Margaret McCulloch

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether instances have been reported to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy of staffing at consultant-led accident and emergency units falling below minimum requirements in each year since 2007.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08643 on 27 July 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the appropriate staffing levels are for consultant-led accident and emergency units.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08643 on 27 July 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the recruitment of consultants to accident and emergency units.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Staffing levels of units and related recruitment issues are matters for individual health boards. However, the Scottish Government maintains regular contact with all NHSScotland boards on a range of issues. Discussions are currently underway with health board…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many emergency arrivals were not admitted, discharged or transferred for at least 12 hours in each (a) NHS board and (b) accident and emergency unit in each year since 2007.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Tables 1 and 2 represent the number of attendances (new and unplanned returns) that were not seen within twelve hours by NHS board and by Accident and Emergency (A&E) site. Table 2 excludes any accident and emergency site where there were no attendances not s…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many emergency arrivals were not admitted, discharged or transferred for at least eight hours in each (a) NHS board and (b) accident and emergency unit in each year since 2007.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Tables 1 and 2 represent the number of attendances (new and unplanned returns) that were not seen within eight hours by NHS board and by accident and emergency (A&E) site. Table 2 excludes any accident and emergency site where there were no attendances not se…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of emergency arrivals was admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours in each (a) NHS board and (b) accident and emergency unit in each year since 2007.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the percentage of attendances (new and unplanned returns) that were seen within four hours by NHS board and by accident and emergency site has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib 54190). This information is shown by f…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making toward electrification of the Glasgow suburban railway network.

Answer · Alex Neil: A large proportion of the suburban network is already electrified covering routes between Glasgow and Ayrshire, Glasgow and Edinburgh via Airdrie/Bathgate and via Carstairs, North and South Clyde, parts of Strathclyde South, parts of Lanarkshire and the West …

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what reductions in journey times between Glasgow and East Kilbride would be achieved through electrification.

Answer · Alex Neil: Journey time improvements of up to 10 minutes would be anticipated were the line to be electrified.

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed electrification of the East Kilbride line will include the dualling of track between East Kilbride and Busby.

Answer · Alex Neil: There are no plans to double the track between Busby and East Kilbride. However, Busby Junction is planned to be redoubled in 2013.

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the electrification of the East Kilbride line will be (a) initiated and (b) completed in Control Period 5.

Answer · Alex Neil: Electrification of the strategic rail network is to be delivered in phases starting with Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP). East Kilbride was identified in the Strategic Transport Projects Review as a line which may be included in later phases of…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which capital projects proposed in the Initial Industry Plan Scotland: Proposals for Control Period 5 and beyond it will support.

Answer · Keith Brown: The High Level Output Specification published on 21 June 2012 sets out the Government’s ambitious investment priorities for the five year (2014 to 2019) Control Period. The £5 billion programme of investment in infrastructure includes: Phase 1 of the Edinbur…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the Minister for Housing and Transport has had with Network Rail regarding the Initial Industry Plan Scotland: Proposals for Control Period 5 and beyond.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has regular meetings with Network Rail to discuss a range of issues in relation to forward planning, including the development of the industry’s Initial Investment Plan and our High Level Output Specification for Control Period 5.

28 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on routine testing for group B streptococcus in pregnancy.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is given independent advice on screening by the UK National Screening Committee. The UK National Screening Committee currently recommends that a national screening programme for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) should not be introduced. Thi…

28 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the recent backlog in the coding of clinical episodes by NHS Lanarkshire will have on the statistics that are published by the Information Services Division.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Clinical coding is carried out for the following national returns: SMR00 (Outpatients), SMR01 (Acute Inpatient and Day Cases), SMR01_1E (Geriatric Long Stay), SMR02 (Maternity Inpatients and Day Cases) and SMR04 (Mental Health Inpatients and Day Cases). The …

27 Jun 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to the Roots of Empathy programme.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government provided funding for the initial pilot in North Lanarkshire and has also provided funding through the Early Years Early Action Fund to support the further development of the programme in other local authority areas.

25 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-07855 by Alex Neil on 25 June 2012, what progress has been made toward completion of (a) East Kilbride Hunter Health Centre, (b) Wishaw Health Centre and (c) Kilsyth Health Centre and what the estimated completion dates are.

Answer · Alex Neil: The South West hubco is due to be formally established in October 2012. Once the hubco is formed, the projects referred to in the question will be developed in accordance with the NHS Board's requirements. In advance of this delivery phase, an Initial Agreeme…

12 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-05256 by Alex Neil on 8 February 2012, what progress has been made toward completion of each of the projects named in the questionnaire.

Answer · Alex Neil: The South West hub Territory’s current pipeline contains twenty five projects from 11 of the 19 participants with an estimated construction cost totalling over £250 million. These projects are currently being developed by the relevant participant bodies ahea…

11 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on NHS Lanarkshire’s aim of delivering two integrated mental health facilities, and what action it has taken to assist the board in doing this.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is for NHS Lanarkshire to plan and provide mental health services which meet the needs of their local communities, in line with national policy, frameworks and guidance.

16 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what sectors Skills Development Scotland will continue to support adult apprenticeships.

9 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the report on the future of public library services by the Carnegie UK Trust.

8 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided under the concessionary travel scheme in each year since 2007.

Answer · Keith Brown: In terms of Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People, the following capped funding package has been provided by the Scottish Government in respect of reimbursement to bus operators, in each of the financial years. 2007-08 – £163 million …

8 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid to each bus operator through the concessionary travel scheme in each year since 2007.

Answer · Keith Brown: In terms of total reimbursement made to bus operators under Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People since 2007, the following payments have been made in each of the financial years from 2007 until 2012. 2007-08 – £163 million 2008-09 – …

8 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement the Scottish Futures Trust will have in the completion of South Lanarkshire Council's schools modernisation programme.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Futures Trust has no direct involvement in the completion of South Lanarkshire Council’s schools modernisation programme. Their role in the school building process is to assist local authorities in the procurement of schools built under the Scotl…

8 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with South Lanarkshire Council regarding the completion of its schools modernisation programme.

Answer · Michael Russell: No such discussions have taken place. However, all authorities have been invited to bid for funding through the third phase of funding from the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme.

8 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to NHS boards on the provision of chiropody and podiatry services for people with diabetes.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 116: The Management of Diabetes, sets out the level of foot care that people with diabetes can expect. Our Diabetes Action Plan, published in 2010, contains specific actions to improve foot car…

7 Mar 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what retailers will be included in its joint conference with the Scottish Retail Consortium that is scheduled to take place later this year.

29 Feb 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it advertises vacancies for modern apprenticeships.

25 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S4W-04673 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 January 2012, when scoping work on the future of acute mental health services at Hairmyres Hospital will be complete.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The board assures me it remains committed to achieving the strategic aim of delivering two integrated mental health inpatient facilities to cover the north and south of the region. Whilst the board are continuing to consider how best to enhance local communi…

25 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-04673 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 January 2012, what "significant re-development" is required at Monklands Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lanarkshire has confirmed that they regard Monklands Hospital as a key facility in delivering healthcare services to local people and, as such, continue to make substantial investment in Monklands Hospital; with the board investing approximately £5 millio…

25 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-04673 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 January 2012, what "specific investment" associated with the plans in A Picture of Health will no longer be taken forward in relation to acute hospital care at Hairmyres Hospital and Wishaw General.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lanarkshire have confirmed that under the plans associated with their previous A Picture of Health strategy, the board’s intention had been that there would be a new build/extension, including expansion of accident and emergency facilities, at both Hairmy…