Parliamentary questions

Dr Richard Simpson

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

25 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Health Protection Scotland (HPS) concluded or will conclude its guidelines on Clostridium difficile outbreaks and whether that and all other HPS guidance will be placed in the public domain.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Guidance on Prevention and Control of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Healthcare Settings in Scotland includes advice on the management of outbreaks. The latest version of this guidance was published on the HPS website in Septem…

25 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to upgrade the website reporting on Clostridium difficile to ensure that the information is made available in real time and presented in a way that (a) is uniform and (b) can be readily understood by the public.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards are currently reviewing the structure and presentation of the HAI reporting template to consider what changes are needed to make the information easier to understand by the public. I expect this review to have concluded by March 2010.

25 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps should be taken to ensure that patients and family members are informed and consulted as soon as possible when an outbreak of Clostridium difficile takes place.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29375 on 4 December 2009. 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.parli…

25 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the public is informed as soon as possible of future outbreaks of Clostridium difficile.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I have asked the HAI Task Force to urgently review the arrangements in place for notifying the public about outbreaks of Clostridium difficile at its next quarterly meeting of 8 December 2009 and provide me with their recommendations by end December 2009.…

25 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, given that the September 2009 guidance from Health Protection Scotland contained 31 links to other documents, whether it will act on the advice of NHS QIS to simplify and clarify the range of guidance, protocols and toolkits on the control of Clostridium difficile infection and, if so, w…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Chief Nursing Officer wrote to Health Protection Scotland on 24 November to ask that they develop a compendium of current national guidance on HAI. The compendium will provide NHS staff with an overview of up to date guidance and provide a first…

25 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what Health Protection Scotland’s view is regarding the transmissibility and lethality of the 078 subtype of Clostridium difficile.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The national reference laboratory advise that although this ribotype exists in Scotland, there have not been any particular concerns raised about its transmissibility or lethality above those seen with other strains of Clostridium difficile. Their e…

25 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Healthcare Associated Infection Taskforce will review the guidance on trigger points in relation to the identification of cases of the 027 strain of Clostridium difficile.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) guidance on how to set triggers was circulated to NHS Scotland in June 2009. It is not yet on the HPS website because of amendments that are being made to terminology and cross referencing to recently updated documents. <…

25 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the rapid testing for MRSA and the 027 strain of Clostridium difficile (Cd) being used at Ninewells Hospital has been validated and, if so, whether the Scottish Government will fund a rapid roll-out as well as testing of all symptomatic Cd cases that tested positive on an Elisa te…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The rapid testing system in NHS Tayside is currently being evaluated by the board as part of its overall approach to managing Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI). Independent of this, the Scottish Microbiology Forum (SMF), Health Protection Scotlan…

25 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, given that the commensal pool of Clostridium difficile infection is high in childhood, whether it will bring mandatory surveillance reporting into line with that in England and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Clostridium difficile organism is naturally present in the gut of a large percentage of children. However, it is rare for this to develop into an infection in this age group, and thus the numbers of patients aged 14 and under who become ill from Clostridi…

25 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Health Protection Scotland subtyping study to detail the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile will be (a) completed and (b) published.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Health Protection Scotland (HPS) subtyping programme is an ongoing survey. Data from the programme was first included in the HPS report Quarterly report on the surveillance of Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) in Scotland<i…

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that NHS boards have adequate accommodation to conduct two-view mammography breast screening in order to meet the implementation deadline of April 2010.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government Health Department has made investment in capital projects to extend screening centres and procure additional mobile units to increase capacity for two-view mammography breast screening.

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that radiologists are encouraged to specialise in breast screening in order to meet the implementation deadline of April 2010 for two-view mammography breast screening.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The delivery of mammography services is supported by a multi-disciplinary team including radiologists, radiographers and their support staff. Radiographers who are trained to national standards in screening and reporting work with radiologists to deliver safe…

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that two-view mammography breast screening is implemented by the April 2010 deadline.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We are working closely with all NHS breast screening centres and they are indicating that two-view mammography breast screening will be implemented by April 2010.

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards (a) have and (b) have not implemented two-view mammography breast screening.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: (a) Two-view mammography has been implemented in NHS Fife, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Highland, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland, NHS Tayside and NHS Western Isles. (b) Two-view mammography has not yet been implemented in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS …

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has concluded its feasibility study into extending breast cancer sentinel node biopsy across Scotland and, if so, what the outcomes are.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29331 on 3 December 2009. 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…

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to provide training in sentinel node biopsy to NHS boards.

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards make sentinel node biopsy available to patients with breast cancer.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Sentinel node biopsy is currently available to all breast cancer patients in Scotland where this is clinically appropriate. Services are configured so that all suitable patients are offered the procedure at their nearest breast cancer unit providing it. …

19 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that all forensic mental health service units have access to specialist drug and alcohol services.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS health boards are responsible for ensuring that forensic patients receive appropriate care and treatment and that includes treatment for drug and alcohol problems if required. Services are available and provided in each of the forensic mental health servi…

19 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken in forensic mental health service units to support individuals who wish to give up smoking.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards have a responsibility to ensure that all smokers who wish to give up smoking in forensic mental health service units have access to local smoking cessation services which provide required motivational support and should put in place arrangements fo…

19 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support 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.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In Scotland, rare diseases are already managed on a pan-Scotland basis, largely through genetic services - which are subject to ongoing enhancement following on from the Calman review (2006) with £4.6 million per annum recurring investment over three years - …

18 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to keep the public informed of the status of the medical condition of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi now that he has survived beyond the time limit referred to in Scottish Government guidance in relation to release on compassionate grounds.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not provide a running commentary on the health of a prisoner released on compassionate grounds.

12 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure patient safety by guaranteeing supplies of prescription medicines via community pharmacists in light of restricted supplies by some pharmaceutical companies.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is aware of the issues impacting on the supply of prescription medicines and is in contact with NHS National Services Scotland and Community Pharmacy Scotland to monitor any supply difficulties and, where possible, will take all approp…

12 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many school nurses and how many full-time equivalent school nurses were employed in each NHS health area in each of the last four years.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23085 on 29 April 2009, which gave the number of school nurses employed in 2007 and 2008. Data for 2005 and 2006 is unavailable due to the non-direct match between Whitley Council grades and new Agenda for Chan…

12 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to help resolve the current dispute between pharmaceutical companies and community pharmacists that has resulted in the rationing of supplies of some prescription medicines to community pharmacists ostensibly to prevent exports of medicines.

6 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued in relation to (a) banning gagging or similar clauses in NHS contracts, (b) requiring removal of gagging or similar clauses in NHS contracts agreed prior to the coming into force of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and (c) banning gagging or similar clau…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards in Scotland have responsibility for supporting staff. Employees are encouraged to raise concerns without fear of penalty or victimisation. All boards have delegated responsibility to ensure that there is a clear commitment to operate i…

3 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that full-time junior medical staff who already work 48 hours per week are not additionally employed as NHS locums.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: If vacancies exist in junior doctor rotas, NHS boards can employ locums to cover short-term gaps. It is individual boards'' responsibility as employers to ensure that any staff engaged in locum, bank or overtime work, whether junior doctors or other medical s…

3 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many derogations have been granted to NHS boards; for what posts, and for how long.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A total of seven rotas were approved by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and were included in the amendment regulations which were laid before the UK Parliament on 15 October and came into force from 2 November 2009. The derogation applies until…

3 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have requested derogation from the European working time directive; for how many posts, and for how long.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Five NHS boards applied for derogation for a total of 14 rotas for two years. They were: NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Borders, NHS Fife, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Taysid…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage NHS boards to transfer retinal camera digitised recording follow-up in diabetes and glaucoma to optometrists.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Diabetic Retinopathy Screening (DRS) Programme offers retinopathy screening to all eligible people with diabetes in Scotland. Implementation of the DRS Programme is adapted to each board''s geography and population and diabetic retinopathy inform…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to digitise General Ophthalmic Services forms.

Answer · Shona Robison: A number of options are being considered to allow for the electronic submission of general ophthalmic services claim forms.