Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that any stress experienced by staff in the NHSiS is minimised.
Answer · Susan Deacon: <I><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2>Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change</I> affirms that protecting the health and well being of NHS staff must be a priority and places a clear requirement on NHS Scotland employers to implement the occupational…
22 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage any highly trained professional staff who have left the NHSiS to return to work there.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive, via the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (SCPMDE), provides funding for retainer schemes for both GPs and hospital doctors. These schemes assist in retaining doctors who are unable to work full time for wh…
22 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether training budgets in the NHSiS are sufficient to meet the training and professional development needs of staff.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Health boards and NHS Trusts are responsible for the training and continuing development of their staff, other than those aspects managed centrally by bodies such as the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education. It is for boards and Trus…
22 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many clinical geneticists are currently being trained.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Details of the Specialist Registrar (SpR) establishment 2000 and the number of trainees expected to be awarded a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) to 2004, is detailed in Annex B, Tables 1 and 2, of NHS MEL (2000) 24, published on 28 Apr…
22 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the antibiotic Line'olid will be recommended for use as part of NHS Trusts' strategies to treat hospital acquired infections.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Tackling hospital acquired infection is an important issue for the NHS in Scotland. The Scottish Executive supports the Service in its efforts. All NHS Hospitals Trusts have infection control teams which investigate and recommend action on each incidence of h…
22 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost to the NHSiS is of hospital acquired infections.
Answer · Susan Deacon: No detailed estimates are available of the costs of HAI to the NHS in Scotland. A broad estimate of the incidence and impact of HAI, prepared by the Scottish Office Health Department in 1999 as part of a project on HAI surveillance, indicated that a central e…
22 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any of the following fluorides for use in the water supply: calcium fluoride, lead fluoride, aluminium fluoride, sodium fluoride or silico fluorides (known as hexaflurosilisic acid) and, if not, what other fluoride is being considered.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Section 1(4) of the Water (Fluoridation) Act 1985 provides that the fluoride content in water may be increased only by the addition of one or more of the following compounds of fluorine;<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">hexafluorosilicic acid <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">disodium hex…
15 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHSiS plans to rent military hospitals from Marshall of Cambridge to help ease any pressure from winter illnesses.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The NHS in Scotland has informed us of no such plans.
13 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support is being given to the Roslin Institute to develop anti-cancer proteins by breeding genetically modified chickens; what the estimated timetable is for this research leading to the clinical trials of a drug, and whether it is aware whether any such trials will be car…
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive does not contribute funding to the Roslin Institute to support this work. As we have no locus in this research, it is not appropriate to comment on the project's proposed timescales.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>It is the Executive's pol…
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10786 by Susan Deacon on 14 November 2000, when it will announce the allocation to Dundee and Glasgow Dental Schools of the additional resources required to fund the increased education and training of dental practitioners and other professions relat…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Additional Cost of Teaching (Dental) allocations to Dundee and Glasgow Dental Schools are negotiated annually. The allocations for 2000-01 increased by 5% for both dental schools, well above the rate of inflation, representing a significant increase in re…
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is reviewing the treatments available for mental illnesses, particularly those aimed at relieving positive schi'ophrenic symptoms, given the documented side effects of some current treatments.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The ultimate decision regarding the use of a particular treatment for an individual patient is a matter for the specialist responsible for that patient's care, taking into account any national or local guidance and advice from various sources including from H…
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that patients in intensive psychiatric care units (IPCUs) who no longer require the level of care provided by an IPCU are able to progress to more appropriate facilities for their care and treatment.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: New partnerships, new local services and new accommodation are being advanced across Scotland by all the relevant care, judicial and custody agencies against the framework for change set out in the published national strategy for general mental health service…
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in each health board area in implementing the recommendations contained in Health, Social Work and Related Services for Mentally Disordered Offenders in Scotland which relate to the care and treatment of patients progressing from the State Hospital, Carstairs.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: All the relevant care, judicial and custody agencies are working together to introduce services, accommodation and support that better reflect the national strategy objectives. Given the different starting points, full implementation has yet to be achieved ac…
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that local authorities are fully open about and accountable for spending on the mentally ill and the elderly in community care budgets.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Local authorities are democratically elected bodies accountable to their electorates. They are required to publish accounts which are subject to scrutiny by Audit Scotland. Authorities are also required to produce a range of returns specifying their expenditu…
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions can be imposed on NHS Trusts or local authorities if clear evidence is found of deficiencies in the care and treatment of people with mental illness.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Mental health is one of three clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland and resources are being allocated to reflect this. The Scottish Executive Health Department works with the NHS, local authorities, inspection and support groups to ensure that appropria…
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that NHS Trusts and local authorities provide care, treatment and support for patients with mental illness in line with the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 and Scottish Executive circular CCD2/1999 and how such provision is monitored.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive works closely with the NHS, local authorities, inspection and support groups as well as the Scottish Health Advisory Service and Mental Welfare Commission, in their monitoring and advisory roles, to ensure that appropriate standards of care and …
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that NHS Trusts and local authorities have precise information about the numbers of people with a mental disorder whom it is agreed require community care, but who remain in hospital.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The <I>Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland</I> provides guidance for mental health agencies in how best to meet the needs of individuals with mental health problems. The pre-discharge, multi-agency assessment process recommended in the framework …
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that local authorities fund home care packages for the mentally ill so that no patient is subject to unnecessary restrictions on his or her liberty.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The support arrangements for those to be discharged from NHS continuing care should reflect all the needs of the individual.<I> </I>A framework is in place that encourages and facilitates health boards, local authorities and others to participate in joint pla…
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to address the serious concerns about the standard of environment in many intensive psychiatric care units and the level of activity available to the group of patients concerned reported in the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland Annual Report 1999-2000.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: An additional £5 million has issued to health boards specifically for environmental improvements to mental health service accommodation. These new monies add to the available resources and signal the importance attached to creating modern facilities supportin…
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that local authorities give patients with a mental illness appropriate care and treatment in the community, based on assessment of need.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Health boards and NHS Trusts are expected to work with local authorities to develop services for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with mental illness, based on a proper assessment of needs.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The <I>Framework for Mental Health Serv…
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the dearth of therapeutic and recreational activities for mentally ill patients in general psychiatry facilities reported in the Mental Welfare Commission Annual Report 1999-2000 is addressed.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Care appropriate to needs is a fundamental principle underlying <I>Our National Health - A Plan for Action, A Plan for Change</I>. The whole person and well-being needs of those with a mental illness should not be neglected. Good, improved practice is develop…
11 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10726 by Susan Deacon on 1 December 2000, whether it will issue clear guidance on "additive free organic food"; how it will encourage consumers to check labels to ensure that a product is organic and complies with all relevant food labelling legislat…
Answer · Susan Deacon: I have been advised by the Food Standards Agency Scotland that labelling requirements for 'organic' food are detailed in European legislation, which also provides a list of approved additives. There are nine UK certification bodies for organic products. Any m…
8 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many unfilled physiotherapist vacancies exist in each health Trust.
Answer · Susan Deacon: 11 NHS Trusts in Scotland had vacancies which remained unfilled after three months or more as at 31 March 2000.<P>A breakdown of the vacancies in these Trusts is shown in the table.<P>Physiotherapist Vacancies in the NHS in Scotland by Provider<TABLE BORDER C…
8 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2606 by Susan Deacon on 30 November 2000, whether the single vaccinations for mumps, measles and rubella are available to patients who cannot receive the combined vaccine and what clinical reasons are necessary to allow the single vaccinations to be …
Answer · Susan Deacon: The licensing and safety of medicines is a reserved matter. Single dose measles and mumps vaccines are not licensed for sale or use in the UK.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Medicines Control Agency will not object on safety grounds to the import of unlicensed single …
30 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many nursing home and residential care home beds have been closed in each of the past three years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on bed closures in private nursing homes and residential care homes is not available centrally.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>However, a census of bed complements is carried out as part of an annual return for each private nursing home and registere…
29 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is an advisory group responsible for monitoring hospital acquired infections and, if so, when it will make any recommendations.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-11742.
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9152 by Mr Jim Wallace on 4 September 2000, what evidence exists that sterilising tablets can help prevent the spread of the hepatitis C virus.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>While there is good evidence that sterilising tablets can help prevent the transmission of HIV, the picture is less c…
28 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund the integration of statistics Scottish Morbidity Record No. 1 SMR01, Community Mortality Rates CMR and Scottish Immunisation Recall Systems into the Information Services Division database.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There are no plans to integrate the Scottish Morbidity Record SMR01, Continuous Morbidity Recording CMR and Scottish Immunisation Recall System statistics.
23 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce any initiatives which integrate prison support with community support to ensure that prisoners with drug problems receive continuity of care and treatment on release.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10118.
22 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5896 by Susan Deacon on 29 November 2000, how the #2 million of tobacco tax revenue to help more people quit smoking will be allocated to identify and support those on low income who wish to stop.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is committed to improving the health of the people of Scotland and to tackling the inequalities in health between rich and poor.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Health boards were advised in September 2000 of the additional resources they h…