Parliamentary questions
Dr Richard Simpson
2,702 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what target it has set for the eventual level of distribution of naloxone kits to heroin users following the study in the Annals of Internal Medicine [Ann Intern Med 2013;158:1-9], Naloxone for heroin overdose reversal.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scotland’s take home naloxone programme is supported by the collection and reporting of national monitoring information, which is led by the Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS National Services Scotland. 2011-12 was the first full year of the rollout…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial and (b) personnel support it provides to the (i) Human Tissue Authority and (ii) Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; whether an independent Scotland would establish similar bodies, and, if so, how much they would cost to (A) establish and (B) operate.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not make a financial contribution or provide personnel support to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority but does have a formal contract with the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) in relation to the functions it undertakes in…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made a submission to the consultation on the proposed merger between the Human Tissue Authority, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Care Quality Commission and, if so, whether this is publicly available.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government did not submit a response to the Department of Health’s consultation on its proposals to transfer functions from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) to the Care Quality Commissio…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients treated with a DePuy articular surface hip replacement have been (a) identified, (b) offered a review and (c) tested for levels of cobalt and chromium ions.
Answer · Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally. It is for NHS boards to manage patients with metal on metal hip replacements, including DePuy articular surface hip replacements, so that they receive the appropriate level care. Scottish Government officials are worki…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it holds separate contracts with the pharmaceutical industry for (a) the production of annual influenza vaccine and (b) rapid access to a novel vaccine in the event of a pandemic.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold contracts with the pharmaceutical industry for the annual seasonal flu vaccine. This is carried out by community pharmacists on behalf of General Practitioners. National Procurement Division of NHS National Services Scotl…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is participating in the work of the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance group and, if so, what financial contribution it makes and whether an independent Scotland would continue such participation.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Chief Veterinary Officer Sheila Voas is a member of the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance group and attends meetings. The Scottish Government does not make any direct financial contribution to this group. However some costs are incurred for t…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it (a) monitors and (b) prepares for novel viruses or variations.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR), Health Protection Scotland (HPS) undertakes surveillance to monitor the emergence of new viruses and variations and either provides or receives alerts from the Early Warning and Response System (E…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that doctors explore the risks of stillbirth associated with passive and active smoking with prospective parents.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Awareness of all the risks of antenatal smoking, including the increased risk of stillbirth, is taught as part of midwifery and medical education curricula. All women are counselled of the risks of antenatal smoking at booking and throughout the pregnancy if …
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that every pregnancy other than in the last trimester is assessed for foetal growth retardation.
Answer · Michael Matheson: National care pathways indicate that midwives should assess fetal growth at each scheduled antenatal visit from 28 weeks of pregnancy. If concerns were detected regarding growth at the time of the anomaly ultrasound scan, at between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnan…
23 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the retail sector to discuss the loss of the Marine Stewardship Council certificate for mackerel.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government have been in close contact with the main retailers, and the fishing industry, since the Marine Stewardship Council announced the suspension of the MSC certification. It has been agreed with the industry that this issue will be discussed at…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the clinical standards for cervical screening (a) were last published and (b) will be revised other than to amend the age for commencement of routine screening.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The clinical standards for cervical screening were last published on 1 December 2001. Healthcare Improvement Scotland is currently working with their partner organisations to review and update their work around national screening programmes, including screen…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the clinical standards for breast screening (a) were last published and (b) will be revised.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The clinical standards for breast screening were last published on 1 October 2002. Five core standards were updated in 2008: lung, breast, ovarian, core and bowel. A Cancer Quality Performance Indicators Programme was developed following the publication of th…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional in-year funding each NHS board has received in each year since April 2007 and for what reason.
Answer · Alex Neil: NHS boards have received the following in-year funding amounts over the last six years: NHS Board In Year Allocations 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 £000s £000s £000s £000s £000s £000s NHS Ayrshire and Arran 76,701 65…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by how much each NHS board has been (a) over- or (b) underfunded in each of the last six years, also expressed as a percentage.
Answer · Alex Neil: Each NHS board has received an appropriate amount of funding from the Scottish Government in each of the last six years and therefore no board has been either over or under funded in that time period.
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it regards as a reasonable time for patients referred by GPs for diagnostic tests to be seen.
Answer · Alex Neil: Current diagnostic waiting time standards provide an indication of the maximum time that patients referred for investigations can expect to wait. Urgency of referrals is judged by the referrer. Referrals for diagnostic tests are prioritised according to clini…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether GP referrals for diagnostic tests are (a) given lower priority than and (b) subject to the same waiting time as guarantees and exemptions referrals by consultants for the same tests.
Answer · Alex Neil: Those patients covered by Scottish Government guarantees are set out in guidance issued by the Scottish Government in August 2012. These documents are available at the following links: www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2012_32.pdf www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports NHS boards that report problems in achieving the waiting time guarantee for colorectal cancer treatment.
Answer · Alex Neil: When there is evidence that an NHS board is persistently failing to meet cancer waiting times standards, the NHS board is offered a programme of performance support. This programme is tailored and may involve one or more of the following: weekly monitoring o…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it considers an unacceptable breach of the waiting time guarantee for cancer treatment.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has set two standards for patients diagnosed with cancer. The first, is that patients who have been urgently referred with a suspicion of cancer or are referred from one of the national cancer screening programmes, should begin treatm…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what options are available to patients where the 12-week referral to treatment time guarantee has not been met.
Answer · Alex Neil: The operation of the treatment time guarantee is contained in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011, in the treatment time guarantee regulations and directions as well as the guidance issued by the Scottish Government in August 2012. Links to the Regulations…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many additional letters it expects will be issued monthly by NHS boards because of the new rules for applying social unavailability codes.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is not available centrally.
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many social unavailability codes for (a) outpatients and (b) inpatients have been issued by each NHS board in each month since the New Ways waiting time system was introduced, also expressed as a percentage.
Answer · Alex Neil: Officials have provided a report on the quarterly statistics published by ISD on waiting times. These reports include information on the number of patients who are socially unavailable at the census date that the publication relates to and compares it with th…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for the review of National Care Standards.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has undertaken exploratory work to inform the review of the National Care Standards and will launch a consultation in the first half of 2013. The consultation will seek views on the proposed approach to the review, the actual review pr…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the criteria are for eligibility for (a) free personal care and (b) nursing care.
Answer · Alex Neil: Eligibility criteria are defined in the National Standard Eligibility and Waiting times for the Personal and Nursing Care of Older People – Guidance. A complete copy of the guidance is available on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.u…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on creating a mechanism for determining appropriate staffing levels and skill mix in the care home sector.
Answer · Alex Neil: There is a statutory requirement on care service providers to ensure that at all times suitably qualified and competent persons are working in the care service, as are appropriate for the health and welfare of service users. The National Care Standards also r…
17 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what reduction there has been in violence against NHS staff in each year since the Working Well Challenge Fund was established and how much of this can be attributed to the fund.
Answer · Alex Neil: Information regarding violence towards NHSScotland staff is not held centrally. Collection of information is a matter for individual NHSScotland boards. Any alteration to the levels of violence against NHS staff will be the result of a number of factors and …
17 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent progress has been made by the Working Well Challenge Fund.
Answer · Alex Neil: Over the past four years the Working Well policy has supported a mix of various NHSScotland board projects, including, during the first two years, projects funded through the Working Well Challenge Fund, and a programme of national led projects. The concept …
17 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding each NHS board has received from the Working Well Challenge Fund.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Working Well Challenge Fund was available for two years; 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. The following table shows the amount awarded for each board in each of these years. Working Well Challenge Fund NHSScotland Board allocations NHS Board Year 2009-2010 Y…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to opening further 218 Time Out centres for women and a pilot centre for men.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has committed to pilot a Community Justice Centre for women as part of our response to the Angiolini Commission on women offenders. We expect that the pilot will run for 2 years. We will consider carefully the learning as it emerges fr…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to retaining HMP Cornton Vale for long-term prisoners only.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Commission on Women Offenders recommended that Cornton Vale should be replaced with a smaller specialist unit for women offenders servin…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the visitor centre at HMP Cornton Vale will open.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Family Centre at HMP and YOI Cornton Vale is currently still on schedule to open in spring 2013.