Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-22315

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 April 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting patients’ self-referral to NHS physiotherapy services.

Self referral to physiotherapy services are promoted by physiotherapists, community teams and through GP practices. However, we recognise that it is important that there should be a systematic approach to self-referral for physiotherapy services and work is in hand to develop this further. The centralised system, using the technologies of NHS 24, currently being piloted by NHS Lothian is considering how people access e-health and other services and work to implement the Framework for Adult Rehabilitation is also developing pathways to enable patients to access the services that they need.

Question reference: S3W-22391

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 April 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how NHS24 can be used to provide advice and access to physiotherapy services.

The Scottish Government has been working closely with NHS 24 on a number of service developments including those related to physiotherapy. A telehealth physiotherapy triage and referral management pilot service has already been established by NHS 24 within NHS Lothian. The aim of this pilot is to reduce the waiting time for physiotherapy advice/management by providing earlier access to screening, advice and onward referral management. This pilot is currently being evaluated with a view to national roll out. Work is also underway with NHS 24 to identify what other services provided by the Allied Health Professions can be developed within NHS 24, including musculoskeletal, dietetics and mental health services.

Question reference: S3W-22392

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 April 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS24 website can be used to provide information and advice about physiotherapy.

The Scottish Government has been working closely with NHS 24 on a number of service developments in relation to the Allied Health Professions. A collaboration has been established with the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, NHS 24 and the Scottish Government to update the Working Backs Scotland website. A project manager has been employed by NHS 24 to carry out this work with a view to undertaking the development of other web-based information and advice sites within NHS 24.

Question reference: S3W-22173

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 April 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what definition of physical activity it uses when communicating with schools.

Let''s make Scotland More Active: A strategy for physical activity (2003) acknowledges that physical activity is a general term which encompasses active living, recreational activity, sport, exercise, play and dance. This will be reflected in the material which will support Curriculum for Excellence and in particular the physical education, physical activity and sport strands of the health and wellbeing experiences and outcomes.

The support material will include definitions and advice on particular experiences and outcomes. This includes the definition of moderate activity as being of sufficient intensity to raise heart and respiration rates characterised by being slightly out of breath and having a raised body temperature. Vigorous activity is defined as being of an intensity to significantly raise the heart and respiration rate characterised by being breathless and perspiring.

Question reference: S3W-22040

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 1 April 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what research and modelling has been undertaken to evaluate the impact and resource implications of changes to waiting list management for fertility services.

Access to infertility services has not historically been included in waiting time targets because there were concerns about breaching patient confidentiality. However, we are aware of disparities in waiting times and access criteria and wrote to NHS boards recently asking for information on implementation of the 2007 updated criteria, and we are currently considering how best to ensure equity of access across Scotland.

We know that individual NHS boards have invested in this service to reduce waiting times in their area.

Question reference: S3W-22174

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 31 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what its rationale is for it being illegal for under-18s to buy alcohol but not cigarettes.

The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill includes a number of measures to reduce the attractiveness and availability of tobacco to under-18s, such as the ban of the display of tobacco products and tobacco vending machines. These measures are based on international evidence and extensive consultation with stakeholders. The Scottish Government also raised the minimum age of purchase of tobacco from 16 to 18 in 2007. Whilst I have not been made aware of an appetite to extend the legislation in this way, I would be happy to meet with the member to discuss this matter further.

Question reference: S3W-22087

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 31 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will assist the construction industry to (a) recruit new apprentices and (b) enable apprentices who are being made redundant to finish their training.

The full range of issues relating to the Modern Apprenticeship programme and the current economic climate will be explored at the Apprenticeship Summit on Tuesday 28 April.

CITB (ConstructionSkills) are already sending their displaced construction apprentices back to college for six weeks and paying those 75% of their wage for the same period to allow additional time for an alternative employer within the sector to be found.

The additional 7,800 modern apprenticeships, agreed as part of the budget, will increase apprenticeship opportunities next financial year.

Question reference: S3W-22094

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 31 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has allocated to the construction industry to allow apprentices who have been made redundant to finish their training.

The full range of issues relating to apprentices and the current economic climate will be explored at the Apprenticeship Summit on Tuesday 28 April.

The Scottish Government''s priority is to ensure that as many apprentices as possible can complete their apprenticeship training with an employer. Therefore, where an apprentice is made redundant, public agencies will make every effort to work with the relevant Sector Skills Council and the training provider to secure alternative employment to enable apprentices to complete their training in work. This is already happening for construction.

Question reference: S3W-22093

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS contracts for (a) new hospitals, (b) refurbished hospitals and (c) new health centres (i) commenced in 2008-09 and (ii) are due to commence in 2009-10, broken down by project cost.

The information requested was sourced from NHS boards and is detailed in the following table:

NHS Board	Project	2008-09 £000	2009-10 £000
Ayrshire and Arran
	(a) New Hospitals
	Girvan Community Hospital	19,905
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	Ayr Endoscopy Unit	1,486
	Ayr A&E Refurbishment		3,269
	Crosshouse Pathology Extension	763
	Ayr Satellite Renal Unit		1,794
	Ayrshire Central Comm. Hospital	9,983	1,625
	(c) Health Centres
	Patna Resource Centre	2,867
	Medical Centre, Lamlash		185
	North Ayr Services Centre		4,780
	Medical Centre, Lochranza	225
	Ardrossan Resource Centre		2,220
	Crosshouse Resource Centre		2,984
Borders
	(a) New Hospitals
	Nil
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	Nil
	(c) Health Centres
	Galashiels (Roxburgh Street)		2,100
	Jedburgh		1,600
	Lauder		1,300
Dumfries and Galloway
	(a) New Hospitals
	Acute Mental Development		26,418
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	Nil
	(c) Health Centres
	Primary Care Modernisation “ Lochfield Road		4,770
Fife
	(a) New Hospitals
	Regional Learning Disabilities Forensic Unit at Lynebank site	3,600
	Mental Health Unit at Stratheden site	4,200
	Assessment Treatment Unit at Lynebank site		3,900
	Mental Health Unit at Stratheden site		4,900
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	General Hospitals and Maternity Services	7,100	9,400
	(c) Health Centres
	Nil
Forth Valley
	(a) New Hospitals
	Nil
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	Nil
	(c) New Health Centres
	Stenhousemuir Health Centre		8,830
Grampian
	(a) New Hospitals
	Emergency Care Centre	95,000
	Forress Hospital and Health Centre		12,000
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	Chalmers	13,000
	Fraserburgh	2,000
	Woodend	1,000
	(c) New Health Centres
	Banff	3,000
	Laurencekirk	3,000
	Foresterhill		7,000
	Whinhill		4,000
	Braemar		1,000
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
	(a) New Hospitals
	Nil
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	Extension to the Physically Disabled Unit at SGH	1,400
	Refurbishment of the Maternity Unit at RAH	4,500
	Refurbishment to Wards at the Vale of Leven H	2,000
	Fit out for Gynaecology Beds at the GRI	9,800
	Refurbishment of Wards at GRI	24,500
	Refurbishment of Wards at GGH	18,000
	Obstetric Extension & Refurbishment at SGH	27,700
	Refurbishment of Wards at Gartnavel Royal	2,500
	Refurbishment of Blytheswood House for Learning Disabilities	800
	Refurbishment of wards at Leverndale	1,800
	Refurbishment of Wards at Ravenscraig	1,000
	New Multi-storey Car Park at SGH		9,500
	Laboratory Refurbishment at GRI		10,200
	New Laboratory Block at SGH		61,000
	Refurbishment of Maternity Wards at RAH		1,600
	Refurbishment for Dental accommodation RAH		4,000
	Refurbishment of A & E at GRI		5,000
	Clyde Mental Health Strategy “ Extension & Refurbishment of Existing Wards		12,100
	Relocation of Inpatient Beds for SGH		8,500
	Perinatal Mother & Baby Unit SGH		2,500
	(c) New Health Centres
	SW Elderly Resource Centre “ Pollok	2,200
	Renfrew Health Centre	17,200
	Kirkintilloch Integrated Health & Care Centre	7,900
	Drumchapel Child & Family Centre		5,000
	Bridgeton HC Extension		1,500
	Barrhead Health Centre		18,000
	Wellpark Addictions Centre in Greenock		2,100
	Re-provision of Possilpark HC		9,000
Highland
	(a) New Hospitals
	Migdale Hospital, Bonar Bridge		8,334
	Day Services Centre, Raigmore Hospital		26,237
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	New Cardio-Respiratory Facillities, Raigmore Hospital	1,991
	New Casualty Unit, Dunnoon	1,894
	Voltage infrastructure upgrade, Raigmore Hospital	1,500
	New Cath Lab, Raigmore Hospital		3,073
	Helensburgh Victoria JDU upgrade		825
	(c) New Health Centres
	Bunessan		925
	Tigh-na-bruiach		1,458

Lanarkshire
	(a) New Hospitals
	Nil
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	Monklands Modular Building	1,650	547
	(c) New Health Centres
	Airdrie Resource Centre	580	6,000
	Bellshill Community Health Clinic	2,800	70
	Douglas Street (Caird House Enabling Works)	4,000	250
	Carluke Community Health Centre	2,700	9,896
	Dalziel Centre “ Lymphoedema Centre	350
	Larkhall Institue	10
	Coatbridge Dental & Integrated Resource Centre	3,800	9,520
	Hunter Health Centre	270
	Coathill Wards 2 & 3	408
	LD Assessment & Treatment Centre	700	5,239
	Adults with Complex Needs “ Coathill	514
	Adults with Complex Needs “ Caird House	300	4,151
	Old Age Psychiatry Integrated Day Service (Capital Grant)	58
	Adults with Complex Needs Ward “ Coathill		4,059
	Larkhall Community Health Clinic		1,000
Lothian
	(a) New Hospitals
	Nil
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	Chalmers		9
	(c) New Health Centres
	Dalkeith	4,000
	Lauriston Place	1,000
	Musselburgh	21,000
Orkney
	(a) New Hospitals
	Nil
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	Nil
	(c) New Health Centres
	Nil
Shetland
	(a) New Hospitals
	Nil
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	Gilbert Bain Hospital “ Phase 2	2,600	953
	(c) New Health Centres
	Nil
Tayside
	(a) New Hospitals
	Women''s clinic and midwife unit, Ninewells Hospital	2,434	1,126
	Macmillan Unit, Perth Royal Infirmary	1,869	3,497
	Pharmacy, Perth Royal Infirmary	75	1,408
	Endoscopy, Perth Royal Infirmary	10	2,021
	Gamma Camera, Perth Royal Infirmary	54	1,446
	Nuclear Medicine, Ninewells Hospital	39	841
	Satellite Renal Unit, Angus		750
	Assisted Conception Unit, Ninewells Hospital	201	2,264
	Dental teach and treat Centre, Perth	324	3,832
	Carseview Decant	50	2,550
	Midwife Unit, Angus		2,337
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	Nil
	(c) New Health Centres
	Nil
Western Isles
	(a) New Hospitals
	Nil
	(b) Refurbished Hospitals
	Nil
	(c) New Health Centres
	Nil

Question reference: S3W-22092

Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 March 2009
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 30 March 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that money allocated for housing will be used for construction and not land banking.

Chamber and committees