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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S3W-23029

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the commitment made by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing at a meeting with the C. diff Justice Group in December 2008 to consider a public inquiry into the deaths from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven hospital if there was a delay in receiving a final report from the Crown Counsel, whether it will now grant a public inquiry.

Question reference: S3W-23030

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executivewhen it anticipates receiving a report from the Crown Counsel on the deaths from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven hospital and whether this will be an interim or final report.

Question reference: S3W-22850

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 April 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it considers that personal antibacterial products have in reducing the incidence of healthcare associated infections.

Question reference: S3W-22508

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a recent increase in the number of healthcare associated infections in Orkney and, if so, what the nature of the problem is and what action has been taken.

On 3 February, the Scottish Government was notified of an outbreak of Clostridium difficile in NHS Orkney (NHSO). Seventeen patients, including one member of staff, had been confirmed as Clostridium difficile positive since the start of January 2009. This compared to a total of 26 cases for the whole of 2008. Seven cases were identified in the community, 10 in hospital. Of the 17, three have died, with Clostridium difficile recorded on two of the death certificates, in both cases as a contributory cause of death.

Immediately the situation became known, the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) asked Health Protection Scotland (HPS) to visit to fully explore the circumstances and to provide support, which they did on 6 February. The CNO, supported by members of the Scottish Government HAI team and HPS also visited the board on 10 February, and an action plan was produced. Through weekly monitoring, I am being kept informed of progress.

The detail of the Clostridium difficile outbreak was reported publicly through local media and the NHS Orkney, HAI Reporting template (HAIRT), and the HAIRT was discussed at the NHSO board meeting on 19 February 2009. A copy can be accessed through the NHSO website using the following link http://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/images/pdf/OHB114%20Orkney%20HAI.doc.

I spoke to the Chair of NHS Orkney on 5 February and met him on 4 March. He reassured me that the outbreak was contained and the action plan was in place, and I have asked that NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) review the clinical governance arrangements in place across NHS Orkney, which is consistent with their remit to provide advice and guidance on effective clinical practice.

A further review of infection control arrangements will also be undertaken by HPS by the end of September 2009.

Question reference: S3W-21811

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S3W-20799 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 March 2009, whether it intends to distinguish between samples taken from patients in acute hospitals, non-acute hospitals and community settings in determining the presence of Clostridium difficile.

Health Protection Scotland (HPS) advise there is no intention to distinguish between samples taken in hospitals, community settings or nursing homes for the national surveillance of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease (CDAD).

HPS will carry out validation studies with individual NHS boards to establish where CDAD cases are arising to best focus efforts to reduce the risk of developing the infection.

Antimicrobial prescribing is the biggest single risk factor for CDAD and in that context it is assumed that all cases are healthcare associated.

Question reference: S3W-21819

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what information is given to patients in relation to the need to complete courses of antibiotics and the potential risk of Clostridium difficile in the over-65s who are vulnerable and may be admitted to hospital in the following two months.

All labels on antibiotic prescriptions should have standard labelling “ Complete the Course. Pharmacists in hospital and primary care settings also counsel patients on how to take their medicine including taking at regular intervals, requirements to take before and after food and completing the course.

Good prescribing practice for any treatment should also involve discussion with the patient of potential risks and benefits as appropriate on an individual basis.

The benefit of using an antibiotic to treat an infection in a patient over 65 years must be balanced against the potential for predisposing them to Clostridium difficile. Prescribers must weigh up these risks and decide on an individual basis what is clinically appropriate.

Question reference: S3W-21818

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how GPs are engaged at a clinical level with the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Task Force objectives to create a whole-system approach.

Question reference: S3W-21816

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20798 by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 March 2009, whether NHS boards receive assurances that prescribing practices are appropriate in addition to monitoring antibiotic use.

The appropriate use of antimicrobials is an important clinical governance issue. The NHS board''s Antimicrobial Management Team (AMT), which is a sub-group of the board''s Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee, covers both primary and secondary care sectors. Their key role is the development, implementation and compliance monitoring of the board''s antimicrobial policy. The AMT feeds back to the board''s clinical governance and risk management teams.

Question reference: S3W-21820

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20800 by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 March 2009, whether each NHS board issues guidance to GPs about prescribing antibiotics.

Question reference: S3W-21813

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will receive a final report from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service on the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital.