Parliamentary questions

Mary Scanlon

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

30 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to increase the responsibility of organisations for the health and wellbeing of their employees.

Answer · Shona Robison: Our Health Works strategy, published in November 2009, promotes the importance of promoting health and wellbeing in the workplace as a means of improving the wellbeing of the working age population and improving productivity. The Scottish Cen…

30 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase energy expenditure as outlined in Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Scotland: A Route Map Towards Healthy Weight.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Route Map is a long term strategy spanning 20 years. Our current priority is to develop an action plan and identify key milestones to support delivery of the Route Map. A report of progress will be published in 2013. In the meantime we are makin…

30 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to control exposure to, demand for and consumption of excessive quantities of high calorie foods and drinks as outlined in Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Scotland: A Route Map Towards Healthy Weight.

30 Jun 2010 · Written Question

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested on the funding provided to the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland is given in the following table: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td > Financial Year </td> …

30 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been achieved to reduce the rate of increase in the proportion of children with a body mass index outwith a healthy range.

Answer · Shona Robison: The National Performance Indicator for child healthy weight and progress so far can be found on the Scotland Performs web pages: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/indicators/childrensBMI (the national indicator relates to children aged 2…

30 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what clinical standards have been developed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland for secondary care chronic pain services and when they will be implemented.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is considering this recommendation from the GRIPS report as part of its work in developing an improvement programme that will help NHS boards take forward their chronic pain services.

30 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out Priority Action 5 of the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland report, Getting to GRIPS with Chronic Pain in Scotland, to review Scottish Government-funded pain management programmes provided outwith Scotland and consider investment in the development and provision o…

Answer · Shona Robison: The role of residential pain management facilities is being considered by the chronic pain steering group as part of the service model our lead clinician for chronic pain has been developing in conjunction with those responsible for the musculo-skeletal progr…

30 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it has allocated to the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland in relation to the management of chronic pain in the last two years.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has not allocated any specific funding to the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS) in relation to the management of chronic pain. LTCAS is, however, responsible for the administration of the self management fund,…

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in bringing the Virgin Galactic space tourism business to the Lossiemouth base in Moray.

Answer · Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise are continuing to develop their relationship with Virgin Galactic with a view to supporting possible space operations from Scotland. Virgin Galactic have reiterated their ongoing commitment to the concept of using RAF Lossiemo…

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have achieved the HEAT target to lower the prescribing rate of antidepressants by March 2010.

Answer · Shona Robison: Latest official statistics on the defined daily dose per capita for antidepressants, prescribed in Scotland that were dispensed by community pharmacists or dispensing doctors anywhere in the UK can be found on the ISDScotland website at: www.isdscotl…

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research and data is used to assess the successful outcomes of child healthy weight interventions as outlined in the HEAT target.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government have agreed child healthy weight targets with NHS boards. Individual boards have responsibility for making decisions on research and data collection locally. NHS Health Scotland is exploring the feasibility of using locally co…

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are on waiting lists for a chronic pain management service in each NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: Most pain clinics provide services to patients in an outpatient setting. Information on out patient waiting lists are collected centrally at speciality level only and does not differentiate between different types of clinics within the specialty. Consequently…

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to set up a managed clinical network for the management of chronic pain.

Answer · Shona Robison: We continue to support the Managed Clinical Network for Chronic Pain in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. To help promote that MCN approach, the Lead Clinician of the Network is a member of the Scottish Chronic Pain Steering Group set up by our Lead Clinician fo…

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether GPs and NHS staff can refer patients for chiropractic treatment.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards in Scotland are responsible for providing NHS services in accordance with national and local priorities and in line with the health needs of the population. The Scottish Government recognises that complementary or alternative therapies, in…

24 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that people are given early diagnosis and treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea.

Answer · Shona Robison: Clinicians in NHSScotland are expected to follow the recommendations in Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 73 in relation to the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnoea in adults. NHS Boards are working to reduce waiting tim…

24 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients with obstructive sleep apnoea are given access to a weight management programme when their weight is assessed to be a contributory factor for the condition.

Answer · Shona Robison: In line with Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 73 on the management of sleep apnoea in adults, sleep medicine services routinely provide weight reduction management advice as one of the lifestyle management factors that can have a p…

24 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been treated in Scotland under the EU cross-border healthcare agreement.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34848 on 8 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website; the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…

24 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients from Scotland have received treatment under the EU cross-border healthcare agreement.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is no EU cross-border healthcare agreement. Rather, European case-law has established that, under Article 56 of the Treaty of the Functioning of Europe (formerly Article 49 of the EU Treaty) patients have the right to obtain healthcare services in anoth…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what facilities for families, including overnight accommodation, parents can expect in the NHS while their children are being treated.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards recognise the importance of supporting families whose children are being treated in hospital and provide a range of facilities for families. The facilities and support provided varies dependent on the size and type of service provided. However, all…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made in healthcare facilities, including district general hospitals, for children and young people and their families to receive registered hospital play specialist support to adjust to the environment and assist with their treatment.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards across Scotland recognise the importance of play specialist support for children and young people to support them in adjusting to the hospital environment and assist with their treatment. NHS boards offer a range of play services delivered by play …

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how children and young people with additional and complex support needs are provided for in government oral health programmes on an equal basis with all other children and young people in line with the recommendations in the report, Special Smiles Dental Project: Evaluation Report, by the…

Answer · Shona Robison: Children with additional and complex support needs require care services according to their specific needs, these are led by the Community Dental Service in each Board area who has staff trained in treating children with complex medical conditions and develop…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that children and young people with life-limiting and long-term conditions experience a smooth transition with a clearly defined pathway and the necessary support when moving from child to adult NHS services.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards across Scotland recognise the importance of smooth transition with clearly defined pathways to support children and young people with life limiting and long term conditions moving from child to adult NHS services. It is recognised that tr…

18 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will monitor the performance of national contract agencies in meeting NHS boards’ requests for locum doctors and, if so, what action will be taken in circumstances where performance falls below agreed levels.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Performance will continue to be monitored by National Services Scotland''s National Procurement division with summary reports being distributed to NHS boards. Suppliers are required to respond to all requests made by boards and put forward suitable candidates…

18 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend the Locum Code of Practice to specify arrangements for reporting poor performance.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34637 on 25 June 2010. All the answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…

18 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to address the increasing difficulty in filling obstetrics and gynaecology and ophthalmology locum posts that were reported in the Audit Scotland report, Using locum doctors in hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is leading work with key stakeholders to develop a package of measures designed to reduce demand for temporary medical staff and, where their use is unavoidable, ensure they are both high quality and affordable. These measures are curr…

18 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason demand for agency locums more than doubled between 2007 and 2009.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34600 on 28 June 2010. All the answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…

18 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that all NHS boards have a formal policy on the supervision of locum doctors.

18 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give assistance to address the high vacancy rate for consultants in the three island NHS boards.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Recruitment and selection of staff is a matter for individual NHS boards. In the next few years it is anticipated that there will be considerably more doctors completing specialist training than expected vacancies. Boards should be able to design posts in ord…

18 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the set national rate of pay is for locum doctors employed through agencies, both for hospital and out-of hours services work.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34585 on 25 June 2010. All the answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…

18 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the set national rate of pay is for internal locum doctors already employed in the NHS.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34586 on 25 June 2010. All the answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…