Dr Richard Simpson

14 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) inspection is undertaken and (b) regulations there are on the application of standards for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with regard to (i) accessibility to and (ii) the regular programming of pulmonary rehabilitation.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) clinical standards for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) apply to all NHS boards in Scotland with responsibility for delivering COPD services. We expect NHS boards'' Respiratory Managed Clinical Networ…

12 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38443 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 January 2011, on how many occasions in relation to the calls listed the Scottish Ambulance Service (a) recorded that Naloxone had been administered and (b) administered Naloxone on attending.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Ambulance Service have advised that Naloxone was administered to patients 44 times in 2008 and 44 times in 2009. The administration of Naloxone by ambulance crews is always recorded on the patient record.</p>

12 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38443 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 January 2011, what steps it is taking to link more detailed information on diagnosis and outcomes to the data collected by the Scottish Ambulance Service on overdose and poisoning related calls.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We recognise that the data collected by the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) on overdose and poisoning related calls provides valuable information on drug overdoses and we are exploring how to make best use of this data to inform approaches to drug treatment …

11 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHSScotland undertakes or is planning to undertake contracts for cloud computing and, if so, with what companies.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHSScotland is monitoring the development of cloud services but has no current plans to let national contracts for cloud-based services at this time.</p>

11 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37464 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, how much of the £425,000 allocated to the implementation of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 (a) has been spent and (b) is expected to be spent by the end of 2010-11.

Answer · Shona Robison: As at 12 January 2011, £244,617 has been spent from the allocated budget. We expect to spend the remainder of the budget by the end of this financial year.</p>

11 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37464 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, for what reason the budget for smoke-free laws was applied separately from the enforcing of smoke-free legislation.

Answer · Shona Robison: With reference to my response to question S3W-37464 the budget for the smoke-free laws has not been applied separately from the budget for smoke-free legislation. This budget allows local authorities to enforce the smoke-free laws.</p> <p >Separately identif…

11 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37464 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, what the budget for enforcing the smoke-free legislation provided by means of a block grant was for (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and is in 2010-11.

Answer · Shona Robison: £2.5 million was included in the 2007-08 local government finance settlement for enforcing the smoke-free laws. This funding, which has been maintained, was included as part of the general block grant and it is a matter for individual local authorities to all…

11 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to transfer staff from Waterwatch Scotland to Consumer Focus Scotland and, if so, how the interests of consumers protected by Waterwatch Scotland will be maintained, in light of the UK Government’s proposal to abolish Consumer Focus.

Answer · John Swinney: Staff from Waterwatch Scotland would be transferred to Consumer Focus Scotland on the commencement of the relevant provisions of the Public Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. A commencement order for these provisions can only be made after the Scottish Parli…

11 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason Scotland had an in-hospital mortality rate following coronary artery bypass grafting of 2.2% between 2006 and 2008 compared with 1.8% in England and 1.1% in Wales.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Coronary Revascularisation Register (SCRR) has monitored Scottish coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) outcomes since 1996. Its data are thought to be more accurate than those of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, on which th…

11 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the provision of acute pain services in light of the report by the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death, An Age Old Problem: A review of the care received by elderly patients undergoing surgery.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Although it operates UK-wide the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death reports do not normally cover Scotland as such work is undertaken by the Scottish Audit of Surgical Mortality. This report covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland…

11 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to eliminate bisphenol A from food packaging.

Answer · Shona Robison: Food safety controls on materials and articles in contact with food are harmonised at European level and Scottish Ministers are advised on such matters by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland. European Law currently allows the use of bisphenol A (BPA) up to …

11 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure public awareness of the value of commercially available predictive genetic testing.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is not for Scottish ministers to raise awareness of specific products, nor to promote or advise on the use of products of this kind to the wider public.</b></p>

11 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether health technology assessments have been carried out on any commercially available predictive genetic tests.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has not commissioned any health technology assessments on commercially available predictive genetic tests.</b></p>

11 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost per patient in the State Hospital, Carstairs, was in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 and what the expected cost is for 2011-12.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Cost per patient at The State Hospital;</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=158 valign=top > <p >2007-08</p> </td> <td width=81 valign=top > <p >£135,513</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td width=158 valign=top > <p…

10 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that NHS staff are within their rights, having exhausted internal procedures, to go to their representatives on the staff partnership forum with concerns regarding (a) their treatment as employees and (b) services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS staff are within their rights at any stage to raise concerns regarding either their treatment as employees, or regarding services, with partnership representatives.</b></p>

10 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that NHS staff are within their rights, having exhausted internal procedures, to discuss with patient organisations any concerns regarding services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Voicing Concerns Partnership Information Network (PIN) Guideline, which contains a model whistleblowing policy, includes provision for workers to make disclosures more widely (for example to the police, the media, MSPs, consumers and non-prescribed regula…

10 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that NHS staff are within their rights, having exhausted internal procedures, to go to their MSPs and councillors with concerns regarding (a) their treatment as employees and (b) services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Voicing Concerns Partnership Information Network (PIN) Guideline, which contains a model whistleblowing policy, includes provision for workers to make disclosures more widely (for example to the police, the media, MSPs, consumers and non-prescribed regula…

5 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the publication of Towards an Autism Strategy for Scotland, what audit it has undertaken of the number of clinicians fully trained and able to assess, treat and manage autism spectrum disorders.

Answer · Shona Robison: No audit has been undertaken to ascertain the number of clinicians trained to assess, treat and manage autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, funding has been made available to research the number who are waiting for diagnosis and assessment and the issues…

5 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Ambulance Service has amended its Child Protection Code of Practice, as recommended by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, to take into account the circumstance whereby children are left in its care when the responsible adult has been taken ill.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As recommended by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) is currently amending its Child Protection Code of Practice. The service has advised me that it anticipates this work being completed before the end of February 201…

5 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38040 by Keith Brown on 15 December 2010, who is involved in preparing the transport plan for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland is working with Event Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council to develop a transport plan for the event. The exercise will be carried out in conjunction with the Event owner, Ryder Cup Europe.</p>

5 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38040 by Keith Brown on 15 December 2010, whether a draft transport plan for the 2014 Ryder Cup will be issued for consultation.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38041 on 16 December 2010. 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/App…

5 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38040 by Keith Brown on 15 December 2010, what the timeline is for concluding the transport plan for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38041 on 16 December 2010. 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/App…

5 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of redundancies was in replacing the GPASS system.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There have been no redundancies linked to the GPASS replacement. GPASS remains operational until March 2012. National Services Scotland (NSS) are working closely with the Trade Unions and the Scottish Government to identify opportunities for suitable alternat…

5 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the CHI identifier will be a compulsory field in any new death certificate.

Answer · Shona Robison: There are no plans for the CHI to be a compulsory field in the proposed revised medical certificate of cause of death. Certifying doctors will be asked to provide the number where it is available to them to help with the efficient management of their patient'…

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to NHS boards on how to treat the pay of staff who were unable to get to work in the recent bad weather

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A letter was issued on 14 December 2010 to NHSScotland boards from the Scottish Government, advising on the approach to be taken where staff were unable to attend work during recent adverse weather conditions. </p> <p >This letter advised as follows:</p> <p…

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism is used to ensure that NHS IT procurement complies with approved information standards.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Each major project will identify the information standards that are necessary for the IT systems to deliver the desired outcomes. The eHealth Design Authority will report to the eHealth Programme Board on compliance in their advice on business cases.</p>

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how information standards are approved for use in NHSScotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Standards have previously been adopted by the projects and services that require them. The eHealth Programme have now instituted a process for agreeing standards and they will be published by the eHealth Design Authority. New standards will go through this pr…

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what non-approved information standards are in use in NHSScotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: All information standards that have been adopted within in NHS Scotland will have been approved through the relevant governance channel for the IT system in question.</p>

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information standards are (a) current and (b) in development in NHSScotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information standards are developed by various groups within NHS Scotland within a specific area of interest. Information standards will generally be published by the groups that create and maintain them. A comprehensive list of information standards that are…

23 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Systematised Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms, READv2 and CTv3 computerised languages are the only ones approved as standard in NHSScotland IT.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: READv2 has been adopted for use in a number of IT systems in NHSScotland. For example, it was a requirement of the recently let national framework contract for the General Practice IT(GPIT) systems. The Systematised Nomenclature of Medicine - Clinical Terms (…