Jackie Baillie

20 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what services will cease, or otherwise be altered, as a consequence of the withdrawal of anaesthetic services, as recommended in Report of the independent external clinical review of anaesthetic services at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I welcome NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde''s commitment to quickly bring forward proposals for a full range of services at the Vale of Leven Hospital. These will take account of the report of the Independent External Review of Anaesthetic Services at the Vale a…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the people who died of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital had the 027 strain.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15613 on 8 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://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the people affected by Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital had the 027 strain.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Of the 55 patients at the Vale of Leven Hospital, 18 patients died either as a direct result of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease (CDAD) or had C. difficile recorded on the death certificate as contributory factor to their death. Further analysis of th…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers three days to be sufficient time for individuals to respond to a consultation.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The independent review team received a high number of written requests and went on to interview 22 patients and relatives who were affected by the cases of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital. The independent review team were extremely pleased…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the independent review team on Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital issued adverts to the local press inviting families affected to make written submissions.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The independent review team issued an advert for a call for evidence to the local press on 8 July 2008.</p>

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the independent review team on Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital decided to invite the participation of relatives of those who had died of the infection.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Engaging with patients and relatives who had been affected by Clostridium difficile was a key specification given by me to the independent review team. It was therefore always the intention of the independent review team to involve patients and relatives in t…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the remit of the independent review of the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital did not specifically include consideration of the actions of Health Protection Scotland, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and NHS Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Independent Review Team was specifically tasked with reviewing the events that took place at the Vale of Leven Hospital and Health Protection Scotland staff were consulted as part of the review. Any wider implications from the findings in the review are b…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the draft report of the independent review team on Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital was first discussed by any official or special adviser.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: My officials were briefed by the Independent Review Team (IRT) and Health Protection Scotland (HPS) on 31 July 2008. They received Draft Reports from the IRT and HPS on 1 August 2008. The formal report was received on 4 August 2008 and published on 7 August 2…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish all the written material considered by the independent review team on Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has no plans to do so. This would be a matter for the independent review team.</p>

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Quality Improvement Scotland undertakes unannounced visits of hospitals to check standards.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) does not undertake unannounced visits of hospitals to check standards. NHS QIS reviews the performance of NHS boards against its standards in accordance with its planned work programme. Further information regarding …

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether annual reports from the Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force to the Chief Medical Officer and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing have information on progress in tackling healthcare-acquired infection disaggregated on an NHS board basis.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No. The report on the Scottish Government''s two Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) programmes between January 2003 and March 2008 is an overarching document detailing the work achieved by the HAI Task Force. The report is available on the HAI Website at:<…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether annual reports from the Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force to the Chief Medical Officer and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing are published.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Yes. The summary report on the two previous Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) delivery plans (2002-05 and 2005-08) are available from the HAI Task Force website at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/19529/2005">http:/…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that scrutiny of hospitals should be conducted by a process similar to those of the Care Commission and HM Inspectorate of Education for care facilities and schools respectively.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards are accountable for the quality and safety of the NHS services they provide including those provided in hospitals. A range of scrutiny and performance management arrangements are in place including annual reviews by Scottish ministers held in publi…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a robust independent inspection regime for all hospitals.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards are accountable for the quality and safety of the NHS services they provide including those provided in hospitals. A range of scrutiny and performance management arrangements are in place including annual reviews by Scottish ministers held in publi…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the designations of the people listed as being interviewed by the independent review team in Annex A of Independent Review of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease at the Vale of Leven Hospital from December 2007 to June 2008.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We have no plans to do so. The structure and content of the report was determined by the independent review team.</p>

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the recommendations arising from Independent Review of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease at the Vale of Leven Hospital from December 2007 to June 2008 will be implemented.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are in the process of implementing the recommendations arising from the <i >Independent Review of Clostridium Difficile Associated Disease at the Vale of </i><i >Leven</i><i > </i><i >Hospital</i><i >. </i>I understand that …

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it took in relation to Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital following (a) advice received from Health Protection Scotland on 21 May 2008, (b) contact from the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter on 6 June 2008, and (c) the meeting of the Outbreak Control Team o…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the timeline of events in my statement to the Parliament on 18 June 2008 and to the answer to question S3W-14337 on 15 July 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facil…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the prescribing of antibiotics was monitored at the Vale of Leven Hospital between December 2007 and June 2008, and, if so, how this was undertaken.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As noted in the independent review team report no routine monitoring was undertaken within the dates requested.</p> <p >Guidance on <i >Prudent Antimicrobial Prescribing: The Scottish Action Plan for Managing Antibiotic Resistance and Reducing Antibiotic Rel…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the “full details of the outbreak” to be produced by the Outbreak Control Team, as outlined on page 12 of Independent Review of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease at the Vale of Leven Hospital from December 2007 to June 2008.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15591 on 8 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/web…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the “further analysis of the death rate” outlined on page 12 of Independent Review of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease at the Vale of Leven Hospital from December 2007 to June 2008.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information will be provided in the Outbreak Control Team report which is due to be submitted to me by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde around the end of September 2008. The content of that report will, in the first instance, be shared with the area Procura…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all deaths from Clostridium difficile should be reported to the Procurator Fiscal as a matter of routine.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). COPFS has issued guidance to doctors on the categories of death that must be reported to the Procurator Fiscal. This guidance is available on the Crown Office website, <a href="http:…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances post mortems would be carried out, particularly in relation to those suffering from more than one medical condition, which may include Clostridium difficile.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: If a medical practitioner knows the cause of death he/she can complete a death certificate. If not, the case should be discussed with the Procurator Fiscal who may decide there is enough information available to sanction the completion of a death certificate,…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will explain the timescale for submission of the report by the independent review team on Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: On 18 June 2008, I announced in the Parliament an independent review of procedures in place at the Vale of Leven Hospital over the period December 2007 to 1 June 2008, in response to information that 55 patients had developed Clostridium difficile Associated …

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing referred the independent review report on Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital to the Lord Advocate, given that she has the power as a minister to order a public inquiry.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The review report was referred to the Lord Advocate because she is responsible for the investigation of deaths in Scotland. The Procurator Fiscal has a duty, on behalf of the Lord Advocate, to investigate all sudden, suspicious, accidental, unexplained and un…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing is aware that the high dependency unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital had closed in the last 12 months.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The High Dependency Unit (HDU) at the Vale of Leven Hospital closed for four hours on 27 October 2007, and for 24 hours between 13 and 14 November 2007 due to no patients being in the unit. This is normal practice where no patient admissions are anticipated.<…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why guidance on Clostridium difficile is now to be issued in September 2008 and what the reasons are for the delay in issuing the guidance.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14683 on 21 July 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/webapp…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why there is no current single guidance document on Clostridium difficile issued to NHS boards.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance on the control of Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) was first issued in the early 1990s by the then public health laboratory services and evidence has shown that this guidance has remained relevant.</p> <p >Specific Scottish guidance o…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether infection control managers report directly to the Chief Executive of NHS Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: All infection control managers report directly to the relevant NHS board Chief Executive.</p>

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will actively seek to learn lessons from the 32% drop in the number of cases of Clostridium difficile in England.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We are always willing to learn from other countries, and the Scottish Government has done so for many years. Our key stakeholders on the HAI Task Force are in regular contact with their counterparts around the world “ including the Department of Health “ so b…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what new resources will be set aside for NHS boards to deal with Clostridium difficile.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has already announced a record level of investment of £54 million over three years to tackle all healthcare associated infection, including Clostridium difficile. </p> <p >In addition, all NHS boards have been instructed to ensure tha…