- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 May 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 20 May 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the system of recording the incidence of norovirus in hospitals underreports the (a) number of cases of patients and staff affected and (b) extent of ward closures.
Answer
The current Point Prevalence Surveillance system operated by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) provides data on norovirus activity across NHS Scotland on a weekly basis. HPS advise it is not essential to have every case reported in order to provide an accurate picture of the impact and geographical spread of norovirus outbreaks in Scotland.
Given the high incidence of norovirus over the winter period, the Scottish Government has asked HPS to undertake a qualitative evaluation of how NHS boards managed norovirus to identify optimal systems, review guidance implementation and determine if there are identifiable high risk alert points for which specific control measures should be instigated.
The findings of this evaluation will be used to amend existing guidance ahead of the norovirus season this coming winter.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 May 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure equal access to healthcare provision for individuals with osteosarcoma.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33404 on 11 May 2010. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 May 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how it appraises and commissions treatment for rare diseases, including osteosarcoma.
Answer
National Services Division (NSD), a division of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), is responsible for commissioning and performance managing specialist clinical services and national managed clinical networks on behalf of NHS Scotland. The specialist services commissioned by NSD are crucial to the diagnosis and treatment of rare conditions, including osteosarcoma.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 29 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any NHS board has held a meeting or event at Cameron House Hotel since May 2007 and, if so, what the (a) nature, (b) date and (c) total cost was of each such meeting or event.
Answer
This is a matter for NHS boards. The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 29 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all meetings and events held by NHS boards since May 2007 that have taken place at external facilities for which there was a charge, showing the (a) nature, (b) date and (c) total cost of each such meeting or event.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 29 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any NHS agency has held a meeting or event at Cameron House Hotel since May 2007 and, if so, what the (a) nature, (b) date and (c) total cost was of each such meeting or event.
Answer
This is a matter for NHS agencies. The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 29 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all meetings and events held by NHS agencies since May 2007 that have taken place at external facilities for which there was a charge, showing the (a) nature, (b) date and (c) total cost of each such meeting or event.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure safe and appropriate in-utero transfers.
Answer
We have a dedicated 24 hour neonatal transport system which surpasses arrangements in the rest of the UK, with dedicated and professional staff who provide high quality care to these vulnerable babies and their families.
The Perinatal Collaborative Transport Study commissioned by Quality Improvement Scotland in 2008, captured information about in-utero transfers in Scotland not previously known. It provides reassurance that transfers are being managed in line with agreed pathways of care. The study can be viewed at http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/files/CoTS%20Final%20Report.pdf.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio is of neonatal nurses to babies.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally. However, information on staff in post showing nursing staff specialising with children and clinical nurse specialists in neonatology annually as part of the workforce census as at 30 September each year. Data for nursing and midwifery staff in post and clinical nurse specialists is available at:
http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5352.html.
NHS Scotland has developed, tested and begun implementation of a neonatal nursing workload and workforce planning tool that will identify the nursing needs of this vulnerable group of babies. This tool takes in account the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) staffing recommendations and will capture actual nursing workload on a real-time basis. The implementation of this tool will help to develop quality measures for neonatal care, and equip boards with valuable information that will inform their planning and provision of services. Neonatal units have been collecting the data for six months and the Nursing & Midwifery Workload and Workforce Planning Programme are now analysing the data.
We have also recently written to NHS board chief executives to seek assurances that the levels of neonatal staffing and skill mix are sufficient to ensure a high quality neonatal service to meet their local need along with clarification of the designated level of service that the unit provides.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve accommodation and transitional care facilities for parents following the Review of Neonatal Services in Scotland.
Answer
Neonatal transfers only take place when it is in the best interests of mother and baby. We would expect NHS boards to ensure that both the accommodation and transitional care facilities for parents of ill babies who are a distance from home is of an appropriate standard.
The day-to-day management of NHS property, including accommodation issues related to service needs, is devolved to NHS boards to undertake and prioritise in line with their property and asset management strategies. This would include any necessary improvements associated with the outcomes of service reviews.
Best practice guidance available to NHS boards is published by Health Facilities Scotland (HFS). The current guidance for the provision of maternity services is the English Health Building Note HBN 09-02: Maternity care facilities, which HFS are presently looking to adapt for use in Scotland.
