Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force has fulfilled its remit to monitor levels of hospital-acquired infection and the efficacy of measures taken in general and specifically in relation to Clostridium difficile.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The principal measurements of the levels of healthcare associated infection (HAI) in Scotland have been the long-standing national mandatory and voluntary HAI surveillance schemes, most recently mandated by HDL(2006)38 and the National HAI Point Prevalence Su…
15 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review and update all the information on Scottish Government websites to ensure accuracy and consistency about the information available on Clostridium difficile.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government regularly reviews and updates the information that is made available on their website. Information about Clostridium difficile was last reviewed and updated following the publication of the independent review on 7 August 2008.</p>
15 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reporting structure is from the infection control nurse at the Vale of Leven Hospital through various agencies up to and including the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Vale of Leven Hospital follows the same reporting structure as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. All Healthcare Workers (HCW''s), who suspect that an outbreak may be occurring must contact a member of the Infection Control Team (ICT).</p> <p >The ICT will …
15 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde since the board area was increased in April 2006 to integrate (a) management structures and (b) infection control systems.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Since the formation of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in April 2006, the board has looked closely at how to best integrate services across the whole board area, including management and infection control systems, to bring about benefits such as unified procedu…
15 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the accountability arrangements are for (a) Health Protection Scotland and (b) NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: Health Protection Scotland is part of National Services Scotland, and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is a special health board. National Services Scotland and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland are accountable to Scottish ministers who hold annual reviews in …
15 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Quality Improvement Scotland carried out a follow-up inspection after its report in May 2005 showing that NHS Argyll and Clyde had not met approximately 40 of the 69 criteria for hospital-acquired infections.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : The responsibility for following up on NHS QIS inspections lies within the remit of the relevant NHS board.</p>
15 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when NHS Quality Improvement Scotland last carried out an inspection of hospital-acquired infection in (a) the Vale of Leven Hospital, (b) NHS Argyll and Clyde and (c) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde were both visited during 2004-05 as part of the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) standards peer review programme. The Vale of Leven Hospital was part of NHS Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals Trust at …
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14339 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 July 2008, on what dates from December 2007 terminal cleans occured at the Vale of Leven Hospital; in which wards, and for what reason.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The 18 full ward terminal cleans were carried out as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=135 valign=top > <p align=center >Date</p> </td> <td width=81 valign=top > <p align=center >Ward</p>…
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14337 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 July 2008 and given that she was “aware of the cases of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven in late May”, why she did not instruct a look-back exercise earlier than June.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Investigations by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde into cases of Clostridium difficile were on-going in late May 2008 and I was being kept regularly informed of the situation that was emerging. As evidence was still being gathered, and as the situation was being…
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 7 August 2008 of her gratitude to the bereaved families for their open and constructive contribution to the work of the review team, whether she will now ensure that the 21 freedom of information requests relat…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act sets out the right of any applicant dissatisfied with a response to a request for information to require an authority to review its response. I suggest therefore that Ms Baillie follows the standard processes as set o…
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have the power to call for a public inquiry.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There are different types of public inquiry, but under the Inquiries Act 2005 a Minister (including the Scottish Ministers) may cause an inquiry to be held where it appears that (a) particular events have caused, or are capable of causing, public concern, or …
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-14365 and S3W-14367 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will now provide details of the new structure for infection control in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A new infection control structure was introduced across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGG&C) from 1 July 2008. The current structure of the Infection Control Nursing service has been reviewed to allow a full and seamless integration of NHSGG&C into…
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14801 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008, what specific statutory requirements are placed on NHS boards.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The specific statutory requirements which relate to NHS boards are available via the Office of Public Sector Information website, <a href="http://www.opsi.gov.uk/">www.opsi.gov.uk</a>.</p>
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14337 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 July 2008, what action was taken by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing following interim reports on the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital on 13 and 17 June 2008.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Following the interim reports which I received from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on 13 and 17 June 2008, I announced in Parliament on 18 June 2008 an independent review of the Clostridium difficile outbreak in the Vale of Leven Hospital.</p> <p >I also as…
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14337 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 July 2008, whether the identification of deaths from Clostridium difficile was entirely based on information from death certificates.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Yes.</p>
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why it reduced the national performance targets for the Scottish Ambulance Service for category A calls from 75% for each NHS board area to 75% across Scotland and whether it is concerned that rural areas will experience reduced response times.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is important to ensure that performance targets are challenging but deliverable. On that basis, the national performance target for responding to category A calls was revised to be achieved across mainland Scotland by March 2009, rather than within each in…
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the report from the anaesthesia group commissioned by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, as part of the independent scrutiny panel process, to look into anaesthetic provision at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The report of the independent external clinical review of anaesthetic services at the Vale of Leven Hospital was published on Friday 15 August.</p> <p align=left >A copy of the report is available at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/924/0064…
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the ambulance demand and performance was for the Vale of Leven for 2007-08 against national targets for (a) category A, (b) category B and (c) urgent calls.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15467 on 5 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…
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Ambulance Service plans to increase the staffing establishment at Arrochar station to better meet national targets for (a) category A, (b) category B and (c) urgent calls.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) have advised that they intend to take forward the recruitment of an additional member of staff for the Arrochar station. In addition, this additional crew member will support the elimination of single-rostered crewing in t…
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve the performance of the ambulance service in Arrochar to better meet national targets for (a) category A, (b) category B and (c) urgent calls.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) continues to provide safe, efficient and effective services to patients across Scotland, including those in remote and rural areas. It is also important that patients h…
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the ambulance demand and performance was for (a) Arrochar and (b) Helensburgh for 2007-08 against the national targets for (i) category A, (ii) category B and (iii) urgent calls.
Answer · Shona Robison: The national response time target for category A calls (life threatening) across mainland Scotland is that, by March 2009, 75% of all incidents should be reached within eight minutes.</p> <p >The national response time target for category B calls (serious bu…
12 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Vale of Leven Hospital was last inspected by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland; which areas of the hospital were inspected, and what were the conclusions and recommendations.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland that it''s predecessor body, the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland, visited NHS Argyll and Clyde in 2004-05 as part of the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) standards peer review programme. The methodol…
12 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it uses the information from the Rapid Review Panel to inform its own policy in relation to products that will help combat hospital-acquired infections such as Clostridium difficile.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Yes.</p>
12 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has an equivalent to the Rapid Review Panel reporting to the Health Protection Agency in England.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No. The Rapid Review Panel assesses equipment, materials and other products that may be of value to the NHS as a whole, including NHS Scotland.</p>
12 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what key issues will be considered and measures taken in the (a) prevention, (b) containment and (c) transmission of Clostridium difficile.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15205 on 18 August 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/webap…
12 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance is issued to NHS boards and hospitals on containment measures to be used for patients suffering from Clostridium difficile.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance to NHS boards is provided in the Standard Infection Control Precautions model policies produced by Health Protection Scotland (HPS). HPS is currently drafting new overarching national guidance on Clostridium Difficile Associated Disease (CDAD) which …
12 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide the resources identified in West Dunbartonshire Council’s single outcome agreement to build a new Dumbarton Academy.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government does not allocate funding for specific schools. We have already substantially increased capital resources for local authorities under the concordat “ almost £3 billion is available to authorities over three years for investment in infr…
12 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the central heating programme baseline budget is for 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The fuel poverty budget for 2008-09 and 2009-10 was set at £45.9 million as part of the Strategic Spending Review (2007) announced on 14 November 2007.</p>
12 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Communities and Sport has made any progress in encouraging Scottish Power to stop back charging of prepayment meter customers.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Scottish Power advises that its meter replacement programme is progressing with 81% of prepayment customers in Scotland now having key meters which can be re-calibrated remotely meaning that the issue of back-charging does not arise. The programme is due to b…
12 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in place for the conclusion of the Scottish Gas contract for the central heating programme.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Tendering for the central heating programme was undertaken in 2006. The contract was for two years, with the option of a further two extensions of up to 12 months each. The first extension is currently being used from April 2008 to March 2009.</p> <p >The Sc…