- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 14 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking on the development of direct referral to physiotherapy services as recommended by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in Scotland in light of a pilot project in Dundee that demonstrated that such a system produced a saving of one months' consultation time a year in an average GP practice.
Answer
It is important to build ongood practice and the Dundee pilot project suggests that it is possible to reducewaiting times for physiotherapy, which is good for patients. As part of its nationalprogramme, the Centre for Change and Innovation is undertaking a modernisationof out-patient services which will certainly build on the kind of workdemonstrated by physiotherapists in Dundee.
In addition to the Dundee pilot,a further study involving all health board areas in Scotland andGP practices in a wide range of locations, is currently under way to considerfurther the scope for the provision of direct access. This nationalmulti-centred study will show whether provision of direct access is appropriatein all locations irrespective of deprivation and setting.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 14 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will evaluate whether local authorities meet community needs in respect of transport issues, as referred to in paragraph 22 of its consultation paper Scotland's Transport - Proposals for a New Approach to Transport in Scotland.
Answer
Scotland’s Transport – Proposals for a New Approach toTransport in Scotland seeks comments on the best way of widening publicinvolvement in the planning of transport services in Scotland. Thepaper suggests that a community planning approach could provide a basis forensuring that transport services offered meet the needs of the community. It istoo early to put in place evaluation methods, which will depend on the form oftransport organisations which emerge from the consultation.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 14 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive when a nationwide concessionary fares scheme will be operational, as referred to in paragraph 19 of its consultation paper Scotland's Transport - Proposals for a New Approach to Transport in Scotland.
Answer
As outlined in
APartnership for a Better Scotland, the Executive is committed to extendingconcessionary fares schemes on public transport, including a national freeoff-peak bus scheme for older people and people with disabilities; andprogressively introducing a scheme of national bus, rail and ferryconcessionary travel for young people, initially for all in full-time educationor training.
Work is taking place toprogress these commitments, including discussions with key stakeholders. Thiswill be followed by a formal consultation process and substantial research andimplementation work. We will be in a position to make a decision on the precisetiming of the introduction of the schemes once the formal consultation processhas been completed.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 12 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance issued to local authorities on the direction of choice in regard to discharge from hospitals to care homes is being reviewed; if so, what form the consultation process is taking; who is being consulted; what views have been expressed, and whether any representations have raised issues relating to the implementation of the guidance in rural areas.
Answer
A widevariety of statutory and non statutory bodies were consulted about reviseddraft Guidance on Choice of Accommodation in November 2002. In response, a rangeof comments have been received and some of these have expressed concern aboutchoice and the availability of suitable care in rural areas.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time has been for access to psychology services in each NHS board area in each year since 1999.
Answer
The information requested isnot available centrally.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the proposals for workforce planning in the NHS for psychology services, what information it has on what progress has been made with the Leonardo da Vinci project to create a European diploma in psychology and what discussions will be held to include Scotland in the list of nations to take part in the piloting of the project.
Answer
We understand that theBritish Psychological Society (UK) has been involved in discussingharmonisation of training and the content of the proposed European diploma inpsychology. In respect of the pilot of this project, we understand that thispart of the process is at an early stage.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 11 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns it has regarding the public private partnership contracts undertaken by East Lothian Council for schools refurbishment and build, given recent events regarding Ballast plc.
Answer
This is a matter betweenEast Lothian Council and the consortium with whom it has contracted. It is forthe consortium to determine how best to meet its contractual obligations.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 11 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the #43 million East Lothian public private partnership schools contract has been paid to Ballast plc.
Answer
The normal procedure is fora council to make payments to the consortium with whom it has contracted.Payments made to parties or sub-contractors are matters for the consortium.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 11 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any party will incur compensation costs arising from any delay to the East Lothian public private partnership schools project.
Answer
Details of the contract,including any penalty provisions associated with delays in delivery, arematters for East Lothian Council and the consortium with whom it hascontracted.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 11 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for the East Lothian public private partnership schools project of Ballast plc being placed into administration and what the implications would be should the company go into receivership or liquidation.
Answer
In this public private partnershipproject, the private sector consortium has contracted to provide a service tostandards set out in the contract. If circumstances relating to one of theparties or sub-contractors change, it remains a matter for the consortium as awhole to determine how best to meet its contractual obligations.
