Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-15497

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14339 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 July 2008, on what dates from December 2007 terminal cleans occured at the Vale of Leven Hospital; in which wards, and for what reason.

The 18 full ward terminal cleans were carried out as follows:

Date	Ward	Reason
21 December 2007	Ward 6	Norovirus Outbreak
28 December 2007	Ward F	Norovirus Outbreak
7 January 2008	Ward 15	Norovirus Outbreak
10 January 2008	Ward 14	Norovirus Outbreak
16 January 2008	Ward 14	Norovirus Outbreak
24 January 2008	Ward 15	Norovirus Outbreak
11 February 2008	Ward 15	Norovirus Outbreak
25 February 2008	Ward F	Norovirus Outbreak
25 April 2008	Ward F	No subsequent confirmed diagnosis
14 May 2008	Ward 6	Preventative measure as part of management linked 027 C.diff cases at VOL and RAH
15 May 2008	Ward 3	Preventative measure as part of management linked 027 C.diff cases at VOL and RAH
26 May 2008	Ward 15	Preventative measure as part of management linked 027 C.diff cases at VOL and RAH
28 May 2008	Ward 14	Preventative measure as part of management linked 027 C.diff cases at VOL and RAH
16 June 2008	Ward 5	Preventative measure as part of management linked 027 C.diff cases at VOL and RAH
17 June 2008	Ward 3	Preventative measure as part of response to retrospective outbreak
20 June 2008	Ward F	Preventative measure as part of response to retrospective outbreak
24 June 2008	Ward 14	Preventative measure as part of response to retrospective outbreak
25 June 2008	Ward 15	Preventative measure as part of response to retrospective outbreak

In addition, within the period, there were 283 terminal cleans of single, four and six bedded areas within the hospital. These cleans would be requested for individual suspected or actual infection issues in line with best practice.

Question reference: S3W-15449

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in place for the conclusion of the Scottish Gas contract for the central heating programme.

Tendering for the central heating programme was undertaken in 2006. The contract was for two years, with the option of a further two extensions of up to 12 months each. The first extension is currently being used from April 2008 to March 2009.

The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum is currently considering the long-term future of the programme and is expected to report back in early autumn. Once the forum has provided its recommendations the necessary decisions on the programme''s future will be taken.

Question reference: S3W-15606

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Quality Improvement Scotland undertakes unannounced visits of hospitals to check standards.

Question reference: S3W-15448

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether they will expand the central heating programme to include children (a) with physical disabilities and (b) living in poverty.

Question reference: S3W-15576

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force has fulfilled its remit to monitor levels of hospital-acquired infection and the efficacy of measures taken in general and specifically in relation to Clostridium difficile.

The principal measurements of the levels of healthcare associated infection (HAI) in Scotland have been the long-standing national mandatory and voluntary HAI surveillance schemes, most recently mandated by HDL(2006)38 and the National HAI Point Prevalence Survey carried out by Health Protection Scotland. The mandatory elements of surveillance currently include MRSA bacteraemias, Clostridium difficile and selected surgical site infections. I am pleased to note that MRSA bacteraemias in Scotland have shown a significant decrease since April 2006, and that orthopaedic surgery (hip and knee replacement) and caesarean section infection rates have also declined “ see http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/sshaip/publications/ssi/ssi-2007.pdf.

On 11 July 2007, I announced the publication of the Scottish Point Prevalence Survey which, for the first time, provides us with a comprehensive picture of the rate of HAI in every acute Scottish hospital and in a representative sample of community hospitals. The publication of the survey led to the preparation of a three year HAI Task Force Delivery Plan, which came into affect on 1 April 2008. The Delivery Plan is being backed with £54 million of Scottish Government funding over the next three years and a second Point Prevalence Survey is scheduled for 2011. The delivery plan is available from http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/07110818/0.

Mandatory reporting on compliance with hand hygiene and cleaning performance are regularly monitored and reviewed by the HAI Task Force so they remain fit for purpose. I am pleased to note that both these schemes have shown substantial improvements in hand hygiene and cleaning since their implementation, and these are both key areas in the prevention of Clostridium difficile as well as other HAIs.

Another key document relevant to Clostridium difficile is the Scottish Management of Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan (ScotMARAP), which I launched in March. ScotMARAP outlines the national programme for Scotland in tackling antimicrobial resistance and prudent prescribing over the next five years. The expert Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) has been established to take this forward, and is now starting a programme of work which all the evidence suggests will have a significant effect in prevention of Clostridium difficile infections.

The HAI Task Force has also commissioned extensive staff training resources from NHS Education for Scotland, notably the Cleanliness Champions programme. This programme continues to expand, and has been used in postgraduate and undergraduate training for health professionals here and in other UK countries. In addition, the recently revised NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) HAI Standards is a key document against which all NHS boards are assessed, both in terms of their organisational structures and practical compliance with HAI policies.

In relation to Clostridium difficile specifically, I refer the member to the announcement I made on 7 August about the publication of both our new National HAI Action Plan and the HAI Action Plan specific to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Both Action Plans are available from the HAI Task Force website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/19529/2005/actionplans.

These additional plans will be fully integrated into our existing national HAI Task Force programme.

Question reference: S3W-15581

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive why guidance on Clostridium difficile is now to be issued in September 2008 and what the reasons are for the delay in issuing the guidance.

Question reference: S3W-15490

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14337 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 July 2008, whether the identification of deaths from Clostridium difficile was entirely based on information from death certificates.

Question reference: S3W-15468

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve the performance of the ambulance service in Arrochar to better meet national targets for (a) category A, (b) category B and (c) urgent calls.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) continues to provide safe, efficient and effective services to patients across Scotland, including those in remote and rural areas. It is also important that patients have confidence in the ambulance service''s ability to respond to emergencies.

While this presents particular challenges in remote and rural locations, the service seeks to improve performance for all patients and remains keen to seek local solutions that meet the needs of those communities. In addition, the Scottish Ambulance Service has appointed a first responder co-ordinator in this area to develop and support first responder schemes.

Question reference: S3W-15602

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a robust independent inspection regime for all hospitals.

NHS boards are accountable for the quality and safety of the NHS services they provide including those provided in hospitals. A range of scrutiny and performance management arrangements are in place including annual reviews by Scottish ministers held in public.

The future of scrutiny arrangements in the public sector, including the NHS, is being considered as part of the Scottish Government''s response to the Report of the Independent Review of Regulation, Audit, Inspection and Complaints Handling of Public Services in Scotland (The Crerar Review).

Question reference: S3W-15603

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that scrutiny of hospitals should be conducted by a process similar to those of the Care Commission and HM Inspectorate of Education for care facilities and schools respectively.

NHS boards are accountable for the quality and safety of the NHS services they provide including those provided in hospitals. A range of scrutiny and performance management arrangements are in place including annual reviews by Scottish ministers held in public.

The future of scrutiny arrangements in the public sector, including the NHS, is being considered as part of the Scottish Government''s response to the Report of the Independent Review of Regulation, Audit, Inspection and Complaints Handling of Public Services in Scotland (The Crerar Review).

Chamber and committees