Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-2745 today, which is available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

Some specific developments includethe completion of a baseline survey in the Western Isles, the inclusion of palliativecare in the Dumfries and Galloway local cancer plan, the establishment of a palliativecare Managed Clinical Network in Lothian and the development of a post in Lanarkshireto work with the local palliative care planning group.

The Scottish Executive does not have comparative information about post-operative mortality followingmajor surgery for all EU countries. Such a comprehensive data source does not currentlyexist. However, under the new EU public health programme, (6th Framework), workwill be conducted to create a prototype for a health monitoring system. A projectbid for 6th Framework resources sponsored by Instituto Superiore de Sanita, Rome, and supportedby NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, has been made and, if successful, would aimto identify the most appropriate medical procedures on which to concentrate to producecomparative outcomes for EU member states.

I have asked Angiolina Foster,acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

Since the completion of the Glasgow housingstock transfer in March 2003, £68.1 million of funding has been paid to the GlasgowHousing Association Ltd and the funding is broken down as follows.

Funding to the GlasgowHousing Association Ltd since March 2003

	£ Million
Repayable Grant	63.250
Training	0.036
Central Heating Programme	0.488
Management Costs to date of transfer	4.304
Total	68.077

This exercise is being pursuedin a variety of ways best suited to local requirements. Published Local Health Plansfor 2003-04 and Cancer in Scotland Monitoring Reports indicate that manyNHS boards have completed palliative care needs assessments. In some areas thisexercise has been overtaken by the development of palliative care strategies arisingfrom the establishment of palliative care networks.

Information has been providedby the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in relation to consultant staffing levels.At the beginning of September 2003, there were seven full-time and no part-timeNHS consultants employed by the Golden Jubilee National Hospital.

The hospital provides accessrights to over 300 consultants, of which 90 undertake regular sessions. In addition,there are 19 consultants who work, as and when required, to provide a service forthe hospital.

Information and Statistics DivisionScotland update the medical and dental staffing data through an annual census andthe latest centrally held data is correct as at 30 September 2002. The next update,reflecting the position at 30 September 2003, will be published in February 2004.

The Golden Jubilee NationalHospital is an NHS Scotland Special Health Board. Its senior management team isresponsible for reviewing the services provided and staffing levels.

The Scottish Executive is committed to increasing the number of consultants in the NHS by 600by 2006 and continuing to build on that increase thereafter.

This specific information isnot held centrally.

The Golden Jubilee NationalHospital is helping to reduce NHS waiting times across Scotland,particularly for patients experiencing the longest waits.

The Executive has set clearnational waiting times guarantees and targets which apply to all NHS boardareas. All boards are committed to achieving the nine-month maximum waitguarantee for in-patient and day case treatment by the end of December thisyear. It is for the boards to take whatever actions are necessary, includingrecruitment and retention of staff and arranging for patients to be treated atthe Golden Jubilee National Hospital, to ensure that the guarantee is delivered.

Detailed arrangements forthe restructuring of the post office network are operational matters for RoyalMail which is answerable to its regulator and the UK Government on all aspectsof these reserved matters. The Scottish Executive ensures that account is takenof the circumstances in Scotland, has introduced a scheme to assist redevelopment ofpost offices in deprived urban areas and will maintain contact with the UKGovernment and Royal Mail to identify any further options for action.

This information is not heldcentrally.