Nicola Sturgeon

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, how it is monitoring the training and awareness of staff about existing good practice on disability issues.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Progress on implementing good practice on staff issues relating to disability will be made through the Staff Governance Standard which I launched on 25 January at the Scottish Partnership Forum Conference. The Standard requires NHS employers to ensure Partner…

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, when the audit document to help all agencies identify their role in the care and custody of people with mental health problems will be published.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The promised planning and audit document was published on 12 February 2001 and sent to all relevant agencies. A copy is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 12345).

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, whether it will set up an Information Task Group to develop better access to the information that cancer patients and their families need.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The commitment to establish an Information Task Group was reaffirmed in <I>Cancer in Scotland: Action for Change</I> launched in July last year. The group has now been set up and met for the first time on 23 January 2002.<P>Mr Ian Gibson, Director for Scotlan…

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, what the current maximum wait is from urgent referral to treatment for children's cancers and acute leukaemia.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There are currently no formal waiting times for children with cancer, nor for people diagnosed with leukaemia. The diagnosis of leukaemia, particularly in children, is usually a clinical emergency warranting immediate admission for urgent treatment. For those…

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, how many rapid access chest pain clinics there were, or will be, in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2002-03.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We are currently seeking this information from NHS trusts and will reply to the member as soon as possible.

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, when it will introduce National Services Frameworks in the three clinical priority areas.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>Cancer in Scotland: Action for Change</I> was published in July 2001. The <I>Framework for Mental Health</I> <I>Services in Scotland</I> was issued in September 1997 and has subsequently been updated. The Executive established a CHD/Stroke Task Force which…

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, how it is supporting local authorities and health boards in implementing a single shared needs assessment by health or social care professionals for older people and people …

Answer · Hugh Henry: We have set up a dedicated team to implement single shared assessment for older people in the first instance and a reference group to advise it. More directly, we issued guidance in setting out the key steps to implementation and the essential infrastructures…

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, when it will issue guidance on the education of children who are too ill to attend school.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive's <I>Guidance on Education of Children Absent from School Through Ill-Health</I> was issued on 19 December 2001, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18538).

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, when it will publish guidelines to help health professionals recognise when women are experiencing domestic violence.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: A Short Life Working Group has prepared draft guidance on domestic abuse for all health care workers. This guidance explains the nature and prevalence of domestic abuse and its effects on health. It identifies the signs which may suggest abuse, establishes th…

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, how it plans to monitor the effectiveness of NHS Boards' antenatal and postnatal parent education and support programmes.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>A Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland</I>, published in 2001, requires NHS Boards to provide parent education programmes and support to parents as part of their maternity strategies. The Scottish Executive is currently conducting an audit of these…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, how it plans to involve the public effectively in the management of changes to local NHS services.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>Patient Focus and Public Involvement</I>, published in December of last year, reported on steps taken to develop the actions identified in the <I>Involving People</I> section of <I>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I>. It also indi…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, when it will set up a telephone and internet-based positive feedback system.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21477.

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, how it plans to raise the profile of the NHS complaints system.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>Our National Health; A plan for action, a plan for change</I>, commits the Scottish Executive to developing a complaints process which is "credible, easy to use, demonstrably independent and effective."<P>A working group, which includes patient representat…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, how it plans to establish a network of information access points to help people find the information they need about their care, treatment options and services available to …

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>Patient Focus and Public Involvement</I>, published in December of last year, reported on steps taken to develop the actions identified in the <I>Involving People</I> section of <I>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I>. It also set …

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, what steps to develop the Patients Project have been taken in 2001 and what further steps are planned for 2002.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>Patient Focus and Public Involvement</I>, published in December of last year, reported on steps taken to develop the actions identified in the <I>Involving People</I> section of <I>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I>. It also set …

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, on what projects it plans to spend the #14 million invested in the NHS in Scotland to build the capacity of the NHS to communicate with, listen to and work in partnership wi…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>Patient Focus and Public Involvement</I>, published in December of last year, set out plans for developing the actions identified in the Involving People section of <I>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I>. It also identified how th…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, how it plans to ensure that the NHS and local authorities identify improved processes and share good practice across Scotland to reduce unacceptable delays in discharging pa…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: An expert group, led by NHS Chief Executive Trevor Jones, has been looking in detail at delayed discharge and the reasons for it. Next month I will announce an Action Plan based on the work of this group, and including the sharing of good practice, to help dr…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, what changes it has made in 2001 to its strategic programme for modernising information management and technology in the NHS.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: During 2001 the Strategic Programme for Information & Management has been rewritten; a final draft version is on SHOW (<A HREF="http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/imt">www.show.scot.nhs.uk/imt</A>) to allow for any final comments from the NHS. The draft strategy set…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, what the current stage of development is of the communications programme for the Health Department and the NHS in Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Since the publication of <I>Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change</I>, a number of steps have been taken to improve communications with and by NHSScotland. For example, ministers meet regularly with NHS Board Chairs, the Chief Executive of…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, what action it is taking to ensure that the work of the Special Health Boards and other national bodies is properly co-ordinated and aligned to national policies and priorit…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Our work to improve governance and accountability of NHSScotland has not been confined to the establishment of 15 new NHS boards across Scotland. We have also been concerned to ensure that the spirit of these changes is reflected in improvements in the govern…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, when its recruitment campaign to encourage people to be part of local decision-making in the NHS was launched and what effect that campaign has had to date.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In September 2001, we established 15 new NHS boards to enhance local decision making in NHSScotland. The membership of the new boards - which now includes elected local councillors, NHS staff and clinicians - has been specifically designed to provide a better…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, when it will establish an expert group to support and advise local NHS Boards in managing changes.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I>, set out the Executive's intention to establish an expert group to support and advise local NHS Boards in managing changes in the configuration of services and to advise the Health Department on…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, how it is encouraging the consistent development of clinical information systems across Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The consistent development of clinical information systems across Scotland is being supported by the work of the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland, ISD and Audit Scotland. During 2001 they held two national meetings to review national databases in order t…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, what barriers have been identified and/or removed to allow closer working between NHS Boards and local authorities to improve public health.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill, introduced on 24 September 2001, Part 2, Section 12 allows NHS bodies and local authorities to work together in different ways by removing some of the legal barriers to joint working which currently exist.<P>A co…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, what funding the Scottish Community Diet Project received, or will receive, in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2002-03.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Community Diet Project received £197,843 and £294,615 in 2000-01 and 2001-02 respectively, and is due to receive £381,350 in 2002-03. As specified in the Our National Health commitment, the grant provided in 2000-01 included an increase to allow …

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, what funding Scotland's Health at Work Scheme received, or will receive, in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2002-03.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In 2000-01, Scotland's Health at Work scheme received resources from health boards of around £1 million. Following the commitment in the Scottish Health Plan, additional funding from the Scottish Executive of £0.450 million in 2001-02 and £0.750 million in 20…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, when the Health Promoting Schools Unit was established

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Health Promoting Schools Unit has not yet been formally established. The Scottish Executive Health and Education Departments are working with the Health Education Board for Scotland, COSLA, and Learning and Teaching Scotland to establish the Unit…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, how it proposes to create a Scotland-wide learning network for the national health demonstration projects.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Following detailed discussion, the National Demonstration Projects Steering Group has agreed proposals for Scotland-wide Learning Networks. These will be implemented by the Public Health Institute of Scotland. Project manager posts will be advertised shortly.

21 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will designate hepatitis C as a notifiable illness.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Public Health (Notification of Infectious Diseases) (Scotland) Regulations 1988 require medical practitioners to notify viral hepatitis as an infectious disease.<P>In addition, the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health operates an enhance…

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish its consultation paper on mental health services for deaf and deafblind people.

Answer · Hugh Henry: There has been no public commitment made by the Scottish Executive to consult on mental health services for deaf and deafblind people.