Parliamentary questions

Mary Scanlon

4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how NHS Trusts ensure that clinical waste is properly and efficiently segregated, stored, transported and disposed of, in line with its Health Department's document Safe Disposal of Clinical Waste and with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's National Waste Management Strategy for…

Answer · Susan Deacon: As set out in the January 2001 Audit Scotland report, Waste Management in Scottish Hospitals, the performance of NHS Trusts in adhering to the fundamental principles of good waste management is generally very good albeit that examples of poor practice …

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how NHS Trusts are developing a cost-effective approach for recycling domestic waste in order to reduce the amount sent to landfill sites as suggested in the Audit Scotland Report, Waste Management in Scotland's Hospitals.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The NHSScotland Clinical Waste Steering Group is considering the Audit Scotland Report and will prepare an Action Plan which will address this issue, amongst others, in collaboration with the NHS in Scotland Property and Environment Forum. The outline objecti…

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is to the NHS of junior doctors working beyond the 56-hour limit set out in the Working Time Directive.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Any increased costs associated with the new junior doctors' contract reflect not just the numbers of junior doctors exceeding New Deal hours limits but also payments made in recognition of work intensity. It is not possible to calculate the cost of junior doc…

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many junior doctors currently work within the 56-hour limit set out in the Working Time Directive.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The latest information and a full analysis of the current position on junior doctors' hours of work is given in the report of the joint Scottish Executive and British Medical Association New Deal Implementation Support Group report which was published on 26 A…

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans for a scheme, similar to the graduate entry scheme in England, for a "top-up" degree in order to train more doctors.

Answer · Susan Deacon: As indicated in Our National Health: A plan for action; a plan for change, the Executive will shortly undertake a fundamental review of medical workforce planning. This review will address the possibility of establishing fast-track graduate-entry medic…

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is on the progress being made by the Health Technology Board for Scotland in the evaluation of recommendations on the use of beta interferon for MS sufferers and when the Board will issue guidance on this matter.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-11383 on 23 February.

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding package is available to dentists in remote and rural areas and whether this package will be re-examined in the light of any shortage of dentists and problems encountered in accessing a local dentist in such areas.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Measures include:Scottish Dental Access Initiative grants to encourage practitioners to set up or expand NHS practices in areas of unmet patient demand or high oral health need, including rural and remote areas where pro rata grant may be offered for openi…

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why dentists who do not achieve #25,000 gross earnings per annum due to working in remote and rural areas are excluded from commitment payments.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The commitment scheme has been developed between the UK Health Departments and the British Dental Association, in a response to a recommendation by the independent Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB). In making its recommendation on commitment payments, t…

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Executive is committed to increasing the number of doctors in Scotland. We are examining the most effective way to achieve this, and increasing the student intake in Scotland is one of several options.

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether in future some training for undergraduate dentists will be carried out in individual dental practices.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Dental schools in both Scotland and the rest of the UK see considerable educational benefit to undergraduate dentists visiting and working in a range of primary care dental services. Outreach education has already been established within the community dental …

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether sufficient doctors are being trained to meet future needs as outlined in Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Current training programmes are expected to produce sufficient trained staff to meet the projected increases in the number of consultants outlined in Our National Health: A plan for action; a plan for change. The Executive will also shortly undertake a…

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or will make to Her Majesty's Government regarding the impact which the current classification of ben'odia'epines under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 has on the number of people who misuse these substances.

Answer · Susan Deacon: We have no plans to make representations to the UK Government about the current classification of benzodiazepines under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Benzodiazepines are controlled under the 1971 Act to protect against the misuse of these drugs. Most benzodia…

1 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking any initiatives to decrease the promotion of food and drinks which could contribute to the development of diabetes.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Diet Action Plan, Eating for Health, promotes the provision of healthy food choices and health education in order to encourage individuals to choose a balanced diet. This, along with physical exercise, helps to prevent obesity and, thus, t…

1 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research is being carried out in relation to diabetes, with particular regard to how to prevent people from being in an "at risk" group.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is currently funding six projects related to diabetes. Two of these are looking at potential risk factors: "The influence of pre-natal growth, genetic and socio-economic factors on risk factors for coronary heart disease, hype…

1 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives exist for local authorities and schools to promote diabetes prevention, in particular through healthier meals and daily exercise.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Diet Action Plan Eating for Health and the White Paper Towards a Healthier Scotland provide the framework for action to promote healthy eating and physical activity.Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change…

1 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to initiate preventative measures to tackle diabetes.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Type 2 diabetes, previously known as non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes, usually occurs after the age of 35 years and is more common in people who are overweight. Type 2 diabetes accounts for nearly 90% of all cases of diabetes.…

1 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHSiS has adequate resources to meet any increased demand for services resulting from the expected rise in diabetes sufferers to three million by the year 2010, as highlighted in the British Medical Journal on 15 April 2000.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Executive is committed to increasing the resources of NHS Scotland. However, it is up to each local health board to decide on the allocation of resources to meet the needs of its area.

28 Feb 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is proposing to issue any guidelines to NHS Trusts on their consultation procedures.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change has as amongst its core aims involving people and communities in the design and delivery of health services. The plan therefore commits the Executive to a number of initiatives aimed at improving t…

27 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10745 by Susan Deacon on 27 November 2000, what further progress has been made on the Joint Review of Section 24 of the General Whitley Council Handbook, covering mileage and travelling allowances for all staff.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Joint Review is still ongoing.

15 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the availability of sweets in the form of cigarettes encourages children and young people to take up smoking; if so, what plans it has to address this problem, and whether it has any power to restrict the import of such items into Scotland or otherwise limit the availability on he…

Answer · Susan Deacon: There is some evidence to suggest that children who have used sweets in the form of cigarettes are more likely to smoke. The Scottish Executive is concerned about anything which encourages children to smoke, but has no power to ban or otherwise restrict the s…

15 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training and support it intends to give to GPs with regard to the prescription of methadone and other substitute drugs in order to address the variations in prescribing practice reported in the Effective Interventions Unit's recent Consultation Workshop Report.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The UK guidelines on drug misuse, "Drug Misuse and Dependence Guidelines on Clinical Management", provide clear guidance on the prescription of methadone and other substitute drugs. Implementation of that guidance will help to address the variations…

15 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many babies have been born in each of the last three years with problems resulting from their mothers being prescribed ben'odiaepines during pregnancy.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This information is not available centrally.

14 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning to increase the number of university places for physiotherapists.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive Health Department has advised the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council on the number of additional funded places for students undertaking pre-registration courses in the Professions Allied to Medicine. Physiotherapy was identified …

14 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to increase the number of clinical placements available for physiotherapists.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The provision of clinical placements is a matter for the relevant higher education institution in conjunction with NHS Trusts, and supported by the Scottish Executive.Any clinical area which provides a suitable learning experience for physiotherapists and …