Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-28470

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 November 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on examining whether there is a case for establishing a norovirus reference laboratory.

Question reference: S3W-28469

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 November 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken by Health Facilities Scotland to undertake an audit of facilities for storing excess soiled bedding and clothing.

Question reference: S3W-28474

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 November 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase the availability of isolation facilities in hospitals.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23325 on 11 May 2009 for some information on isolation facilities. 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.

In September 2008 Guidance on the provision of Isolation Facilities in Acute Settings was provided for the NHS by Health Facilities Scotland (Scottish Health Planning Note 04: Supplement 1). This guidance explains the context of the need for such facilities and how single rooms with en-suite facilities can be used and enhanced.

The Scottish Government has committed £1.676 billion to capital investment over three years and is developing a performance management regime for NHSScotland, which includes the condition of the estate. An Asset Management System to support this has been procured and will be implemented by all NHS boards.

Through the business case approval process SGHD Capital Investment Group are assessing proposals for increased levels of single room provision in line with Scottish Government policy.

In addition, hospitals are required to allocate patients to clinically appropriate environments based on their needs. Some have dedicated units for infectious diseases and others use single rooms within ward areas for isolation, when required.

NHS boards'' Infection Control manuals also provide guidance for healthcare workers on caring for patients with infections across a variety of settings, such as single rooms, cohort nursing and open wards.

Question reference: S3W-28472

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 November 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase single room accommodation in hospitals.

The Scottish Government has committed £1.676 billion to capital investment over three years and is developing a performance management regime for NHSScotland, which includes the condition of the Estate. An Asset Management System to support this has been procured and will be implemented by NHS boards.

In November 2008 I announced that, with immediate effect, all new build hospital projects should provide 100% provision of single room accommodation; and that there should be a move to a minimum of 50% provision in future refurbishment projects. Through the business case approval process SGHD Capital Investment Group are assessing compliance in such schemes.

In addition, hospitals are required to allocate patients to clinically appropriate environments based on their needs. Some have dedicated units for infectious diseases and others use single rooms within ward areas for isolation, when required.

NHS boards'' Infection Control manuals also provide guidance for healthcare workers on caring for patients with infections across a variety of settings, such as single rooms, cohort nursing and open wards.

Question reference: S3W-28523

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 October 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 November 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring has taken place of how health boards are implementing the requirements of Prudent Antimicrobial Prescribing: The Scottish Action Plan For Managing Antibiotic Resistance And Reducing Antibiotic Related Clostridium Difficile Associated Disease.

Question reference: S3W-28299

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 November 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how much grant funding each local authority has provided to community councils in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S3W-28298

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 November 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is provided to community councils by local authorities.

Question reference: S3W-28297

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 November 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to support community councils.

The Scottish Government, in partnership with COSLA and the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC), are developing a package of measures to raise the profile and effectiveness of community councils throughout Scotland.

A Model Scheme of Establishment of Community Councils and Code of Conduct for Community Councils developed by the Community Council Working Group (CCWG) became available for adoption by local authorities earlier this year. The CCWG also developed a support document in the form of Good Practice Guidance for use by both local authorities and community councils.

Additionally, we have developed and launched three out of six community council pilot projects. The other three pilot projects are in train.

The Scottish Government is committed to the continued progress of community councils in Scotland as it recognises the important role, within the wider community empowerment agenda, that community councils can play in local life.

Question reference: S3W-28290

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 30 October 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with utility companies regarding increasing the provision of thermal insulation in domestic homes.

The Scottish Government is working closely with energy utilities through our Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) Strategy steering group to boost investment in thermal insulation in Scottish homes. In offering their support for our Securing Our Share: A CERT Strategy for Scotland, energy utilities are committed to maximising their CERT offerings in Scotland.

More specifically, the Scottish Government is driving greater CERT uptake through our partnerships and regular meetings with the energy utilities in providing CERT funded home insulation through the Home Insulation Scheme and Energy Assistance Package.

Question reference: S3W-28464

Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by NHS boards in developing planned preventative maintenance programmes reflecting the requirements of prevention and control of infection.

Chamber and committees