Parliamentary questions

Mary Scanlon

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

2 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage achievement of quality indicators for GP surgeries in the Quality and Outcomes Framework is considered acceptable for patient safety.

Answer · Andy Kerr: It is not necessary for GP practices to participate in the Quality and Outcomes Framework in order to provide safe services to the patient. The provision of services that are acceptable for patient safety is covered by the essential services element of…

2 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why NHS Western Isles, with 11 inhabited islands, receives691 per capita funding per annum more than NHS Argyll and Clyde, with 26 inhabited islands.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Arbuthnott formula allocates resources to health boards in Scotland by determining their relative need for funding. The formula is based on a board’s population but adjusted for factors that determine relative need for health care. These factors are the a…

1 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to help people with mental health problems overcome any stigma and discrimination that they face in finding and maintaining employment.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being leads the Scottish Executive’s work on the promotion of public mental health and improving the quality of life of those experiencing mental illness. As part of this work, employment and working…

1 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase training opportunities for people with mental health problems to assist with access to employment.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-11377 on 26 November 2004. 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/weba…

1 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to assist people with mental health problems to access employment opportunities.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answers to question S2W-11377 on 26 November 2004 and question S2W-13016 on 14 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:…

1 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the economic and social indicators pertaining to Morayshire, following job losses at the RAF bases, will meet the criteria for government jobs dispersal to the area.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Moray Council, in partnershipwith Highlands and Islands Enterprise, have been working with the Executiveto identify locations in the area that would best meet the criteria for government jobs dispersal. This partnership working will help to target areas ofmos…

1 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Care Commission has carried out one announced and one unannounced inspection of all care homes for the elderly in the last two years.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Care Commission Corporate Plan, which is approved by ministers, includes a target to inspect all registered services according to the requirements of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. The act requires care home services (of which care homes for …

31 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 will be fully implemented in the current NHS Argyll and Clyde area by October 2005.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: NHS Argyll and Clyde is working hard with its partners to deliver the new provisions required under the act within the timetable. My officials last met with the board and its partners on 24 May as part of an on-going series of meetings with all areas to discu…

30 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can give an assurance to patients in the NHS Highland area that current services will not be reduced in order to meet funding pressures in Argyll and Clyde.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I announced my proposalsabout NHS Argyll and Clyde to the Parliament on 19 May 2005. Subject to theplanned public consultation and to implementation thereafter, including writingoff the accumulated financial deficit incurred by NHS Argyll and Clyde,financial …

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the per capita health funding in remote and rural areas, including islands, in the current NHS Argyll and Clyde area will be raised prior to any transfer to NHS Highland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: If responsibility for health services in remote and rural areas, including islands, of NHS Argyll and Clyde is transferred to NHS Highland then the level of funding to NHS Highland will be calculated under the Arbuthnott formula on the basis of the board’s re…

19 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the structure of NHS boards in future and, if so, when.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We have no current plans to review the structure of the Scottish NHS boards.

19 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that the provision of health services to remote island communities of the current NHS Argyll and Clyde area after the board is wound up does not result in additional financial pressures for NHS Highland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: If responsibility for health services in Argyll and Clyde transfer to NHS Glasgow and NHS Highland, these boards will not be burdened by inherited deficits. The Scottish Executive will write off these deficits. In addition, the level of funding to be a…

19 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether discussions relating to the retention of services at the Belford hospital, Fort William, and the Lorne and Islands District Hospital, Oban, will be affected by the transfer to NHS Highland of health services currently offered by NHS Argyll and Clyde.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I made it clear in my statement to Parliament on 19 May 2005 that my proposals for the future of Argyll and Clyde NHS Board, which will be subject to public consultation, are intended to speed up the rate of modernisation of health care services in the releva…

19 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what savings have been made in each NHS board as a result of the mergers of primary care trusts, acute trusts and health boards.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The objective of the policy of single system working was to promote seamless care across different sectors of the health service, responsive to the needs of patients, and not to generate financial savings. Nevertheless, savings have been realised as a result …

19 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the per capita health funding for the remote and rural areas of Argyll and Clyde, which are likely to be taken into NHS Highland, will be increased in line with the Arbuthnott formula pertaining to NHS Highland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: If responsibility for the health services of residents of the remote and rural areas of Argyll and Clyde is transferred to NHS Highland then the level of funding to NHS Highland will be calculated under the Arbuthnott formula on the basis of the board’s resid…

15 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in each local authority area to protect gravestones in cemeteries and old churchyards.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Responsibility for the management,regulation and control of burial grounds rests with local authorities. The ScottishExecutive does not hold information on action being taken by local authorities inthis regard.

15 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of gravestones in cemeteries.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Responsibility for the management,regulation and control of burial grounds rests with local authorities.

15 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to local authorities to address health and safety issues relating to gravestones.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Responsibility for the management,regulation and control of burial grounds rests with local authorities, which alsohave responsibility for taking reasonable precautions where there is a foreseeablerisk to either persons at work or members of the public. Guida…

15 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current policy is regarding funeral workers handling cadavers infected with HIV, hepatitis B and tuberculosis.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-12373 on 3 December 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

15 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidelines for funeral directors handling infected cadavers similar to recent Department of Health advice.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Department of Health guidelines on handling infected cadavers has been referred to an expert group to consider whether they should be adopted for use by NHSScotland. The group are holding on-going discussions on this issue. The specific issue of ad…