Jackie Baillie

29 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing still anticipates that the police and area procurator fiscal investigations into the deaths from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital will conclude by March 2009.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) have indicated that both Strathclyde Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are aiming to provide the Area Procurator Fiscal with reports by March 2009. These investigations involve interviewing a l…

21 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the relative toxicity of the 078 strain of Clostridium difficile is compared to other strains.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) advise there is some evidence to suggest that the 078 strain can cause more serious disease but that cases present in a younger age group and are more likely to be community acquired. Further studies need to be undertaken to b…

21 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the newly identified 078 strain of Clostridium difficile has affected any patients and, if so, how many and at which hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There have been 16 isolates of 078 strain of Clostridium difficile reported since 2007. Information by hospital is not currently held centrally but is shown by NHS board in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <…

21 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list each microbiology laboratory, broken down by location and NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following table details the current list of NHS laboratories including those who do not perform direct clinical testing. It is important to note that not all the laboratories shown provide a full range of tests.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpad…

21 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) minimum, (b) maximum and (c) average turnaround time is for the testing of samples from patients with suspected hospital-acquired infections, broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) medical laboratory.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland do not hold this information centrally. They have advised that turnaround times are set by local laboratories in conjunction with their clinical users, but are usually between 24 and 48 hours for cultures, depending on organisms of …

21 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposal to remove the microbiology laboratory from the Vale of Leven Hospital to a central location will be subject to (a) public consultation and (b) ministerial approval.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is right that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde consider options to maintain and develop modern, efficient and effective laboratory services in the best interests of patients, and that these options are subject to appropriate engagement with stakeholders.</p> …

21 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive from which budget head funding for a public inquiry into the outbreak of Clostridium difficile would be drawn.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20028 on 29 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/Apps…

21 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has set aside funding to facilitate a public inquiry into the outbreak of Clostridium difficile and, if so, how much.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is an on-going Procurator Fiscal investigation into the tragic deaths from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital. The area procurator fiscal for Argyll and Clyde has asked Strathclyde Police and the Health and Safety Executive to conduct p…

14 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual pattern and duration is of visits by the mobile unit of the Scottish Driving Assessment Service.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The average annual pattern by the mobile unit of the Scottish Driving Assessment Service, taking 2007-08 as the reference year, is:</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=left >Mobile Service Sit…

14 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients had to wait for an assessment from the Scottish Driving Assessment Service in 2007-08 and for the first nine months of 2008-09, also showing the waiting period, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.</p>

14 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Service in 2007-08 and for the first nine months of 2008-09, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The number of patients referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Service in 2007-08, broken down by NHS board, was:</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td > <p align=center >NHS Board</p> </td> <td > <p al…

14 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider establishing a permanent base for the Scottish Driving Assessment Service in the west of Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not believe there is a strong business case identifying the need for this service.</p>

14 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to expand the Scottish Driving Assessment Service.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are no plans to expand the Scottish Driving Assessment Service.</p>

14 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work is being done on the introduction of processes for monitoring and measuring the provision and development of services for people with learning disabilities, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19734 on 21 January 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/Apps…

14 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor local provision and development of services for people with learning disabilities.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government collects annual statistical returns about the provision of services for people with learning disabilities. From 2008 this information will be collated through the eSAY project, which outlines a set of national data standards to ensure …

14 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities’ single outcome agreements contain specific reference to services for people with learning disabilities.

Answer · Shona Robison: The single outcome agreements (SOA) reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each council and include relevant supporting indicators and targets. Copies of all 32 SOAs which were agreed with local authorities on 30 June can be obtained via the Improveme…

14 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it will bring forward to replace its The Same As You policy to ensure continuing focus on services for people with learning disabilities.

Answer · Shona Robison: <i >The same as you?</i> implementation group will continue to work on identified priorities specific to people with learning disabilities. This will be complimented by work to develop an approach to Independent Living, with a focus on ensuring choice and con…

14 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what will replace partnership in practice agreements to ensure that people with learning disabilities continue to be involved in the development of local services.

Answer · Shona Robison: Local authorities will now be accountable for the outcomes they agree to deliver through single outcome agreements. The single outcome agreements reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each council and include relevant supporting indicators and target…

14 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will evaluate the impact of its The Same As You policy on services for people with learning disabilities before 2010 to inform policy development.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government will commission a major piece of research for early 2010 to look at how <i >The same as you?</i> has improved the quality of life for people with learning disabilities and their families.</p>

14 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on achieving the 29 recommendations contained in the review document, The Same as You.

Answer · Shona Robison: Action has been taken on each of the 29 recommendations in <i >The same as you?</i> resulting in a significant shift in the balance of care from people living in institutional settings to community based support services. Annual returns have been submitted fr…

8 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17678 by John Swinney on 14 November 2008, when it will publish its response to the Accountability and Governance Action Group on its recommendations on issues such as guaranteeing independence from government for scrutiny bodies.

Answer · John Swinney: The Accountability and Governance Action group was one of five groups set up last year. The final action group to report published its report on 13 January 2009. I expect to publish a composite response to the Accountability and Governance Action Group, and t…

8 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17677 by John Swinney on 14 November 2008, whether it is now in a position to detail the status of the new scrutiny bodies announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 6 November 2008 (Official Report c. 12077).

Answer · John Swinney: Discussions are currently being held with the existing health and social care bodies to help establish the relevant scrutiny bodies and decisions on their structure and functions have yet to be made.</p>

8 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it measures unmet need for home adaptations for disabled people and, if so, what the level of unmet need is, expressed in terms of the number of disabled people and financial cost.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government does not measure unmet need. It is for individual local authorities to identify and meet the eligible needs of people in their area within a reasonable timescale according to relevant welfare and housing legislation and guidance and to…

8 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms exist to ensure that disabled people needing urgent adaptations to their homes do not have to wait for more than six months.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: It is for individual local authorities to identify and meet the eligible needs of people in their area within a reasonable timescale according to relevant welfare and housing legislation and guidance. If individual clients are unhappy about the timescale or a…

8 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16514 by Stewart Maxwell on 6 October 2008, whether it has released or will release further funding to housing associations in this financial year.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We have provided £9.5 million of funding to date to housing associations in 2008-09 for medical adaptations. Total spend in 2008-09 for medical adaptations will be available during April 2009.</p>

22 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the duration of appointments to the children’s panel advisory committees has been reduced from three years to one and, if so, for what reason.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Scottish ministerial appointments normally run from 1 January and may last from one to five years. Appointments to the Children''s Panel Advisory Committees usually last for a three-year term.</p> <p >As part of the consultation on the reform of the Children…

16 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which regulatory body is responsible for ensuring that service users with learning disabilities are given fair and equal treatment in accessing direct payments for social work services.

Answer · Shona Robison: There is no regulatory body that considers the treatment of service users receiving direct payments. The Social Work Inspection Agency considers practice of local authorities in their delivery of direct payments in conducting performance inspections. Complain…

16 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that service users with learning disabilities are encouraged to take up self-directed support for the provision of their own support services.

Answer · Shona Robison: Members of a reference group on self-directed support are currently considering a draft strategy to radically increase the uptake of self-directed support in Scotland for all client groups including individuals with a learning disability. Recommendations for …

16 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that service users with learning disabilities are given appropriate support and time to develop direct payments or other forms of self-directed support as an alternative to their support services being put out to tender.

Answer · Shona Robison: Council funded local support services exist in most parts of Scotland to help service users, including those with a learning disability, to receive the support they need to access self-directed support. Officials will be undertaking visits to local authoritie…

12 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons the example minimum unit price of alcohol of 35p is identified in its discussion paper on its alcohol strategy; what evidence it can provide on how this figure was reached, and what impact this price would have on alcohol harm.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The example minimum unit price of alcohol used in the Scottish Government''s discussion paper was an illustrative figure only. As stated in the discussion paper, this figure is lower than the off-sales average price and would impact most on those products pri…