Rhona Brankin

Answer · Fiona Hyslop · 10 Mar 2011

In April 2010, the Scottish Fair Trade Forum was awarded £239,907 over two financial years to take forward the Scottish Government''s commitment to becoming one of the world''s first Fair Trade Nations.</p>

Answer · Shona Robison · 9 Mar 2011

It is regrettable if some NHS patients are having appointments cancelled to facilitate private dental provision, although we have no current evidence to suggest that this is occurring.</p> <p >Access to NHS general dental services is improving with an additional 1.15 million patients being registered in the period from 31 March 2007 to 31 December 2010.</p>

Answer · Shona Robison · 9 Mar 2011

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all women and their babies are cared for using safe, clinically effective, evidence based models of care, before, during and after pregnancy.</p> <p >The only circumstances in Lothian where a woman would be transferred to give birth in Lanarkshire would be as an in-utero transfer where due to prematurity and threatened premature labour, a neonatal intensive care cot would be required and if all the neonatal intensive care cots in Lothian were full.</p>

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon · 23 Feb 2011

HDL(2005)37 indicates that a GP or hospital clinician may refer a patient for alternative treatment if satisfied of the value of the treatment and the competence of the practitioner. That advice remains extant. It is consistent with the person centred ambition in our quality strategy, which wants to see Mutually beneficial partnerships between patients, their families and those delivering healthcare services which respect individual needs and values and which demonstrate compassion, continuity, clear communication and shared decision-making.</b></p>

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon · 23 Feb 2011

My understanding is that NHS Lothian has not taken a final decision about the future of local homoeopathic services. I have made it clear that I fully expect the board to engage with all local stakeholders as it further develops its plans. I have been advised that NHS Lothian is due to embark on a period of public consultation on this issue before it makes any final recommendation on the future of the service.</b></p> <p >I would hope that the board, as part of its consultation, would take account of the information provided in these answers about the value of homoeopathy as an aspect of our approach to integrative care.</p>

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon · 23 Feb 2011

Homoeopathy can contribute to the Scottish Government''s integrative approach to patient care. We recognise that complementary or alternative therapies, including homoeopathy, may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions. Insights from the individualised homoeopathic approach have contributed to the work of the Centre for Integrative Care in Glasgow, which has also learned from the earlier work of the Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital. The emergence of integrative principles has in turn helped contribute to the current emphasis in our quality strategy on person centred care, and on enabling partnerships with patients through empathetic consultations.</b></p>

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon · 23 Feb 2011

In primary care, costs will relate to the cost of the remedy, which can be cheaper than the cost of orthodox drugs. Practitioners have also noted a reduction in side effects and dependency risks in some cases. In secondary care in Scotland, homoeopathy is only employed within a broader integrative care approach, with surveys showing both enhanced wellbeing and symptom reduction across a broad range of long term conditions, and a resultant reduction in NHS costs through reduced GP and hospital visits and repeat prescriptions.</b></p>

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon · 24 Feb 2011

Homoeopathy in the NHS is used only by registered health care professionals, integrated within their wider practice. It is reported as useful, both in specialist secondary care and in the 50% or so of general practices in Scotland which prescribe homoeopathy (with the use in those under 16 years doubling between 2000 to 2003).</p> <p >There may be debate about the scientific mechanism underpinning the results obtained, with respect to the relative contribution of the holistic consultation process, the action of the homoeopathic remedy, and placebo effects, but the results are clear, with research showing high levels of safety, patient satisfaction, consultation quality, patient enablement, and useful outcomes.</p>