Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals for oral cancer surveillance and improved preventative services for the elderly have been developed following its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Proposals for oral cancer screening, involving both medical and dental settings, are at an advanced stage and should be submitted to Chief Scientist Office in the near future. <P>The Chief Medical Officer's (CMO) Expert Group on the Health of Older People is …
20 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any additional central funding has been made available in each of the last two years in respect of infertility services.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Health boards have been asked to implement the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland within existing resources.
20 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to providing a full range of treatments for infertility.
Answer · Susan Deacon: In February 2000 we published the report of the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland. The report recommended a set of criteria for NHS Funded assisted conception and, in our letter to the NHSScotland of 10 February 2000, health boards wer…
20 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the level of funding devoted to infertility services by each health board.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The latest available figures on amounts spent by Health Boards on infertility services are given in the report of the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland, which was published in February 2000.
20 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is undertaking any review of the level of funding devoted to infertility services and, if so, when it expects to report on this work.
Answer · Susan Deacon: We are currently undertaking a review of the implementation of the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland. This review will cover, amongst other aspects, funding of infertility treatments by health boards. This work i…
19 Sep 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are currently on NHS patient waiting lists.
Answer · Susan Deacon: 83,487 people were waiting for hospital in-patient or day case treatment on 30 June 2001 - over 3,000 fewer than on the same date last year.
14 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will endorse the guidelines issued by the College of Optometrists on recommended minimum re-examination intervals for patients.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive is currently seeking the views of the profession's representative bodies on the guidelines which should be applied in Scotland. These will be broadly in line with the college's guidelines.
14 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline its consultation processes in respect of general ophthalmic services.
Answer · Susan Deacon: When the Executive is considering changes to Scottish primary or secondary legislation, and other relevant issues which will affect ophthalmic practitioners, it seeks the views of the optometric profession's representative bodies - the Association of Optometr…
14 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17561 by Sarah Boyack on 6 September 2001, whether it will detail the work it is undertaking in conjunction with Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to safeguard the Inverness to Gatwick route and whether it is involved in any simil…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has supported the case by The Highland Council for the imposition of measures to ensure access to Gatwick from Inverness.<B> </B>The Minister for Transport and Planning wrote to the UK Government on 8 October with a formal request to im…
14 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to reduce the number of serious asthma cases presented at accident and emergency departments.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The best means of reducing emergency cases is to improve the management of asthma. The Executive endorses the recommendations of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network on self-management and is funding the Scottish Asthma Management Initiative, one a…
14 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is monitoring the implementation of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guideline No. 47, Preventing Dental Caries in Children at High Caries Risk: Targeted prevention of dental caries in the permanent teeth of 6 to 16-year-olds presenting for dental care.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Use of this guideline is being promoted through the work of the Scottish Council for Post-Graduate Medical and Dental Education and the Dental Health Services Research Unit in Dundee.
14 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whom it consulted on its proposals for the fluoridation of the public water supply and when its report on this consultation exercise will be published.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The arrangements for this consultation have not yet been completed but will be announced in due course.
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards are in place to ensure that no NHS prescription class A drugs are available illegally.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and regulations made under the Act, provide the basis for preventing misuse of controlled drugs.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">There are measures in place to ensure that controlled drugs are prescribed and dispensed on the NHS in accordance w…
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to make chlamydia screening available for all males and females under 30.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) has now considered the final evaluation report of the chlamydia screening pilot projects run in England over the year to August 2000 and has concluded that a universal national screening programme for chlamydia is not…
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are proposals to use the Thin Prep Pap test to screen simultaneously for human papilloma virus, chlamydia and cervical cancer.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There are currently no proposals to use the Thin Prep Pap test to screen simultaneously for human papilloma virus, chlamydia and cervical cancer.
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Thin Prep Pap tests will be made available to women across Scotland.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The evaluation of the findings of the Scottish Liquid Based Cytology pilot (Thin Prep Pap test) and consideration by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence of the English and Scottish pilot programmes will provide the necessary basis on which decisions…
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the Scottish clinical trials of the Thin Prep Pap tests will be available.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18133 .
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that clear protocols and guidance on the dispensing of methadone are established.
Answer · Iain Gray: Best practice governing substitute prescription of opiates, including guidance on dispensing, is set out in <I>Drug Misuse and Dependence - Guidelines on Clinical Management (1999)</I>. There are no plans to review these guidelines. Decisions about the use of…
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether methadone is prescribed to drug users primarily to reduce anti-social behaviour or because it is the most clinically effective treatment.
Answer · Iain Gray: The decision to prescribe methadone, or any other pharmacological intervention, is made on clinical grounds based on the assessment of the nature and extent of the individual's problem drug use.
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any rapid detoxification clinics in Scotland and, if there are none, what plans it has to open such clinics.
Answer · Iain Gray: There are no rapid detoxification clinics in Scotland at present. The Executive's Effective Interventions Unit is in the process of commissioning a research review to examine the evidence on the effectiveness of a range of treatments for opiate users, includi…
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish additional drug detoxification facilities.
Answer · Iain Gray: It is for Drug Action Teams, in conjunction with local authorities, health boards and other key partner agencies, to determine what additional drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities are required locally, depending on local need and circumstances.
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the additional resources for drug rehabilitation announced by the Minister for Finance and Local Government on 28 June 2001 will be used for rapid detoxification programmes.
Answer · Iain Gray: £3.1 million of the additional resources, announced on 28 June 2001, is being made available to health boards for drug treatment services. It is for them, and the local Drug Action Teams, to determine how that funding will be used, taking into account local a…
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop a programme to help methadone dependent people reduce their dosage and eventually come off the drug.
Answer · Iain Gray: Guidance for clinicians on the prescribing of methadone is given in <I>Drug Misuse and Dependence - Guidance on Clinical Management</I>.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Following the publication of its <I>Initial Guidance in shared Care Arrangements</I> in February 2001, t…
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Thin Prep Pap test has been proven to be both cost and clinically effective.
Answer · Susan Deacon: In June 2000 the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) indicated that, while Liquid Based Cytology (Thin Prep Pap test) was effective, further evidence was required on the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the technique and that a programme of …
13 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is monitoring implementation of the recommendations in Eating for Health: A Diet Action Plan for Scotland and what monitoring reports are available.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive liaises with key sectors identified in the Scottish Diet Action Plan in order to monitor its implementation and this will be further enhanced by the recent appointment of the Scottish Food and Health Co-ordinator. Formal reporting mecha…
4 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17473 by Susan Deacon on 29 August 2001, how the Clinical Standards Boards for Scotland will check compliance with standards for infection control in NHS hospitals and when this new system will start.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The draft standards for infection control have been circulated widely for consultation and open meetings held in Perth and Glasgow. Pilot review visits are taking place later this month. The standards will then be revised in the light of feedback, and issued …
29 Aug 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has in relation to the provision of rehabilitation facilities for drug users.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Our strategic objectives for rehabilitation are to provide integrated care, treatment and rehabilitation pathways for individuals, and to expand and create key services such as day and residential services and home care.<P>We have increased resources to local…
23 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) has produced a business plan and/or proposals to reduce landing charges in order to help to reduce air fares and to increase air travel to Scotland's islands and, if so, whether it endorses such plans.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd prepares an annual budget and corporate plan which consider the company's priorities for future years. HIAL will continue to maintain its airport charges at levels which reflect their commitment to the maintenance of the air…
23 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of subsidy allocated to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd was in the current financial year and whether it intends to increase this amount.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is providing funding of up to £16.2 million in the current financial year for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd to support the airport infrastructure at its 10 airports. No additional funding has been announced.
23 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to attract visitors to the Western Isles, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands and whether specific regard is being given to any effect that the price of air travel to the islands may have on tourism.
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Western Isles, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands are marketed by their respective Area Tourist Boards. They also benefit from the generic marketing carried out by VisitScotland and by the British Tourist Authority.<P>The level of air fares on routes to …