Chamber and committees

Tackling hospital acquired infection is an important issue for the NHS in Scotland. The Scottish Executive supports the Service in its efforts. All NHS Hospitals Trusts have infection control teams which investigate and recommend action on each incidence of hospital acquired infection, within an overall Trust policy on infection control. The action to be taken in individual cases will depend on the nature of the infection. The antibiotic Linezolid has recently been licensed for use in certain severe and life threatening bacterial infections.

The Executive works closely with the NHS, local authorities, inspection and support groups as well as the Scottish Health Advisory Service and Mental Welfare Commission, in their monitoring and advisory roles, to ensure that appropriate standards of care and treatment are being provided. A Mental Health and Well Being Support Group has been set up to help agencies implement the Framework For Mental Health and will assess their progress with that agenda. The Framework provides a template for delivering integrated and comprehensive support services for people with mental health problems.

I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-12661.

In agreeing pay for 2000-01, the Scottish Executive targeted increases of 7.1% for newly qualified MLSOs and up to 26% for MLSO trainees. For 2001-02 a pay offer has recently been made for all NHS non-Pay Review Body staff of 3.7% or £380, whichever is the greater. In addition to this, further adjustments have been proposed to the MLSO pay scales. The combined effect would increase the starting salary for a newly qualified MLSO to over £15,200, a total increase of up to 16.7%. Corresponding increases would see trainees able to earn over £12,500 (an increase of up to 16.2%) and experienced MLSO 1 and MLSO 2 staff over £18,500 and £24,400 respectively, an increase of up to 7.9%.

Yes, however, a request may be denied if any chaplain's personal safety came into question.

There are four centres in the NHS in Scotland which provide genetic screening. Services are provided in each centre by a team led by a medically qualified consultant clinical geneticist. Co-workers in the team, including nurses, counsellors and scientists, assist in service delivery. However, the consultant is ultimately responsible.

Aid for the organic food and farming sectors is demand-led: these sectors are responding to increased consumer demand.

The Scottish Executive does not contribute funding to the Roslin Institute to support this work. As we have no locus in this research, it is not appropriate to comment on the project's proposed timescales.It is the Executive's policy to encourage patient entry into robust clinical trials. Any subsequent approaches to the NHSScotland which might bring benefit to patients with cancer would be considered by appropriate clinical and scientific groups.

Central records have been maintained only since 1 October 1998.

During the financial years 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999, 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 and 1 April 2000 to date, recoveries totalling more than £230,000 have been made from 50 dentists in respect of inappropriate payment claims. Further recoveries of around £120,000 are currently being pursued.A Fraud Investigation Unit of the Common Services Agency of the NHS Scotland was established in July 2000.

The Health Technology Board for Scotland is currently working on a process to comment on all Final Appraisals from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). The NICE Appraisal on donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine (Reminyl) will be the first to go through this process in the spring.As an interim measure, the Scottish Executive has asked Drugs and Therapeutics Committees to review any advice they may have provided to their clinicians on the use of these treatments in Alzheimer's disease, taking into account the NICE advice.