- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government how NHS boards are supported and encouraged to implement Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline 123.
Answer
Implementation of national clinical guidelines is the responsibility of each NHS board and is an essential part of clinical governance. Local mechanisms should therefore be in place to review care provided against guideline recommendations. The reasons for any differences should be assessed and addressed where appropriate. Local arrangements should then be made to implement the guideline in individual hospitals, units and practices.
SIGN has also made tools, including a quick reference guide, an iPhone and android compatible smartphone application and widely disseminated audit criteria available to support NHS boards with implementation.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 22 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government whether the 475 voluntary severance packages reported in the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, represent all staff reductions for that year and, if not, what the reasons were for the others.
Answer
No, the voluntary severance packages do not represent all staff reductions for 2011-12. The reason for staff leaving is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 22 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 475 voluntary severance packages reported in the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, were subject to compromise agreements.
Answer
All staff who choose the option of voluntary severance will sign a compromise agreement as part of this process.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 22 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the external review, which the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, said highlighted significant concerns about a lack of ownership and accountability for financial management, what action Healthcare Improvement Scotland has taken to meet the requirements of its action plan and whether it considers that these are now being met.
Answer
The external review was conducted by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) who made a number of recommendations to improve accountability for financial management within Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS). Key areas identified for action included: budgetary control procedures, financial management training for budget holders, clarifying senior management financial responsibilities and management focus on financial management. Progress with implementing the recommendations has been reported to the HIS Finance & Performance Committee (22 August 2012) and to the HIS Audit Committee (14 September 2012). The implementation of the revised financial procedures has been scrutinised by Internal Audit and found to be effective, albeit some operating adjustments have been recommended. A mid-year financial review and year end forecast was undertaken during October and the outcome is a forecast of financial balance for 2012-13. HIS continue to work closely with budget holders to improve budget management and to consider improvements to processes as necessary. Indications are that the action plan has improved awareness and accountability of financial management within the organisation and on this basis it is considered that the requirements of the action plan are being met.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 22 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government how much the increased volume of prescribing outlined in the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, will cost each NHS board and what action is being taken to address the issue.
Answer
<>The Scottish Government collects anticipated percentage uplifts applied to GP prescribing and hospital drugs from NHS boards as part of the annual financial planning process. These percentage uplifts are not broken down between price and volume increases. The information requested is thus not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The Audit Scotland report NHS financial performance 2011-12 refers to prescribing volume assumptions collected by the Health and Sport Committee as part of the Committee’s review of NHS boards budget scrutiny (June 2012). A summary of the information provided by NHS boards is available on the Scottish Parliament website at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_HealthandSportCommittee/Inquiries/Dr_Andrew_Walker_NHS_Board_survey_responses.pdf Prescribing costs are funded from NHS board baseline budget allocations provided by the Scottish Government. It is for NHS boards to determine how best to utilise baseline funding to meet the healthcare needs of their resident population. The NHS Scotland Efficiency and Productivity Framework for SR10, published in February 2011, sets out a programme of activities to improve quality and efficiency across NHS Scotland. The prescribing workstream supports NHS boards in identifying opportunities to improve the clinical quality of prescribing and to improve cost effectiveness of prescribing. Current activities of the workstream include a review of polypharmacy (the use of multiple medications by a patient) and a review of repeat prescriptions; these reviews aim to reduce the risk of harm to patients and further reduce wastage from medicines being dispensed to patients when they are not required.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 22 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of outstanding equal pay claims in the NHS and the cost of settling these.
Answer
There are currently approximately 10,300 claims. The NHS Scotland Central Legal Office and Equal Pay Unit are continuing to monitor the progress of all equal pay claims in NHS Scotland as well as developments relating to NHS equal pay claims elsewhere that may further inform the position.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 22 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken an equality impact assessment of its free prescriptions policy.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11157 on 22 November 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that NHS boards take a consistent approach to the use of new technology in the management of diabetes.
Answer
We fully recognise the important role that technology can play in supporting the care of people with diabetes. This is reflected in our investment of £2.5 million in insulin pump technology earlier this year. We have also invested £115,000 in the “MyDiabetesMyWay” online tool which connects people with diabetes to their clinical data online.
We expect local NHS boards diabetes to take full advantage of new health technologies to benefit people with diabetes once they have demonstrated that they are clinically and cost effective.
NHS boards are supported by well established, robust advice mechanisms, including the Scottish Health Technologies Group, to help ensure that people with diabetes get appropriate access to new treatments.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are in place to review care provided against the recommendations of Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline 123.
Answer
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
WRITTEN ANSWER
22 November 2012
Index Heading: Health and Social Care
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are in place to review care provided against the recommendations of Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guideline 123.
(S4W-11021)
Michael Matheson: Implementation of national clinical guidelines is the responsibility of each NHS board and is an essential part of clinical governance. Local mechanisms should therefore be in place to review care provided against guideline recommendations. The reasons for any differences should be assessed and addressed where appropriate. Local arrangements should then be made to implement the guideline in individual hospitals, units and practices.
NHS boards are expected to review services and facilities regularly to ensure they continue to reflect local needs and provide the best quality healthcare services.
The Scottish Society for Rheumatology’s web-based audit programme has also undertaken audit work which will inform the improvement of rheumatoid arthritis services. The final report from this work is expected to be published by April 2013.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 22 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the ability of NHS boards to meet savings plans for 2012-13, in light of the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, suggesting that eight had categorised 25% of their [2011-12] savings plans as high risk.
Answer
Based upon information provided by NHS Scotland boards, there is confidence that boards will once again deliver planned efficiency savings for 2012-13. NHS boards have agreed financial plans to deliver efficiency savings of £271.701million in the current year. At month 6 to 30 September 2012 (the mid year point), Boards remain on target to deliver the required level of savings.
Currently over 82% of savings are classed as either medium or low risk in terms of them being delivered. Efficiency savings do not reduce the overall budget of the NHS. All savings are retained locally by territorial Boards to allow them to reinvest in front-line services which directly benefit patients.
| Health Finance Division | Local Delivery Plan - Planned Efficiency Savings |
| NHS Territorial Boards | Value | Unidentified | High | Medium | Low |
| | £m | % | % | % | % |
| Ayrshire & Arran | 13.094 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 13.98% | 86.02% |
| Borders | 5.904 | 0.00% | 27.93% | 30.05% | 42.02% |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 7.500 | 0.00% | 11.27% | 46.41% | 42.32% |
| Fife | 17.524 | 0.00% | 32.01% | 31.81% | 36.17% |
| Forth Valley | 11.944 | 5.86% | 16.74% | 28.69% | 48.71% |
| Grampian | 12.006 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 27.54% | 72.46% |
| Greater Glasgow & Clyde | 59.049 | 0.00% | 7.79% | 39.28% | 52.94% |
| Highland | 23.736 | 7.88% | 12.43% | 55.36% | 24.33% |
| Lanarkshire | 19.211 | 9.44% | 2.95% | 39.29% | 48.32% |
| Lothian | 37.540 | 12.89% | 47.68% | 15.82% | 23.61% |
| Orkney | 1.418 | 0.00% | 8.82% | 38.43% | 52.75% |
| Shetland | 2.671 | 20.97% | 22.50% | 20.52% | 36.02% |
| Tayside | 24.543 | 0.00% | 32.80% | 58.12% | 9.09% |
| Western Isles | 2.485 | 10.26% | 17.67% | 60.56% | 11.51% |
| NHS Territorial Boards Total | 238.625 | 4.21% | 19.00% | 36.07% | 40.73% |
| NHS Special Health Boards | | | | | |
| National Services Scotland | 10.340 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% | 0.00% |
| Scottish Ambulance Service | 7.318 | 24.60% | 0.00% | 37.36% | 38.04% |
| Education for Scotland | 7.295 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 17.30% | 82.70% |
| NHS 24 | 1.720 | 45.23% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 54.77% |
| National Waiting Times Centre Board | 2.305 | 0.00% | 12.58% | 43.21% | 44.21% |
| The State Hospital | 1.389 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 20.95% | 79.05% |
| NHS Health Scotland | 1.009 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 10.51% | 89.49% |
| Healthcare Improvement Scotland | 1.700 | 0.00% | 15.47% | 21.76% | 62.76% |
| NHS Special Health Boards Total | 33.076 | 7.79% | 1.67% | 48.67% | 41.86% |
| Grand Total | 271.701 | 4.64% | 16.89% | 37.61% | 40.86% |
| Health Finance Division | Position At Period 6 - Forecast Efficiency Savings |
| NHS Territorial Boards | Value | Unidentified | High | Medium | Low |
| | £m | % | % | % | % |
| Ayrshire & Arran | 13.094 | 0.00% | 1.15% | 9.98% | 88.87% |
| Borders | 5.904 | 0.00% | 8.53% | 26.58% | 64.89% |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 7.500 | 0.00% | 2.32% | 33.03% | 64.66% |
| Fife | 17.524 | 0.00% | 31.48% | 32.71% | 35.81% |
| Forth Valley | 11.944 | 5.86% | 16.73% | 12.12% | 65.29% |
| Grampian | 12.006 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 88.70% | 11.30% |
| Greater Glasgow & Clyde | 59.049 | 0.17% | 7.02% | 28.52% | 64.29% |
| Highland | 23.736 | 3.50% | 12.10% | 56.95% | 27.46% |
| Lanarkshire | 19.211 | 0.00% | 2.59% | 37.06% | 60.35% |
| Lothian | 37.540 | 12.89% | 45.27% | 20.02% | 21.82% |
| Orkney | 1.418 | 0.00% | 8.82% | 30.78% | 60.40% |
| Shetland | 2.671 | 13.37% | 29.94% | 38.90% | 17.80% |
| Tayside | 24.543 | 0.00% | 21.14% | 42.65% | 36.21% |
| Western Isles | 2.340 | 0.00% | 10.44% | 11.24% | 78.32% |
| NHS Territorial Boards Total | 238.480 | 2.86% | 16.44% | 33.71% | 46.99% |
| NHS Special Health Boards | | | | | |
| National Services Scotland | 10.181 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 31.38% | 68.62% |
| Scottish Ambulance Service | 7.318 | 1.37% | 12.47% | 12.88% | 73.29% |
| Education for Scotland | 7.295 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% |
| NHS 24 | 1.720 | 13.02% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 86.98% |
| National Waiting Times Centre Board | 2.305 | 0.00% | 12.60% | 43.24% | 44.16% |
| The State Hospital | 1.389 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% |
| NHS Health Scotland | 1.009 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% |
| Healthcare Improvement Scotland | 1.700 | 0.00% | 13.68% | 9.12% | 77.21% |
| NHS Special Health Boards Total | 32.917 | 0.98% | 4.36% | 16.07% | 78.59% |
| Grand Total | 271.397 | 2.63% | 14.98% | 31.57% | 50.82% |
