Parliamentary questions
Sandra White
1,617 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-4666 and S2W-4682 by Malcolm Chisholm on 16 December 2003, what the drop-out rate of midwifery students has been in each of the last three years and what the reasons have been for these rates.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The total number ofmidwifery students who have discontinued from their course for the periodrequested is shown in the following table. There is no single reason as to whymidwifery students discontinue from their studies. However, the most commonlyreported rea…
16 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will hold any discussions with the Scottish Public Pensions Agency to ensure that no loss of future pensions payments will result from the implementation of Agenda for Change in the NHS.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: My officials met withrepresentatives of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency on Friday 16 January 2004.</p>
16 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale has been set for the establishment by NHS boards of independent advice bodies for patient complaints.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We are currently consideringthe timescale for the introduction of the revised NHS Complaints Procedure. Aspart of this, work is under way to develop a specification for the independentadvice service which NHS boards should commission to support patients using…
16 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4230 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 December 2003, why Scottish NHS chief executives, directors and other senior managers are exempted from the Agenda for Change process if their job weight is over 720 points.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: A review of the Executive payarrangements in Scotland is to take place shortly. As part of their review, the review group will be expected to make recommendations about the future pay arrangements to apply to these staff.</p>
10 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of subsidy is awarded to each bus company for concessionary travel.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested isnot held centrally. The contractual arrangements for the 16 local concessionarytravel schemes throughout Scotland are between the local transport authorities and thetransport operators.</p>
10 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards will be out in place to ensure that ostomists will retain a right to choice of stoma appliance following publication of any report on responses to Appliance Contractors: Consultation Document.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The options presented in theconsultation document are intended to maintain and improve the provision of aquality service that meets all patients’ needs, no matter which type ofappliance they may require.</p>
4 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many community wardens there are, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive’s funding programme to extend community wardens across Scotlanddoes not come into operation until April 2004. Officials are currentlyassessing proposals submitted by councils on behalf of their community planningpartners.</p>
4 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have opted to introduce a community warden scheme.
Answer · Margaret Curran: We invited every council inScotland, on behalf of their community planning partners, to submit proposalsfor community warden schemes as set out in our guidance entitled <i>Building Strong,Safe and Attractive Communities.</i> All 32 councils have indicated the…
4 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have graduated in midwifery in each NHS board area in each of the last three years and, of these, how many have found employment in the profession.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive records nursing and midwifery student statistics by Higher EducationInstitution (HEI) and not by NHS board area.</p><p>Numbers of MidwiferyGraduates, by Higher Education Institution, 2000-03.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding…
4 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what charge is levied on football clubs by the Scottish Ambulance Service for the supply of an ambulance and crew to attend on match days.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4677 on 16 December 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliam…
4 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many ambulances are deployed at football grounds on a typical Saturday match day.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is the responsibility of the management at individual football grounds to assess the level of ambulanceprovision required based on the anticipated attendance. Guidance as to what thatminimum provision should be is contained in the “Guide to Safety at Sport…
4 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any heroin substitution programmes that prescribe Subutex to assist in dependence withdrawal.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Buprenorphine (brand nameSubutex) is already licensed for the treatment of opioid dependence. <i>TheDrug Misuse and Dependence – Guidelines on Clinical Management</i> issued by UKHealth Departments recommend that this treatment should be initiated byspecialis…
4 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students were in training in midwifery in each NHS board area in each of the last three years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not heldin the form requested. The Scottish Executive records nursing and midwiferystudent statistics by higher education institution (HEI) and not by NHS boardarea. This information is provided in the table.</p><p>Numbers of Midwifery Stu…
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on publicity by the Greater Glasgow NHS board in each of the last three years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for GreaterGlasgow NHS Board.</p>
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a resource centre in Glasgow for the care and counselling of those who habitually self harm by means of cutting and/or burning.
Answer · Tom McCabe: This is an operational matterfor NHS Greater Glasgow. However, I understand from the board that a range ofservices for people who self harm are in place. A liaison psychiatry and a selfharm service was established in 2000. An adolescent service is also availa…
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of self harm, other than suicide attempts, have been treated in accident and emergency departments in each of the last five years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This question cannot beanswered from national data. However, workis underway to establish an agreed clinical dataset for accident and emergency(A&E). This would address issues such as information on reasons foradmittance to A&E. A nationally co-ordina…
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of self harm, other than suicide attempts, have resulted in hospital admissions in each of the last five years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Table 1 presents informationabout the number of episodes in Scotland in the last five years where a diagnosis of selfharm is reported. It is not possible to determine from national data whetherfor any episode the incident of self harm was a suicide attempt or…
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of self harm, other than suicide attempts, have, after hospital treatment, resulted in referral to (a) further out-patient treatment, (b) a social worker, (c) a mental health professional and (d) a voluntary care body, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This questioncannot be answered from national data.</p>
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what remuneration is received by appointed members of Greater Glasgow NHS board.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Remuneration of £35,790 and£7,160 per annum is payable for the position of Board Chair and Non-Executivemember respectively. This information is published on the Executive’s websiteat <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/government/public">www.scotland.gov.uk/…
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on publicity by Greater Glasgow NHS board in relation to the consultation process into the proposed closure of one of Glasgow's three maternity hospitals.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for GreaterGlasgow NHS Board.</p>
18 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether chief executives of NHS trusts are to be allowed to opt out of the Agenda for Change process and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <i>Agenda for Change</i> proposals, if agreed, will apply in full to allstaff directly employed by NHS organisations, except very senior managers andstaff within the remit of the Doctor’s and Dentists’ Review Body. This is theposition across the UK. Chief exe…
18 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the increase in the working hours of speech and language therapists under the Agenda for Change.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Nationally, speech and languagetherapists work unconditioned hours and in some cases locally hours exceed thenew standard of 37.5 hours proposed under <i>Agenda for Change</i>. In thiscontext, alongside the standard hours of 37.5, <i>Agenda for Change</i>prov…
18 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the potential for a reduction in the salary scale for speech and language therapists under the Agenda for Change.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Job profiles have not yet beenagreed for speech and language therapists and no pay banding has beenpublished. It is therefore not possible at this time to state exactly what thesalary will be for speech and language therapists under <i>Agenda for Change.</i>I…
18 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken to address issues relating to the pension rights of speech and language therapists after 2011 under the Agenda for Change.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Discussions will be takingplace with the Scottish Public Pensions Agency to ensure that measures are putin place with a view to ensuring that any NHS staff on protection under <i>Agendafor Change</i> on a mark time basis will not lose out in pension payments …
18 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reason is for replacing the mechanism for patients to receive independent advice from health councils with the use of agencies appointed through NHS boards.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Our aim is that individualswho wish to complain should have ready access to a suitable source ofindependent advice and support set up for this purpose. Local health councils, whichare appointed by NHS boards, do already offer help to individuals who approacht…
13 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to address any pressures on Glasgow hospitals that have led them to halt some new admissions in mid-November due to a pre-winter surge in demands for beds.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Greater Glasgow and itsplanning partners are preparing local initiatives across their NHS system toenable them to cope with the pressures of winter. Greater Glasgow NHS Board isactively working with their clinical colleagues to explore the reasons for the…
13 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how NHS Greater Glasgow will cope with any unexpected surge in demand for beds from November 2003, once planned hospital closures are implemented in the city.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Under their Acute ServicesReview, NHS Greater Glasgow does not plan to reduce the number of medical beds.Instead, they plan to redeploy beds between three sites rather than the currentfive. Greater Glasgow NHS Board continues to work with its trusts and plann…
5 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is acceptable for a paramedic or nurse to attend to cover an out-of-hours call in the absence of a GP.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Under existing arrangements,general practitioners have responsibility for their patients 24 hours a day,seven days per week. During periods of out-of-hours, the GP will either attendthe patient himself/herself or may be part of an out of hours co-operative in…
5 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive at what rate, per patient, Scottish NHS trusts are charged for the “marginal hotel” costs levied by the Golden Jubilee Hospital for those sent for cardiac treatment.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Golden Jubilee NationalHospital has charged all relevant NHS boards for activity it has performedsince 1 July 2003. An NHS board will be charged a marginal cost of£2,800 for a coronary artery bypass graft performed on one of its residents. Arange of other…
5 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the heart team of the Golden Jubilee Hospital is deployed to work elsewhere in the NHS at times when the team is not working to capacity at that hospital.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Cardiac Surgeon at the GoldenJubilee National Hospital undertakes four theatre sessions per week. During theremainder of the week he undertakes out-patient clinics and other aspects ofcardiac unit work. When additional cardiac theatre sessions are require…