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/webapp/wa.search.

The planning, recruitment and deployment of staff to meet service need is a matter for health boards locally to agree. All health boards are undertaking work to look at current capacity to deliver evidence based psychological therapies. Work is also being done nationally to support the growth in therapeutic interventions that may be available, such as the pilot with NHS 24 on telephone based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and the roll out of Living Life to the Full materials.

In addition, work has been commissioned to look at the evidence base for psychological therapies in relation to different conditions and patient groups and health boards will use this in taking forward future planning around this agenda.

We expect to publish in the near future the long-term conditions self-management strategy developed by the Long-Term Conditions Alliance Scotland.

The sickness absence rates for February 2008 showed that NHS Education for Scotland (NES), NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, NHS Health Scotland, and NHS State Hospital had sickness absence rates below 4%.

Information from death registrations can identify where a fall was involved, but it is not possible to accurately separate out whether or not falls took place in hospital. Table 1 shows number of deaths where a fall was the (main) underlying cause of death. Table 2 shows number of deaths where a fall was a contributory factor, but not the (main) underlying cause of death.

Table 1: Deaths where a Fall was the Underlying Cause of Death - Scotland, by NHS Board of Residence, 2002-06

Table 2: Deaths where a Fall was a Contributory Event but not the Underlying Cause of Death “ Scotland, by NHS Board of Residence, 2002-06

Source: General Register Office for Scotland.

Following the work of the Falls Prevention Group, the Scottish Government published guidance earlier this year for health boards, community health partnerships and others on actions to prevent falls by older people and improve bone health. The guidance is available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/OlderPeopleCare/fallsgroup.

Research evidence indicates that up to 30% of falls amongst community-based older people could be prevented through comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment.

http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/HDL2007_13.pdf.

Recording and investigating the circumstances of falls and subsequent action is the responsibility of NHS boards. The guidance requires NHS boards to ensure protocols are in place to ensure the risk of falls in hospital is minimised; to establish a systematic process for the management and prevention of falls; to facilitate education and training for staff; and to ensure the accurate recording and monitoring of incidents. Every NHS board is required to appoint a falls prevention co-ordinator to develop a joined-up approach for minimising the likelihood of falls.

In addition we have begun preparations for a public awareness campaign and increased public information as part of our aims to improve attitudes to relationships and sexual health, this will include information on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.