Parliamentary questions
Dr Richard Simpson
2,702 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds have been allocated to tobacco control activities in each of the last four years, broken down by type of activity.
Answer · Shona Robison: The following table contains a breakdown of funds allocated to tobacco control activities.</b></p> <p >Tobacco Control Activities “ 2007-08 to 2010-11</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=left > </p>…
10 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were given thrombolysis in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, and (c) 2009, also expressed as a percentage of acute stroke patients.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested for 2007 is not available centrally.</b></p> <p >The Scottish Stroke Care Audit 2010 National Report, published on 29 June 2010, indicates that in 2008, 260 (3%) people received thrombolysis and in 2009 the number was 411 (5%). The…
10 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that community pharmacists have a sufficient supply of medicines from manufacturers to fill prescriptions and whether it is has worked with the Department of Health on this.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government continues to monitor the supply of prescription medicines and is in regular contact about supply issues with the Department of Health, pharmaceutical companies and others, including Community Pharmacy Scotland and NHS National Services…
10 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of the minor ailments scheme was in the latest year for which figures are available.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In 2009-10, a total of £16.225 million was paid in remuneration and reimbursement to community pharmacies for the minor ailment service.</b></p>
10 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the predicted cost will be of retaining the current eligibility and exclusions in the minor ailments scheme should prescription charges be abolished.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The anticipated cost of retaining the current eligibility and exclusions in the minor ailment service (MAS) when the prescription charge is reduced to zero in April 2011, will be in line with current costs.</b></p> <p >For the most recent cost of MAS, I refe…
10 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider allowing pharmacists to change prescriptions for branded drugs to generic alternatives, given the decision by the Department of Health not to proceed with this policy.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No decision has been taken by the Scottish Government in respect of the introduction of generic substitution. At present, officials are in discussion with key stakeholders to examine ways to maximise the use of generic medicines in Scotland.</b></p>
10 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of the Public Health Service community pharmacy contract has been in each of the last three years, also broken down by the costs for (a) smoking cessation and (b) emergency hormone contraception.
Answer · Shona Robison: The cost of the Public Health Service (PHS) in the last three financial years was as follows:</b></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >Year</p> </td> <td valign=top > <p align=center >(a) …
10 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to parents or caregivers on sharing a bed with an infant.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has been working with the Scottish Cot Death Trust to update the <i >Reduce the risk of cot death</i> leaflet, which will be published early in 2011. A copy of the leaflet is given to all new parents. This leaflet emphasises that a par…
28 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Scotland provides advice and treatment free to failed asylum seekers.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Asylum seekers in Scotland, who are registered with the UK Border Agency, are eligible to access NHS care and services until they leave the country, on the same basis as a person who is ordinarily resident in Scotland. This is regardless of the status of thei…
28 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed or will discuss with the UK Government the possibility of taking over health service provision at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is facilitating the discussions of UK Government with NHS Lanarkshire, in this reserved area, regarding the responsibility for the delivery of primary care services to the residents of Dungavel. Specialist healthcare is currently deliv…
27 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of Infertility Network Scotland’s interim report on fertility funding, whether the remit of the National Infertility Group will be expanded to include the identification and development of tools to support the implementation of its recommendations.
Answer · Shona Robison: The National Infertility Group considered the interim report from Infertility Network Scotland at its meeting on 13 July 2010. The group will provide an initial progress report to ministers within the agreed timescale.</b></p>
25 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS distinction awards were made in the last five years to consultants who were (a) 60 and over and (b) 56 to 59.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is as follows:</b></p> <p >New Distinction Awards Broken Down by Age</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >Age Group</p> </td> <td valign=top > <p al…
15 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set up a pilot alcohol treatment and testing order alongside the drug treatment and testing orders run by the criminal justice authorities.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We have no plans to pilot alcohol treatment and testing orders. Scottish courts are already able to impose a condition of alcohol treatment or education as part of a probation order where they consider it appropriate. 1,062 such conditions were imposed in 200…
15 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is possible to require alcohol treatment as well as alcohol testing as part of the treatment under the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 legislates for the new community payback order. The aim of the alcohol treatment requirement which can be imposed as part of the community payback order is to ensure that offenders address their alcohol d…
15 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the definition of alcohol dependency is for the purposes of section 227V(6)(a) and (b) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: For the purposes of section 227V(6)(a) and (b) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, it will be for the court to satisfy themselves that an individual has an alcohol dependency. Before imposing a community payback order, the court must ta…
15 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what evidence the continuation of the chronic kidney disease element of the Quality and Outcomes Framework is based and when this element will be reviewed.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) manages the process to develop the clinical and health improvement indicators for the Quality and Outcomes Framework, including prioritising areas for new indicator development and recommending …
15 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £200 million cancer drug fund for England and Wales proposed by the UK Government will have a Barnett consequential.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government will receive consequentials on the full NHS (health) settlement in England, and these consequentials will be passed on in Scotland.</b></p>
15 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the UK Government’s proposed creation of a £200 million cancer drug fund to provide cancer drugs that are not approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government will give due consideration to the Department of Health''s cancer drugs fund consultation findings once they are published.</b></p> <p >Scotland has robust, equitable and transparent arrangements for the introduction of newly licensed…
15 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to ensuring that cancer registration data is either compulsory or has an opt-out system in order to improve the validity of survival statistics.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Information Services Division, which hosts the Scottish Cancer Registry, holds responsibility for the collection of cancer statistics across Scotland.</p> <p >Establishing a legislative basis for the collection of health statistics (including cancer regi…
15 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what rights will be given to patients with a (a) hearing impairment, (b) visual impairment and (c) language or literacy difficulty under the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 17 March 2010. The policy content of the Bill is set out in the Policy Memorandum. The Bill is now going through the parliamentary process and its final shape will be a matter for…
15 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted an (a) internal or (b) independent review of the (i) process and (ii) outcome of data collection on health issues.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government and National Services Scotland are currently working together to develop an Information and Intelligence Strategy for Health and Care. This strategy will cover the next five years and will:</p> <p >ensure that information develops in…
15 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill will give patients over 40 the right to a health check similar to that in the NHS in England.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 17 March 2010. The policy content of the Bill is set out in the Policy Memorandum. The Bill is now going through the parliamentary process and its final shape will be a matter for…
15 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34534 by Shona Robison on 28 June 2010, what level of retinal screening was carried out as part of the Scottish Diabetic Retinopathy Screening programme in the last two years for which statistics are available.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The level of screening carried out by the Scottish Diabetic Retinopathy Screening (DRS) Programme over the past two years is set out in the following table. </b></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > <p > </p> …
15 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35200 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 August 2010, what side effects were recorded in the 77 reports considered serious by the reporter.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As of 2 September 2010, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has received a total of 75 reports of suspected adverse reactions (ADRs) associated with the use of HPV vaccine (including Cervarix and brand unspecified reports) from Scot…
14 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether information obtained from GP records will be recorded manually or automatically on the pharmacy system under the chronic medication service between GPs and pharmacists.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36923 on 9 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p >http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
14 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether access will be limited to an individual pharmacy or to a chain of pharmacies under the chronic medication service between GPs and pharmacists.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36923 on 9 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p >http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
14 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which staff members at a pharmacy will be allowed access to GP-held data and how they will be identified under the chronic medication service between GPs and pharmacists.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36923 on 9 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p >http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
14 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether particular read codes can be automatically excluded from read coding under the chronic medication service between GPs and pharmacists.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Chronic Medication Service does not currently require the use of read codes. It remains a matter of the clinical judgement of a GP, in consultation with the patient, on whether they wish to share read codes with pharmacists.</p>
14 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether information can be selectively withheld from record sharing under the chronic medication service between GPs and pharmacists.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Chronic Medication Service (CMS) encourages closer partnership working between GPs and pharmacists to support better outcomes for patients. Whilst a patient is asked to provide informed consent for the sharing of relevant data between the community pharma…
14 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be access to historical data under the chronic medication service between GPs and pharmacists.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36923 on 9 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busine…