Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to whom the Care Environment Inspectorate will report.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate will be accountable to report to Scottish ministers through the board of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. The reports, findings and recommendations of the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate will be made public.</p>
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons it believes that the Care Environment Inspectorate is independent of government when it is based within NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate will operate independently of the Scottish Government and of NHS boards which will be the subject of its inspections. The reports, findings and recommendations of the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate will be publishe…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Care Environment Inspectorate will follow up inspections.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate will require NHS boards to publish an improvement plan to ensure all necessary action is taken. There is a clear intention to ensure rigorous follow-up on findings and recommendations through scrutiny and challenge of N…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how inspection teams in the Care Environment Inspectorate will operate when carrying out hospital inspections and, specifically, whether protocols will be developed.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate will publish its detailed operational arrangements for undertaking inspections when these have been finalised following the appointment of the chief inspector.</p>
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for individual inspections by the Care Environment Inspectorate to commence.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Pilot visits are anticipated to commence in May 2009 with the visit schedule fully operational from September 2009. All acute hospitals will receive at least one announced and one unannounced visit within a three year cycle.</p>
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for recruiting and establishing inspection teams for the Care Environment Inspectorate.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The regional inspector posts were advertised on 24 April 2009 and associate inspector posts were advertised the week beginning Monday 29 April 2009.</p>
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the composition is of the teams that will undertake inspections for the Care Environment Inspectorate.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Chief Inspector of the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate will be supported by regional inspectors and associated inspectors, including members of the public, and a range of specialists and experts reflecting the need to ensure that appropriate standards…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, if a chief inspector for the Care Environment Inspectorate has not yet been appointed, when it is anticipated that they will be in post.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Interviews for the post of Chief Executive of the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate will take place on Friday 8 May 2009 the earliest practicable date for the selection panel to meet. The date on which the new chief inspector takes up post will be confirme…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the post of chief inspector for the Care Environment Inspectorate has been advertised and, if so, where and when.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The post of Chief Inspector of the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate was advertised in <i >The Herald</i> and <i >The Scotsman</i> on 24 March 2009 and the <i >Sunday Herald</i> and <i >Scotland</i><i > on Sunday</i> on 29 March 2009, with a closing date…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing's announcement in a press release on 9 March 2009, whether a chief inspector for the Care Environment Inspectorate has been appointed.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The post of Chief Inspector of the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate was advertised on 24 March 2009. Interviews will be held on Friday 8 May 2009, the earliest practicable date for the selection panel to meet.</p>
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the responses to the consultation that preceded the establishment of the Care Environment Inspectorate as part of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The responses to the consultation process on the establishment of the Care Environment Inspectorate will be published on the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland website.</p>
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues guidance to NHS boards on improving the patient journey for people with learning disabilities accessing emergency or elective care.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Fair for All agenda seeks to ensure that whatever the individual circumstances of people''s lives, they have access to the right health services for their needs.</p> <p >Guidance entitled <i >Achieving fair access</i> was produced and issued to the NHS …
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have learning disability liaison nurses; how many there are in each NHS board area, and where they are based.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.</p> <p >However, information provided in boards'' fatal accident inquiry action plans indicates the following liaison nurses for people with a learning disability are in post.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpa…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the role is of a learning disability liaison nurse.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A learning disability liaison nurse will help support people with a learning disability to access acute health services and promote appropriate health care for the individual.</p> <p >They will work with the individual, their families or carers and health st…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it recognises and accommodates the needs of people with learning disabilities entering acute care on an emergency or elective basis.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Fair for All agenda looks to ensure that whatever the individuals circumstances they have access to the right health services for their needs.</p> <p >Guidance entitled <i >Achieving fair access</i> was issued to the NHS in April 2007 and is available at…
8 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it considers that personal antibacterial products have in reducing the incidence of healthcare associated infections.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23212 on 5 May 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/Apps2/Bus…
8 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Land Register of Scotland or the Register of Sasines carries more weight in the consideration of titles.
Answer · John Swinney: The General Register of Sasines is a register of deeds in which conveyancing deeds are lodged. The fact that a deed appears in the General Register of Sasines does not guarantee its validity, merely that it is competent to be recorded. The state and quality o…
8 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland would determine that a title would be without exclusion of indemnity.
Answer · John Swinney: The Keeper creates a title sheet for a property based upon the deed submitted for registration, accompanying documentation including the application form, and where the property is being registered in the Land Register for the first time, prior deeds for that…
8 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland takes when registering a title.
Answer · John Swinney: The Land Register is designed to be definitive as to the nature and extent of title. Section 5 of the Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979 requires the Keeper to complete registration in respect of a property title by making up a title sheet for it in the La…
8 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what redress is available if the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland makes an error in registering a title.
Answer · John Swinney: Where the Land Register is inaccurate (whether due to an error by the Keeper or for any other reason) a person may apply for rectification of the Register. The circumstances in which the Keeper may rectify the Register to remove an inaccuracy are set out in s…
31 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a recent increase in the number of healthcare associated infections in Orkney and, if so, what the nature of the problem is and what action has been taken.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: On 3 February, the Scottish Government was notified of an outbreak of Clostridium difficile in NHS Orkney (NHSO). Seventeen patients, including one member of staff, had been confirmed as Clostridium difficile positive since the start of January 2009. This com…
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21382 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 March 2009, how many patients with Clostridium difficile have been transferred between hospitals in the context of any investigation into an incident or outbreak of Clostridium difficile.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not routinely collected or held centrally. The transfer of patients would be considered by local infection control teams if relevant to the investigation or the management of any incident or outbreak.</p>
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20800 by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 March 2009, whether each NHS board issues guidance to GPs about prescribing antibiotics.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Each NHS board has an evidence-based primary care antimicrobial prescribing policy which provides guidance on when to prescribe antibiotics and which antibiotic should be used to treat each common infection. This policy is issued to GPs either electronically …
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information is given to patients in relation to the need to complete courses of antibiotics and the potential risk of Clostridium difficile in the over-65s who are vulnerable and may be admitted to hospital in the following two months.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: All labels on antibiotic prescriptions should have standard labelling “ Complete the Course. Pharmacists in hospital and primary care settings also counsel patients on how to take their medicine including taking at regular intervals, requirements to take befo…
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how GPs are engaged at a clinical level with the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Task Force objectives to create a whole-system approach.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: All staff have a responsibility for infection control, including GPs. Guidance developed by the HAI Task Force covers all NHS services, including the Primary Care Sector, and there is GP representation on the national HAI Task Force.</p>
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20798 by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 March 2009, how learning and information on prescribing antibiotics is shared with GPs.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Learning and information about prescribing antibiotics is shared with GPs at a local level through education and feedback sessions organised by the NHS boards prescribing advisers. As part of the Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group''s education work stre…
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20798 by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 March 2009, whether NHS boards receive assurances that prescribing practices are appropriate in addition to monitoring antibiotic use.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The appropriate use of antimicrobials is an important clinical governance issue. The NHS board''s Antimicrobial Management Team (AMT), which is a sub-group of the board''s Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee, covers both primary and secondary care sectors. T…
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20798 by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 March 2009, whether trend data on the prescribing of antibiotics is publicly available.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Not all the data used by NHS Board Prescribing Advisers are available publicly. For example, Prescribing Advisers have access to data through the PRescribing Information SysteM for Scotland (PRISMS), a web-based prescribing information database. Prescribing i…
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will receive a final report from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service on the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20313 on 9 February 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/Apps…
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing proposes to make a statement to the Parliament about the prospect of a public inquiry into the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to answer to question S3W-20028 on 28 January 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/Apps2/Bu…