Questions and answers

Question reference: S1W-07150

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what mortality and morbidity rates are for infants born prematurely, by health board, for the last years for which figures are available.

The table below shows the mortality rates for infants born prematurely. Information on morbidity for all pre-term infants is not available from current data sources.

	Pre-term Livebirths^{1, 2}			Pre-term Infant Deaths^{1, 2}			Pre-term Infant Death Rates ^{1 2 3}
Health Board of Residence	1996	1997	1998	1996	1997	1998	1996	1997	1998
Argyll and Clyde	330	338	339	24	16	18	72.7	47.3	53.1
Ayrshire and Arran	292	304	261	13	10	10	44.5	32.9	38.3
Borders	72	74	66	2	3	5	*	*	*
Dumfries and Galloway	107	90	85	8	3	3	*	*	*
Fife	260	256	298	15	10	8	57.7	39.1	*
Forth valley	196	193	208	14	8	13	71.4	*	62.5
Grampian	385	386	433	13	16	25	33.8	41.5	57.7
Greater Glasgow	801	832	815	47	38	34	58.7	45.7	41.7
Highland	128	161	163	7	4	9	*	*	*
Lanarkshire	475	446	446	32	27	15	67.4	60.5	33.6
Lothian	656	646	563	31	21	30	47.3	32.5	53.3
Orkney	8	10	8	0	0	0	0	0	0
Shetland	16	21	18	0	0	1	0	0	*
Tayside	303	307	305	10	6	12	33	*	39.3
Western Isles	10	9	13	0	0	0	0	0	0
Scotland	4,039	4,073	4,021	216	162	183	53.5	39.8	45.5

Notes.

1. Pre-term is defined as less than 37 weeks gestation.

2. Infant deaths are live-born who die within the first year of life.

3. Rate per 1,000 pre-term live births.

* Rates are not shown for less than 10 deaths

Question reference: S1W-07151

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve outcomes for babies born prematurely.

The Public Health White Paper Towards a Healthier Scotland addresses some of the antecedent causes of low birth weight and prematurity including smoking.

The Scottish Executive together with the Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health (SPCERH) the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives is taking forward a number of studies into issues around prematurity. These include: the Scottish Still Births and Infant Deaths survey to look at the incidence and any antecedent causes of prematurity and the Confidential Enquiry into Sudden Deaths of Infants study into babies born at 27 and 28 weeks. SPCERH have produced guidelines on the management of pre-term foetus, pre-eclampsia and non-proteinuria hypertension, all of which can be associated with premature delivery.

The Chief Nursing Officer is chairing a Maternity Services Reference Group which is looking at the development of a National Services Framework for the delivery of maternity services in Scotland and this will look at all aspects of maternity care and will report in autumn 2000.

Question reference: S1W-07360

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make people travelling abroad on business or holiday pay the full cost of necessary vaccinations.

Question reference: S1W-06679

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Trusts can transfer resources from capital to revenue expenditure without its permission, whether such permission was previously required and, if so, when this position changed.

Question reference: S1W-06678

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why #164.508 million was transferred from capital expenditure to revenue expenditure in the NHSiS from 1994-95 to 1999-2000 inclusive.

As explained in the answer to question S1W-6114, capital to revenue transfers were made annually to enable health boards and NHS Trusts to meet the costs of minor projects and non-added value elements of capital schemes. In addition, some resources were transferred to provide revenue support to assist NHS Trusts meet their financial targets.

From 2000-01 onwards, all capital funds must be spent on capital items.

Question reference: S1W-06829

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W- 6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Highland Health Board of #5.815 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Highland Health Board Area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1995-96 levels and, if so, over what time period.

It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.