Jackie Baillie

26 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why guidance on clostridium difficile has not been issued by NHS Scotland or Health Protection Scotland, given that guidelines on surveillance systems were issued in April 2007 and updated in January 2008 by the Department of Health of the UK Government.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish guidance on surveillance of clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) has been available since the start of the mandatory CDAD surveillance programme in September 2006 and this was updated in October 2007.</p> <p >A range of CDAD documents hav…

26 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Health Protection Scotland met the Health Protection Agency to discuss guidance on clostridium difficile.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) has not formally met with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to discuss their new draft guidance on clostridium difficile, although I am advised that a member of HPS attended a conference hosted by the Health Protection Agency…

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many extra nurses, auxiliaries and cleaners were drafted into the Vale of Leven Hospital to deal specifically with the outbreak of clostridium difficile; how long they remained at the Vale of Leven Hospital to assist, and from which hospitals they drafted in.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that following a meeting of the Outbreak Control Team on 10 June, an additional Infection Control Nurse from the Infection Control Team located at the Glasgow Western Infirmary was based at the Vale of Leven Hospi…

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any changes of staffing in the infection control team at the Vale of Leven Hospital have been made since the outbreak of clostridium difficile at the hospital, and, if so, when these were made.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14365 on 14 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/w…

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people now make up the infection control team based at the Vale of Leven Hospital and what positions they hold.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14359 on 14 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/w…

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had been reviewing the staffing of the infection control team at the Vale of Leven Hospital prior to the news of the outbreak of clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital being released to the local media.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that there has been an on-going review of infection control structures and a new structure came into place in May this year.</p>

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that lack of knowledge on the causes, and control measures to prevent the spread, of clostridium difficile among staff at the Vale of Leven Hospital were a contributory factor to its outbreak.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It would not be appropriate for me to comment until the independent review announced by me on 18 June 2008 has examined all the circumstances surrounding the clostridium difficile cases at the Vale of Leven. The review team’s report is due to be published by …

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all members of staff at the Vale of Leven Hospital have received training on the causes of clostridium difficile and how it should be dealt with.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that education on management of patients with clostridium difficle has been provided to all staff at ward and departmental level by Infection Control Nurses. Clostridium difficile care bundles and care plans have …

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the employment of one infection control nurse covering all infection monitoring at the Vale of Leven Hospital to be sufficient and whether it considers that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde should increase the number of people in the infection control team based at the V…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It would not be appropriate for me to comment until the independent review announced by me on 18 June 2008 has examined all the circumstances surrounding the clostridium difficile cases at the Vale of Leven. The review team’s report is due to be published by …

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why no specialised infection control team was immediately set up at the Vale of Leven Hospital as soon as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde learned that there had been deaths at the hospital caused by clostridium difficile.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It would not be appropriate for me to comment until the independent review announced by me on 18 June 2008 has examined all the circumstances surrounding the clostridium difficile cases at the Vale of Leven. The review team’s report is due to be published by …

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has in place for the times when the one infection control nurse at the Vale of Leven Hospital is (a) off-duty, (b) absent from work due to illness or (c) on annual leave.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that periods of absence are covered by other infection control colleagues within the service.</p>

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why there is only one nurse based at the Vale of Leven Hospital who is solely responsible for infection control.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that prior to April 2008 there were two infection control nurses employed at the Vale of Leven Hospital - the lead nurse for Clyde (operational base) and the infection control nurse for the Vale of Leven Hospital.…

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people make up the infection control team for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what their positions are.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that there are 36.2 whole-time equivalent infection control nurses (for both acute and primary services), 5.4 whole-time equivalent infection control doctors, one general manager and one assistant general manager …

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any changes to the prescribing of antibiotics at the Vale of Leven Hospital since the outbreak of clostridium difficile.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that following an urgent review of the use of antibiotics at the Vale of Leven Hospital, a further modified antibiotics policy is now in place. These revised procedures are consistent with the prudent prescribing …

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Vale of Leven Hospital was last deep cleaned.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that the Vale of Leven Hospital is cleaned in accordance with The National Cleaning Specification and monitored in accordance with the National Monitoring Tool. Returns for the standard of cleanliness are submitte…

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths occurred in Scotland as a result of clostridium difficile (a) in 2006, (b) in 2007 and (c) up to June 2008, broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It should be noted that it is unusual for clostridium difficile to be an isolated cause of death, as a range of contributory factors are normally involved. Data for 2007 and 2008 is not yet available. The following table shows data where clostridium difficile…

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on the BBC's Politics Show on 15 June 2008 that she was told on Tuesday 10 June 2008 about the clostridium difficile issue at the Vale of Leven Hospital, and, in light of evidence to the contrary, whether she will…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No. I clearly set out the timeline of events in my statement to the Parliament on 18 June 2008. I made clear in the BBC interview that I was first aware of the cases of clostridium difficile (C. diff) at the Vale of Leven in late May. I advised that on 6 June…

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescales were for the detection and reporting of clostridium difficile at (a) Stobhill Hospital, (b) Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and (c) the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Mandatory national reporting of clostridium difficile cases by laboratories was established in 2006. These require all NHS boards to submit clostridium difficile data to Health Protection Scotland on a monthly basis.</p>

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the vacancy for a consultant microbiologist at the Vale of Leven Hospital was filled.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that there is no vacancy for a Consultant Microbiologist post at the Vale of Leven. Since the former Argyll and Clyde Health Board’s laboratory clinical reorganisation in 2004, this position has been covered by th…

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultant microbiologist left the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised that the Consultant Microbiologist left the Vale of Leven in early 2002. I would also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14335 on 14 July 2008.</p> <p >All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s …

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action (a) the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and (b) NHS Scotland took to deal with the outbreak of clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital following the public announcement on 22 May 2008 of a review by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the statement I made to the Parliament on 18 June 2008.</p>

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing sent her quote on clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital to the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: My response to the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter was sent by e-mail at 15:46pm on 6 June.</p>

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing signed off her quote for the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter on clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I approved my response to the enquiry from the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter by e-mail at 14:45pm on 6 June.</p>

18 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter first contacted the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, her private office or her press office about the outbreak of clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter first contacted me at my MSP e-mail account at 10:49am on 6 June.</p>

13 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the incidences of clostridium difficile in the Vale of Leven Hospital occurred in patients transferred from other hospitals and, if so, how many patients were involved and from which hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised that seven of the 55 patients confirmed as having clostridium difficile were originally transferred from the Royal Alexandra Hospital, between 28 December 2007 and 25 March 2008, to the Vale of Leven Hospital. It cannot be confirmed, however, if …

13 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures were followed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in relation to the outbreak of clostridium difficile in the Vale of Leven Hospital and when

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The independent review which I announced on 18 June 2008 will examine this key issue. The review team’s report will be published at the end of July 2008.</p>

13 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being put in place to tackle clostridium difficile in hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The principal interventions effective against clostridium difficile (C.diff) in our hospitals are rapid diagnosis and isolation of patients; prudent prescribing of antibiotics; environmental cleaning; and rigorous hand hygiene procedures.</p> <p >Mandatory …

13 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned about the percentage mortality rate in relation to the outbreak of clostridium difficile in the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The apparent high mortality rate amongst clostridium difficile patients at the Vale of Leven Hospital is a deep cause of concern, and is why I announced on 18 June 2008 that an independent review into the circumstances surrounding this excess of cases would b…

13 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what incidences of clostridium difficile there have been in each hospital in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, broken down by (a) numbers infected and (b) subsequent fatalities caused in whole or part by clostridium difficile in the Vale of Leven Hospital in each month in (i) 2007 and (ii) 2…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of clostridium difficile cases is currently reported quarterly by Health Protection Scotland and broken down by NHS board. Scottish Government officials have, however, written to all NHS boards, including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyd…

13 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish an independent inquiry into the outbreak of clostridium difficile in the Vale of Leven Hospital, with the report of the inquiry being made public.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I announced to the Parliament on 18 June 2008 that an independent review would be held. The report of the review team will be made public.</p>