Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many GP practices are not in the NHS.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15000 on 29 July 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…
11 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been diagnosed with alcohol-related brain damage in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The number of patients discharged with a diagnosis of alcohol-related brain damage from 2002-03 to 2006-07 by NHS board is set out in the following tables. Table 1 provides information for acute hospitals and table 2 psychiatric hospitals</p> <p >Table 1. Nu…
6 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the journey time for rail commuters from Inverness to Edinburgh will be reduced by 35 minutes.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is estimated that this project could be implemented by 2011-2012. Atkins has recently been commissioned by Network Rail to develop a feasibility study to take this project forward.</p> <p >The study will validate the assumptions in the Room for Growth rep…
6 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what rail improvements will be carried out on the Inverness to Edinburgh route and what the timetable is for these improvements.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: To improve journey times and increase frequency of services from the central belt to Inverness will require a combination of infrastructure works, procurement of additional rolling stock and timetable changes. Feasibility work is currently underway and this w…
4 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the nursing levels in maternity units to ensure that the extent of in-utero transfers are minimised.
Answer · Shona Robison: Workload and workforce planning within maternity services has been ongoing this past year utilising the birthrate plus methodology. The results of this exercise are expected by the end of September 2008. Due consideration will be given to the findings by NHS …
4 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which intensive care nursing units for infants adhere to the British Association of Perinatal Medicine’s guideline of one-to-one nursing.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally. It is a matter for each NHS board to plan and organise maternity care provision to meet local need, ensuring that that the most appropriate professional is the care provider at any given time.</p> <p >The Scot…
4 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current level of 335 available staffed neo-natal cots in Scotland is sufficient to meet the current level of demand.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The findings of the initial testing of the neo-natal workload and workforce planning tool across Scotland indicated that there were adequate cots within NHSScotland, however they were not necessarily the right mix or in the right place.</p> <p >The neo-natal…
4 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to NHS Quality Improvement Scotland’s Perinatal Collaborative Transport Study, why some maternity units reported that no cots were available when occupancy rates were less than 70%.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is concerned that units are closed to admissions when they are not already full. We urgently need to fully understand the reasons behind this, and will consider ways in which robust data can be collected, with a view to making improvem…
4 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been done into the financial, practical and emotional implications of in-utero transfers on families.
Answer · Shona Robison: Bliss, the premature baby charity, carries out research into the financial, practical and emotional implications of in-utero transfers on families, and will publish a report later this year, which will be specific to neo-natal services in Scotland.</p> <p >T…
4 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the recommended staffing needs are to accompany women during transfer to hospital maternity units, irrespective of labour status.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards are expected to have in place local guidelines for the safe transfer of women during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal period, which should be in line with national policy, as set out in <i >A Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland</i>.</p>…
4 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a safe and reliable 24-hour national service for the co-ordination and undertaking of in-utero transfers, as recommended in NHS Quality Improvement Scotland’s Perinatal Collaborative Transport Study.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government will now ask the Maternity Services Action Group to consider the study in full, and a range of options to address issues raised in the study.</p>
4 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies exist for nurses in maternity units, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on nurse vacancies in maternity units is not centrally held. Data is available for midwifery staff vacancies by NHS board. This includes registered and non-registered staff. Latest data is at 30 September 2007.</p> <p >Total Midwifery Vacancies …
4 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many newborn infants were transferred to an NHS facility other than the one planned for the birth in order to receive neonatal care in each month of the last three years.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally. Whilst data on this subject has not routinely been collected in the past, the perinatal collaborative transport study, which was published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, on 27 July 2008, sought to collect…
4 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pregnant women were transported to an NHS facility other than the one planned for the birth in each month of the last three years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally. Whilst data on this subject has not routinely been collected in the past, the perinatal collaborative transport study, which was published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, on 27 July 2008, sought to collect…
23 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce hearing screening for people aged over (a) 55, (b) 60 and (c) 65.
Answer · Shona Robison: There is currently no national screening plan for these age groups. However, for patients over the age of 50 there are two routes into assessment, through referral by the patient''s general practitioner or through the local NHS Board Audiology Service directl…
16 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many women have been transferred to a hospital outwith their home NHS board area as a result of a shortage of neo-natal care in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not centrally available. However, whilst data on this subject has not routinely been collected in the past, the perinatal collaborative transport study, which was published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, on Sunday 27 July 20…
14 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many private GP clinics are currently in operation in each NHS board area.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not collected.</p>
14 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many private contractors have applied to run GP centres in each NHS board in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Shona Robison: Two applications made up of one application in Fife in 2005 and one application in Lanarkshire in 2006.</p> <p >We have interpreted the question to mean applications from commercial companies only. Applications from GP practices are not included.</p>
14 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many private contractors have applied to build and run GP centres in each NHS board area in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Shona Robison: None.</p> <p >We have interpreted the question to mean applications from commercial companies only. Applications from GP practices are not included.</p>
14 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether bariatric weight loss surgery is available to all patients for whom this procedure is considered to be clinically appropriate.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is estimated that 2.5% of the adult population of Scotland is in the BMI category for which bariatric surgery may be indicated (BMI>40), however not all would meet the clinical criteria defined by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellenc…
14 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what surgical procedures to assist weight loss are available in each NHS board area.
Answer · Shona Robison: Four board areas provide bariatric surgery for the Scottish population: NHS Grampian, NHS Lothian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lanarkshire. The two main procedures that fall under bariatric surgery are adjustable gastric banding and Roux en Y gastri…
1 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers any move to single-crewed air ambulances for night shifts to be safe for both (a) patients and (b) ambulance staff.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Following their proposal to operate single crewing for night missions of the air ambulance helicopters, the Scottish Ambulance Service were asked to review this from both a health and safety and clinical risk perspective.</p> <p >The service will continue to…
1 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the findings of the review into the Scottish Ambulance Service proposal to reduce the night shift air ambulance crew from two to one crew member will be known.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Following their proposal to operate single crewing for night missions of the air ambulance helicopters, the Scottish Ambulance Service were asked to review this from both a health and safety and clinical risk perspective.</p> <p >The service will continue to…
1 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies exist for (a) home economics teachers and (b) physical education teachers, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The information requested is published annually on the Scottish government website. The latest data are available in Appendix 2 from the following link: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/17090110/11">http://www.scotland.gov.uk…
1 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assist parents of obese children to address weight problems and encourage personal responsibility for health.
Answer · Shona Robison: As set out in Healthy Eating, Active Living, the Scottish Government funds a range of initiatives to encourage physical activity, healthy eating and healthy weight aimed at children and their families. Of the £56 million available for initiatives dedicated to…
1 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will work with the commercial and voluntary sectors to expand access to different weight management options as well as primary care to offer a menu of options to suit different individuals.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government works with a range of delivery partners in the commercial and voluntary sector on initiatives outlined in Healthy Eating, Active Living: An action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity. We will publish gui…
1 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is proposed to assist obese pregnant women as early as possible during their pregnancy to reduce the risk of complications for mother and child.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards are responsible for organising maternity care at a local level in line with national guidelines. The Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland supports the principle that good health before and during early pregnancy benefits both mother and bab…
1 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current waiting times are for (a) cognitive behavioural therapy, (b) psychiatry and (c) psychology, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not available centrally.</p> <p >I recognise the importance of mental health services as a national priority. We have established four national performance targets for mental health services which between them will deliver signif…
30 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much is charged per hour for home care for disabled people, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.</p>
30 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14124 by Shona Robison on 23 June 2008, where the out-of-hours emergency services for un-registered dental patients are, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The arrangements which are put in place for out-of-hours emergency services are a matter for each NHS board, and information on where these services are available is not held centrally.</p>