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Following publication of the report, all NHS board chairs and chief executives were asked to review the content of the NHS QIS report and ensure the lessons learned were considered in the context of their own NHS board. This was followed up with visits by Scottish Government Health Directorates officials to all boards to review progress against implementation of the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) National Action Plan, introduced following the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital last year.

The Scottish Government Health Directorates has also agreed that NHS QIS undertake follow-up visits in December 2009 to assess the progress made by NHS Orkney, NHS Grampian and NHS Highland with implementation of the actions detailed in the report.

Whilst not directly linked to the NHS QIS report, the new Care Environment Inspectorate will be visiting every acute hospital at least once over the next three years and will also undertake unannounced inspections. Their focus will be to reduce the HAI risk to patients through a rigorous inspection framework that will specifically focus on providing assurance to the public, NHS boards and the Scottish Government that patients are as safe as possible from HAIs and their consequences; that HAI standards in NHS acute hospitals are high and that any HAI issues are being tackled effectively.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27336 on 30 September 2009. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27334 on 30 September 2009. 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.

The £496 million reduction is made up by the three items included in the question.

Chapter one of the Spending Review 2007 document published in November 2007 set out the use of the £874 million of end-year flexibility (EYF) across the three years as £300/400/174 million. The last published EYF balance in July 2009 was £670 million which will reduce by the agreed drawdown of £400 million and £174 million in 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively to leave a balance of £96 million. HM Treasury has agreed that this balance and any subsequent EYF generated in 2009-10 can be drawn down to offset the reduction of £128.6 million in the Scottish Government''s capital budget in 2010-11.

In accordance with the terms of reference, I expect the inquiry to complete its work within one year of its set up date.

However, the inquiry chairman may seek an extension, if he considers it necessary. Any such request will be given due consideration.

The responses, minus any personal references to respondents, will be published on the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland website as soon as possible.

The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Team is based in offices at Lothian Chambers, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.

It will be for the inquiry to decide on a suitable venue for public hearings and evidence sessions.

The Care Commission is responsible for ensuring that care homes meet the legislative requirement to have appropriate procedures for the control of infections. Care homes are required to notify the commission of any outbreaks of infectious diseases that occur, and the commission will follow up on cleanliness, hygiene and infection control measures in care homes if it has concerns.

How that follow-up is carried out, and the number of times the commission has followed up concerns about infection control, are operational matters for the Care Commission. Details can be obtained from the Chief Executive:

Mrs Jacquie Roberts, Chief Executive, Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care, Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee, DD1 4NY, telephone: 0845 603 0890, email:

Jacquie.roberts@carecommission.com.

All persons authorised to prescribe antimicrobial agents in healthcare settings, including care homes, are required to adhere to local antimicrobial prescribing policy.