- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 December 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 16 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people diagnosed with thyroid conditions is prescribed a combined course of triiodothyronine and thyroxine and what information it has on how this compares with the situation worldwide.
Answer
This information is not available. Prescription data collected centrally do not relate to the number of patients receiving treatment but to numbers and costs of prescribed items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 December 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultants specialising in thyroid conditions there are in each NHS board.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally as data on consultants specialising in thyroid conditions is not captured separately in the workforce statistics. Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland publish data annually as at 30 September 2010 and information showing the head count and whole-time equivalent of consultants by specialty, including endocrinology and diabetes, by NHS board number is available at:
http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Consultant_Staff_In_Post_2009.xls&pContentDispositionType=attachment.
The latest information at 30 September 2010 will be published on 14 December 2010.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 December 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has on links between thyroid disorders and breast cancer.
Answer
We are aware of a number of published studies suggesting links between thyroid diseases and breast cancer, however, evidence of an association is inconclusive and the issue continues to be the subject of debate. If individuals have any concerns, they should discuss these with their GP in the first instance.
There are steps people can take to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer, for example, being more active, keeping bodyweight within healthy limits and limiting alcohol consumption. The Scottish Government is implementing a wide ranging programme of actions to help people to make healthier lifestyle choices.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 December 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 13 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what education is provided to GPs regarding the treatment of thyroid conditions.
Answer
The treatment of thyroid conditions is covered by the curriculum for specialty training for general practice and is included in the assessment process. Both the curriculum and the assessment process are set by the Royal College of General Practitioners, and approved by the General Medical Council.
The GP training curriculum enables GP trainees to gain specialist experience in a number of areas as well as their general experience in a practice setting. The curriculum equips them to recognise and understand thyroid related conditions.
GPs are generalists and would seek the help and advice of specialists if the management of the patient''s condition required specialist expertise.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 16 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35775 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 September 2010, whether it will specify which European legislation prevents Transport Scotland from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires.
Answer
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- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 16 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35775 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 September 2010, whether it will specify which clauses of the Railways Act 1993 prevent Transport Scotland from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires.
Answer
Section 25 of the Railways Act 1993 prevents a range of public bodies, including Scottish Ministers and their executive agency, Transport Scotland, from being the franchisee of the Scotrail services, which are services designated under section 23(1) of the Railways Act 1993 as services to be provided under a franchise agreement.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 10 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current eligibility criteria are for the provision of assisted conception services.
Answer
NHS funded assisted conception should be available to couples who meet all of the following national criteria developed in 2000 by the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland:
1. Infertility with an appropriate diagnosed cause of any duration or unexplained infertility of at least three years duration.
2. Female partner aged less than 40 years at the time of treatment.
3. Neither partner previously sterilised.
4. No child living with the couple in their home.
5. Less than three previous embryo transfers funded from any source.
The national criteria and the 2007 review can be found on the Maternity Services website, www.maternityservices.scot.nhs.uk.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 10 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is consistency of access to assisted conception services across Scotland.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36969 on 10 November 2010.
I am aware that there are inconsistencies of access to assisted conception services across Scotland and that is why I have established the National Infertility Group to review the situation.
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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 10 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that there is a consistency of access to assisted conception services across Scotland.
Answer
The remit of the National Infertility Group includes working towards the development of equitable and high quality infertility services across Scotland. The group will provide an initial progress report to ministers within the agreed timescale.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 10 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions it gives to NHS boards regarding the funding of assisted conception services.
Answer
No specific funding is made available for assisted conception services in NHSScotland. NHS boards receive an allocation to meet the health care needs of their resident population. It is for boards to decide how best to utilise this funding to meet national and local priorities.
