Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the responses to the consultation on the proposed Healthcare Environment Inspectorate, rather than a summary of responses.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The responses, minus any personal references to respondents, will be published on the NHS <em>Quality Improvement Scotland</em> website as soon as possible.</p>
22 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the timescale for completion of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry will be flexible.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In accordance with the terms of reference, I expect the inquiry to complete its work within one year of its set up date.</p> <p >However, the inquiry chairman may seek an extension, if he considers it necessary. Any such request will be given due considerati…
22 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry will be held.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Team is based in offices at Lothian Chambers, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.</p> <p >It will be for the inquiry to decide on a suitable venue for public hearings and evidence sessions.</p>
21 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the announcement of inspections by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate on 21 September 2009, how inspections will be carried out; what information will be sought, and whether all hospitals will be visited in any given NHS board area.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The inspection methodology and accompanying policies for Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) has been published on the QIS website:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/6710.html" title="http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/6710.ht…
21 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the announcement of inspections by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate on 21 September 2009, how many hospitals will be subject to full inspection during September 2009 and September 2010.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The current work programme for the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate for the year September 2009 to September 2010 has 28 inspections planned, this includes both announced and unannounced inspections. However, there has been sufficient slack built into the …
21 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the announcement of inspections by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate on 21 September 2009, for what reason NHS Borders and NHS Fife will not be subject to an inspection between September 2009 and September 2010.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: On 21 September 2009, the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) published a list of the NHS boards who will have at least one announced inspection from HEI between September 2009 and September 2010. As detailed in the announcement, HEI will also undertake…
16 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the actual underspend for 2008-09 combined with the unallocated end-year flexibility from previous years is sufficient to fully cover the £128.6 million reduction in NHS capital spend for 2010-11.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27339 on 30 September 2009. 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/Ap…
16 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the end-year flexibility drawn down for 2010-11 with HM Treasury’s agreement has been allocated as part of the Scottish Budget Spending Review 2007 and how much remains to be allocated.
Answer · John Swinney: Chapter one of the Spending Review 2007 document published in November 2007 set out the use of the £874 million of end-year flexibility (EYF) across the three years as £300/400/174 million. The last published EYF balance in July 2009 was £670 million which wi…
16 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, when reporting financial outturn, whether it will distinguish between government and non-departmental public body spend and provide explanations for any underspend, as has been the case with previous reporting.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government provides explanations for any underspend in our consolidated accounts. Non-departmental public bodies will do likewise in their own accounts.</p>
16 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report actual rather than provisional outturn for comparative purposes, as outlined in paragraph 6 of its report, Provisional Outturn and End Year Flexibility 2004-05.
Answer · John Swinney: Table 4 in the annex to the Draft Budget 2010-11 compares actual outturn for previous years. The 2008-09 figures are provisional at the time of publication, but will be updated to show final outturn in next year''s Draft Budget.</p>
16 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) provisional and (b) actual budget outturns were for the budget as a whole, including annual managed expenditure, for (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09.
Answer · John Swinney: The relevant provisional and final budget outturns are shown in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=170 valign=top > <p align=center >2006-07</p> </td> <td width=102 valign=top > …
16 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) provisional and (b) actual budget outturns were for the departmental expenditure limit for (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27336 on 30 September 2009. 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/Ap…
16 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is included in the £496 million reduction in the planned departmental expenditure limit budget for 2010-11 apart from the £391.7 million in efficiency savings, £128.6 million reduction in NHS capital spend and the budget consequentials of £24.7 million.
Answer · John Swinney: The £496 million reduction is made up by the three items included in the question.</p>
16 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the figure of a £496 million reduction in the planned departmental expenditure limit budget for 2010-11 quoted by ministers includes the pre-Budget report consequentials of £5.2 million.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27334 on 30 September 2009. 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/Ap…
16 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether IVF treatment will be subject to a waiting time guarantee.
Answer · Shona Robison : <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0924-01.htm">http://www.scott…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, when a mental health officer (MHO) interviews a person prior to consenting to the granting of a short-term detention certificate under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, whether the MHO should produce a report to be made available to the person in question.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is no requirement for a written report to be made available, although this may be done in practice. Volume 2, Chapter 2 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Code of Practice provides guidance on procedures to be followed before …
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a mental health officer (MHO) who consents to the granting of a short-term detention certificate under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 should, where practicable, have interviewed the person in question for longer than a few minutes, in …
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Section 45(1) of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 places an mental health officer (MHO) under a duty to interview a patient before the granting of a short-term detention certificate. This is reinforced in Volume 2, Chapter 2 of the M…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the mental health officer asked to consent to the granting of a short-term detention certificate under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 should not interview the person to whom the certificate applies in the presence of the psychiatrist w…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Volume 2, Chapter 2 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Code of Practice provides guidance on the mental health officer''s interview with the patient. The guidance does not stipulate who may or may not be present at such interviews, …
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it possible that some psychiatrists might occasionally misdiagnose a person as having a psychotic condition.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are, at present, two established international classification systems for mental disorders - ICD.1O and DSM-IV which have specific criteria laid down which have to fulfilled to enable a diagnosis to be made.</p> <p >Sometimes a diagnosis may change e.…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it acceptable that at least one person with mental health problems has had to be put on a life support machine after being given an antipsychotic drug.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is always a matter of regret if any patient experiences a serious adverse event associated with medication. The risks associated with medicines must be considered against the potential benefits of the treatment and antipsychotics are extremely effective me…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) report, All you need to know?: Scottish Survey of People’s Experience of Psychiatric Drugs, which reported that most mental health service users experienced unwanted effects when given antipsychotic drugs and many f…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Antipsychotic medicines are an important group of medicines that are very effective in the treatment of conditions such as schizophrenia, agitation, anxiety, mania and aggression. The use of such medicines is recommended within clinical guidelines such as tho…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the view that the treatment of a person sectioned under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 is too reliant on the skills and integrity of the responsible medical officer assigned to that person under the Act.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Volume 2, Chapter 7 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Code of Practice details the procedures to be followed by the responsible medical officer (RMO). Where practicable the RMO must consult a Mental Health Officer (MHO) and obtain …
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it possible for a person sectioned under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 to have no mental illness.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: One of the criteria for a person to be made subject to compulsory measures of treatment under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 is that they have a mental disorder. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27157 on 22 Septembe…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a short-term detention certificate is invalid if either the approved medical practitioner or the mental health officer has failed to fulfil their duties as specified in sections 44(10) and 45 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Volume 2, Chapter 2 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Code of Practice clearly sets out the procedures which must be followed before a short-term detention certificate may be granted. The duty on the approved medical practitioner u…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that, as a matter of course, the solicitor representing a person detained under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 should be able to cross-examine the responsible medical officer and the mental health officer to test whether the criteria for co…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Volume 2, Chapter 7 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Code of Practice provides guidance on the processes involved in preparing an application for a compulsory treatment order. This includes guidance on the involvement of the Menta…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that no individual detained under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 should be forcibly medicated during an appeal until a tribunal has established that the person in question has a mental illness and that the medication is likely to be of sign…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are three ways in which a person may be subjected to compulsory measures of treatment under the civil regime in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (the 2003 Act), namely: (a) emergency detention; (b) short-term detention, and (c)…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it collects information on the number of people who (a) felt that had they benefited from and (b) complained about being sectioned under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not collected centrally. Complaints from individuals about being subject to compulsory measures of treatment under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 are made locally to the appropriate NHS board.</p> <p >For shor…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason a person sectioned under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 is not allowed to change their responsible medical officer or seek private mental health care instead.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards have procedures in place to allow for a change of Responsible Medical Officer (RMO) and for seeking second opinion medical reports.</p> <p >The Compulsory Treatment Order (CTO) made by the Mental Health Tribunal will specify the hospital for trea…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26853 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 September 2009, when the proposed expert group on infertility services is expected to (a) begin and (b) complete its work.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Expert Group on Infertility Services is expected to start its work in autumn 2009. Six monthly reports from the group, once set up, will be shared with Parliament.</p>
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether IVF treatment will be subject to a waiting time guarantee.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is not currently possible to have a waiting time guarantee for IVF as NHS boards do not report this information to Information Services Division as the patient data belongs to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).</p> <p >Scottish Gover…