Chamber and committees

Training numbers for junior doctors are set through a process that takes account of multiple factors. NHS board workforce plans set out their future requirement for consultants for each specialty. Specialty boards of NES advise on current numbers and also provide a national view of developments in the specialties. During the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) transition, we have also taken account of the number of doctors in specialties that do not have training posts, with the aim of maximising opportunities to integrate them into formal training positions.

The Scottish Government is in the process of reviewing medical workforce planning in response to the MMC inquiry chaired by Sir John Tooke. The aim is to design a methodology for medical workforce planning which reflects the needs of the NHS in Scotland at all levels from undergraduate to consultant.

The information requested is not available centrally. NHS boards are responsible for planning and funding services, in the light of the needs of their resident population, from the unified budgets which are made available to them from the Executive.

Population screening for any health condition is implemented on the advice of the National Screening Committee following examination of the available evidence of the effectiveness of such an intervention. No recommendations have been made regarding screening people over the age of 55 years for arthritic conditions.

The primary care medical services contract requires GP practices to advise and effectively manage patients who are predisposed to, or present with signs and symptoms of, an arthritic condition.

Most of our hospitals, at some point, need to restrict or stop admissions in order to manage emerging issues. These can range from a surge in emergency activity such as a serious accident requiring the treatment of a number of casualties, through to internal issues such as an outbreak of Norovirus that closes wards and restricts available beds.

There is no universally agreed definition of a Red Alert within NHS Scotland. What all NHS boards and hospitals have are clearly set out plans and procedures for coping with surges in activity. This allows the continued effective and appropriate management of patients during any period of pressure along with a return to normal operating conditions as soon as is practicable.

As part of the on-going review of statistical collections, the Scottish Government will review all data collections to ensure they meet the needs of the National Performance Framework and to continue to develop the evidence base around outcomes and the effectiveness of interventions. In addition we will be working with Local Government and the broader public sector to develop the evidence base required to support outcome agreements and on the reduction of the information burden associated with the removal of ring fencing around certain allocations. This work will also align with our response to the Crerar Review.

Assessment and continued review of the capability of the IT infrastructure of the NHS is part of the remit of the eHealth Architecture and Design Division, recently established within Scottish Government Health Directorates.

This information is not held centrally. Local authorities are not required to record this information and any data they do hold is unlikely to be comparable.

This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

There is no requirement for authorities to submit lists of this kind. Fife Council has the statutory responsibility for the provision and maintenance of school buildings in its area. Consequently, the identification and prioritisation of building projects is a matter for Fife Council, within the context of its school estate management planning process.

This information is not held centrally. However, work is currently taking place with Information Services Division of National Services Scotland to gather and validate audiology waiting time information from health boards with a view to future publication of meaningful data.