Parliamentary questions

Dr Jean Turner

219 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which hospitals are participating in research trials of streaming systems in accident and emergency departments to supplement existing triage arrangements.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer to the answer given in response to question S2W–14707 on 18 March 2005. 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/…

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to introduce streaming in accident and emergency departments.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Unscheduled Care Collaborative Programme will support the implementation streaming within accident and emergency departments. It will also support the development of alternatives to hospital attendance and admission for patients with both minor injury and…

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Evidence Note 4, accident and emergency (A&E) department streaming system, issued by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in October 2003, what further study in clinical practice will be undertaken to establish the safety and clinical cost effectiveness of an accident and emergenc…

Answer · Andy Kerr: The NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) Evidence Note reviewed the evidence, highlighted a gap in the evidence base and identified the need for further research in Scottish clinical practice in A&E streaming systems. NHS QIS does not have a remit to un…

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research is currently ongoing in relation to existing triage arrangements in accident and emergency departments, in particular regarding the safety of patients and the clinical cost effectiveness of such arrangements.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive is committed to timely, safe emergency care and keeps abreast of research and improvement initiatives and their outcomes across the range of service models including triage, see and treat and streaming. As much of this improvement activity is re…

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it can take to ensure that hospital prescriptions are dispensed more rapidly to avoid delays in the discharge of patients.

Answer · Andy Kerr: In any dispensary patient safetyis of paramount importance. It is a matter for NHS boards to ensure safe and efficientsystems of work which comply with medicines legislation and with Medicines, Ethicsand Practice: A Guide for Pharmacists, published by …

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to ensure that gene mutation searching and predictive test results received during the five-year moratorium between the Government and the Association of British Insurers on the use of genetic test results by insurers will n…

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14702 on 8 March 2005. 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/webapp/wa.s…

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government in respect of a long-term policy to replace the moratorium between the Government and the Association of British Insurers on the use of genetic test results by insurers when it ends in 2006.

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government in respect of measures to ensure that people with hereditary or latent genetic predisposition are not discriminated against by insurance companies after the moratorium between the Government and the Association of British In…

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to ensure that the five-year moratorium between the Government and the Association of British Insurers on the use of genetic test results by insurers will be extended beyond 2006.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including issues surrounding human genetics. I am aware that the UK Government has been in discussions with the Association of British Insurers, Human Genetics Comm…

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to conduct research into the combined purchasing of drugs for hospital and primary care services on a national basis to ensure cost effectiveness.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There are no current plans to do so. I believe that the current arrangements secure a cost-effective means of purchasing medicines for the NHS and that a combined system would sacrifice the advantages offered by the current separate arrangements.In the…

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13712 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 February 2005, what the remit of the medicines utilisation unit will be in addition to exploring the creation of a combined community and hospital medicines utilisation database.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The remit of the Medicines Utilisation Unit, currently under development within NHS National Services Scotland, is likely to include the provision of information and analysis of prescribing data to NHS boards to help them plan and manage their services. The r…

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13712 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 February 2005, what the level of funding is for further development of the Prescribing Information System for Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive Health Department agreed to contribute to the overall costs of the new Prescribing Information System for Scotland (PRISMS) by meeting the capital and non-recurring revenue costs. The costs for further developments will be accommodated …

23 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13712 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 February 2005, when the trial of a prototype electronic prescribing system in a South Ayrshire hospital will conclude.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The electronic prescribing system in South Ayrshire is operational and is being used to set standards on which to base a national specification, which may be included in any IT procurement strategy.

24 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26868 by Malcolm Chisholm on 2 July 2002, what progress has been made in creating a combined community and hospital medicines utilisation database.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS National Services Scotland (NHS NSS) is establishing a medicines utilisation unit headed by a chief pharmaceutical adviser. The work of this unit will include exploring the creation of a combined community and hospital medicines utilisation database. Disc…

25 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Professor James McEwen’s review of the provision of chronic pain services will be published.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I wrote to the Conveners of the Health Committee, the Public Petitions Committee and the Cross Party Group on Chronic Pain on 26 November 2004, sending them a copy of the report. Arrangements are also being made for it to be sent to NHS boards by management e…

2 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to replace the remaining Victorian buildings on the Glasgow Royal Infirmary campus and, if so, how this will affect any development at Stobhill Hospital.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As part of NHS Greater Glasgow’s Acute Services Strategy, the Board plans to replace the remaining Victorian buildings on the Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI) campus.NHS Greater Glasgow’s Capital Investment Strategy, which underpins the Acute Services Str…

2 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has that people who use Stobhill Hospital as a general medical hospital will be safer and better served by the acceleration of the acute services review and the closure of the hospital's casualty department.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow. They advise that the pressures on the current service mean that it is unsustainable and that in the interests of patients it is necessary to develop an alternative model of care for acute receiving within north-east G…

2 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to carry out endoscopic procedures and day surgery at Stobhill Hospital following implementation of the acute services review.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In the first instance this is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow. I understand that NHS Greater Glasgow propose to carry out endoscopic procedures and day surgery at the new Ambulatory Care Hospital on theStobhill site.

2 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether investment in Stobhill Hospital's Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Unit has increased and, if so, by how much; whether there are any plans to maintain (a) general medical, (b) surgical, (c) intensive care and (d) coronary care units at the Stobhill campus, and what the reasons are f…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow. (i) The initial brief for the Stobhill Ambulatory Care Hospital was to refurbish the existing 30-year-old theatre complex and adjoining day surgery unit to increase day surgery capacity. After consultation with…

2 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why, in respect of Stobhill Hospital, the designation Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Unit (ACAD) has been changed to Ambulatory Care Hospital.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In the first instance this is an issue for NHS Greater Glasgow. They advise me that because the concept of an “ACAD” is new in Scotland, they have been looking for a suitable name for the facilities which adequately reflected the full range of services that w…

12 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what total per capita (a) revenue and (b) capital expenditure on the NHS has been in each year since 1990-91.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is set out in the table:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> Year </td> <td> Revenue </td> <td> Capital </td> <td> Total </td> </tr> </thead> <tr> <…

12 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how total per capita expenditure in (a) cash and (b) real terms adjusted by the GDP deflator on the NHS in Scotland has compared with expenditure on the NHS in England in each year since 1990-91.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is set out in the table:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td rowspan=2> Year </td> <td colspan=2> Scotland </td> <td colspan=2> England </td> </tr> <tr> <td> …

10 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage increase in dieticians will be required in hospitals and primary care services over the next five years in order to provide healthy eating advice for (a) all patients and (b) patients with diabetes.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Responsibilityfor ensuring healthy eating advice is provided to all patients, and those withdiabetes, lies not only with dieticians but with other members of the widerhealth care team. It is for individual NHS boards to determine the appropriate servicemodel …

10 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to improve access to psychologists for people who are diagnosed with diabetes, in light of the findings of Dr Foster's recent report Your Local Care: A survey of diabetes services in primary care organisations that 50% of NHS boards make psychologists available …

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Quality ImprovementScotland’s diabetes standards include access topsychology services as a desirable criterion in its standard relating to patientfocus. The local and national reports on its review of diabetes clinicalstandards, due to be published in spr…

10 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in relation to local early identification strategies for diabetes, in light of the findings of Dr Foster's recent report Your Local Care: A survey of diabetes services in primary care organisations.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Responsibilityfor delivery of these services in accordance with the milestones and actionpoints set out in the Scottish diabetes framework rests with individual NHS boards.Screeningpolicies in Scotland are guided by the UK National ScreeningCommittee. …

10 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the number of paediatric diabetes specialist nurses in Scotland, highlighted in Dr Foster's recent report Your Local Care: A survey of diabetes services in primary care organisations.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards are responsiblefor planning services in their areas and for securing the staff needed todeliver them. Dr Foster’s research project may be useful to NHS boards forplanning purposes although the response rate from NHS boards in Scotland wasjust over …

9 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that local communities do not experience (a) bus routes being removed by private bus companies and (b) bus routes being provided by private companies that do not meet the requirements of such communities.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The provision of local bus servicesis generally a matter for individual bus operators who use their commercial judgementas to the level and frequency of services to be provided. Beyond the commercialdecisions of bus operators, it is the responsibility of the …

9 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address any shortage of hospital beds in (a) Scotland and (b) the Greater Glasgow Health Board in the coming winter.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is very important to makesure that the additional pressures that winter brings to health and social careservices do not disrupt care for patients and clients. The NHS and its planningpartners are now preparing for this winter with plans developed upon the …

25 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend the Warm Deal grant scheme to allow for the payment of costs incurred in erecting scaffolding, and any other adjunct items, required for the installation of cavity wall insulation and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The cost of all equipment necessary for the installation of individual measures carried out under the Warm Deal Grant are included in the contract rates negotiated between Eaga Partnership and the insulation installers.Eaga Partnership, who administer …

13 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances it would not award a contract for the design, build, equipping and operation of an NHS facility following a tendering exercise.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The decision on whether ornot to award a contract following a tendering exercise is a matter for the NHSbody involved.However, whether proceedingunder a PPP/PFI procurement route or under a more traditional design andbuilding contract, the NHS body sho…