Chamber and committees

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-38124

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 December 2010
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 16 December 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has guidelines on the combined use of triiodothyronine and levothyroxine in patients with hypothyroidism.

The Scottish Government does not have guidelines on the combined use of triiodothyronine and levothyroxine in patients with hypothyroidism.

Clinicians are expected to follow agreed national clinical guidelines when diagnosing and managing conditions affecting the thyroid. These guidelines, are based on the advice of experts in the field, including the Royal College of Physicians, and the Society for Endocrinology, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and informed by voluntary sector support groups, such as the British Thyroid Association. The British National Formulary also provides information to clinicians to support them in prescribing thyroid medication.

Question reference: S3W-38129

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 December 2010
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 December 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultants specialising in thyroid conditions there are in each NHS board.

The information requested is not held centrally as data on consultants specialising in thyroid conditions is not captured separately in the workforce statistics. Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland publish data annually as at 30 September 2010 and information showing the head count and whole-time equivalent of consultants by specialty, including endocrinology and diabetes, by NHS board number is available at:

http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Consultant_Staff_In_Post_2009.xls&pContentDispositionType=attachment.

The latest information at 30 September 2010 will be published on 14 December 2010.

Question reference: S3W-38113

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 December 2010
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 December 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has on links between thyroid disorders and breast cancer.

We are aware of a number of published studies suggesting links between thyroid diseases and breast cancer, however, evidence of an association is inconclusive and the issue continues to be the subject of debate. If individuals have any concerns, they should discuss these with their GP in the first instance.

There are steps people can take to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer, for example, being more active, keeping bodyweight within healthy limits and limiting alcohol consumption. The Scottish Government is implementing a wide ranging programme of actions to help people to make healthier lifestyle choices.

Question reference: S3W-38110

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 December 2010
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 13 December 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what education is provided to GPs regarding the treatment of thyroid conditions.

The treatment of thyroid conditions is covered by the curriculum for specialty training for general practice and is included in the assessment process. Both the curriculum and the assessment process are set by the Royal College of General Practitioners, and approved by the General Medical Council.

The GP training curriculum enables GP trainees to gain specialist experience in a number of areas as well as their general experience in a practice setting. The curriculum equips them to recognise and understand thyroid related conditions.

GPs are generalists and would seek the help and advice of specialists if the management of the patient''s condition required specialist expertise.

Question reference: S3W-37014

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2010
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 16 November 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35775 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 September 2010, whether it will specify which European legislation prevents Transport Scotland from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires.

Question reference: S3W-37013

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2010
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 16 November 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35775 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 September 2010, whether it will specify which clauses of the Railways Act 1993 prevent Transport Scotland from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires.

Question reference: S3W-36968

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2010
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 November 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it provides to NHS boards regarding access to assisted conception policies.

Question reference: S3W-36967

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2010
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 November 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to alter its guidelines on access to assisted conception services and, if so, when.

Question reference: S3W-36966

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2010
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 November 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current eligibility criteria are for the provision of assisted conception services.

NHS funded assisted conception should be available to couples who meet all of the following national criteria developed in 2000 by the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland:

1. Infertility with an appropriate diagnosed cause of any duration or unexplained infertility of at least three years duration.

2. Female partner aged less than 40 years at the time of treatment.

3. Neither partner previously sterilised.

4. No child living with the couple in their home.

5. Less than three previous embryo transfers funded from any source.

The national criteria and the 2007 review can be found on the Maternity Services website, www.maternityservices.scot.nhs.uk.

Question reference: S3W-36978

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2010
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 November 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there would be greater equality of access to infertility services if they were centrally funded.