Chamber and committees

Officials are in regular contact with colleagues in the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA’s) about a range of issues including transvaginal meshes. This topic has been the subject of discussions at the MHRA’s Committee on the Safety of Devices, committee papers are available from the following website:

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Committees/Devices/index.htm

In addition to discussions within the last month, there was also discussion in November 2012 when the University of York Health Economics Consortium produced its report on Summaries of the Safety/Adverse Effects of Vaginal Tapes/Slings/Meshes for Stress Urinary Incontinence and Prolapse which is available at the following web-site:

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/Generalsafetyinformationandadvice/Product-specificinformationandadvice/Product-specificinformationandadvice%E2%80%93M%E2%80%93T/Vaginalmeshforpelvicorganprolapse/

The Scottish Government believes that out-of-hours primary care services are working effectively in Scotland. However, there are a range of reasons why people choose to attend an Accident and Emergency Department. We are developing a national framework on directing people towards appropriate services.

This is supported by broader work by the Unscheduled Care Expert Group on communication and engagement with the public, including recommendations on how all aspects of the system, including out-of-hours Primary Care Services can be provided and what the role of the proposed 111 number should be in supporting access.

NHS Health boards do not re-direct patients away from A&E. Medical staff offer the option to be treated at the hospital or go back to their GP, based on their professional clinical judgement.

Under the “Reducing A&E Attendances (T10) HEAT” Target, the Scottish Government Policy is to reduce the numbers of people attending A&E Departments in order to improve the quality of patient care and to promote patient safety.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14279 on 30 April 2013. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14279 on 30 April 2013. 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.

As part of their Patient Transport Service Improvement Programme - which includes investment in new technology, training and staff development - the Scottish Ambulance Service expect that staff numbers are likely to reduce by around 60 and the Patient Transport Service fleet will reduce by around 33 vehicles. All of the staff reductions will be secured by retirement, leavers or redeployment within the service.

I expect the Scottish Ambulance Service to ensure they deliver a consistent, high quality patient transport service for patients, and a service that is demand responsive and person centred. Any efficiencies that are secured through the better use of technology, improved planning and enhanced co-ordination will be reinvested in front-line care.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) has not issued any medical device alert on transvaginal mesh products. However, MHRA commissioned the University of York Health Economics Consortium to conduct a systematic review of the available literature.

The report of the review together with advice and information for patients and clinicians was published on 22 November 2012 and is available at the following website:

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/Generalsafetyinformationandadvice/Product-specificinformationandadvice/Product-specificinformationandadvice%E2%80%93M%E2%80%93T/Vaginalmeshforpelvicorganprolapse/

There are no inspectors in the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate with the Regulation of Care Award. The Regulation of Care Award is a qualification required by inspectors regulating social care services. This qualification is not required for inspectors working in healthcare services.

All Healthcare Improvement Scotland inspectors are appropriately qualified. Inspectors in the programme of inspections for the care for older people all have a clinical qualification and inspectors working with the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) are required to have qualifications in health, public health and environmental health.

National Procurement, which is part of NHS National Services Scotland, has confirmed that it supplies some transvaginal mesh devices to health boards through the National Distribution Centre. These devices are not included in a national contract but are supplied in response to catalogue requests from NHS boards for specific makes and type of device.

As the value and volume of products supplied through National Procurement is relatively low there are no plans to move this to a National Contract.

There were nine Inspector roles advertised in financial year 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013. Three were advertised in June 2012 and six advertised in March 2013. All were advertised internally and externally.