Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any increase since 1997 in the number of anti-depressant prescriptions; if so, what this increase has been and whether it will detail what action has been or will be taken to tackle such an increase.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Around 1.85 million prescriptions for anti-depressants* were dispensed in 1996-97, rising to just under 2.77 million in 2000-01. <P>Medical practitioners use their clinical judgement when prescribing for individual patients. They have access to comprehensive …
5 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action has been or will be taken to tackle depression in children aged 5-14.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has already commissioned the Public Health Institute for Scotland to conduct a national review of child and adolescent mental health services. Their report is due later this year. In addition separate studies of adolescent psychiatry out-patient…
5 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) males and (b) females regularly take anti-depressants and what the annual cost to the NHS has been in each of the past 10 years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information about the number of patients for whom prescriptions are written is not collected.<P>The cost of anti-depressants* dispensed to patients in the community from 1992-2001<SUP>#</SUP> is set out in the following table. The amounts shown do not include…
5 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS will receive additional funding for free personal and nursing care for the elderly where a patient's assessment fits the prescribed criteria.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24852.
5 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are currently set in the NHS for assessing entitlement and access to long-term care for elderly people.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24852.
5 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any patient who meets the assessment criteria for free personal and nursing care will be cared for by the NHS.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The purpose of a needs assessment is to determine the requirement for social care for an individual. This is linked to the provision of services by, or for, local authorities under social work legislation, not to services provided by the NHS. The extension of…
5 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all categories of NHS staff, including consultants, have to abide by the European Working Time Directive.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The European Working Time Directive applies to all categories of NHS Scotland staff, with the exception of doctors in training. Application of the directive to this group of NHS staff will apply in full by 2009, with the option available to EC member states t…
5 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23834 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 22 March 2002, what other resources and support have been allocated to audiology departments to enable them to comply with The Good Practice Guidance for Adult Hearing Aid Fittings and Services.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have today announced the allocation of an extra £750,000 to NHS boards across Scotland during 2002-03 to reduce excessively long waiting times within audiology services, assist compliance with certain aspects of the Good Practice Guidance and provide hearin…
5 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proven effective treatments are available to treat cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis addictions.
Answer · Richard Simpson: There is a lack of good evidence to support substitute prescribing for cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis misuse. Prescription of tranquillisers, such as diazepam, can ease the symptoms of withdrawal from psychostimulants, including sleep disturbance and anxie…
5 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients with drug or alcohol dependency are currently participating in clinical trials.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not available centrally. <P>Information on conducting clinical trials can be found on the Medicines Control Agency website at:<P><A HREF="http://www.mca.gov.uk">www.mca.gov.uk</A>.
5 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) males and (b) females suffered from chronic alcohol dependency in each of the past 10 years.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: Information on the number of people suffering from chronic alcohol dependency is not held centrally. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey of psychiatric morbidity among adults in private households in 2000 does provide information on the number of …
5 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase drug misuse awareness amongst parents, families and others to ensure more support can be given in the early stages to people taking drugs.
Answer · Richard Simpson: As part of our Drugs Communications Strategy, national mass media campaigns are already under way, using the Know The Score logo, to raise awareness about drugs and where help and advice can be obtained.<P>The Executive has allocated £20 million over three ye…
19 Mar 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether botox injections are safe.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) has advised that botox met appropriate standards of quality, safety and efficacy to justify its licence for use in the relief of muscle spasms and the management of excessive sweating of the armpits.<P>Since licensin…
15 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take action in order to ensure that links on tourist industry websites for Inverness point to internet pages about the city of Inverness in Scotland and not to pages about Inverness County in Canada, in light of the recent error on www.visitbritain.com reported in the Inve…
Answer · Mike Watson: I have contacted the BTA about the Inverness entry on: <P>www.visitbritain.com.<P>I understand the link to Inverness, Canada was a human error, which the British Tourist Authority(BTA) corrected as soon as it was brought to their attention. The BTA has apolog…
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that all new patients starting on methadone have sufficient education in regard to the medical implications of using the drug and the penalties imposed for diverting the drug to others as referred to in the National Confidential Inquiry into Methadone …
Answer · Richard Simpson: There is general guidance in <I>Drug Misuse and Dependence - Guidelines on Clinical Management</I> on the procedures which doctors should go through before prescribing methadone. In light of the patient's motivation and expectations, the doctor will set mutua…
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Food Standards Agency intends to review the clarity of food labels and to decide whether there are clear public health benefits for key food safety and hygiene messages to be included in food labels as recommended in the Scottish Consumer Council's report Young People and Food…
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Food Standards Agency has advised that label clarity is currently being addressed as part of the agency's Food Labelling Action Plan. Recommendations in the Scottish Consumer Council's report <I>Young People and Food Safety</I> will be carefully considere…
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to use the Scottish Consumer Council's report Young People and Food Safety as baseline data for future research and action to ensure knowledge of food safety matters.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive welcomes this report, however this falls within the Food Standards Agency's area of responsibility and I am advised by them that they are currently reviewing its conclusions and recommendations. The report is a most welcome addition to …
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23111 by Malcolm Chisholm on 7 March 2002, whether there are any plans to ensure that the single measles vaccine is assessed by the UK Licensing Authority against the criteria of safety, quality and efficiency.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: A full and formal assessment of product safety, quality and efficacy occurs in response to an application, by a pharmaceutical company, to the UK licensing authority for a marketing authorisation (product license). <P>Marketing authorisations (product license…
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to provide on-going training and updates with regard to the prescription of methadone as referred to in the National Confidential Inquiry into Methadone Related Deaths (Scotland) 2000.
Answer · Richard Simpson: Training and updates for general practitioners are devised within NHS board areas across Scotland. The prescribing of methadone is a core feature of these local courses and, in some areas, is related to prescribing audits in order to improve clinical practice…
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the limits are of naloxone treatment in respect of methadone overdose and what steps have been made to make doctors and paramedics aware of these as referred to in the National Confidential Inquiry into Methadone Related Deaths (Scotland) 2000.
Answer · Richard Simpson: Naloxone is a very effective drug and can be life saving when used to reverse the effects of any opiate-induced respiratory depression, or overdose with opiates. Naloxone should only be given where an overdose is suspected, and is usually administered initial…
12 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will propose any incentives to encourage local healthcare co-operatives to raise awareness of, and address issues relating to, public health through public health clinics and by taking other appropriate measures.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Guidance has been issued to NHSScotland underlining the important role of Local Health Care Co-operatives (LHCC's) in developing and delivering a broader range of community based services and initiatives, including health improvement and health promotion. Thi…
8 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding was allocated to audiology services for the implementation of The Good Practice Guidance for Adult Hearing Aid Fittings and Services for the years 2001-02 and 2002-03.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive issued the Good Practice Guidance to service providers on the basis that they were expected to implement the recommendations from within current resources.<P>At national level the health budget will rise from £5.9 billion this year to £…
7 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to halt further genetically modified crop trials for oilseed rape and beet given the recent research, as reported in The Times on 17 February 2002, regarding damage to the environment.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23492 on 7 March 2002.
7 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, or plans to make, to Her Majesty's Government on the effect on the NHS in Scotland of the proposed adoption of the EU health card which will allow people to access urgently needed medical treatment at the point of delivery free of charge and which will c…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The proposals are at an early stage and are a refinement of the current, long standing E111 arrangements applicable across the EU. The proposals will not give rise to new entitlements and the Scottish Executive will be formally consulted at all stages.
7 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to support the 20% of UK clinical research which is stated by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry to be based in Scotland in order to ensure long-term stability for the industry and diversity of the economy.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive supports the conclusions of the Pharmaceutical Industry Competitiveness Task Force report of March 2001, which seek to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of clinical research. The Executive will continue to liaise with the Department of…
7 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are currently prescribed methadone on a regular basis.
Answer · Richard Simpson: Information on the number of people in Scotland currently prescribed methadone on a regular basis is not held centrally. However we are working with ISD Scotland to see how the information can be extrapolated from prescription data.
7 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce trials in prescribing heroin under medical supervision, instead of methadone, in order to address and reduce drug addiction.
Answer · Richard Simpson: Prescribing heroin under medical supervision is a reserved matter. The Department of Health and the Home Office have held a consensus event reviewing current guidelines on prescribing and have asked the National Treatment Agency to take forward this work with…
7 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether dia'epam is widely available to illicit drug users; if so, why and what plans it has to reduce such availability.
Answer · Richard Simpson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23846 today.<P>Sources of diazepam include sold or stolen prescriptions and illegal imports. The number of seizures of benzodiazepines across Scotland was higher in 1999 (663) than in 1998 (647). The recl…
7 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the contribution of dia'epam to 146 drug deaths and to over half of the 196 deaths involving heroin/morphine in 2000.
Answer · Richard Simpson: Enforcement bodies are continuing their efforts to reduce the illicit availability of drugs, and seizures of benzodiazepines, including diazepam, have increased throughout the 1990s. <P>The UK Health Departments'<I> Drug misuse and Dependence-Guidelines on Cl…
7 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all audiology departments are meeting the standards set out in The Good Practice Guidance for Adult Hearing Aid Fittings and Services.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The wide-ranging review of audiology services initiated by the Executive will report its findings on this in the autumn. The research report recently released by the Royal National Institute for Deaf people, which collected anonymised data, included examinati…