Mary Scanlon

9 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to reduce waiting lists for fertility treatment.

Answer · Shona Robison: We have collected data from NHS boards which shows that waiting lists for this service vary significantly across the country. We are considering options to help NHS boards address this, but are aware that individual boards have invested in this service to red…

9 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is available to people wishing to learn British Sign Language.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The British Sign Language and Linguistic Access Working Group has been working with the Scottish Government and relevant organisations for a number of years to improve access to British Sign Language (BSL) learning.</p> <p >Most BSL courses take place within…

9 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the private and public treatment centres that combine treatment for mental health problems and addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since the member raised this issue at the parliamentary debate on the drugs strategy on 4 June, we have been working with the Scottish Drugs Forum to update the National Directory of Drug Treatment Services, available at <a href="http://www.scottishdrugservic…

8 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the infant mortality rate has been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · John Swinney: Figures for the infant death rate (the number of deaths in the first month of life, expressed per thousand live births) in each health board area are published annually by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS). The figures for 1998, 1999 and 2000 ar…

8 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether male and female prisoners are tested and offered treatment for chlamydia.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Prison Service works closely with NHS Scotland to mirror services provided within the community.</p> <p >All prisoners are offered testing if they are symptomatic or have been identified as at risk of chlamydia. Sexual health awareness sessions …

3 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children aged between five and 15 are currently receiving support from weight management services.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information about all child weight management activity in Scotland is not currently held centrally.</p> <p >A new HEAT target was introduced in 2008 that requires each NHS board to deliver an agreed number of child healthy weight interventions. The minimum n…

3 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of five to 15-year-olds is considered to be severely obese.

Answer · Shona Robison: Statistics on childhood obesity are available from the Scottish Health Survey 2003 (the most recent results currently available from this source). According to these data, 8.0% of children aged five to 15 years were severely obese. Within this, there is notab…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been done to determine the availability of advocacy services for mental health patients.

Answer · Shona Robison: No specific research has, or is currently, being undertaken to determine the availability of advocacy services for mental health patients.</p> <p >However, the University of Stirling was commissioned to carry out research into the named person role and to co…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what outcomes are used to measure improvements in patients’ mental health.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A range of outcomes can be used to measure improvements for patients including success in self-care management together with improved relationships, maintaining employment, participation in social activities, reduced isolation, improved diet and physical acti…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to increase access to supported employment for people who have had mental health problems.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government, in partnership with COSLA, is developing a Framework for Supported Employment to provide support to people with disabilities to secure and maintain paid employment in the open labour market. The framework will concentrate on supportin…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Scotland supports a recovery approach across the spectrum of care for mental health patients.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government support a comprehensive recovery-orientated approach to the provision of care, treatment and support for mental health patients, and their carers, as part of continuing joint working to improve mental health services i…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether telehealth solutions with a direct link to a GP practice are being used for patients living in remote and rural areas and islands to allow them to perform their own tests and monitor some long-term conditions.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A pilot in Aberdeen which provided videoconferencing facilities coupled with a selection of medical devices, for use by a patient, appropriately supported, at a distance has just been successfully completed. Clinicians have been satisfied as to patient safety…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which age group has the highest prevalence of obesity.

Answer · Shona Robison: Statistics on childhood and adult obesity are available from the Scottish Health Survey 2003 (the most recent results currently available). There is considerable variation in rates of obesity by gender as well as age. According to published gender breakdowns,…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to prevent obesity.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is investing £56 million, of which £40 million is new money, in initiatives set out in <i >Healthy Eating, Active Living</i>, our three year action plan published in June 2008, which sets out the actions we will take, together with par…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives are available to GPs to provide weight management programmes with ongoing support and advice.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is no specific funding or payment for the treatment of obesity in the GP contract. GP practices are paid through the quality outcomes framework (QOF) for compiling and maintaining a register of adult patients with a BMI of 30 or more. Treating obesity i…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what weight management programmes and support are available for GPs to refer people to in each NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Tayside, Lothian and Lanarkshire were part of Phase 1 of the Counterweight programme. Phase 2 of Counterweight was rolled out from April 2008 to NHS boards in Ayrshire and Arran, Grampian and Fife. Phase 3 of Counterweight was rolled out from August 2008 to N…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how people with depression and anxiety are being assisted in early diagnosis and early intervention for treatment and support.

Answer · Shona Robison: Our published standards for integrated care for those with depression underline the importance of early assessment and interventions for successful planning and care. GPs are using validated assessment tools for patients with a new diagnosis of depression rep…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is being allocated to develop medicines.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), of the Scottish Government''s Health Directorates, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. The CSO is currently funding 12 research trials involving medicines …

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to utilise more fully telehealth facilities in order to reduce patient journeys to hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Centre for TeleHealth (SCT) has been established to support and guide the development of telehealth for clinical, managerial and educational purposes across Scotland. The SCT is involved in a variety of projects aimed at reducing patient journeys…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation identifies poverty and deprivation in remote and rural areas.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) has been designed for a specific purpose, to identify small area concentrations of multiple deprivation across Scotland, and does this well. The indicators which make up the SIMD are chosen because they are me…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether women being fitted with a contraceptive coil are screened for chlamydia.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Guidance from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health states that women with risk factors for chlamydia should be routinely screened. Clinicians who provide contraceptive coils are required to follow this guidance and will routinely discuss risk fac…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients are given advice on and tests for chlamydia when presenting for travel vaccinations.

Answer · Shona Robison: Chlamydia testing is not routinely provided at travel clinics.</p> <p >The risks of having unprotected sex abroad are however discussed at travel clinic appointments with detailed written information provided in leaflets and also accessible at <a href="http:…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a mother’s untreated chlamydia can have any effect on a newborn child.

Answer · Shona Robison: While it is very rare, a mother''s untreated chlamydia can cause conjunctivitis and pneumonia in her newborn child.</p>

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all pregnant women are given a chlamydia test as part of their ante-natal care.

Answer · Shona Robison: While in Scotland there is opportunistic chlamydia testing for anyone who may have put themselves at risk, there is currently no routine anti-natal screening for chlamydia.</p>

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions can be caused by untreated chlamydia.

Answer · Shona Robison: Untreated genital chlamydia infection in women can result in pelvic pain and scarring known as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease which can progress to ectopic pregnancy and infertility.</p> <p >There is also some evidence to suggest that untreated genital chlamydi…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when reports will be published on progress of the local authority single outcome agreements.

Answer · John Swinney: Subject to the agreement of other partners, we expect councils to publish their annual reports on single outcome agreements in the autumn of each year. An interim progress report is expected (for the first year only) around the turn of the financial year with…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether mixed sex wards still exist in the NHS in Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In most circumstances, mixed sex accommodation has been eliminated in NHS Scotland. However, there are exceptions such as high dependency areas, intensive care units and receiving units where single sex accommodation is not practicable.</p> <p >At certain ti…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how GPs will ensure (a) consistent referral criteria and (b) equality of access for patients with an obesity problem.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is currently conducting a review of best practice in order to provide advice to health boards about their local healthy weight strategies regarding prevention and management of overweight and obesity. Advice will cover treatment in pri…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that people suffering a stroke have access to a diagnosis and thrombolytic therapy within the recommended 3 hours.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards are expected to implement SIGN Guideline 13 on the Management of patients with stroke or TIA: assessment, investigation, immediate management and secondary prevention.</p> <p >Stroke SIGN Guidelines 13 and 14 are under review and will reflect rece…

2 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation is being undertaken on programmes to tackle obesity.

Answer · Shona Robison: A range of evaluations are underway or planned in support of Healthy Eating, Active Living: an action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity. For example, the HEAT target tackling childhood obesity is a developmental target and wi…