Mary Scanlon

8 Jan 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the number of hospital-acquired infections has risen as reported by the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health.

Answer · Frank McAveety: There has been a steady increase in the incidence of methycillin-resistant staphillococus aureus (MRSA) infections across the UK in recent years. As part of the Executive's drive to address healthcare-associated infection (HAI), the Scottish Centre for Infect…

7 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31190 by Malcolm Chisholm on 13 November 2002, why four out of seven flu vaccines currently available on the NHS contain thimerosal, given that European and American regulatory authorities have recommended that vaccine manufacturers should phase out …

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Committee on Safety of Medicines has advised that, with the exception of hypersensitivity reactions that typically include skin rashes or soft tissue swelling at the site of injection, there is no evidence of harm from the levels of thiomersal (which cont…

6 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W- 31190 by Malcolm Chisholm on 13 November 2002, when thimerosal will be eradicated from all vaccines in Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Manufacturers are being encouraged to phase out the use of thiomersal in vaccines, as a purely precautionary measure. It is anticipated that thiomersal-free vaccines will be considered for provision in the routine childhood immunisation programme after they h…

6 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research there is on any links between flu vaccines containing thimerosal and Al'heimer's disease.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any research into links between flu vaccines containing thiomersal (also referred to as thimerosal) and Alzheimer's disease.

6 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which vaccines available on the NHS contain thimerosal.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The regulation and safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA).<P>The MCA has advised that diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, with the exception of those containing acellular pertussis componen…

6 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether pregnant women are advised of any risks from flu vaccines containing thimerosal.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The regulation and safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA).<P>The MCA has advised that as with any effective medicine or vaccine, influenza vaccine is not without side effects in some recipients. The ris…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence exists on the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of complementary medicine.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Department of Health maintains a National Research Register with details of all on-going and recent medical research, including research into complementary medicine. This is available on regularly updated CD-ROM in the Parliament's Reference Centre and on…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any market research has been carried out to measure what percentage of the public are in favour of complementary medicine being made widely available on the NHS since the MORI poll in 1989, showing 74% of the public as in favour.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Executive has not commissioned any such market research, and has not been made aware of any recent poll on the subject. There is no barrier to the provision of complementary medicine through the NHS in Scotland. Decisions on whether to provide any particu…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how poverty and deprivation in rural communities has been measured and ameliorated by the allocation of funds through the Arbuthnott formula.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Arbuthnott formula uses information about unemployment rates, the proportion of older people on income support, households with multiple indicators of deprivation and mortality rates among people under 65 as indicators of relative deprivation. This inform…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why NHS 24, free personal care and the Care Commission are mentioned twice as both targets and achievements on pages 52, 54 and 55 of Recording Our Achievements.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Record of Achievement reports in full on progress on all the commitments in the two complimentary Programme for Government documents (<I>Making it Work Together </I>and <I>Working together for Scotland). </I>It is open and transparent acknowledging successes …

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS patients can be referred to a chiropractor and whether any chiropractors are employed by the NHS.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: GPs do not usually refer patients directly to a chiropractor, although there may be some local arrangements in place for NHS referral. GPs can advise patients about seeing a chiropractor, and provide information about registered practitioners, after discussio…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many health professionals have received training in homeopathy as part of continuous professional development programmes in each of the last five years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. <P>I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32837 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: <A…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what fee is payable to (a) GPs, (b) hospital doctors, (c) pharmacists, (c) dentists, (d) nurses and (e) veterinary surgeons for carrying out a homeopathic treatment.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: There are no fees specific to homeopathic treatment payable within the NHS. The clinicians who provide homeopathic services are remunerated on the same basis as they would be for conventional treatment. Homeopathic practitioners outwith the NHS, including vet…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many statutory registered health professionals currently practice homeopathy.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not centrally collected. I understand from the Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital that while it is difficult to assess with accuracy of the number of statutory registerable health professionals who currently practice homoeopathy in Sco…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost to the NHS is of an (a) homeopathic, (b) generic and (c) branded prescription.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table lists the average costs of a prescription item for each category in the financial year 2001-02.<P><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=226><TR><TD WIDTH="54%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Prescription Type</TD><TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP"><P…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the instant appointments system, as referred to on page 52 of Recording Our Achievements, will be achieved.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Practical experience of an instant appointments system, under which people know the time of their hospital appointment before leaving their local surgery, has been achieved in four NHS board areas.<P>This experience has led to a reassessment of the processes …

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the establishment of the Health Technology Board for Scotland, as referred to on page 52 of Recording Our Achievements, has achieved the end of "postcode prescribing".

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) helped to reduce inequalities in health services across Scotland by providing consistent, evidence-based advice to NHS boards in the form of three Health Technology Assessments, 30 HTBS Comments on NICE guidance…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is measuring the impact that the 44 healthy living centres are having on health improvements in areas of poverty and deprivation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: External evaluation of the Healthy Living Centre (HLC) programme is being conducted at two levels. New Opportunities Fund (NOF) has commissioned the Bridge Consortium to undertake a UK-wide evaluation and the Scottish Executive Health Department has commissio…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to address cannabis-induced psychosis.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Guidance to medical professionals, <I>Managing Incidental Drug Misuse and Alcohol Problems in Mental Health Care Settings</I>, recommends that drug misuse is covered in assessments of patients with mental health problems. The <I>Guidelines on Clinical Managem…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the reduction in bureaucracy achieved by streamlining NHS boards, as referred to on page 54 of Recording Our Achievements, and what the subsequent financial savings were.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30723 on 18 November 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:<P><A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliamen…

20 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all NHS staff will be able to access family-friendly policies, as referred to on page 53 of Recording Our Achievements, as part of their work environment and employment contract.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>Guidance on Family Friendly Policies</I> was prepared in partnership with the service, trade unions and the professions, and published in January 2000. It is intended to review the guidance later this year. The guidance underpins the Staff Governance Stand…

19 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31958 by Malcolm Chisholm on 9 December 2002, whether #3,689,000 is still the forecast full-year overspend by Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in the light of the recent findings of the support team investigation into the trust's finances.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is currently forecasting a year end overspend of £4,724,000, based on the November financial report.

19 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31954 by Malcolm Chisholm on 9 December 2002, to whom the lead clinician of the managed clinical network will be accountable.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As is made clear in Appendix 3 to Health Department Letter (2002) 69 <I>Promoting the Development of Managed Clinical Networks in NHSScotland</I>, lead clinicians of managed clinical networks are ultimately accountable to the chief executive of the organisati…

10 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it can ensure that blood products do not contain new variant CJD.

Answer · Frank McAveety: There is currently no test for the screening of blood donation for vCJD. Several international groups of research workers are working to try to develop a blood test, but it is currently unclear whether this will be possible and, if so what the time frame is l…

10 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a proven scientific link between humans eating beef from cows infected with BSE and subsequently developing new variant CJD.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The view of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, which provides independent expert scientific advice to ministers on matters concerning spongiform encephalopathies, is that the most likely explanation of the vCJD cases that have occurred to date …

10 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will prevent cervical smear reporting times and backlogs increasing following the introduction of the liquid-based cytology screening programme and ensure that the time of cytologists is used efficiently and effectively during the programme's roll-out.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The introduction of liquid-based cytology (LBC) into the cervical screening programme, which will involve training every smear taker and appropriate laboratory staff, will be complex. A training plan, which is currently being developed, should be available ea…

10 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any shortage of capacity at the Scottish Cervical Cytology Training School in Edinburgh and, if so, what impact any such shortage will have on the roll-out of the liquid-based cytology screening programme.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: A Service Level Agreement (SLA) is in place between the National Services Division of the Common Services Agency and Lothian University Hospital NHS Trust for the provision of training for cervical cytology laboratory staff at the Scottish Cervical Cytology T…

10 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current backlog is of unread cervical smears, broken down by hospital.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The latest available information on laboratory smear reporting times for the quarter ended 30 June 2002, was published by Information and Statistics Division, CSA on 28 November 2002.<P>Information on current laboratory reporting times is not yet available. T…

10 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will improve cervical smear reporting time performance during the roll-out of the liquid-based cytology screening programme, in the light of the latest figures by the Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency which show an increase in average reporting times…

Answer · Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32465 today. 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/sear…

6 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is to support (a) brain malfunction caused by biochemical imbalance or (b) genetic heritability being causal factors of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a complex condition that has been and continues to be the subject of a considerable body of research worldwide. While it is theorised that the condition may be linked to an imbalance of dopamine in the brain which m…