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Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a rare lung condition the cause of which is of unknown. It can be difficult to diagnose as the main symptoms are similar to other lung conditions. Diagnosis will usually be made by a respiratory specialist and may involve a number of tests including chest x-ray, CT scan and in some cases lung biopsy.

Respiratory Managed Clinical Networks have been established in all NHS health boards across Scotland, supported by pump priming funding from the Scottish Government. Our National Advisory Group (NAG) for Respiratory Managed Clinical Networks is working to develop a co-ordinated approach to improving respiratory services across Scotland and provides the opportunity for local Managed Clinical Networks, patient representatives and stakeholders to discuss issues, identify solutions and share best practice.

The vast majority of GP practices operate as independent contractors within the NHS. Practices are contracted by health boards to provide NHS services to registered patients under the terms and conditions of a nationally negotiated General Medical Services contract.

The contract regulations do specify a number of prescribed medical certificates which GPs are required to provide free under the NHS. However not all documentation, certificates and reports requested by patients are covered by the NHS and when GPs agree to provide services outwith their NHS contractual terms and conditions, they are entitled to charge a professional fee as remuneration for doing so.

The British Medical Association (BMA) does not direct doctors on the level of professional fees but it does provide general guidance. Where a patient requests a report or certificate falling outside the work of the doctor’s NHS contract the BMA advises that the fee set should be reasonable, transparent and justifiable. Patients should also be forewarned of the fee level before the service is agreed and provided.

Information on the location of offences is not held in The Scottish Government court proceedings database, however, I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11677 on 10 January 2013 which includes data on section 5(1) of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 relating to assaulting or impeding health workers in hospital premises.

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.

Funding local data sharing partnerships contributed towards the improvement of local information sharing protocols, procedures and guidance originally provided by the eCare programme. Adapting local IT systems, improved communications and increased willingness to share information to achieve a better outcome for clients.

The lessons learned from the eCare programme span the programme’s policy and strategy focus, the way it was organised and governed and the technical approach to delivering an information sharing service and integrating it with local ways of working. A detailed lessons learned report will be completed and made available.

The cost of the eCare Programme has been £50,300,000 from its inception in 2001 until the end of March 2013.

The information regarding the eCare programme was removed from the website on 22 January 2013. The information about eCare was out of date and with the decision to change the course of IT development in support of the Health and Social Care integration, the information is no longer relevant. A short statement on the current status of eCare and its transition can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/Quality-Improvement-Performance/eHealth/eCare

Paediatric Intensive Care services are nationally commissioned by NHS National Services Scotland National Services Division (NSD) on behalf of all NHS boards. NSD monitors service provision to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to manage periods of surge, for example during winter months.

<>We welcome this report and are pleased to see that Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) acknowledge the commitment we have made through the Mental Health Strategy (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/08/9714), to “undertake work to develop appropriate specialist capacity in respect of developmental disorders as well as improving awareness in general settings. As part of this work we will review the need for specialist inpatient services within Scotland” (Commitment 33).

In developing specialist capability in respect of developmental disorders we will along with our partners consider the contents of the report and if appropriate engage with HIS. We would also expect NHS boards to consider the contents of the report when they are redesigning or making provision of services to meet the needs of their local population.

NHS boards are responsible for the administration of drugs, including responsibility for reducing the incidence of adverse events concerning drug administration, in their board area.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are undertaking specific initiatives to improve their systems and processes to increase the number of checks and ensure clarity of prescribing and charting. Incident reporting and auditing are used to identify errors and to identify lessons for dissemination, or improvements to guidance. Greater Glasgow and Clyde have also identified a number of education initiatives aimed at Medical, Nursing and Pharmacy staff.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran are undertaking specific initiatives to improve their systems and processes, they have highlighted that they are the first Scottish site to have implemented the Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (HEPMA) which is recognised to significantly enhance medicines safety. NHS Ayrshire and Arran are using incident reports and Significant Adverse Event Reviews to support learning for staff and continuous improvements. Medicines events are reviewed by a Medicines Risk Protection Group which has a remit to review and recommend improvements to policies and procedures.

National initiatives to support NHS boards to reduce drug administration errors include work on medicines reconciliation undertaken as part of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme, and support for the development of electronic prescribing as part of the E-Health strategy.