Mary Scanlon

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any people with drug and alcohol problems who cannot access care and treatment provided by the NHS will be eligible for treatment under the NHS in the private sector.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: People with drug and alcohol problems have access to a wide range of treatment and care provided by NHSScotland. In addition, it is well established practice for NHS Boards and local authorities to refer patients to services provided by independent and volunt…

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the #500,000 funding for community pharmacies announced in its news release SE4085/2001 on 1 October 2001 will be distributed.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is given in the Annex to NHS Circular PCA(P)(2001)6 issued by the department on 27 September 2001, a copy of which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18190).

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of setting up the new Scottish Health Council will be, whether the costs of running it will be greater than those for the existing system and what benefit it will have for patients.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As indicated in <I>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I> and the recent publication <I>Patient Focus and Public Involvement, </I>we will work with Health Councils, the Scottish Consumer Council and other key stakeholders to develop pro…

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a formal relationship with the private health care sector by signing a concordat on procedure.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: On 8 January 2002, I announced details of the new National Waiting Times Unit. <P>I have asked the unit to assess existing capacity in NHSScotland and spare capacity in the independent healthcare sector. It will then work with NHSScotland and independent prov…

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will manage and direct the National Waiting Times Co-ordination Unit.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I announced details of the National Waiting Times Unit, including the appointment of John Connaghan, Chief Executive, Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust as Director, on 8 January 2002.

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients will benefit from the National Waiting Times Co-ordination Unit.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: On 8 January 2002, I announced details of the new National Waiting Times Unit, which has been established to reduce delays for patients by ensuring better and more efficient use of capacity and by co-ordinating a regional or national response to local bottlen…

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Waiting Times Co-ordination Unit is a short-term measure or will remain a functional part of long-term patient care.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: On 8 January 2002 I announced details of the new National Waiting Times Unit, which has been established to work with NHSScotland to reduce delays by ensuring better and more efficient use of capacity and co-ordinating a regional or national response to local…

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Waiting Times Co-ordination Unit will be set up and how much the unit will cost to (a) set up and (b) run.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I announced details of the National Waiting Times Unit on 8 January 2002.<P>The unit will be an integral part of the Scottish Executive Health Department rather than an external body, and its staff will be drawn from NHSScotland and the Health Department. Set…

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the new National Waiting Times Co-ordination Unit will be able to utilise spare capacity in the private sector.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I announced details of the National Waiting Times Unit on 8 January 2002. <P>I have asked the unit to assess existing capacity in NHSScotland and spare capacity in the independent healthcare sector. It will then work with NHSScotland and independent providers…

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to reduce harassment of people with mental health problems.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Part of the solution must lie in addressing people's attitudes to mental health and to those with mental health problems. We need to tackle the stigma which many associate with mental illness. The Scottish Executive is already committed to this. <P>I announce…

13 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19911 by Malcolm Chisholm on 12 December 2001, what its future targets are for yearly reductions in hospital acquired infections in the NHS.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I> makes clear that every NHS Trust is expected to have in place an infection control policy. In addition, the NHS will adhere to infection control standards established by the Clinical Standards B…

13 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to prevent any non-payment of fiscal fines.

Answer · Jim Wallace: At my request the Criminal Justice Forum has recently been considering how fines enforcement generally might be improved. Proposals under discussion include the introduction of Fines Enforcement Officers and more flexible arrangements for payment.

13 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in each of the last five years, subsequent to any appearance at the District Court in respect of non-payment of fiscal fines, have continued to fail to meet such obligations.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

13 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who failed to (a) pay fiscal fines in full and (b) pay instalments in respect of such fines timeously in each of the last five years have been proceeded against in the district court.

Answer · Colin Boyd: Cases marked for prosecution following the offer of a Procurator Fiscal fine are not separately identified in the records of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the information sought is, therefore, not available.

13 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in each of the last five years accepted the offer of a fiscal fine under section 302 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 and subsequently failed to make full payment of the fine.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

13 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the people who declined an offer of a fiscal fine under section 302 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 were subsequently prosecuted in each of the last five years.

Answer · Colin Boyd: Cases marked for prosecution following the offer of a Procurator Fiscal fine are not separately identified in the records of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the information sought, is, therefore, not available.

13 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been offered a fiscal fine under section 302 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 in each of the last five years.

Answer · Colin Boyd: The figures are as follows, by financial year:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=115><TR><TD WIDTH="59%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=16><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">1996-97</FONT></TD><TD WIDTH="41%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=16><FONT FACE="Ari…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the method by which teachers are appointed to Catholic schools is in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: It is the view of the Scottish Executive that the procedure for appointment of teachers to Catholic schools under section 21 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 does not breach the European Convention of Human Rights. However, decisions on compliance of the …

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on whether dentists can refuse to treat a patient on the basis that the patient is deaf.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We are committed to an NHS offering access to all. Whilst general dental practitioners are independent contractors and can choose whether to treat individual patients, it is regrettable if they refuse to treat a patient on such a basis.

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce registers for people who are deaf and for people who are suffering from temporary deafness.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive currently has no plans to introduce registers but I would refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20236 on17 December 2001, which outlines the scope of the wide-ranging review of audiology services currently under way.

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in which health board areas can people buy digital hearing aids at a reduced rate.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Digital hearing aids are available to NHSScotland through contracts centrally negotiated by Scottish Healthcare Supplies, an NHS body and division of the Common Service Agency. Aids sourced through these contracts are not available for sale to patients.

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for a hearing test, broken down by health board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not available centrally. Information on waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant, following referral, is collected at specialty level only.

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there currently are for audiologists.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information from ISD Scotland for 30 September 2000, which is the latest available, indicates that there were no consultant vacancies and no staff grade vacancies in the specialty of audiological medicine in NHSScotland. Vacancy data is collected for consulta…

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there currently are in the NHS for hearing therapists.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how people who have lost their hearing are given information and advice in relation to the availability of appropriate aids, adaptations and on-going support.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information and advice should be provided by the audiology clinic at the point of diagnosis.<P>I also refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-20691 and S1W-20636 today and 18 December respectively. The latter outlines the scope of the wide-rang…

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to set up a rehabilitation service for people who have lost their hearing.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20636 on 18 December 2001, which outlines the scope of the wide-ranging review of audiology services currently under way. This will include a review of liaison with other agencies and the services provide…

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration has been given to matching funds provided by charities for cancer research.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Cancer is a research priority and the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is always willing to consider research partnership proposals from the voluntary sector. <P>The Scottish Executive recognises and supports the work of charities and voluntary organisations, all…

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many scientists are employed in cancer research.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spends annually on cancer research and how much is spent by charitable organisations on cancer research.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Within the Scottish Executive Health Department, the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health services and patient care within the NHS in Scotland and, as such, is the main departmental funder of NHS-…

23 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed NHS Boards will put agreements in place with education authorities relating to the administration of medicines in schools.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Guidance on the administration of medicine in schools was issued on 4 September. The guidance emphasises the need for co-operation between education authorities and NHS boards to ensure that adequate provision is made for the administration of medicine and re…