Jackie Baillie

31 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is lay representation on the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is available on the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland''s website at <a href="http://www.mhtscotland.gov.uk/">www.mhtscotland.gov.uk</a>.</p>

31 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the composition and operation of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is available on the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland''s website at <a href="http://www.mhtscotland.gov.uk/">www.mhtscotland.gov.uk</a>.</p>

21 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for adults and children with a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy to see a consultant in (a) Scotland, (b) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (c) the Clyde division of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally.</p>

21 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the target waiting time is between a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy and contact with a consultant.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Our target since 2007 has been that no patient will wait more than 16 weeks for treatment after they have been seen as an outpatient by a heart specialist who has recommended treatment. That target applies to cardiomyopathy. Because of the complexity of the c…

21 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are national standards for the treatment and management of cardiomyopathy.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The draft standards on coronary heart disease, published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in February 2009, contain a standard relating to the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmia, of which cardiomyopathy is one of the causes. An essential cri…

21 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a Scottish equivalent to the UK Government's National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The equivalent to the English National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease is the <i >Scottish Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Strategy</i>, originally published in 2002. The strategy has been revised and was issued as our <i >Better Heart Disease …

20 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients can seek IVF treatment from NHS boards outwith their area where waiting times are shorter.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for individual NHS boards.</p>

20 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what circumstances are considered as priorities for selection for IVF treatment

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is up to individual NHS boards to decide what circumstances are considered as priorities for selection for IVF treatment. For example, within some NHS boards storage of eggs or embryos prior to oncology treatment is considered a priority for selection for …

20 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the upper age limit is for IVF treatment.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The <i >Report of the Review of Infertility Services in Scotland</i>, published in 2007, recommends that the upper age limit for IVF treatment should be 39 years inclusive, i.e. the woman should be before her 40th birthday at the time of treatment. In additio…

20 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the waiting time is for IVF treatment in the (a) Greater Glasgow and (b) Clyde areas of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The waiting time for IVF treatment in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area is currently 21 months. There is no separate waiting time for each of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde areas.</p>

20 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to reduce waiting times for IVF treatment.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The work to be undertaken by Infertility Network Scotland on behalf of the government will, we expect, help address the complex and long standing issues around waiting times for IVF treatment.</p> <p >Where individual NHS boards have invested in this service…

20 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the waiting time is for IVF treatment in each NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not routinely collected or held centrally.</p> <p >However, as part of the work Infertility Network Scotland will carry out with the government, NHS boards will be asked to provide this information.</p>

20 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for IVF treatment.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not routinely collected or held centrally.</p> <p >However, as part of the work Infertility Network Scotland will carry out with the government, NHS boards will be asked to provide this information.</p>

15 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the implementation of the disability equality duty.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is not responsible for monitoring the implementation of the disability equality duty. It is for individual organisations to ensure that they comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and disability equality duty. The Equality…

15 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what public body is responsible for monitoring and ensuring the implementation of the disability equality duty.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the body responsible for monitoring and enforcing the disability equality general and specific duties. Interested parties may also challenge an organisation''s failure to comply with the general duty by means of a c…

15 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that equality impact assessments are applied, as outlined by the disability equality duty, to ensure that the needs of all disabled people are taken into account appropriately in the planning process of local authorities.

Answer · Alex Neil: All public bodies are subject to the requirements of the public sector duties set out in equalities legislation. It is expected therefore that councils will have due regard to the promotion of equality and elimination of discrimination in developing their str…

15 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that local authorities comply with the requirements of the disability equality duty, with particular regard to providing accessible toilet facilities for people with profound and multiple disabilities, as requested by the Changing Places Consortium.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is for individual local authorities to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the disability equality duties and Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The DDA 1995 makes it unlawful for goods, facilities and service providers, including local auth…

15 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its stated commitment to community participation and active citizenship for all, how it will work with supermarkets, hospitals, shopping and other large cultural and community centres to help them to provide Changing Places toilet facilities for people with profound and multi…

Answer · Alex Neil: Organisations providing goods, facilities and services to the public must take steps to ensure that disabled people can access the services offered. Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, organisations must make reasonable adjustments to enable disable…

15 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it has done and what it plans to do to persuade commercial companies to adhere to the revised British Standard 8300, which includes design guidance for Changing Places toilet facilities.

Answer · Alex Neil: In 2006, the Scottish Government published a <i >Planning Advice Note (PAN) 78: Inclusive Design</i> to promote awareness of the benefits and means of delivering a more inclusive, accessible built environment. This document outlines roles and responsibilities…

15 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the number of Changing Places toilets for people with profound and multiple disabilities in light of research by the University of Dundee that identified the requirement for such facilities.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government was involved in the review of the UK good practice document, British Standard (BS) 8300: 2009, which addresses delivery of inclusive buildings, to provide design guidance on Changing Places toilets. Introducing this information within …

13 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken an economic impact assessment of its policy on minimum pricing of alcohol.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A regulatory impact assessment will be published alongside any proposed legislation put before the Scottish Parliament.</p>

13 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated the cost of minimum pricing of alcohol to the Scotch Whisky industry.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A regulatory impact assessment will be published alongside any proposed legislation put before the Scottish Parliament. Representatives of the alcohol industry, including the whisky industry, will be consulted on the development of an impact assessment.</p>

13 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of the legal advice it received on the policy of minimum pricing of alcohol.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not disclose the source of legal advice and therefore how any such advice was paid for.</p>

13 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the source was of the legal advice it received in support of the policy of minimum pricing of alcohol.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not disclose the source of any legal advice.</p>

13 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has received in relation to the validity of its policy on minimum pricing of alcohol.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15628 on 9 September 2008. 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…

7 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take if local authorities fail to deliver on the timescales set out in the draft national standard eligibility criteria and waiting times guidance and whether consideration will be given to legislative change.

Answer · Shona Robison: The draft guidance has been jointly agreed by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA). Local authorities will be asked to confirm by 1 December 2009 that their local arrangements for access to social care services and…

7 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to develop the indicators of relative need for older people for other service user groups such as people with learning disabilities.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the potential contribution that an information tool like the indicator of relative need (IoRN) can make in the planning and delivery of health and social care services in the community. This contribution may be at the level …

7 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason minimum waiting times for all community care services have not been included in the draft national standard eligibility criteria and waiting times guidance and whether there is a timescale for this to be reviewed.

Answer · Shona Robison: The draft guidance proposes that there should be a national standard maximum waiting time for people assessed as being at critical or substantial risk of six weeks from confirmation of need to delivery of assessed personal and/or nursing care services. Where …

7 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the importance of preventative measures to avoid service users or carers reaching crisis point are properly emphasised in the draft national standard eligibility criteria and waiting times guidance.

Answer · Shona Robison: The draft guidance states that councils and their partners should consider whether the provision of services or equipment or other interventions might help prevent or reduce the risk of an individual''s needs becoming more intensive. It also asks councils to …

7 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it views the relationship between the draft national standard eligibility criteria and waiting times guidance and the move towards self-directed support.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to all individuals with an assessed social care need accessing a direct payment, if the individual chooses. The eligibility criteria does not impact on this.</p>