- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 5 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-1704 by Euan Robson and the members' business debate (Official Report; Vol 1 No 64 (Session 2), c 7177 and c 7178) on 25 March 2004, what plans it has to progress the proposed code of guidance on school closures with COSLA.
Answer
Following discussion with COSLA,we will prepare new guidance for parents, to improve understanding of the processesand of the respective rolls of local authorities and ministers.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 5 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2901 by Sarah Boyack on 14 December 1999, what changes or measures have been implemented to date as a result of Tomorrow's roads - safer for everyone.
Answer
The first three year review of the GB road safety strategy Tomorrow’s Roads – safer for everyonewas published on 7 April. The review reports that considerable research has beenundertaken by the Department for Transport to increase understanding of the risksassociated with falling asleep at the wheel. This work is continuing and has helpedinfluence publicity campaigns to raise awareness amongst drivers of the dangersof driving while tired and the need to take regular breaks. Campaigns started inAugust 2000 and have included leaflets, posters, TV and radio advertising. In additionmotorway variable message signs and truck backs have been used to carry the “Don’tDrive Tired” message directly to drivers on the road. Copies of the review are availablein the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 32399).
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 April 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 4 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to improve access to allowances and assistance for carers of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, in light of the report by the 25% ME Group, Severely Affected ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) Analysis Report on Questionnaire Issued January 2004 - Analysis Report, published on 1 March 2004.
Answer
The Community Care and Health(Scotland) Act 2002 gives significant new rights for carers, including an assessment,at any time, of their own support needs, independent of the needs of the personfor whom they are caring. NHS boards and local authorities are required to informcarers of their right to assessment and to provide this to all carers, irrespectiveof the condition affecting the person cared for. The act also places duties on theNHS to provide information to carers on their rights of support, including financialsupport. This will help carers to access services and support earlier.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 April 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 4 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27527 by Mr Frank McAveety on 8 August 2002 and the report by the 25% ME Group, Severely Affected ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) Analysis Report on Questionnaire Issued January 2004 - Analysis Report, published on 1 March 2004, what steps will now be taken to introduce specific guidelines to local authorities regarding provision of social services to people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.
Answer
The Executive has no plans toissue specific new guidelines for local authorities about the provision of socialservices to people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome or anyother chronic illness. Guidance on the assessment of needs and care management forall people in need of social services is already in place.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 April 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 4 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to instruct NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to undertake research into treatments for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome with a view to providing guidelines into the most effective forms of treatment and care, in light of the report by the 25% ME Group, Severely Affected ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) Analysis Report on Questionnaire Issued January 2004 - Analysis Report, published on 1 March 2004.
Answer
I refer the member to the answergiven to S2W-7584 on 4 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 April 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 4 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to instruct NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) to carry out a study into GP attitudes and practice with regard to people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, with particular emphasis on the production of guidelines on the use of home visits and attitudes towards people affected, in light of the report by the 25% ME Group, Severely Affected ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) Analysis Report on Questionnaire Issued January 2004 - Analysis Report, published on 1 March 2004.
Answer
It is for NHS QIS itself to deviseits own work programme and set priorities within it. The National Institute forClinical Excellence, the English equivalent body to NHS QIS, has agreed to developgood practice clinical guidelines for the care of people with CFS/ME. These willbe available to clinicians in Scotland, who are encouraged to make use of all well-founded clinicalguidelines.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 April 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 4 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered reviewing its guidance on NHS responsibility for continuing health care contained in MEL (1996) 22 and whether these guidelines are prescriptive or allow for variation of practice between NHS boards.
Answer
NHS bodies are expected to ensurethat their policies, eligibility criteria and protocols for decisions on the provisionof health services to meet continuing care health needs are consistent with ManagementExecutive Letter (1996) 22.
That guidance, however, is currentlyunder review and will be updated over the coming months.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 23 April 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many organisations, registered with the Care Commission, failed to comply with one or more national care standards in each year since the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 came into force, detailing the standards involved in each case.
Answer
This is an operational matterfor the Care Commission. The commission are currently setting up an advisory workinggroup to develop a system which will report to both the public and ministers onthe quality of regulated care services. Details can be found at:
http://www.carecommission.com/.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 April 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 22 April 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Borders Railway to be operational.
Answer
Subject to the successful passage of the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill, the promoters of the Borders Railway estimate that it could be operational by 2008.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 20 April 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the US Food and Drug Administration requesting the label of 10 anti-depressant drugs to include a statement that recommends close observation of the patients for worsening depression or the warning signs of suicide and the fact that nine of these drugs are prescribed in Scotland, what steps will be taken to instruct NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to introduce a monitoring structure in respect of the use and effect of these drugs.
Answer
The regulation and safety ofmedicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcareproducts Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The safetyof the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has been closely monitoredby the MHRA and the UK independentexpert advisory committee, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM).
The CSMhas considered the question of suicidal behaviour in association with the SSRIson a number of occasions and carefully assessed any new data. The CSM has advisedthat it is general clinical experience that patients taking any anti-depressantmay develop an increase in suicidal behaviour in the first few weeks of treatment.SSRI product information has been amended to include warnings that suicidal behaviourmay increase in the early stages of treatment with any anti-depressant and thatpatients should be carefully monitored during this period. The CSM advice is availableon www.mhra.gov.uk.
The CSM'sExpert Working Group on the safety of SSRIs is currently reviewing the availableevidence relating to the safety of these medicines, with particular reference tobehavioural disorders, including suicidality, to ensure that the advice in the productinformation is optimal for safe use of these products.
