Parliamentary questions

Dr Richard Simpson

2,702 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

5 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what system is in place for the collection and analysis of information on (a) critical incidents and (b) near-misses resulting in (i) stillbirth and (ii) damage to the baby.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Reproductive Health Programme (RHP) of NHS Quality Improvement Service (QIS) collects information on all stillbirths in Scotland. Information on stillbirths is collected from the General Registry Office for Scotland (GROS), and additional information is c…

5 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what national learning points arising from critical incident reports on stillbirths have been issued to NHS boards.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Perinatal and Infant Mortality and Morbidity Report includes information on numbers, rates, causes and associated factors for all stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Scotland, and makes recommendations for practice where appropriate. The p…

5 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all reports (a) of critical incidents and (b) from procurators fiscal on stillbirths are reviewed by a national oversight group as part of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme.

Answer · Shona Robison: At present, the Scottish Patient Safety Programme does not review stillbirths. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) collects information on all stillbirths in Scotland. The unit in which the stillbirth occurred is asked to send information to NHS Q…

5 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a critical incident review is undertaken following all stillbirths.

Answer · Shona Robison: Maternity units will review a stillbirth at a local perinatal mortality meeting. This may take the form of a critical incident review or root cause analysis.

4 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the new Upper Forth Crossing name of Clackmannanshire Bridge is inserted on all signage in a 10-mile radius of the bridge as well as at the bridge itself.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are satisfied that the signage already in place is sufficient to guide road users to the upper Forth crossings and have no plans to change signage to include the Clackmannanshire Bridge.

4 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29901 by Nicola Sturgeon on 18 December 2009 and in light of the threat from healthcare associated infection, whether it will revise the guidance to ensure early replacement of swan neck taps.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are no plans at present to amend the guidance in relation to swan neck taps. The current guidance prohibits their installation in new buildings and recommends their replacement in existing premises where they are damaged or faulty. There is no evidence …

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish prisons were eligible to participate in the Naloxone Investigation (N-ALIVE) Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial; if so, whether any prisons requested to participate, and how many trials in participating prisons were deemed a success.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Naloxone Randomised Control Trial (N-ALIVE) is due to begin in all Scottish prisons in summer 2010, pending ethical app…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current timeline is for re-integration of Scottish Prison Service primary medical and nursing services into the NHS and who the new chair of the relevant working group will be when the current chair retires.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The current timeline, subject to legislation, for the commencement of the integration of prison primary medical and nursing…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many female prisoners were designated as having no fixed abode on their discharge from HMP Cornton Vale in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31473 on 26 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many female prisoners were designated as having no fixed abode on their admission to HMP Cornton Vale in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: This information is only available on a real time basis and not available historically. Currently there are approximately 1…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements exist for vulnerable female prisoners to be transported home from HMP Cornton Vale on discharge and connected immediately to the relevant community services.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The establishment is developing, along with community partners, options for the support of prisoners on the day of liberat…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether methadone will be given to all prisoners who have been prescribed the medicine on the day of release from prison, provided that contact has been made with the appropriate community prescriber.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Methadone will be given prior to liberation if requested by the community prescriber due to distance travelled or limited …

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the agreed policy of the Scottish Prison Service to develop visitor centres will lead to the conversion of the old staff restaurant at HMP Cornton Vale and the development of a centre manned by volunteers.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The SPS recognises that existing visiting facilities at Cornton Vale could be improved. A business case is being developed…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all prisoners held under Rule 37 of the Prison Rules applying to the Scottish Prison Service estate have care plans and whether those plans always include input from a qualified psychiatrist.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Rule 37 of The Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2006 relates specifically to the duty of t…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the Suicide Risk Management Group of HMP Cornton Vale did not meet in the two quarters after March 2009.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: One meeting of the Suicide Risk Management Group was cancelled for operational reasons, the other was postponed due to sta…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the issue of advertising the Scottish Prison Service Listener Scheme, which was identified in the recent HM Inspecorate of Prisons report on HMP Cornton Vale, is being addressed in all prisons.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Listener Scheme is operating in all prisons with the exception of HM YOI Polmont where work is currently underway to re…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether schemes equivalent to the Scottish Prison Service Listener Scheme exist in HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell and, if so, how many listeners are involved in each.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Listener Scheme is available in HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell. Currently, HMP Addiewell has four trained listeners w…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what establishments Scottish Prison Service listener schemes exist and how many listeners there are in each establishment.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Scottish Prisoner Listener Scheme is a Samaritan Scotland delivered service and is normally available in all of Scottis…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times video links were used in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009 between HMP Cornton Vale and courts.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Video links between HMP Cornton Vale and courts have been used once in each of the last two years: to London Magistrates Co…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the use of video links between HMP Cornton Vale and courts.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Cornton Vale has video conferencing facilities available for this purpose. Discussions will take place with the Scottish Co…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009 the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland was requested to give advice on issues affecting vulnerable or mentally ill prisoners in HMP Cornton Vale.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Mental Welfare Commission has been contacted on two occasions in the last three years. Additionally the Mental Welfare …

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will end the use of the back cells in HMP Cornton Vale and adopt a new approach to the management of vulnerable and disturbed women in the prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: A separate care facility (not a segregation unit) will be considered as part of a business case to provide better manageme…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a Scottish Prison Service plan to improve the conditions at HMP Cornton Vale, particularly in Peebles, Bruce and Younger houses.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Improvements are already planned. Work will begin at the start of the new financial year which will include painting, deco…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to issues raised in the recent HM Inspectorate of Prisons report on HMP Cornton Vale, what steps it will take to ensure that any prisoner in Bruce or Younger houses will be allowed to use the toilet promptly, ending delays of up to two hours.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: An option appraisal will be conducted to assess whether the time to access toilet facilities in Cornton Vale can be furthe…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to ensure that a greater focus is placed on female prisoners at Scottish Prison Service Board level.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: The SPS board is focussed on the needs of female offenders and has commissioned the development of the SPS strategy …

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to replicate the Armed Forces Home Ownership Scheme that is being piloted in England.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government already offers priority access to its Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) shared equity schemes to service personnel, veterans who have left the forces in the past year and widows or partners of personnel who have been kil…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Department of Health regarding the practice accreditation schemes being piloted in England.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are regular discussions between the Scottish Government and UK Department of Health on various health related issues. The pilot practice accreditation scheme is a Department of Health initiative linked to quality of care and registration of GP practices…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the osteoporosis direct enhanced service will be continued in 2010-11.

Answer · Shona Robison: Yes. The Osteoporosis Scottish Direct Enhanced Service will continue in 2010-11.

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to ensure equity of approach to appeals against the reduction of Quality and Outcomes Framework funding resulting from the application of the GP patient access survey for 2008-09.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The procedure for contract dispute resolution is set out in the GP contract regulations, under which the contractor and health board are expected to make every reasonable effort to communicate and co-operate with each other with a view to resolving the disput…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in how many GP practices in each NHS board area the Quality and Outcomes Framework funding has (a) increased, (b) remained the same and (c) decreased as a result of the GP patient access survey for 2008-09.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The table below shows the number of practices for which total Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) payments for 2008-09 (a) increased by 1% or more, (b) changed by less than 1% and (c) decreased by 1% or more relative to 2007-08. No practice received exactly …