Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-06774

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 May 2012

Question reference: S4W-06776

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason transcatheter aortic valve implantation treatment is not routinely provided in Scotland as it is in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Question reference: S4W-06775

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason transcatheter aortic valve implantation treatment has not been available in Scotland for selected patients for the last four years as it has in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

With any new treatment, there is a need for caution until there is clear evidence, preferably from randomised control trials, to show that it is safe and effective. In the case of TAVI, the National Planning Forum set up a process to review the evidence, taking on board clinicians’ views, the available research and world wide experience. This research, combined with the evidence reviews from the Scottish Health Technologies Group, was debated and found to provide insufficient evidence to proceed to a TAVI service in NHSScotland, based on safety in numbers, and clinical and cost effectiveness.

Whilst the evidence for TAVI and the case for establishing a TAVI centre in Scotland have been under review, TAVI has been available to Scottish patients through consideration by an individual case panel. Patients who are considered suitable for TAVI are referred by their local health board to an appropriate provider.

In light of the growing body of evidence regarding the effectiveness of TAVI – most recently the updated guidance issued by NICE – it has now been decided that a TAVI service should be established in Scotland. Work is underway to progress this as quickly as possible.

Question reference: S4O-00954

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is provided to West Dunbartonshire Council to tackle unemployment.

Question reference: S4W-06453

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06255 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 March 2012, when it expects the Howe Report to be published.

Question reference: S4W-06353

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 17 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified nurses who obtained an internship via the scheme for newly qualified nurses announced on 24 February 2011 subsequently obtained employment as a nurse, also broken down by workplace (a) in and (b) outside Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-06355

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 17 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses who obtained an internship via the scheme for newly qualified nurses announced on 24 February 2011 subsequently obtained employment as a nurse (a) in the NHS, (b) in the independent sector and (c) elsewhere.

Question reference: S4W-06356

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 17 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses who obtained an internship via the scheme for newly qualified nurses announced on 24 February 2011 subsequently obtained employment as a nurse on a (a) full-time and (b) part-time contract.

Question reference: S4W-06352

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 17 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified nurses have obtained an internship via the scheme for newly qualified nurses announced on 24 February 2011.

Question reference: S4W-06357

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 17 April 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses who obtained an internship via the scheme for newly qualified nurses announced on 24 February 2011 subsequently obtained employment as a nurse on a (a) permanent and (b) temporary contract.

Chamber and committees