Parliamentary questions
Nanette Milne
1,264 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
31 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the correct procedures were followed in the sale of land in August 2004 by NHS Grampian to property development company, Camvo 37; whether the land was advertised for sale, and what the reasons were for the selling price of £2.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive HealthDepartment annually monitors property transaction reports prepared by each NHS board’sinternal auditor and in this transaction the report confirms that the correctprocedures were followed by NHS Grampian.</p><p>The property was no…
30 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the role of multidisciplinary teams in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive acknowledges thatmanaging inflammatory arthritis through a multidisciplinary team, which would includenurses and therapists, would provide the best outcome for the patient and theircarers, by addressing various aspects of health and social care:…
30 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards currently meet the British Society for Rheumatology’s recommendation of one rheumatology consultant for every 85,000 people and what estimates have been made of the population-to-consultant ratio in boards which do not meet this recommendation.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Individual NHS boards areresponsible for planning the resource required at local level to meet serviceneed, including rheumatology consultants.</p><p>The following table showsthe head count number of rheumatology consultants by NHS board as at 30 September 20…
30 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on research into the (a) prevention and (b) treatment of inflammatory arthritis in each year since 2001.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Executive Health Department hasresponsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health careneeds in Scotland. Since 2001,CSO has directly funded 10 projects on the prevention and treat…
25 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many in-patients with a guaranteed waiting time have waited for over six months to be treated in each quarter in each of the last five years.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The majority of patients whorequire in-patient and day case treatment are treated quickly. Nearly 53% of thepatients treated in NHSScotland hospitals receive immediate treatment and neverjoin a waiting list. Of those who do wait over 40% are admitted within o…
25 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has put in place to improve implementation by NHS Scotland of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence technology appraisal guidance, Acute coronary syndromes - clopidogrel (No. 80).
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive has formalperformance management mechanisms to assure the quality and efficiency ofservices provided by NHS boards. Where specific issues arise concerning theimplementation of guidance, the Executive will follow up on a pro-active basiswith the …
25 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the performance of NHS Scotland in the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence technology appraisal guidance, Acute coronary syndromes - clopidogrel (No. 80).
Answer · Andy Kerr: No specific assessment hasbeen made. </p><p>Coronary heart disease is a clinicalpriority for NHSScotland. NHS boards are expected to implement therecommendations of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellencetechnology appraisals when they have been…
25 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify which guidance takes precedence in the event that there are differences between guidance produced by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and that of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence endorsed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-26302, answered on 7 June 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
25 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local NHS boards are free to adopt guidance that differs from National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance which has been endorsed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.
Answer · Andy Kerr: We expect NHS boards toimplement advice from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellenceif it has been endorsed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. However, decisionson treatment are a matter for clinical judgement and we expect clinicians tota…
12 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital patients have venous thrombosis; what percentage of patients receive appropriate prevention treatment, and what action is being taken to educate hospital staff on the extent of venous thromboembolism.
Answer · Andy Kerr: It is not possible, from centrallyheld hospital discharge records, to identify explicitly patients who acquired venousthrombosis whilst in hospital. The figures given in the table describe the numberof patients in Scotland discharged from hospital with a main…
12 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to prevent venous thromboembolism in hospital patients and whether NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will produce guidelines in respect of venous thromboembolism.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish IntercollegiateGuidelines Network (SIGN) produced a guideline (No 62) on <i>Prophylaxis of VenousThromboembolism</i> in October 2002. This is now due for review, but the consensusis that its recommendations are not significantly affected by new e…
5 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether acupuncturists were specifically consulted on the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing) Order 2006 and what action it is taking to clarify the interpretation of this order with the public, local authorities and acupuncturists.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Acupuncturists werespecifically consulted about possible tighter regulation of skin and bodypiercing activities in order to reduce the risk of transmission of blood-borneand other infections. A full list of the consultees and the analysis of theresponses is a…
25 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendation NHS Quality Improvement Scotland has made regarding the use of the chemotherapy drug, Temozolomide.
Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland has made no recommendation on Temozolomide. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC)made the following recommendation regarding Temozolomide in February 2006:</p><p>Temozolomide(Temodal®) is not recommended for use within NHS S…
18 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the most recent NHS patient experience survey cost; to how many people the survey was sent, and how many replies NHS 24 received.
Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS 24 carries out quarterlypostal patient/caller satisfaction surveys, the most recent of which was sentout following the festive period. 1,200 questionnaires were sent out and NHS 24received 330 replies. This survey cost £504.</p><p>NHS 24 carried out anadd…
31 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that funds allocated for expenditure on medicines are ring-fenced for this purpose.
Answer · Andy Kerr: No specific allocation ismade to NHS boards for expenditure on medicines. Each NHS board is given anannual allocation of funds to meet the health care needs of its residentpopulation, including the cost of medicines, taking account of national andlocal priori…
31 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) discussions it has had with NHS boards and (b) representations it has received in respect of ensuring that funds allocated for expenditure on medicines are used for this purpose.
Answer · Andy Kerr: There have been nodiscussions with or representations from NHS boards regarding this. No specificfunds are allocated for expenditure on medicines. NHS boards receive an annualallocation. It is for each NHS board to utilise the funds available to meet thehealt…
31 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that funds allocated for expenditure on medicines are used for this purpose.
Answer · Andy Kerr: No specific allocation ismade to NHS boards for expenditure on medicines. Each NHS board is given anannual allocation of funds to meet the health care needs of its residentpopulation, including the cost of medicines, taking account of national andlocal priori…
31 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total (a) projected and (b) actual expenditure was on medicines in (i) 200, (ii) 2003, (iii) 2004 and (iv) 2005, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Andy Kerr: No specific allocation ismade to NHS boards for expenditure on medicines. NHS boards meet the cost ofmedicines from their annual unified budget. Information on the projectedexpenditure by each NHS board on medicines is not held centrally. The actualexpenditur…
31 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the NHS drugs budget was used for that purpose in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004 and (d) 2005, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS boards do not receive aspecific budget for drugs. NHS boards receive an annual allocation. It is foreach NHS board to utilise the funds available to meet the health care needs ofits resident population, including the cost of drugs, taking account ofnation…
30 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which 15 local authorities operate a waiting list for free personal care.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-24238 on 27 march 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.s…
30 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS dental fees will be raised on 1 April 2006, in light of the recommendations of Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration: Review for 2006.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Dental fees will be raised by3% with effect from 1 April 2006.</p>
30 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average earnings are of NHS dentists and from what source it obtains this information.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Average gross NHS earningsof general dental practitioners (both full and part-time) in Scotland inthe year January 2005 to December 2005 were £102,764<sup>1</sup>. This figuretakes no account of income from patients treated privately, income from privatepatie…
30 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much NHS dental practices will receive on average annually in rent reimbursement.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Reimbursement of rentalcosts was introduced with effect from 1 April 2005.To date interim payments in respect of rent reimbursement have been made to NHScommitted dental practices. These interim payments total £3,444,603 and average£5,693 per practice. The fu…
30 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much more on average an NHS dentist can expect to earn under the new General Dental Services contract than under previous arrangements and how this figure has been calculated.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We are not currently introducinga new General Dental Services contract in Scotland.</p>
30 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on the Practitioner Services Division’s magazine, Mouthpiece, since the magazine’s inception.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for NHS NationalServices Scotland. This information is not held centrally.</p>
29 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the need for any additional support services for vulnerable older people arising from the replacement of meals on wheels by a frozen food meals service.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The provision of appropriatesupport services is a matter for each local authority.</p>
29 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on the wellbeing and safety of vulnerable older people of the replacement of meals on wheels by frozen meals service.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for localauthorities, who have a duty under section 12A of the Social Work (Scotland)Act 1968 to assess the needs of people and decide, in the light of theassessment, which services should be provided and how.</p>
29 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many sheltered housing wardens there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
29 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it anticipates that the replacement of meals on wheels by a frozen food meals service may have on volunteer development.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish ExecutiveVolunteering Strategy recognises that decisions on where and how to provideopportunities for volunteers are best taken at a local level.</p>
29 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has received from Volunteer Development Scotland of the impact on the numbers of volunteers of the replacement of meals on wheels by a frozen food meals service.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: None.</p>