- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 May 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 20 May 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the system of recording the incidence of norovirus in hospitals underreports the (a) number of cases of patients and staff affected and (b) extent of ward closures.
Answer
The current Point Prevalence Surveillance system operated by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) provides data on norovirus activity across NHS Scotland on a weekly basis. HPS advise it is not essential to have every case reported in order to provide an accurate picture of the impact and geographical spread of norovirus outbreaks in Scotland.
Given the high incidence of norovirus over the winter period, the Scottish Government has asked HPS to undertake a qualitative evaluation of how NHS boards managed norovirus to identify optimal systems, review guidance implementation and determine if there are identifiable high risk alert points for which specific control measures should be instigated.
The findings of this evaluation will be used to amend existing guidance ahead of the norovirus season this coming winter.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 May 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how it appraises and commissions treatment for rare diseases, including osteosarcoma.
Answer
National Services Division (NSD), a division of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), is responsible for commissioning and performance managing specialist clinical services and national managed clinical networks on behalf of NHS Scotland. The specialist services commissioned by NSD are crucial to the diagnosis and treatment of rare conditions, including osteosarcoma.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 May 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure equal access to healthcare provision for individuals with osteosarcoma.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33404 on 11 May 2010. 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: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 29 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all meetings and events held by NHS boards since May 2007 that have taken place at external facilities for which there was a charge, showing the (a) nature, (b) date and (c) total cost of each such meeting or event.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 29 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any NHS agency has held a meeting or event at Cameron House Hotel since May 2007 and, if so, what the (a) nature, (b) date and (c) total cost was of each such meeting or event.
Answer
This is a matter for NHS agencies. The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 29 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all meetings and events held by NHS agencies since May 2007 that have taken place at external facilities for which there was a charge, showing the (a) nature, (b) date and (c) total cost of each such meeting or event.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 29 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any NHS board has held a meeting or event at Cameron House Hotel since May 2007 and, if so, what the (a) nature, (b) date and (c) total cost was of each such meeting or event.
Answer
This is a matter for NHS boards. The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Review of Neonatal Services in Scotland, whether it considers that there is a shortage of doctors properly trained in neonatal services and, if so, what steps it is taking to address this.
Answer
Since 30 September 2008, the number of paediatric consultants has increased from 218 to 288 an increase of 70 (whole-time equivalent) 32.5%. Neonatology is a sub specialty of paediatrics and doctors working in neonatal services are trained to the standard required by the General Medical Council.
Neonatal services are provided by a multi professional Clinical Team which includes Consultants and Clinical Nurse Specialists who provide a treatment pathway to meet the needs of the patient.
However, the current policy of Reshaping the Medical Workforce will address the issues of staffing affecting neonatal services. The Reshaping Medical Workforce Project is our strategic policy objective of moving to a service predominantly delivered by trained doctors and reducing the reliance on doctors in training for front-line service delivery. This will ensure better health and higher quality healthcare services for patients resulting in improved patient outcomes and clinical safety.
We have also written to NHS board chief executives to seek assurances that the levels of neonatal staffing and skill mix are sufficient to ensure a high-quality neonatal service to meet their local need.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the need for a one-to-one neonatal nurse to baby ratio in intensive care as outlined in the recent 30th birthday baby report from Bliss, Neonatal Care in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that this vulnerable group of babies receives the highest quality of care, by the most appropriate professional, at all times. We know that admissions to neonatal units are not always predictable, that the level of care a baby requires may change at any given time, and that units have the responsibility to look after safely all of the babies in their care. Staffing and levels of care provided must be flexible to cope with this change in demand.
In addressing this, NHS Scotland has developed, tested and begun implementation of a neonatal nursing workload and workforce planning tool that will identify the nursing needs of this vulnerable group of babies. This tool takes into account the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) staffing recommendations and will capture actual nursing workload on a real-time basis.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to resource the Scottish Neonatal Transfer Service to meet the growing demand for neonatal transfers.
Answer
The number of neonatal transfers were fewer in previous years due to service limitations. As both specialist services and the Scottish Ambulance Service have continued to evolve, sick and premature babies can receive the most appropriate treatment and best possible care from this excellent system.
A review of the Scottish Neonatal Transport System has recently been completed which concluded that the service is staffed appropriately to respond to current demands, however the demands on the service will continue to be monitored.
A wider review of specialist transport services will be undertaken to consider the future needs and demands of all specialist transport services.
