Parliamentary questions

Mary Scanlon

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

17 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it intends to publish a new eHealth strategy as stated on page 62 of Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is anticipated that the new eHealth strategy will be published before the end of June 2008.

17 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is shifting resources to community provision to support and treat people with depression as close to home as possible.

Answer · Shona Robison: Our aim is to match care to assessed needs and that assessment will inform whether the care should and could be provided at the patient''s own home, from a community facility, or in hospital. The record funding included within the Scottish budget to …

17 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many mental health training places are planned for recruitment in 2008.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is responsible for determining supply training numbers for centrally controlled NHS staff groups including medical, dental, and nursing and midwifery numbers. The student intake numbers for mental health nursing have been agre…

17 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many mental health nurse training places have been provided in each of the last five years.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is in the following table. Nursing and Midwifery - Student Intakes <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td > Intakes1 </td> <td width=57 > 20…

17 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase the number of cognitive behavioural therapists.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Work is being undertaken through NHS Education for Scotland (NES) on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), family therapy and child psychotherapy as well as psychodynamic psychotherapy. NES has funded an additional 20 supervisor posts, plus 0.5 whole-time equiva…

17 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, psychological therapists and nurses will be recruited in order to increase access to talking therapies, whilst reducing prescribing of anti-depressants.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The government is building on the programme Doing Well by People with Depression which saw an investment of £4.5 million over a three year period between 2003-06. The planning, recruitment and deployment of staff to meet service need is a matter for…

4 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action should be taken as a result of a failure to record the fall of an elderly patient in hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11647 on 22 April 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.parliament.uk/webapp…

4 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for investigating falls in hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance on the prevention of falls is available to the NHS in HDL (2007) 13: <a href="http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/HDL2007_13.pdf">http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/HDL2007_13.pdf</a>. Recording and investigating the circumstances of fal…

4 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were admitted to hospital as a result of a fall in a care home or nursing home in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally. Following the work of the falls prevention group, the Scottish Government published guidance earlier this year for NHS boards, community health partnerships and others on actions to prevent falls …

4 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients died in each of the last five years where a fall in hospital was a contributory factor, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on deaths relating to falls in hospitals are not held centrally. Information from death registrations can identify where a fall was involved, but it is not possible to accurately separate out whether or not falls took place in hospital. Table 1 …

4 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many falls by elderly patients were recorded in each hospital in each of the last five years.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of falls by elderly patients in each hospital is not held centrally. Following the work of the Falls Prevention Group, the Scottish Government published guidance last year for health boards, community health partnerships an…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funds are available for inspection, monitoring and advising beekeepers in Scotland in respect of EC Regulation 797/2004.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In view of the spread of varroasis within the EU, and the problems that this causes for honey production, the Commission established its Apiculture Programme under EC Regulation 797/2004. The programme aims to improve the production and marketing of apicultur…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support and advisory services are available to beekeepers throughout Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) provides a diagnostic service to beekeepers who suspect that their hives may be infected by varroa or notifiable bee pests or diseases. This service is funded by the Scottish Government Rural Directorate at a…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to develop a bee health strategy in order to assist honey production.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is preparing a strategy for Scotland which will be issued in the near future to interested parties for comment and discussion.

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to assist beekeepers to treat bee colonies infested with the varroa mite.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Rural Directorate provides funds to the Scottish Agricultural College to make available general advice and training courses on good husbandry and management practices to ensure the health of honey bees. This includes advice on how to manage varroa in thei…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to assist beekeepers and bee farmers to increase the production of honey.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11578 on 17 April 2008 which is available on the Parliament''s website, the search for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/sh/search">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/sh/search</a>…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the adult obesity management programme will be available in all NHS boards.

Answer · Shona Robison: It is expected that delivery of Counterweight in those health boards where it is not already in place will commence within 2008. Counterweight was made available in Lothian, Lanarkshire and Tayside Health Boards as part of Keep Well Wave 1. Contract…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what IT support services are provided for people suffering from depression and drug or alcohol addictions.

Answer · Shona Robison: With respect to services for people suffering from depression, the Scottish Government''s awareness raising and active intervention strategies in this area include Breathing Space, a national telephone advice and signposting service for those experiencing low…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what services, including self-help services, are available for people with early signs of depression.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government awareness raising and active intervention strategies include Breathing Space, a national telephone advice and signposting service for those experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. It is available nationally and free on 0800 83 85…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who patients should call for support for, and advice on, early signs of depression.

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances people should request home visits from health visitors.

Answer · Shona Robison: A health visitor, or public health nurse as they are now known, is a qualified and registered nurse or midwife who is specially trained to assess the health needs of individuals, families and the wider community. They aim to promote good health and prevent il…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances people should request visits from GPs.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are no specific circumstances in which a patient should request a visit from a GP. A patient can request a visit if they feel they are unable to attend the practice in person. A GP is required to make a visit to a patient where in the clinical …

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances people should make appointments for extended-hours GP surgeries.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The new proposals around extended hours are for pre-booked appointments. Depending on the actual range of services being offered by each GP practice, patients can expect to book appointments in the extended hours period as they would during normal co…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances people should present themselves at hospital accident and emergency departments.

Answer · Shona Robison: Accident and emergency departments are designed to provide immediate emergency care on a 24-hour a day basis for people who show the symptoms of serious illness or who have suffered a significant injury. Where a serious or life threatening situation is though…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances people should call the ambulance service.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11567 on 18 April 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.parliament.uk/webapp/…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances people should call 999.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11567 on 18 April 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.parliament.uk/webapp…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what standards are in place to monitor care plans for people in receipt of end-of-life care.

Answer · Shona Robison: Good quality, accessible palliative and end of life care is fundamental to those living with and dying from any advanced, progressive or incurable disease, and for their carers. An action plan will be published this year which will ensure a consistent approac…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it can give to householders affected by 40-feet high trees or hedges close to their homes.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Services already provided by community safety partnerships, such as mediation, can be very effective in dealing with a range of neighbour disputes, including those about high hedges. However, the Scottish Government is giving active consideration to …

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of its antisocial behaviour strategy will be completed and whether the nuisance caused by high hedges will be addressed in the review.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: As part of the review we will be considering the use, effectiveness and range of existing measures available to local agencies to tackle unacceptable behaviour, including services relevant to high hedge disputes, such as mediation. We intend to publish the fi…

27 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will include the voluntary sector in future information and advice strategies to assist in the prevention of HIV.

Answer · Shona Robison: On driving forward implementation of the national sexual health strategy and action plan Respect and Responsibility, the Scottish Government currently works closely with and funds a number of voluntary organisations which focus on HIV prevention. We a…