Chamber and committees

The East Ayrshire Community Hospital is an existing PFI project, the contract for which was signed by the former Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare NHS Trust in 1998. The proposed dental facility was, therefore, being taken forward as a variation to the existing PFI contract but with capital being provided by NHS Ayrshire and Arran from within the overall capital allocated to the health board by Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government’s guidance on the Procurement of Care and Support Services states that local authorities should take account of the costs associated with good employment practice and a competent and qualified workforce when analysing the costs involved in operating different kinds of care and support services. The level of staff salaries is, however, a matter for individual service providers.

The overall project cost for the construction of the dental facility at East Ayrshire Community Hospital was estimated by NHS Ayrshire and Arran to be within their delegated financial limits for capital expenditure and therefore did not require direct Scottish Government approval. Moreover, the proposed dental facility was taken forward as a variation to an existing PFI contract without a requirement for additional debt funding.

We deeply regret the tragic deaths of Erin Casey and Christina Llia and recognise that measures should be put in place to minimise the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). We are currently working with clinicians, pharmacists, Epilepsy Scotland, the Association of Chief Polices Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland to take forward the recommendations from the Fatal Accident Inquiry report.

For example, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) has produced two guidelines on epilepsy, one for adults and one for children and young people. Both guidelines state that SUDEP should be discussed with patients and if appropriate, their parents or carers as soon as possible after diagnosis. We expect clinicians to follow these guidelines.

SIGN has confirmed that SIGN 70 on the diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults is due for review next year. As part of that process, SIGN will review the available evidence on information giving on SUDEP.

We have also agreed also to provide Epilepsy Scotland with funding to conduct research into the information needs of people with epilepsy regarding SUDEP. The research aims to identify at what point post-diagnosis, individuals would prefer to receive information on SUDEP, in what form and by whom. The findings of the research will help support healthcare professionals in the vital process of sharing information with people at risk of SUDEP.

In addition, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) has confirmed that they will make changes to their probationer training in light of the recommendations from the FAI report.

We expect clinicians to follow Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines in Scotland where clinically appropriate. The guidelines recommend that Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) should be discussed, except in the minority of circumstances where the clinician may judge that it may cause serious harm to the patient. As no single approach will suit all patients, the discussion about SUDEP is a clinical judgment in the context of individual circumstances, and in agreement with the patient and their carers, where relevant.

If a clinician decides not discuss the risk of SUDEP with patients, the decision should be regularly reviewed and the subject of SUDEP raised at the appropriate time, recording the outcome of discussions in the patient’s clinical records as recommended by the General Medical Council.

We have agreed to provide Epilepsy Scotland with funding to conduct research into the information needs of people with epilepsy regarding SUDEP. The research aims to identify at what point post-diagnosis, individuals would prefer to receive information on SUDEP and in what form. Equally important is to identify who they would prefer to receive the information from; their consultant or epilepsy specialist nurse. The findings of the research will help support healthcare professionals in the vital process of sharing information with people at risk of SUDEP.

Recommendations from the fatal accidents inquiry report should be considered and acted upon by those responsible for delivering healthcare services, such as NHS boards. The Chief Professional Officers Groups at the Scottish Government also consider such recommendations and provides advice to clinicians and boards.

Data on the mortality rate for male and female lung cancer patients, broken down by health board since 1985, is publicly available on the Information Services Division (ISD) website:

http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Cancer-Statistics/Lung-Cancer-and-Mesothelioma/m_cancer_lung_mesothelioma.xls?1

This information is not available at cancer network level due to reasons of potential disclosure.

This information is not collected or held centrally to the level of detail requested. It is for NHS boards to determine spend on services from their allocations and in accordance with the needs of their population. This will vary from board to board and region to region.

Data on the mortality rate for lung cancer patients, broken down by age group and health board since 1985, is publicly available on the Information Services Division (ISD) website:

http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Cancer-Statistics/Lung-Cancer-and-Mesothelioma/m_cancer_lung_mesothelioma.xls?1

This information is not available at cancer network level due to reasons of potential disclosure.

Source: Information Services Division.

The Scottish Ambulance Service has advised that the cost of temporary and agency staff since 2007-08 has been:

The budget for 2011-12 is currently £20,000 but this figure is subject to revision over the course of the year. The figures are not held centrally broken down between temporary and agency staff.

The Scottish Ambulance Service has provided the following table setting out rostered resources for these stations.

Notes:

o/c = on call from home address.

PRU = Paramedic Response Unit.

The Scottish Ambulance Service have confirmed that the accident and emergency ambulances operating from the stations at Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Arrochar are rostered to be double crewed by a paramedic and a technician. The Paramedic Response Unit that operates from the Vale of Leven Station is rostered to be crewed by a Paramedic.