Chamber and committees

Two clinicians working in Scotland have reported adverse incidents about transvaginal mesh products to the Incident Reporting and Investigation Centre of Health Facilities Scotland, which is part of NHS National Services Scotland.

No information is held on the number of clinicians in Scotland who have reported adverse incidents or concerns about transvaginal meshes to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority.

Ambulance Service activity is published annually in the Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland Cost Book and this can be found at:

http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Finance/Costs/

As part of their Patient Transport Service Improvement Programme - which includes investment in new technology, training and staff development - the Scottish Ambulance Service expect that staff numbers are likely to reduce by around 60 and the Patient Transport Service fleet will reduce by around 33 vehicles. All of the staff reductions will be secured by retirement, leavers or redeployment within the service.

I expect the Scottish Ambulance Service to ensure they deliver a consistent, high quality patient transport service for patients, and a service that is demand responsive and person centred. Any efficiencies that are secured through the better use of technology, improved planning and enhanced co-ordination will be reinvested in front-line care.

Officials are working with colleagues in National Services Scotland to identify options for implementing an implant register starting with hip replacements and which could be used for a range of implants.

NHS Health boards do not re-direct patients away from A&E. Medical staff offer the option to be treated at the hospital or go back to their GP, based on their professional clinical judgement.

Under the “Reducing A&E Attendances (T10) HEAT” Target, the Scottish Government Policy is to reduce the numbers of people attending A&E Departments in order to improve the quality of patient care and to promote patient safety.

The Scottish Government believes that out-of-hours primary care services are working effectively in Scotland. However, there are a range of reasons why people choose to attend an Accident and Emergency Department. We are developing a national framework on directing people towards appropriate services.

This is supported by broader work by the Unscheduled Care Expert Group on communication and engagement with the public, including recommendations on how all aspects of the system, including out-of-hours Primary Care Services can be provided and what the role of the proposed 111 number should be in supporting access.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14279 on 30 April 2013. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14279 on 30 April 2013. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Scottish Ministers encourage and welcome all forms of communication with them, including from board members and staff of public bodies. Public body board members are required to act, at all times with integrity and propriety, in accordance with the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000. The Scottish Government expects public body staff to adhere to the same principles. This is made clear in the public bodies’ guidance on the Scottish Government website.

Neither the Scottish Government nor the Care Inspectorate collects information on numbers of foster carers broken down by local authority area.