Parliamentary questions

Mary Scanlon

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

27 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been saved as a result of NHS boards sharing services with other NHS boards and public sector organisations.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Cash savings of £1.41 million and productivity savings of £1.49 million were made from the NHS Shared Support Services Programme in 2007-08. Further cash savings of £4.34 million will be achieved in 2008-09. These savings are retained by NHS boards for local …

27 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how MSPs will be made aware of the achievement of single outcome agreements relating to health and physical activity in each local authority area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As part of the Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) approach, Councils (for the 2008-09 SOA) and Community Planning Partnerships (for subsequent SOAs) will be expected to report to the Scottish Government and their local communities each year. Reports for 2008-09 w…

27 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that GPs are fully trained and aware of the symptoms so that they can diagnose myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome and make referrals to specialist services.

Answer · Shona Robison: GPs, as independent contractors, are expected to highlight and address their own education needs throughout their careers. They are also expected to follow locally agreed and national clinical guidelines on the management of patients with CFS/ME. GPs…

27 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how patients with myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome can be assured of a consistent level of service in each NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) is developing clinical standards for neurological conditions. Standard statement 1 is that an effective and comprehensive neurological health service is available and offered across all NHS boards. NHS QIS published …

27 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist support exists to enable people with myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome to receive a diagnosis and treatment.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) is developing clinical standards for neurological conditions. Standard statement 2 is that patients with suspected neurological disorders are assessed by clinicians who specialise in neurological conditions and patie…

27 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the process for evaluating and implementing new telehealth products for use in the NHS.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Telehealth has great potential to help patients and NHS staff. New telehealth products require the same evaluation as any other health technology, i.e. a Health Technology Assessment*. Implementation in the NHS would be driven by the same policy consideration…

26 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Execuitve what is being done to reverse the decline in livestock numbers on Scotland’s hills.

Answer · Richard Lochhead : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0226-01.htm">http://www.scot…

23 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it plans to allocate for the treatment of eating disorders in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: Spend on eating disorder services will continue to be drawn from the overall funds allocated to NHS boards by the Scottish Government. In this respect the overall Health budget will increase from £11.03 billion in 2009-10 to £11.5 billion in 2010-11. <p …

23 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support and treatment services for people with eating disorders are planned for the next five years, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: Services for people with eating disorders are planned and delivered on a regional and local basis by NHS, local authority and independent and voluntary sector providers reflecting the level of specialisation required to meet individual''s clinical needs.

23 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths have been attributed to thrombosis in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is shown in the following table: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > Cause of death </td> <td valign=top > 2003 </td>…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in providing an appropriate number of in-patient places in child and adolescent psychiatry services.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are working closely with NHS boards to ensure that the number of specialist in-patient beds match need and demand. For children, there are nine beds, provided on a national basis, at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Yorkhill). For adolescents…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20227 by Nicola Sturgeon on 28 January 2009, what changes will be made to the inspection regime for all care services as a result of the new targeted and proportionate regulation system currently being introduced.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The regime used to inspect registered care services is an operational matter for the Care Commission. Information about how the Care Commission carries out inspections can be obtained from its Chief Executive at the following address: Ms J…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19341 by Shona Robison on 20 January 2009, whether it will provide an answer that specifically addresses the points raised in the question.

Answer · Shona Robison: There was extensive consultation during the Crerar Review, which reported in 2007, on the proposals for change to the scrutiny landscape. I had discussions on the proposals with the Convenor of the Care Commission and the Chairs of the Boards of NHS…

12 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on plans for a new prison in Inverness.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The Scottish Prison Service, working in conjunction with Highland Council, has identified possible sites for the proposed HMP Highland and…

12 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive , in light of recent reports raising concerns over mental health in relation to the recession, what is being done to ensure that people have the support that they need.

Answer · Shona Robison: The uncertainty and change that is the consequence of the economic situation can be difficult for many people to cope with. The Scottish Government funds a range of programmes and services which offer support, including the Breathing Space telephone advice li…

6 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of primary seven children has had body mass index (BMI) measured on a three yearly basis, as recommended in Health for All Children 4: Guidance on Implementation in Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: Health for All Children (Hall 4) guidance recommends that BMI be recorded in primary 7 children every three years for public health monitoring purposes from 2007-08. There is no requirement for this to be monitored by the Scottish Government and these are not…

6 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times between the age of 15 months and five years a child’s weight is recorded by an NHS professional.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Universal Core Programme recommends the recording of a child''s weight within the first 24 hours of life, at 10 days, and six to eight weeks, at two, three, four and 13 months, at three to five years and at entry to primary school. Although ther…

5 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much Cruse Bereavement Care has been given to provide a bereavement service to schoolchildren and how many children have used this service, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland (CBCS) receive generic funding from the Scottish Government. This comprises: Funding from the Scottish Government''s Children, Young People and Social Care Directorate through the United Voluntary Sector Fund. Current…

5 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish the Maternity Services Action Group’s neonatal sub-group’s report on the review of neonatal services.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Maternity Services Action Group''s Neonatal Sub-Group report on the Review of Neonatal Services in Scotland is currently being finalised and will be published shortly. I will ensure that you receive a copy of the report, when published.

3 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many social worker vacancies there are, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The whole-time equivalent (WTE) vacancies of social workers broken down by local authority is published in table 21 of the Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services, 2007 Statistics Publication Notice which is available at <a href…

2 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to increase the number of men being tested for chlamydia.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of tackling chlamydia and is committed to breaking the cycles of transmission and reducing its prevalence in those under the age of 25. The recent Quality Improvement Scotland Standard on sexual healt…

29 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19999 by Nicola Sturgeon on 28 January 2009, whether it will outline the timescale for the appraisal process.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) aims to issue advice to NHSScotland on all newly licensed medicines as soon as it is practical to do so after the medicine is available for use. The appraisal process takes 18 weeks from receipt of the manufact…

29 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what treatment is available in each NHS board area for people with an eating disorder.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards in Scotland provide a full range of care and treatment for eating disorders across community based and hospital services, including access to specialist in-patient care. I am delighted that a new purpose designed 10 bed specialist NHS in-…

28 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the new rating categories due to be implemented in April 2009, what level of care, development and education will be provided to children aged three and four.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Care Commission''s new grading system was introduced in April 2008 and applies to all the care services that the commission regulates, including day care of children. The grading system is based on quality themes and statements, and links in with the qual…

28 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place with parents prior to defining the categories of care by nursery providers.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Care Commission''s grading system was introduced in April 2008 following extensive consultation with people who use care services and with care providers. It was piloted in 170 services during 2007. The grading system does not replace any of the …

28 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people receive direct payments for their care in each local authority area.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20064 on 2 February 2009 All 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/Apps2…

28 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what parliamentary scrutiny was undertaken prior to implementation of the new grading system for nursery schools.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The grading system is an operational matter for the Care Commission. It does not of course replace any of the statutory requirements or the provisions of the National Care Standards. It enables the Care Commission to exercise its responsibilities in a proport…

28 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that no data remains on IT equipment that has been used in the NHS and that such equipment is resold or deployed across other public sector bodies.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is responsible for providing an Information Security Policy Statement and Information Security Policy Principles covering authority, accountability, assurance and awareness. Chief executives in NHS boards are responsible for implementi…

27 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage of patient uptake is of the national bowel screening programme.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on uptake is currently not available, as the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme is not yet rolled out across all NHS health boards. Data on the Scottish Bowel Screening Pilot was published in August 2008 via the Information Services Division (I…

27 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards have not provided a bowel screening programme and whether the national programme will be rolled out across Scotland by the end of 2009.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Bowel Screening Programme is being phased in across the health boards. Nine health boards are already providing this service. All health boards will be delivering the programme by the end of 2009. The current expected dates that screening …