Nanette Milne

22 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many treatment courses of the antiviral drug, Tamiflu, it has purchased.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19440 on 30 September 2005. 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/web…

19 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhat assessment it has made of the possible delay and associated costs if the Murtle option for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is selected and the Camphill communities follow their legal advice which indicates there may be a human rights issue that the community could pursue to Eur…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The potential for legal challenge exists on all options under consideration. The implications of this have been assessed and will be taken into account in deciding on the preferred route.</p>

19 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that (a) many of the special-needs children and adults living in the Aberdeen Camphill communities suffer from hyperacusis (an abnormal sensitivity to noise) and (b) there are currently no acceptable noise levels set for special-needs individuals and how it proposes to…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is aware that some of the residents in the Camphill Communities suffer from hyperacusis. The Scottish Executive is also aware that there are no standards for maximum noise levels for special-needs individuals. It is for this reason that…

19 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the (a) suggestion contained in Professor James Hogg's interim report into the impact of the Murtle option for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route that the special-needs children at Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools be desensitised to the proposed road noise by par…

Answer · Tavish Scott: Professor Hogg who is an acknowledged expert in the field of profound multiple disabilities made the suggestion as an ancillary to his interim report and must be read in the context of that report in full.</p>

19 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the statement by Dr Lorna Wing, an expert in autistic spectrum disorders, in relation to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route that "the noise made during the construction of a bypass and the continual noise when it is in use would make life intolerable for many Cam…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is aware of the statement by Dr Wing. My officials are carrying out a detailed noise assessment with a number of specialists.</p>

19 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the opinion of the Chairman of the National Autistic Society that the Murtle option for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route "would jeopardise the work of Scotland's centres of excellence for some of the most vulnerable members of our society".

Answer · Tavish Scott: My officials have tried on several occasions to make contact with the society to discuss and explain the emerging proposals but as yet the society has not responded. We have arranged a meeting with the Scottish Society for Autism.</p>

12 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18263 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 September 2005, what the average response time was to emergency calls time for all emergency incidents in each NHS board area in each year since 2002-03.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is provided in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>NHS Board Area</p></td> <td> <p align=center>Average Response Time for 2002-03</p> <p align=center>(…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many junior doctors did not have a post to go to (a) on 3 August 2005 and (b) in each of the last five years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The following table details the destination of those graduates from Scottish medical schools at 30 September 1999-2004 as recorded by NHS Education for Scotland.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p>Taking up Pre-Registration Ho…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the transition into the Modern Medical Careers System from the current system of senior house officer (SHO) posts will be a smooth one, given that those SHOs who have been able to secure a post under the current system by August 2007 will be in competition with those emerging from…

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive is committed to redesigning services and developing the workforce to deliver the health improvements and healthcare services that Scotland deserves.</p> <p>Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) is a UK initiative which the Scottish Executive fully s…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many international medical graduates there have been working in training posts in Scotland in the last five years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on the number of Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) medical and dental staff in training grades, outwith the United Kingdom, over the last five years is shown in the following table.</p> <p>Country of Qualification Outwith the UK for HC…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will make its announcement on donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will consider any final recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on this matter and consider how it might apply to NHS Scotland. NICE is currently gathering further information on th…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) medical school places and (b) junior doctor posts there have been in each year since 1995.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The recommended intakes which take account of overseas students, for medical school places in Scotland are detailed in the following table:</p> <p>Undergraduate Medical Intake 1995-96 to 2005-06</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <t…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans have been made to ensure that junior doctors in Scotland are guaranteed employment in Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The training of doctors is a continuous process from medical school graduation through the training grades to consultant or general practitioner level. To make the most appropriate use of the training capacity in NHSScotland the number of opportunities across…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of train services from (a) Aberdeen to Edinburgh and (b) Edinburgh to Aberdeen.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive has initiated a range of work to inform decisions on potential changes to the network and services across Scotland in future. We have commissioned a Scottish Planning Assessment to consider where the demand for rail services is likely to grow ov…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what anti-ticket-fraud equipment and/or procedures have been put into place at (a) Aberdeen, (b) Arbroath, (c) Broughty Ferry, (d) Carnoustie, (e) Dundee, (f) Huntly, (g) Keith, (h) Montrose, (i) Monifeith, (j) Portlethen and (k) Stonehaven railway stations.

Answer · Tavish Scott: It is a requirement of the franchise agreement that the franchisee have in place plans to minimise the level of ticketless travel and fare evasion across the Scottish rail network, at stations and on trains.</p> <p>First ScotRail are currently developing revi…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in tackling ticket fraud on trains between Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Ticket barriers have been installed at Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket. There are also peak hours checks of tickets at Aberdeen and Dundee stations. First ScotRail are also required by the franchise agreement to ensure that there is a member of staff on ever…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements it plans to make to (a) Aberdeen, (b) Arbroath, (c) Broughty Ferry, (d) Carnoustie, (e) Dundee, (f) Huntly, (g) Keith, (h) Montrose, (i) Monifeith, (j) Portlethen and (k) Stonehaven railway stations.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The franchise agreement contains a commitment by First ScotRail to a programme of improvements at stations worth over £10 million. This will benefit all of the stations listed over the course of the franchise.</p> <p>There is a particular commitment to invest…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to improve passenger safety and comfort, including higher standards of cleanliness, security and travel information, on trains between Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive intends shortly to extend the Service Quality Incentive Regime, which has been successful in raising service standards elsewhere, to the services between Aberdeen and Edinburgh. As well as checking levels of cleanliness, the regime looks to ensu…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in improving punctuality and reliability of rail services between Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Rail services between Aberdeen and Edinburgh are provided by both First ScotRail and GNER. Punctuality and reliability of First ScotRail services is measured on performance in seven Service Groups. In the Express Group, which includes the Aberdeen to Edinburg…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in achieving higher standards of performance for the rail service between Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I would refer the member to the answers given to questions S2W-19033 and S2W-19034 answered on 20 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many rail passengers travelled from (a) Aberdeen to Edinburgh and (b) Edinburgh to Aberdeen in each of the last six years, broken down by month.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Information relating to passenger numbers is collected by the train operating companies using this route - GNER and First ScotRail. Information on passenger numbers on particular routes is considered to be commercially confidential.</p>

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average train journey time was from (a) Aberdeen to Edinburgh and (b) Edinburgh to Aberdeen in each of the last six years, broken down by month.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The information requested is not held by the Scottish Executive. However, First ScotRail has provided information on average journey times for Aberdeen to Edinburgh services reflecting the averages during the summer and winter timetables for each of the last …

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to conduct a review of generic prescribing and, if so, what the timetable is for the review.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The effective use of generic medicines is under constant review.</p> <p>In its June 2003 report on GP prescribing, Audit Scotland recognised that the potential benefits of further generic prescribing were at that time marginal. NHS boards and individual presc…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further steps it will take to ensure greater national consistency in prescribing practices.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Local prescribing behaviour should be in line with clinical guidelines which are set nationally. Implementation of guidance is a matter for NHS boards and individual clinicians in the light of the clinical need of individual patients.</p> <p>There are also na…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the development of local plans by NHS boards to implement financial savings through improvements in prescribing.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS boards were advised in February 2005 to draft local plans to deliver their share of the savings identified in the Efficient Government initiative related to more effective prescribing for the period 2005-08. A co-ordinating national plan has now been issu…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards are in place to ensure that any financial savings made through improvements in prescribing do not reduce service provision or impact on the quality of clinical care for patients.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS board prescribing strategies seek to ensure more effective use of prescribing budgets. They are evidence based and reflect agreed clinical guidelines. They lead to savings in the use of some drugs and more intensive use of other therapies, where that has …

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has taken place by (a) its Health Department and (b) NHS boards in respect of savings through improvements in prescribing by adopting best practice and decreasing inappropriate prescribing.

Answer · Andy Kerr: During the preparation of its report on GP prescribing issued in June 2003, Audit Scotland consulted closely with NHS board prescribing leads and other interested parties and produced evidence based recommendations for more efficient prescribing which, were a…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated savings through improvements in prescribing are for (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08 (a) in total and (b) broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The target efficiency savings under the Efficient Government programme are as follows. The targets shown are the cumulative savings to be achieved in the year indicated by reference to the benchmark year of 2004-05.</p> <p>Target Prescribing Efficiency Saving…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to evaluate the impact of the Scottish Medicines Consortium on (a) prescribing, (b) "postcode prescribing" and (c) the differential uptake of medicines by NHS boards.

Answer · Andy Kerr: A programme for the evaluation of SMC work has been agreed and the work will commence in October 2005. The evaluation will look at the impact of SMC advice on the use of medicines across the healthcare system and compare SMC budget impact forecasts with the a…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of establishing the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) was; what the operating costs of the SMC were in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004, and what the projected costs are for (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is contained in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p>2001-02</p></td> <td> <p align=right>£152,713</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>2002-03</p></td> <td> <p align=right>£308,120</…