- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 13 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce three-year budgets for local authorities.
Answer
Local authorities know the aggregate figures for Government Supported Expenditure (GSE) and Aggregate External Finance (AEF) for 1999-2000 until 2001-02, which we announced at the time of the Comprehensive Spending Review in 1998. The figures for 2000-01 and 2001-02 were confirmed in my statement on 6 October and published in our consultation document Spending Plans for Scotland. I made clear in the Scottish Parliament on 1 March that I will be discussing the development of three year budgeting with CoSLA over the coming months.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 10 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Glasgow Housing Stock Transfer Steering Group last met, when it will next meet, and how many scheduled meetings have been cancelled and why.
Answer
The Glasgow Housing Partnership Steering Group last met on 28 February and is scheduled to meet shortly. Meetings have been held as and when it was appropriate to discuss the work in progress.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 10 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all health service professionals working in primary care advise patients on anti-epileptic drugs of their potential side effects.
Answer
All patients receive an information leaflet with each dispensed prescription providing information on the safe and correct use of medicines including potential side-effects. Good clinical practice recommends that all health professionals advise patients on the treatments they are receiving, including the benefits as well as potential side effects.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 10 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many intensive care and high dependency beds will be provided from the #6.8 million announced by the Minister for Health and Community Care on 22 February 2000 and whether this money will provide additional beds or be used to alter the classification of existing beds.
Answer
It is for Health Boards, working with NHS Trusts to determine how best to use the additional resources in light of local needs and circumstances. The Chief Medical Officer has established a short-life group to examine how intensive care and high dependency services can be improved. The group will look at ways of improving the flexibility of these services and of matching provision with need. Health Boards will be expected to take full account of the Group's recommendations when taking decisions about how the additional resources should be used.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 10 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that epileptic patients have their medication reviewed annually by their GP.
Answer
This is a matter for the clinical judgement of the GP who will determine the frequency of medication review for epileptic patients based on clinical need. Existing national clinical guidelines published by SIGN in 1997 on "the Diagnosis and Management of Epilepsy in Adults" are scheduled for review this year.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 10 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients with epilepsy were referred for surgery, in the most recent year for which figures are available, and what the average waiting time is, in each health board area.
Answer
A total of 11 patients were admitted from the waiting list in Scotland for surgery to treat epilepsy during the year ending 31 March 1999. The median wait for treatment was 34 days. Information on the number of waiting list admissions for surgery to treat epilepsy, by health board of residence, is provided below.
Health Board | Number of Patients | Waiting Time (days) |
Argyll and Clyde | 1 | 22 |
Ayrshire and Arran | 1 | 31 |
Fife | 1 | 103 |
Forth Valley | 2 | 231 |
Grampian | 1 | 34 |
Greater Glasgow | 3 | 1131 |
Lanarkshire | 1 | 178 |
Lothian | 1 | 45 |
Scotland | 11 | 34 |
Source: ISD Scotland.
Notes:1. Median waiting time.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 9 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recovery plan submitted by South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust is expected to have any impact on ambulance service provision.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is working closely with the Trust and the health board to ensure that a robust recovery plan is produced, which will ensure that high quality patient care continues to be delivered within a sustainable financial framework.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 8 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government that the proposed additional tobacco taxes raised in Scotland as part of the "tobacco escalator" will be hypothecated to the Scottish Executive to provide additional resources for the NHS.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues including additional tobacco taxes. The Executive will receive Barnett formula consequentials of increased health spending funded by additional tobacco taxes.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 8 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it will issue to schools on epilepsy awareness training, dealing effectively with sei'ures and the administration, where necessary, of rectal dia'epam.
Answer
I have established a Working Group to produce good practice guidance on the administration of medicines in schools which will address these issues. The Epilepsy Association of Scotland is represented on the Group.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 8 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many saline and glucose bags were purchased by each health board and what was the cost in the most recent year for which figures are available.
Answer
Details of the number of bags purchased through the NHS central contract during the period November 1998 to October 1999 are as follows:
| Health Board | Product | Total | Cost(£) |
| | Glucose | Saline | | |
| Lothian | 153,420 | 537,750 | 691,170 | 315,101.80 |
| Greater Glasgow | 286,840 | 964,760 | 1,251,600 | 577,985.10 |
| Lanarkshire | 95,960 | 272,060 | 368,020 | 167,196.80 |
| Forth Valley | 45,710 | 107,019 | 152,729 | 70,304.15 |
| Fife | 45,350 | 173,310 | 218,660 | 102,227.10 |
| Borders | 6,000 | 39,310 | 45,310 | 22,576.50 |
| Dumfries &Galloway | 24,920 | 63,260 | 88,180 | 40,039.50 |
| Ayrshire & Arran | 58,440 | 217,570 | 276,010 | 129,663.80 |
| Argyll & Clyde | 77,220 | 139,730 | 216,950 | 96,885.30 |
| Grampian | 67,850 | 251,140 | 318,990 | 146,498.60 |
| Highland | 18,850 | 72,069 | 90,919 | 44,888.15 |
| Shetland & Orkney | 1,760 | 4,180 | 5,940 | 2,674.00 |
| Tayside | 70,820 | 284,329 | 355,149 | 164,825.87 |
| Western Isles | 2,780 | 9,860 | 12,640 | 5,748.00 |
| Totals | 955,920 | 3,136,347 | 4,092,267 | 1,886,614.67 |
