Parliamentary questions
Dr Richard Simpson
2,702 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people escaped from adult medium secure units in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009.
Answer · Shona Robison: There are two adult medium secure units in Scotland, the Orchard Clinic, Edinburgh and Rowanbank, Glasgow. The Memorandum of Procedure on Restricted Patients defines an escape as An escape will have taken place when a restricted patient breaches a physical ba…
4 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken by the General Register Office for Scotland before it reached a decision to abandon microfilm and microfiche.
Answer · Jim Mather: In November 2009, the General Register Office for Scotland consulted a group of family historians including representatives of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies, the Association of Scottish Genealogists and Researchers in Archives and the S…
4 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S3W-30527 by Jim Mather on 19 January 2010, what proportion of data is unreadable following the transfer from microfilm or microfiche to a digital format.
Answer · Jim Mather: If an image in the digital format now provided by the General Register Office for Scotland is considered unreadable, that only becomes apparent when a member of staff, registrar or customer reports it. I understand about 30 poor quality images are reported ea…
3 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recommendation adopted by the EU Council of Ministers on 9 June 2009 calling on member states to implement plans or strategies for rare diseases, what new steps it is taking to build on the specialist commissioning work already taking place to ensure equity of access and …
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In light of the European Council Recommendation on an action in the field of Rare Diseases, officials from each of the four UK Health Departments are liaising to explore areas of possible collaboration and progress in the provision of services for people with…
26 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the conclusions of the independent review of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 to be published.
Answer · Shona Robison: The independent review of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 was published on 7 August 2009 as part of the consultation on the review of the act. Copies were placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and also sent to the cha…
26 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary care practices have some form of patient involvement via a patient participation group or similar patient advisory body.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally. health boards across Scotland are, however, fully committed to involving the public in the planning and delivery of local healthcare services. One of the ways this is done is through Public Partnership Forums, which con…
26 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive at what level of service change in primary care it requires the Scottish Health Council to be consulted about the process of patient focus and public involvement.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recently issued guidance - <i >Informing, Engaging and Consulting People in Developing Health and Community Care Services</i> “ to assist NHS boards with their engagement with patients and the public on the delivery of local healthcare…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the average waiting time for assessment advice or support from the Scottish Driving Assessment Centre.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Driving Assessment Centre aims to provide a flexible and accessible service, and holds clinics at the South East Mobility and Rehabilitation (SMART) Centre in Edinburgh and six locations across Scotland. Its mobile unit enables patients to access…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) maximum, (b) average and (c) median waiting time is for assessment of people referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Centre.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The waiting times for assessment of people referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Service are:</p> <p align=left >Maximum waiting time: 62.7 weeks</p> <p align=left >Average waiting time: 22.3 weeks</p> <p align=left >Median waiting time: 20.9 week…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is an intention to update the Health Protection Scotland website regarding norovirus outbreaks.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Since 21 January 2010, Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have been publishing weekly unvalidated data on norovirus outbreaks on its website. The web link is: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/haiic/ic/noroviruspointprev.aspx">http://www.hps.scot.nh…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the voluntary reporting of norovirus by individual laboratories will be made mandatory.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Norovirus is an organism which is required to be notified by laboratories to the local NHS board and to Health Protection Scotland under the Public Health etc (Scotland) Act 2008 with effect from 1 January 2010.</p>
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what factors contribute to outbreaks of norovirus and whether such outbreaks reflect poor hygiene.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Norovirus is the most common cause of infectious gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and vomiting). Outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis are more likely in semi-closed environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships.</p> <p >Poor hygiene is…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make use of the EU school fruit scheme allocation for 2010-11.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I am pleased to advise that a bid for funding along with a Scottish national strategy was submitted to the EU for consideration in January 2010. We expect to be advised of the outcome by the end of April 2010.</p>
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of schools has extended the free fruit scheme beyond primary one and two pupils, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Adam Ingram: This information can be found in the School Meals Survey which is published each year. The last version was published in June 2009 and can be accessed using the following link <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/22104701/0">http://www.sco…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivein light of the publication of the research by Baker, Richard et al (2009), “Do the Quality and Outcomes Framework patient experience indicators reward practices that offer improved access?”, British Journal of General Practice, vol. 59, no. 565, pp. e267-e272, what steps it is taking to e…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The main conclusion of the cited paper was that an independent survey that directly investigates patients'' experience of access, coupled to a financial incentive, may be a more effective means of promoting improved access and continuity.</p> <p >The paper d…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland expects to complete a memorandum of understanding with each local authority.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland Administration is seeking to sign-off agreed memoranda of understanding with all local authorities in Scotland by the end of April 2010.</p>
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what efficiency savings the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland is expected to make in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11 and how these savings will be measured.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland Administration is expected to come in on budget at £9.75 million in 2009-10 and £9.5 million in 2010-11. These levels of expenditure represent savings of 7% and 9.5% respectively using expenditure in 2008-09 of £10.5 mi…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what budget is allocated to the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The total budget allocated to the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland is £9.75 million for 2009-10 and £9.5 million for 2010-11.</p>
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to address the deficit incurred by the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland Administration as of March 2009.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The deficit incurred by the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland Administration during 2008-09 was met by transferring underspend from elsewhere in Health Directorate General''s budget that year to the administration. Through a programme of efficiencies and sa…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many off-licences have had their licences suspended for selling alcohol to people under 18 in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30174 on 25 January 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/Apps…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many off-licences were found to have sold alcohol to people under 18 in 2008-09, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is provided in the following table:</p> <p >Number of Offences Recorded by the Police, in which a Licensed Person has Sold Alcohol to a Person Under 18, by Local Authority, in 2008-09</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether recording of inter-ward transfer rates is a standard part of monitoring arrangements either as part of or separately from infection control management procedures in hospitals.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The routine recording of inter-ward transfer rates is not part of current national infection control guidance, however this does take place in the majority of hospitals in Scotland. All hospitals monitor the movement of any patient who has a suspected infecti…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research is being undertaken either in Scotland or in the United Kingdom to examine the interaction between norovirus and Clostridium difficile.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The HAI Task Force has commissioned the West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre to study the relationship between norovirus, other gastroenteritis viruses and Clostridium difficile. This is a detailed and lengthy study which is ongoing, but it is anticipa…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the higher expression of virulence and pathogenicity of the G11.4 strain of norovirus, what typing has been carried out and what guidance has been issued on when to take and submit samples for typing.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland does not routinely request or collect typing data on norovirus. Regardless of strain, there is no difference in either the treatment of a patient with norovirus or in the management of any outbreak. The care of any patient with noro…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cost to the NHS of outbreaks of norovirus in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Estimates of the cost to the NHS of norovirus outbreaks is not centrally available as the total number of patients and staff affected by the virus cannot be derived from census-based national surveillance systems.</p>
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many wards were closed in what hospitals in the winter of (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the numbers of wards closed to admissions or visitors in general is not available centrally.</p> <p >Health Protection Scotland monitors ward closures due to norovirus outbreaks via point prevalence management information however:</p> <p >Th…
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Health Protection Scotland has an automated electronic system for capturing data on norovirus.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland plans to have a fully automated electronic laboratory reporting system for selected pathogens, including norovirus, in place by July 2010. </p>
25 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a mandatory reporting and surveillance system in place for norovirus outbreaks in hospitals or whether reporting to ObSurv is voluntary.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is established weekly reporting of all hospital wards that are closed with presumed or confirmed cases of norovirus. This is the only UK system providing real-time data on norovirus outbreaks.</p> <p >There is also mandatory reporting of all hospital i…
11 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent Conficker virus attacks on computers at NHS Leeds and Greater Manchester Police, what steps it is taking to ensure that all critical and non-critical NHS computers are adequately protected from the virus by the Microsoft patch.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Conficker virus was detected in a small number of Health Boards early in 2009. NHS National Services Scotland coordinated the action that needed to be taken across NHSScotland. Individual health boards were responsible for taking the appropriate actions o…
10 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a universal shingles vaccination programme for people aged between 70 and 79 years, as recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, and, if so, when.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31360 on 9 February 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/Apps…