As part of the annualStaff Governance Self Assessment Audit, all NHS boards are required to submit StaffGovernance Action Plans, which includes measures to ensure that boards are progressingtowards the Efficient Government sickness absence target of 4% by end of March 2008.This is something that we will continue to monitor closely to ensure that allboards meet the target.

The latest availablecomplete information is set out in the table entitled The numbers of children(less than 18 years of age) admitted to general facilities in Scottish psychiatrichospitals for calendar years 2001 to 2005 published by the Scottish Governmentin 2007, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament InformationCentre (Bib. number 43950). This updates previous information for the period.

The Scottish PrimaryCare Research Network (SPCRN) encourages GPs to be involved in cancer preventionand research. This is funded by the Chief Scientist Office (at a cost of £207,122in 2007-08) and centrally managed by the Scottish School of Primary Care (SSPC). The SSPC is fundedby the Scottish Government Health Directorates (at a cost of £275,000 in 2007-08).It is currently appointing senior academics to run programmes of research whichinclude a collaborative programme of primary care cancer research for Scotland, one element of which will be prevention and screening.

The SPCRN has links with other primary care research networksin the UK and other countries. It builds on previouswork of the local research networks and the Scottish Practices and ProfessionalsInterested in Research (SPPIRe) based at the Scottish School of Primary Care. SPPIRe database has beenwell used in the past by researchers all over the UKand beyond.

The SPCRN works withdisease specific networks, including cancer, and is open to all researchers andprimary care professionals, assisting in research studies that are relevant to primarycare. Members contact details are held in a data base of research interested professionalswho are invited to participate in research studies in the future, if appropriate.SPCRN offers practical support by carrying out activities such as suitable patientidentification, mailing of invitations to patients, etc, thus minimising the useof practice staff time and disruption to the practice.

Equity of access toand funding of services for individuals with cancer is primarily the responsibilityof NHS boards to plan, in the light of the needs of their resident population, fromthe unified budgets which are made available to them from the Scottish Executive.

The remit of the ScottishMedicines Consortium (SMC) is to provide advice to NHS boards and their areadrug and therapeutics committees (ADTCs) across Scotland about the status of allnewly licensed medicines, all new formulations of existing medicines and any majornew indications for established products (licensed from January 2002). The SMC processseeks to secure the availability of drugs and treatments in the NHS on an equitablebasis through rigorous, scientific consideration of the evidence presented.

The Bowel Cancer ScreeningProgramme is currently being rolled out across Scotland and it is supported by a communication strategy delivered locally as eachboard joins the programme. The nationally produced information includes a packagefor health professionals and information for individuals.

The National AdvisoryGroup on Breast and Cervical Screening regularly discuss uptakes. Both of theseprogrammes are supported by nationally produced literature and by local activity.

The key to self-managementof asthma is the use of Personal Asthma Action Plans, which give people more controlover the management of the condition, and provide them with earlier care to preventdeteriorations in their health.

There has been a significantprogramme of investment in cancer care in Scotland. The Scottish Cancer Strategy, Cancer in Scotland: Action for Change,which is currently being updated, is a wide ranging plan to help control theburden of cancer in Scotland. It has delivered more than 300 additionaldoctors, nurses and other health professionals and significant improvements in radiotherapyand other equipment and related services across all NHS boards.

There is also an encouragingdecline in mortality rates in the under 75s and we are on target to reduce deathrates from cancer in this age group by 20% by 2010. Latest figures show an 18.1%reduction since 1995.

The Scottish Government also invests in many researchtrials that will ultimately improve care and outcomes for cancer patients. The ChiefScientist Office is currently funding one research project on lung cancer at a costof £203,495 and one project on pancreatic cancer at a cost of £156,241.

A National ManagedClinical Network (MCN) for pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancer was established in2005 to address a lack of uniformity in outcomes of surgery and subsequent clinicalmanagement of these cancers. The aim of the network is to optimise care and outcomesthrough the standard setting and audit processes that are core functions of MCNs.Optimising care will have a limited benefit in terms of life expectancy but shouldhave a material benefit on the quality of life and death of most diagnosed patients.Substantial progress has already been made on the establishment of an appropriateset of standards. A similar MCN is in place for lung cancer.

It is expected thatthere will be no adverse impact on the staffing levels of the two dental schoolsand the Edinburgh Dental Institute.

Job descriptions forsenior clinical posts are currently being finalised and will be advertised withinthe next few months. National Education for Scotland will continue to work with the dental schools to support appropriate recruitmentshould any difficulties arise.

All planned activitythrough the dental action plan and funded through National Education for Scotland will continue to be delivered.