Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in order to reduce dietary levels of fat and sugar with a view to reducing the prevalence of diabetes.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We expect NHS boards to implement the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network guideline on the management of diabetes, which includes an emphasis on the fundamental importance of healthy eating as part of diabetes health care behaviour. <P>Much of type 2 d…
12 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities whose tenants chose not to accept the housing stock transfer option will be given any other form of assistance with housing debt.
Answer · Margaret Curran: There are no plans to provide assistance with the housing debt of those authorities who do not transfer their housing stock.
12 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to manufacturers of mobile telephones regarding the health implications of using such telephones.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Mobile telephones should comply with the Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive Article 3.1.(a), which states as an essential requirement "the protection of the health and safety of the user and any other person..." This requireme…
11 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22009 by Malcolm Chisholm on 31 January 2002, whether it will specify which of the recommendations in the report by the Accounts Commission, Full House - Theatre Utilisation in Scottish Hospitals, have been implemented in full to ensure a greater uti…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The aim of the Accounts Commission report <I>Full House - Theatre Utilisation in Scottish Hospitals</I>, which was published in June 1999, was to help hospitals to improve the use of planned theatre sessions, to identify ways to minimise session and case canc…
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that, once an individual's care needs have been assessed, those needs are then met regardless of the resources available to either the individual concerned or the relevant local authority.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22126 on 4 February 2002.
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether clear guidance will be issued in regard to the concept of notional capital in relation to assessment of those eligible for the payment of care in the community and residential care allowances.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Notional capital is defined as part of the residential care charging requirements of the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992. Clear guidance on the issue is available in circular SWSG6/98 <I>Charges for Residential Accommodation</I>…
5 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all accident and emergency departments in the NHS are staffed to the minimum level recommended by the British Association for Accident and Emergency Medicine.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: It is for NHS boards and trusts to assess and provide for local needs and to determine staff numbers and the design of teams required for effective delivery of service outcomes. Information on staffing levels for individual departments is not available centra…
5 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether sufficient resources and staff will be in place in order to ensure that free personal care will be available by 1 July 2002 to all those who are eligible.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive has made £250 million available over the next two financial years to fund in full the implementation of free personal and nursing care from 1 July 2002.
5 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all elderly people requiring an assessment for eligibility to free personal care in their own homes or in a residential setting will be guaranteed an assessment before 1 July 2002.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The responsibility for the assessment of an individual's care needs lies with local authorities. The Implementation Steering Group, set up to advise the Executive on the technical and practical issues, is working closely with local authorities and others to e…
5 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the facilities available in council and independent care homes will be adequate to meet the needs of all elderly people assessed as being entitled to free personal care on 1 July 2002.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Local authorities are responsible for arranging the provision of care to meet the needs of their local populations. The Executive has made substantial new resources available to implement free personal care from 1 July 2002.
24 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Waiting Times Unit will make recommendations for greater utilisation of resources and capacity in NHS, private and independent hospitals.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The unit has already commenced work on assessing existing capacity in NHSScotland and the limited spare capacity in the independent sector. It will monitor performance and capacity, and make recommendations on an ongoing basis.
24 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any action has been taken to monitor the introduction and movement of E.coli 0157 in restocked herds following the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, as recommended in its report Task Force on E.coli 0157: Final Report.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Consideration was given to monitoring E.coli 0157 in restocked herds in line with the task force's recommendations. However, because the restocking had already begun from multiple sources and because an appropriate project to research this issue was not produ…
24 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any action has been taken to help raise awareness of E.coli 0157 and to promote a culture of good health, including providing information to those people who have had close contact with people who have been exposed to the virus, as discussed in its report Task Force on E.coli 0157…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: A response to the report of the task force on E.coli 0157 will be published shortly.
24 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many heart transplant operations were carried out at the Scottish Heart Transplant Unit in Glasgow in 2001 and what the target is for carrying out heart transplant operations at the unit in 2002.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Six heart transplants have been carried out at the Scottish Heart Transplant Unit in Glasgow since the full service resumed on 3 September 2001. The target for the period 3 September 2001 to 31 March 2002 is 10.<P>Under present arrangements, the unit is expec…
23 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what gender-sensitive approaches have been developed by providers of alcohol services in order to take account of the particular needs of women with alcohol problems in light of the Health Education Board for Scotland report, women and alcohol: report of an expert seminar.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Executive's <I>Plan for Action on alcohol problems</I>, which was published on 18 January 2002, sets out that alcohol problems services should be sensitive to the needs of particular groups, including women. The Executive will shortly be consulting on a f…
23 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what training and information have been given to health professionals in respect of identifying alcohol-related problems in women in light of the Health Education Board for Scotland report, women and alcohol: report of an expert seminar.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Executive set up Scottish Training on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (STRADA) last year to provide training for staff working in the alcohol and drugs fields. STRADA's programme will include training on identifying and addressing alcohol problems among specific g…
23 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what educational materials have been developed that target middle-aged and older women in light of the Health Education Board for Scotland report, women and alcohol: report of an expert seminar.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: Alcohol Focus Scotland has produced an information leaflet for older people, which provides advice on sensible drinking levels and contacts for further information. The Executive will give further consideration to the prevention and education needs of women i…
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of the fee structure for specialist treatments such as orthodontics and sedation will be published and implemented, as recommended in the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The narrative and fees for sedation and for orthodontics, contained in the Statement of Dental Remuneration, have been reviewed to increase patient safety. <P>Amendment Number 78 to the statement lists the revised narrative for fees related to orthodontics. I…
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the target of 120 graduates per annum, as recommended in the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland, is sufficient to meet the demands for increased availability of, and access to, dental services.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The number of dentists working in Scotland has increased constantly over the last 30 years and by 300 in the last eight years, and we are committed to increasing numbers further. The Scottish Advisory Committee for the Dental Workforce (SACDW) advises on the …
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the managed clinical networks linking general dental practitioner (GDP) specialists with hospital services and other GDPs are now in place, as recommended in the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The networks recommended in the <I>Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland </I>are not currently in place. Discussions are on-going with the profession and the service providers on the development of all aspects of the Action Plan.
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many clinical assistant posts have been created in (a) orthodontics, (b) surgical dentistry and (c) paediatric dentistry, as recommended in the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18318 on 22 November 2001, which dealt with the same issue. That answer still applies.
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the proposals for the establishment of drop-in centres in the major cities and the enhanced use of mobile services for access to dentistry, as outlined in the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In line with the recommendations in the dental action plan and under the premises modernisation programme we have recently approved an application for capital funding for the consolidation of emergency dental services in Edinburgh. The proposals for the revis…
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the proposals for oral cancer surveillance and improved preventive services for the elderly, as recommended in the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Outline proposals for oral cancer screening were submitted to the Chief Scientist's Office (CSO) in October 2001. The applicants have been invited to proceed to full application which will be subject to CSO Committee review. <P>The Subgroup on Oral Health of …
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of the expansion of qualified professions complementary to dentistry for clinical based programmes to help the elderly, as recommended in the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: A sub-group on Oral Health of the Elderly has been established to support the implementation of the <I>Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland</I>. This group is currently carrying out a review of the issues relevant to improving the oral health of the el…
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether pilot schemes have been established to provide alternative fluoride programmes in areas where fluoridation of the water supply is not a feasible alternative, as recommended in the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No pilot schemes have yet been established.
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when proposals will be developed with NHS and health boards for consultation on the fluoridation of the water supply, as recommended in the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The arrangements we propose for consultation on children's oral health, including fluoridation of the public water supply, will be announced shortly.
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the question S1W-12177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 January 2001 and with regard to its responsibilities under section 1(4) of the Water Protection Act 1985, what information it has received from Her Majesty's Government about any classification of (a) hexafluorosil…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: These substances have been approved for use in the treatment of drinking water when used in accordance with the document <I>Code Of Practice On Technical Aspects Of Fluoridation</I>. Hexafluorosilicic acid and disodium hexafluorosilicate are not classified as…
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any patients who face a long waiting list for surgery provided by the NHS in Scotland will be given the option of being treated elsewhere in the EU.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has no immediate plans to arrange treatment in the EU for patients, other than those individuals being treated under the long-standing E112 arrangements. The English Department of Health is currently piloting projects in the South East of Englan…
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to determine whether fluoride should be added to water.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Water (Fluoridation) Act 1985 places on health boards the onus of applying to the relevant water authority if they wish to introduce a fluoridation scheme. It is for the water authority to decide whether to implement the application.
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that all those assessed as needing care in the community will receive the appropriate level of care from local authorities.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Local authorities have a statutory obligation to provide services and secure provision of facilities that are suitable and adequate for people in their areas. We are continuing to provide authorities with the resources, direction and support to meet that stat…