Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether substance misuse services and mental health agencies will use an agreed assessment tool to identify co-morbidity systematically and help to match care appropriate to level and type of need.
Answer · Shona Robison: Our 2007 published guidance <i>Closing The Gaps - Making a Difference </i>includes a clear recommendation on the use of agreed assessment tools for use by all services including substance misuse and mental health agencies, and references four reliable and val…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that all substance misuse services staff are trained in suicide risk assessment and prevention.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to reinforcing suicide prevention action across a range of sectors. By 2010, 50% of key frontline mental health services, primary care, substance misuse and accident and emergency staff will be educated and trained in usin…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who have suffered a stroke are subsequently affected by aphasia.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the number of patients with a diagnosis of stroke and identified as having aphasia as a result of their stroke is not available from central statistical sources. The final report of the Aphasia in Scotland Project, commissioned by NHS Quality I…
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether distillery visitor centres and whisky shops will be exempt from the forthcoming Licensing Act legislation.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 does not exempt distillery visitor centres and whisky shops from the requirements of the act.</p> <p >Wider issues concerning the promotion of alcohol and potential measures under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 are being …
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16763 by Nicola Sturgeon on 27 October 2008, whether it will outline the proposals for the roll-out of the counterweight programme in each NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer you to a letter sent by Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Public Health, to the Health and Sport Committee in October 2008 on Inquiry into Health Inequalities. Annex B explains the rollout of Counterweight in each health board area.</p>
30 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline potential efficiency savings to NHS boards and local authorities arising from greater integration of services such as payroll, finance, management, human resources, procurement, estate and asset management and maintenance.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Specific efficiency savings targets for national initiatives in NHS Scotland have been set as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=202 valign=top > <p align=left > </p> </td> <td width=80 v…
30 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14068 by Shona Robison on 19 June 2008, how many additional weeks of respite care are being provided in each local authority area.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15096 on 8 August 2008. 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://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
21 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been admitted to hospital from a care home for elderly people with MRSA or Clostridium difficile in each of the last five years.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. NHS boards would be able to provide the member with information on how many admissions they have from care homes over the period requested. This would include those screened for MRSA. Testing for Clostridium difficile w…
20 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the vaccine to protect women against the human papilloma virus is given in schools as opposed to GP surgeries.
Answer · Shona Robison: The UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is an independent committee of medical and scientific experts who make recommendations to both the UK Government and devolved administrations on all immunisation issues. The JCVI arranged an indepe…
20 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all girls are given the opportunity to discuss any issues relating to the vaccine to protect them against the human papilloma virus prior to vaccination.
Answer · Shona Robison: Pre-immunisation talks are held in schools prior to immunisation. Girls will have an opportunity to ask questions during or following these sessions.</p> <p >The leaflets issued advise girls and their parents/carers to speak with the nurse or doctor if they …
20 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information and advice is given to girls prior to receiving the human papilloma virus vaccine.
Answer · Shona Robison: Girls and their parents/carers are given an information leaflet and a question and answer booklet at the same time as the consent form. A DVD was produced for use in schools to aid nurses deliver pre-immunisation talks to girls. The information given at the p…
20 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the vaccine to protect against the human papilloma virus is safe in the presence of other medical conditions, including diabetes.
Answer · Shona Robison: The vaccine is safe for girls whose immune systems may not be fully functioning because of long-term conditions or medication, but it may not work as effectively for them.</p> <p >The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), who are respo…
20 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether girls aged 12 and 13 years can be given the vaccine for protection against the human papilloma virus without the knowledge and permission of their parents.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is preferable for a decision to be made as a family. The law allows a young person under the age of 16 to give consent themselves if a suitably qualified health professional deems they are capable of understanding what is being proposed. This is explained …
20 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive at what age young people can be given free contraception, including emergency contraception, without the knowledge of their parents.
Answer · Shona Robison: There is no minimum age in Scotland in terms of legal capacity to consent to medical treatment.</p> <p >The Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 assigns various legal rights to young people including the legal capacity to consent to surgical, medical or…
20 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS hospitals are engaged in a private catering contract.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following hospitals have outsourced catering services. With the exception of Gilbert Bain Hospital these contracts form part of a PPP arrangement.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=cente…
20 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS hospitals are cleaned by private contractors.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following hospitals have outsourced cleaning services. With the exception of Gilbert Bain and Drumchapel Hospitals these contracts form part of a PPP arrangement.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=444 > <thead> <tr > <td valig…
20 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16358 by Shona Robison on 30 September 2008, why dental bodies corporate will be listed with NHS boards for the provision of general dental services while similar bodies will be barred from providing GP services.
Answer · Shona Robison: There is a long history of dentists providing a mixture of NHS and private treatment so we do not see difficulties in a properly constituted dental body corporate providing NHS dentistry. Dental bodies corporate are required to have a majority of directors th…
20 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16358 by Shona Robison on 30 September 2008, when dental bodies corporate will be able to be listed with NHS boards for the provision of general dental services.
Answer · Shona Robison: Amendments are required to the NHS (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1996 to provide for the listing of dental bodies corporate. Work is currently ongoing on the consolidation of these regulations and the amendments required to list dental bodi…
20 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16356 by Shona Robison on 30 September 2008, what the difference is between dental bodies corporate, general dental practitioners (with partners or a sole trader) and commercial companies in terms of the provision of NHS general dental services.
Answer · Shona Robison: Only individual general dental practitioners can join NHS board dental lists in order to provide general dental services “ the arrangement is with the individual dentist, not with the practice nor the partnership if one exists.</p> <p >Dental bodies corporat…
9 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16145 by Shona Robison on 17 September 2008, how it will ensure that people using care services, and appropriate stakeholders, are given copies of the care standards and the reports on care service carried out by the Care Commission and HM Inspectora…
Answer · Shona Robison: The Care Commission places all care service inspection reports and grades on its website. The grading system was introduced on 1 April 2008, with all care services being graded at their first inspection after that date. </p> <p >There is an expectation that…
9 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16140 by Shona Robison on 17 September 2008, whether care services that consistently do not comply with Care Standards and receive a lower grade will be allowed to continue to provide services.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Care Commission regulates for improvement. Services which do not meet the National Care Standards and receive a lower grade will be expected to improve. The commission has a wide range of powers available to it under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act …
9 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the quality standards of care services will be graded rather than a consistent standard being applied across Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: A consistent approach to grading across Scotland is being taken by the Care Commission. The National Care Standards and the requirements in the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 provide a national framework for the regulation of care services. The Nation…
9 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16140 by Shona Robison on 17 September 2008, what action should be taken by the Care Commission when care providers refuse to implement recommendations over a period of three years.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Care Commission''s action in relation to any recommendations or requirements on care services will vary from case to case. The application of its enforcement powers is an operational matter for the Care Commission.</p> <p >The member can contact the Chie…
9 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether users of care services can expect adherence to all care standards regardless of the grade given by the Care Commission.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17007 on 28 October 2008. 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.parliamanet.uk/web…
9 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether nursery care providers will be expected to adhere to the national care standards regardless of the grade they receive from the Care Commission.
Answer · Shona Robison: Yes, all care services are expected to meet the expectations of the National Care Standards. The Care Commission''s grading scheme is based on a number of quality statements within four quality themes. The quality statements are based on the National Care Sta…
9 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all parents who place their children in nursery care will be notified of the grade of service given by the Care Commission.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Care Commission places all care service inspection reports and grades on its website. The grading system was introduced on 1 April 2008, with all care services being graded at their first inspection after that date.</p> <p >There is an expectation that …
9 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why some NHS boards offer two cycles of fertility treatment and others offer three cycles.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government published Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services (EAGISS) in 2000 to inform NHS boards planning and provision of infertility services. These guidelines, which remain extant, recommend that those who are eligible for NHS funded I…
9 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce a target waiting time from referral to treatment for infertility.
Answer · Shona Robison: Access to infertility services has not historically been included in waiting time targets because there were concerns about breaching patient confidentiality. We have collected data from NHS boards which shows that waiting times for this service vary signific…
9 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what body mass index measurement would cause a patient to be refused fertility treatment.
Answer · Shona Robison: This is not currently the subject of access criteria for infertility treatment in Scotland. As this is a clinical decision, we would expect clinicians to follow relevant clinical guidelines, for example the NICE clinical guidance on fertility.</p>
9 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to reduce waiting times for fertility treatment.
Answer · Shona Robison: We recognise that waiting times for this service vary significantly between NHS boards, and we are currently considering ways to address this.</p> <p >We provided NHS boards with an update on eligibility criteria guidelines in March 2007. This included the r…