Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to the proposals by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Orkney Islands Council and Orkney Enterprise for a containerport in Scapa Flow to develop shipping transportation businesses between North America, Europe, the Far East and the UK.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive maintains close liaison with the locally led initiative of Orkney Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Orkney Enterprise which is investigating the market for a container transhipment terminal at Scapa Flow. Highlands and Islan…
23 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to ensure that there is no waiting list for people with drug and alcohol problems who want detoxification and rehabilitation care and support.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Reducing waiting for all patients is a key priority for the Scottish Executive and NHS Scotland. We have committed, over this and the next two financial years, an extra £13.1 million and £21 million for drug treatment and drug rehabilitation services respecti…
23 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the full health effects of water fluoridation will be taken into account in its consultation process on water fluoridation.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive will take appropriate account of all relevant issues raised by individuals and organisations who contribute to the oral health consultation process.
23 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18316 by Susan Deacon on 20 November 2001, when it will discuss the need for dental services drop-in centres in the major cities with relevant NHS Boards and Primary Care Trusts.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We are in discussion with one NHS Board about their plans for a drop in centre and have approved recently two emergency dental service pilots which include provision for the treatment of unregistered patients.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18314 by Susan Deacon on 20 November 2001, (a) when the proposals for oral cancer screening will be submitted to the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) and when the CSO is expected to reply and make recommendations, (b) when the Chief Medical Officer's Exp…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>An Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland</I> launched in August 2000, outlined a number of proposals to improve oral health in Scotland, including the health of older people. A number of these have now been carried forward as part of the implementati…
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts for clinical oncologists (a) exist, (b) are vacant and (c) are currently funded by charities in each health board area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows the latest available data held centrally on the headcount of staff in post at 30 September 2000 (provisional) for those doctors whose speciality is recorded as clinical oncology. Vacancy information for consultant and staff grade cli…
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts for orthodontic practitioners (a) exist and (b) are vacant in each health board area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows orthodontist posts in NHSScotland hospitals and vacancy information for hospital consultants, together with information on the number of NHS General Dental Services orthodontic practitioners. The data are shown as headcount.<P>Orthod…
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are waiting for orthodontic treatment and what the current average waiting times for such treatment are in each health board area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Most orthodontic treatments carried out within hospital and community health settings are undertaken on an out-patient basis. Information on waiting lists and waiting times for such treatments is not collected centrally.
20 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a progress report on the investigation by public agencies of using existing rural outlets or networks such as Post Offices as a means of providing local information and advice services as recommended in R1.8 of the report by the Scottish National Rural Partnership, S…
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive is committed to improving access to all government services, including those provided by public agencies. Public agencies are encouraged to take a broad view of the way in which they provide advice and services to best meet the needs of their cu…
20 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to roll out Government General Practitioner and Internet Learning Access Points pilot projects in rural post offices as recommended in R5.12 of the report by the Scottish National Rural Partnership, Services in Rural Scotland.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive aims to provide information to the public through a broad range of media and is monitoring closely the development of the Post Office led Government General Practitioner (now known as Your Guide) project which is at pilot stage. Officia…
20 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the #3.5 million funding for development of services in Post Offices has been allocated and spent.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive received a funding consequential of £3.5 million as a result of money being allocated in England for the support of pilots of Government General Practitioners and Internet Learning and Access Points. All funding consequentials contribute to a bl…
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to design and implement a coastal 'one management plan to address rising sea levels and demographic changes around the Scottish coasts, as predicted in the recent research conducted by the Tyndall Centre for Research.
Answer · Allan Wilson: National Policy Planning Guidelines are in place on planning and flooding and coastal planning. A number of planning authorities have already considered the need to develop shoreline management plans which take account of the effects of rising sea levels on e…
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the economic impact of decreasing snow fall and increasing rainfall on the Cairngorms and other areas which are substantially dependent on winter sports, as predicted in the recent research conducted by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Highlands and Islands Enterprise continue to incorporate relevant independent research into their overall economic development strategy, where appropriate. This includes studies such as those by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the economic impact of climatic change in the Moray Firth area resulting in wetter winters, warmer summers and sea level rises, as predicted in the recent research conducted by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Research into <I>Potential Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change in Scotland </I>was published by the Executive in October 2001. This research will assist local decision makers in consideration of policy responses to adapt to the anticipated impacts of cli…
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase investment in the collection and correlation of climate data throughout Scotland.
Answer · Allan Wilson: As part of the Scottish Climate Change Programme, work is on-going to improve Scottish climate change data to understand better the contribution we are making in Scotland to emissions savings and the possible impacts of climate change. The Executive has commi…
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations it plans to adopt to stop the spread of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in private nursing homes.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Every nursing home is required to have effective policies and procedures to control and prevent the spread of infection. When private nursing homes are being inspected, checks are made to establish that these are in place and being followed. All nursing homes…
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms it plans to use to educate the public about hospital acquired infections and about how such infections are spread.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The public can help tackle hospital acquired infection by following standard advice about cleanliness and hygiene already prominently displayed in NHS hospitals. In addition, the need for any further measures is for discussion at national and local level, inc…
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to include microbiology in undergraduate medical training.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The undergraduate medical curriculum is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC), which is a reserved body, independent of Government. <I>Tomorrow's Doctors</I>, the GMC document which medical schools use to guide their curriculum development, …
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many beds for care of the elderly there were in each of the last five years in NHS acute hospitals.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Beds in acute specialties are not designated for specific age groups so it is not possible to identify separately the number of beds provided for care of the elderly. However, beds in NHS hospitals for geriatric assessment can be identified. The average daily…
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address any spread of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in the community.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Methicillin Resistant <I>Staphylococcus aureus</I> (MRSA) poses no particular risk in the community because the population at large is much less susceptible to infection than the hospital in-patient population. Infection due to MRSA is uncommon outside hospit…
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many isolation rooms and wards there were in each of the last five years in NHS hospitals.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: That is a matter for individual NHS Boards.
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to put together an over-arching national strategy addressing the issues surrounding hospital acquired infection.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We have already put in hand a rigorous quality improvement process with a number of elements designed to tackle healthcare associated infection. This includes:<P>- the detailed guidance in the <I>Scottish Infection Manual</I>,<P>- implementing the recommendat…
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which aspects of its hospital acquired infection strategies it plans to change in the light of the report by Dr Andrew Walker Hospital Acquired Infection - What is the cost in Scotland ?
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The report provided a better estimate of the costs of hospital acquired infection (HAI) but measures have already been introduced to ensure the NHS tackles the issue more effectively. These include the guidance in the <I>Scottish Infection Manual</I>, the rec…
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to monitor specifically the death rate of patients from hospital acquired infections in the light of the report by Dr Andrew Walker Hospital Acquired Infection - What is the cost in Scotland ?
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15384 on 10 May 2001.
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve its strategy on dealing with hospital acquired infection in the light of the report by Dr Andrew Walker Hospital Acquired Infection - What is the cost in Scotland ?
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Dr Walker's study was on the costs of hospital acquired infection (HAI). The Executive has already put in place a series of co-ordinated measures to combat HAI. That includes a mandatory framework for national surveillance of HAI and the implementation by the…
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of its meeting with Dr Andrew Walker and Pharmacia on 12 October 2001.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The department gained a better understanding of Dr Walker's study and in response set out a series of co-ordinated measures ministers had introduced for tackling healthcare associated infection which is much wider than the use of new antibiotics.
12 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to prescribe selenium supplements to people suffering from diabetes and obesity.
Answer · Susan Deacon: No.
6 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18739 by Mr Jim Wallace on 30 October 2001 and with regard to the fact that transfer of land under Udal law may occur without written title, (a) what evidence is currently necessary as proof of ownership of heritable property in order to effect a tra…
Answer · Iain Gray: A significant number of Udal proprietors have recorded their titles in the register of Sasines. In such cases, the document used to effect a transfer of title is normally a Disposition, in a style similar to that used in mainland Scotland for the transmission…
1 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why 13,300 less clients were seen by a District Nurse in 2000 than in 1999, as detailed on page 7 of the Scottish Community Care Statistics 2000.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The figures refer to the number of home visits made by health visitors and district nurses. This represents only part of the work that they do. Recent changes in practice has included increased activity in clinical based settings rather than home visits and t…
1 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the number of clients seen by Health Visitors has reduced by 49,800 between 1997 and 2000, as detailed on page 7 of the Scottish Community Care Statistics 2000.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The nature of health visiting work has changed and will continue to change in line with the recommendations in <I>Nursing for Health</I> which will involve a more targetted programme of health visiting alongside a wider range of community focused activity. <P…