Parliamentary questions
Dr Richard Simpson
2,702 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17745 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 November 2008, when it expects the 8,274 members of NHS staff still to be paid arrears after assimilation under Agenda for Change will be paid the arrears.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Since my previous answer further progress has been made and at the end of November the number waiting for arrears had come down to 5,534.</p> <p >To put this into context, the effective date of introduction of Agenda for Change was 1 October 2004. When the …
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new single room-only policy for new or substantially refurbished hospitals will include the provision of en suite toilet, bath or shower, and hand basin facilities.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: My decision was based on the definition of a single room produced by the Single Room Provision Steering Group and is contained within their report which can be found at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/haitaskforce">www.scotland.gov.uk/haitaskforce</a>. Th…
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether regular monitoring of organisms is undertaken on devices used routinely on patients, such as blood pressure cuffs and saturation measurement devices.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The action being taken to mitigate against cross infection from these devices is to ensure regular and effective cleaning. All NHS boards have decontamination policies for patient equipment detailing when and how items should be cleaned, and more specifically…
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Health Facilities Scotland is undertaking work on the use of silver-impregnated drapes and linen as part of the work on preventing healthcare associated infections.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: HFS continually monitor new techniques and technology for fighting healthcare associated infections, and should strong evidence for the use of silver-impregnated drapes and linen emerge, then HFS will investigate their suitability or otherwise for use by NHS …
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to roll out the use of copper-impregnated mops across the NHS as part of the work on preventing healthcare associated infections.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18496 on 11 December 2008.</p> <p >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.parliam…
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive against which organisms copper-impregnated mops have proved effective in testing undertaken by Health Facilities Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) have co-ordinated a scientific study into the effectiveness of copper-impregnated mops in two NHS Scotland boards. This was a preliminary study and the results were not conclusive in establishing how effective copper solution …
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many recorded deaths there were in which Clostridium difficile was a contributory factor in each of the last eight quarters, broken down by hospital.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on recorded deaths in which Clostridium difficile was a contributory factor is available through the GROS website at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/deaths/clostridium-difficile-deaths/index.html">http://www.gro-scotl…
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many recorded cases of Clostridium difficile there were in each of the last eight quarters, broken down by hospital.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: National surveillance of Clostridium difficile is carried out at board level although hospitals undertake local surveillance. However, in future there will be a common reporting template used by all boards to capture HAI data at hospital/service level on a nu…
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many drug action team (DAT), alcohol and drug action team (ADAT) or drug and alcohol action team (DAAT) areas have supervised dispensing schemes for (a) disulfiram, (b) suboxone and (c) buprenorphine.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally. It is the responsibility of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams, with their local partners, to consider and put in place services which best meet local needs and priorities.</p>
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrest-referral schemes are funded on contracts of (a) less than three years and (b) three years or more and how many are funded on permanent contracts.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government funding towards the cost of operating arrest referral schemes is provided under section 27 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Local authorities as the ultimate recipients of section 27 funding are responsible for drawing up any contra…
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrest-referral schemes are in operation, broken down by drug action team (DAT), alcohol and drug action team (ADAT) or drug and alcohol action team (DAAT).
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Arrest-referral schemes, to which the Scottish Government provides contributory funding, operate in the following areas: </p> <p >Edinburgh and Midlothian. Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh; Midlothian (DAAT).</p> <p >Tayside: Dundee (DAAAT); Perth a…
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with, or indications from, NHS Lanarkshire on why it was necessary to redirect medical or surgical GP calls from Wishaw General Hospital accident and emergency department to other NHS Lanarkshire sites during 99 time periods between July 2006 and July 2008.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18287 on 10 December 2008. 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…
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with, or indications from, NHS Lanarkshire on why it was necessary to redirect medical or surgical GP calls from Hairmyres Hospital accident and emergency department to other NHS Lanarkshire sites during 157 time periods between July 2006 and July 2008.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is for NHS boards to manage emergency medical and surgical GP referrals across its acute hospital network as appropriate. Boards plan to effectively manage emergency referrals across their hospital networks during periods of high demand. This government''s…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place for ensuring that medical information on prisoners is transferred to their GPs on release, including (a) primary care information, (b) screening information and test results, (c) information on programmes addressing issues such as drugs and alcohol use or an…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >Clinical practice in SPS conforms to current General Medical Council guidance regarding confidentiality and the protection and provi…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken, or is taking, to ensure that all GP software systems to be used in Scotland are compatible with (a) all other clinical systems and (b) data collection systems being used by ISD Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are accredited GP systems in Scotland. All of these systems are compatible with the Scottish Care Information (SCI) gateway store, SCI gateway, SCI-DC, the emergency care summary and ePharmacy. At present there is no requirement for GP systems to be com…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that clinically important information obtained by members of the primary care team or the primary care network is recorded on a single accessible record.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The emergency care summary is the most obvious example of clinically important information from primary care being recorded on a single accessible record. This is particularly useful for those patients who are confused or on multiple medications, and for peop…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17748 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 November 2008, whether the information entered on the personal child health record is also recorded in the notes held by the general practitioner for that child, in detail or summary.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The personal child health record (PCHR) is completed by the health professional at the point of contact/consultation.</p> <p >Health professionals based in general practice will also record this information in the child''s GP record. Health professionals ba…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is ensuring that pay protection is being extended beyond the originally planned three-year period, pending the conclusion of appeals under Agenda for Change.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The number of NHSScotland staff requiring pay protection under the new system is actually very low. It is currently running at just over 1.5% overall and this figure will continue to come down as Agenda for Change pay catches up with these protected salaries …
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there are for hospital pharmacists and how many of these posts have been vacant for more than (a) three and (b) six months, also broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not centrally available.</p>
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether hospital pharmacists have access to patients’ emergency care summaries as part of efforts to improve patient safety.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The emergency care summary system can be accessed by all clinicians working in unscheduled care environments where patient consent can be obtained. This includes pharmacists in unscheduled or emergency care in accident and emergency and acute receiving units.…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote public and patient awareness of the new roles of community pharmacists.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has produced promotional and patient awareness materials for the Minor Ailments Service and Acute Medication Service. These materials were made available in pharmacies and GP surgeries. In addition, the Minor Ailments Service has been …
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive with the exception of the new Southern General Hospital, what plans there are to build hospitals with single rooms only.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The guidance applies to new projects that have not yet submitted outline business cases and it is not until they reach that stage that the percentage of single rooms will be established but it is known that DGRI are actively taking the new guidance on board.<…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has undertaken a review of the costs of (a) construction or (b) staffing following the announcement that future, new or significantly refurbished hospitals will have only single rooms.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had already considered the application of 100% single rooms in the New Southern Hospital prior to submission of the outline business case in March 2008.</p> <p >Following the issue of CEL (48) 2008 all NHS boards will have to t…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether savings made by national e-drug procurement programmes are being passed to NHS boards and, if so, whether boards are allowed to count them towards efficiency savings.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: All savings from the NHS procurement project of the efficiency delivery plans, including those from national e-drug procurement, are retained by NHS boards for local reinvestment.</p> <p >All such savings would be recorded as relating to the national NHS pro…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate for NHS boards to avoid providing cover for staff on maternity leave as part of efficiency savings.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Only schemes that comply with the definition of an efficiency saving would be accepted. The definition of a cash‘releasing efficiency saving is where the organisation delivers the same service at a reduced cost, demonstrated by delivering the same outcome(s) …
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the efficiency savings proposed by each NHS board for (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Details of in-year savings achieved in 2007-08 and the proposed savings for 2008-09 and 2009-10 for each NHS board are as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=217 valign=top > <p align=left >NHS Board…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the efficiency savings made or being made by NHS boards in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10, broken down into recurrent and non-recurrent savings.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Details of recurrent and non-recurrent savings by NHS boards are as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=155 valign=top > <p align=left >NHS Board</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top > <p alig…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that delaying filling vacancies is an appropriate way of achieving efficiency savings.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not have a policy of delaying filling vacancies as a way of achieving efficiency savings.</p>
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is ensuring that, in reducing the use of agency or bank staff, NHS boards are meeting agreed staffing levels in all units and agreeing any reductions in bank and agency staff with staff partnerships.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is for NHS boards to determine appropriate staffing levels based on local needs. In doing so, NHS boards are committed to achieving a balance between the use of permanent and bank and agency staff which is appropriate for the provision of short-term absenc…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it appropriate for NHS boards to cut improvement and support budgets as part of efficiency savings.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Only schemes that comply with the definition of an efficiency saving would be accepted. The definition of a cash‘releasing efficiency saving is where the organisation delivers the same service at a reduced cost, demonstrated by delivering the same outcome(s) …