Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional money will be made available to GPs to ensure that surgeries open for extended hours have appropriate numbers of staff.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The total additional value of the offer is £19 million. We estimate that this is worth £19,000 per annum to the average practice.</p> <p >The extended hours enhanced service will be supported by £16 million of funding (£2.95 per registered patient), of which…
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been done in Scotland to provide the evidence base for extending GPs’ opening hours.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Better access to GP practices is a significant issue for people.</p> <p >In producing the <i >Better Health, Better Care Action Plan</i>, we saw over 2,000 people face-to-face and received nearly 600 submissions. This exercise revealed that improving access …
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what GP services will be reduced as a result of the policy to extend GPs’ opening hours.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: None.</p>
7 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when negotiations will be completed with the Scottish General Practitioners Committee in respect of extended hours for GPs.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We expect the result of the GP poll early in March. Depending on the outcome of the poll we will be seeking thereafter to finalise the detailed arrangements for extended hours in Scotland with the Scottish General Practitioners Committee.</p>
6 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure financial support for the continuation of the Scottish Photodynamic Therapy Centre at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Photodynamic therapy is available at the Dundee centre to Scottish patients on the basis of clinical need. It is the responsibility of the referring NHS board to fund the cost of treatment.</p>
6 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether single outcome agreements will include a commitment to reduce local authority debt.
Answer · John Swinney: Local authorities are free to make their own decisions about how much to borrow or spend but in doing so, are under a statutory duty to determine how much they can afford and to keep that under review. They are obliged to have regard to a code of practice dev…
6 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated increase or decrease is in local authority debt over the next financial year, broken down by authority.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to answer to questions S3W-5272 and S3W-5343 on 26 October 2007, the most meaningful information on local authority debt relates to the level of outstanding loans fund debt for each local authority as this debt must, in accordance with leg…
4 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people found guilty of defrauding the NHS have been given a custodial sentence in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Since July 2000, no custodial sentences have been given to people found guilty of NHS fraud. Sentencing is a matter for the courts.</p>
4 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid in financial packages to people investigated, charged or found guilty of fraud in the NHS in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.</p>
4 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been reimbursed to the NHS as a result of charges of fraud in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The figures requested are in the following table.</p> <p >Recoveries/Savings<sup>1</sup> from NHS Fraud: 1 July 2000<sup>2</sup> to 31 January 2008<sup>3</sup></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=313 valign=top …
4 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been found guilty of defrauding the NHS in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The figures requested are in the following table:</p> <p >Number<sup>1</sup> of Successful Prosecutions for NHS Fraud by NHS Board/Special Health Board: 1 July 2000<sup>2</sup>-31 January 2008<sup>3</sup></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > …
4 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of elder abuse in a care home or home care setting have (a) been reported, (b) been investigated and (c) resulted in conviction in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Shona Robison: This is a matter for the Care Commission. The commission investigates complaints about regulated care services and publishes the outcome of its investigation. The Chief Executive can be contacted at:</p> <p >Ms Jacquie Roberts</p> <p >Chief Executive</p> <…
1 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the implementation of BCG immunisation in response to recent reports of tuberculosis.
Answer · Shona Robison: Following a continued decline in tuberculosis (TB) rates in the UK the universal childhood vaccination programme was discontinued in 2005. This change was recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert adviso…
1 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that people performing teeth-whitening treatment have appropriate professional training.
Answer · Shona Robison: The General Dental Council isthe regulatory body for the practice of dentistry which includes tooth whitening.</p>
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the conditions for which botox would be prescribed.
Answer · Shona Robison : The licensing of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.</p> <p >Botox is indicated for the symptomatic relief of blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm and idiopathic cervical dystonia (spasmodic…
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under what circumstances botox injections would be prescribed for cosmetic purposes.
Answer · Shona Robison: Botox is not licensed for cosmetic purposes. However, Vistabel (botulinum toxin type A) is licensed for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe vertical lines between the eyebrows seen at frown in adults aged less than 65 years, when…
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what training, experience and qualifications are required for the purpose of injecting botox treatments.
Answer · Shona Robison: Botox can be self-administered, administered by an appropriate practitioner (for example, doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist independent prescriber) or administered by anyone acting in accordance with the directions of an appropriate practitioner. The presc…
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on an individual's health is of long-term use of (a) botox treatment and (b) dermal fillers.
Answer · Shona Robison: The safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).</p> <p >Information about the medicinal use of botox, including potential side-effects, is contained in the Summary of Product Ch…
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of dermal fillers for cosmetic purposes is a safe form of treatment.
Answer · Shona Robison: The safety of medical devices such as dermal fillers is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).</p> <p >Dermal fillers are made from a variety of materials. Any fillers placed on the market as me…
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice should be given to people who undertake botox injection treatments for cosmetic purposes.
Answer · Shona Robison: Like all medicines, botox does have side-effects and these are listed in the Patient Information Leaflet and the Summary of Product Characteristics.</p> <p >Botox is not licensed for cosmetic use. Any such use outside the licensed indication(s) is entirely t…
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any harmful effects result from botox injection treatments.
Answer · Shona Robison: The safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).</p> <p >Product information for botox, available to patients and prescribers, lists potential side-effects that may be associated…
25 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve the availability of services to people with a dual diagnosis of mental health problems and substance and alcohol misuse.
Answer · Shona Robison: Our 2007 report <i>Mindthe Gaps - Making a Difference</i> (Bib. number 44565) makes five specific recommendationsfor service change and improvement in the way all agency partners combine to anticipateand respond to the needs of those affected.</p><p>We are wo…
25 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what services are available to people with a dual diagnosis of mental health problems and substance and alcohol misuse in each NHS board area.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requestedis not held centrally. Information on servicesprovided through Alcohol and Drug Action Teams is provided in their published Corporate Action Plans. While this information is not wholly comprehensive the plansprovide a significant indi…
25 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have received nutrition by artificial means without their consent in the last 12 months, as authorised under section 240 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Shona Robison: Figures supplied by the MentalWelfare Commission for Scotland indicate that over the 12 month period 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007 a totalof 28 individuals have been treated under section 240 of the act. Due to the smallnumber of individuals it is not po…
25 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that people with mental health problems are able to exercise their statutory right to access independent advocacy services.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Mental Health (Care and Treatment)(Scotland) Act 2003 places a duty on health boards and local authorities to securethe provision of appropriate independent advocacy services for all people with mentalhealth problems and to take appropriate steps to ensur…
25 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken in response to the 29% increase in HIV diagnosis in 2007.
Answer · Shona Robison: <i>Respect and Responsibility</i>, our sexual health and relationships strategy,aims through a number of actions, to reduce the rising number of sexually transmittedinfections in Scotland, including HIV.</p><p>Recent discussions have taken place with Scottish…
25 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7801 by Nicola Sturgeon on 18 January 2008, what the timescale is for implementing the National Screening Committee’s recommendation to screen groups who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: While awaiting furtherrecommendations from the National Screening Committee on screening mechanisms, cliniciansare already implementing clinical guidelines and contractual requirements regardingthe screening of high-risk groups for diabetes.</p>
25 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8255 by Shona Robison on 21 January 2008, how many patients have been screened using estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate for the detection of chronic kidney disease in each of the last three years.
Answer · Shona Robison: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) was included in the Quality and Outcomes Framework in April 2006, so data are available only for the year to March 2007.</p><p>The QOF indicators for CKD call upon GPs to set up a practice register of people aged 18 or over with s…
25 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken to ensure that teeth-whitening treatment offered outside traditional dental practices is safe for all patients.
Answer · Shona Robison: Treatment of teethwhitening is the practice of dentistry and therefore should not be carried out byunqualified people.</p><p>We would not thereforebe expecting any tooth whitening to be supported outside traditional dental practices.</p>
21 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice, assistance and complaints investigation local authorities offer under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Under the Antisocial Behaviouretc. (Scotland) Act 2004, local authorities have a duty to provide applicantsfor registration with general advice on what constitutes good practice in the lettingof houses. If a local authority proposes to refuse an application f…