Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25172.

The review of the management of waiting lists in NHSScotland, which is currently being undertaken by Audit Scotland, includes all NHS trusts. Audit Scotland expects to publish its report by the end of June 2002.

Figures for the in-patient/day case waiting list on 31 March 2002, by NHS board and trust, will be published by ISD Scotland on its NHSScotland Acute Activity, Waiting Times And Waiting Lists website on 30 May 2002.

I understand that the Chief Executive of West Lothian NHS Trust asked the Information and Services Division (ISD) of the NHS Common Services Agency to review decisions taken by the trust on waiting list classifications, including those in the specialty of plastic surgery, and to advise on whether these decisions were in line with ISD's National Definitions. I further understand that ISD's report was submitted to the trust at the end of April. The conclusions of the report will be published and its recommendations implemented. In particular, any patients identified as having been inappropriately removed from the waiting list will be immediately reinstated by the trust, and included in its waiting list figures for 31 March 2002.

The Executive has no plans to investigate the prescribing of steroid creams on the NHS.It is not possible to monitor repeated use of steroid creams in children from data collected centrally. These data relate to prescribed items dispensed in the community and are not patient-specific. Guidance on the use of these products is available to doctors from a number of sources. Importantly, the British National Formulary, issued free to doctors, provides prescribing advice, which includes advice on topical corticosteroid use in children. The use of these treatments depends on the clinical judgement of the doctor concerned, informed by advice and evidence about their use.

Comprehensive standards and conditions for the welfare of farm animals, reflecting European and domestic legislation, are in place, in the form of Welfare Codes and leaflets and these are reviewed regularly.A new Welfare Code for sheep has recently been issued and, subject to parliamentary approval, it is proposed to issue new Welfare Codes for meat chickens and laying hens in the coming months. In addition, consultation exercises, seeking comments from all interested parties on proposed new Welfare Codes for cattle and pigs, will be undertaken in due course.

Yes. There is extensive European and domestic legislation and comprehensive guidance in place setting out standards and conditions for the welfare of farmed animals. All producers must meet these conditions. Regular inspections are undertaken and breaches of the legislation can result in prosecutions.

The Medicines Control Agency received eight reports of suspected adverse drug reactions through the Yellow Card Scheme, in association with HRT use from GPs in Scotland in 1999 and 2000 and nine reports in 2001.

There are no clinical standards for the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The decision to prescribe a drug for a patient is a matter for the clinical judgement of the patient's doctor based on the patient need, and is informed by the advice and guidance about the drug contained in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) and the Patient Information Leaflet. The SPC contains information on the safe and effective use of a product and provides the health professional with information that may help in determining a patient's possible susceptibility to the known side effects of HRT.

Clinicians with responsibility for treating a patient are also responsible for monitoring their progress and the effects of that treatment, including ensuring that any appropriate follow-up action is taken.