentials for the recently announced additional £400 million for short breaks for carers in England will be reflected in the Scottish budget.
Answer · Shona Robison: The £400 million announced for short breaks in England between 2011 and 2015 follows the overall UK Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) decisions. We understand that the funding, which will not be ring-fenced, will be allocated to primary care trusts.</p> <p…
19 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37018 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, what level of job losses in the first three years of the operation of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland was anticipated in the Draft Transitional Operating Plan.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37704 on 2 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
19 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37018 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, whether the project team responsible for Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland is working under the assumption of a 12.5% budget reduction.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government''s budget statement indicates that SCSWIS'' budget will be reduced by 21% over the first four years'' of operation in line with planned savings in the overall direct costs of scrutiny from the baseline of the 2010-11 budget.</p>
19 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate for ministers to directly interview candidates applying for public office, as in the case of the appointment of the chairperson of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37702 on 2 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
19 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what previous occasions ministers have directly interviewed candidates applying for public office, as in the case of the chairperson of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally in the Scottish Government. The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland appointment was carried out in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland Code of Practice for Mini…