Chamber and committees

Practical experience of an instant appointments system, under which people know the time of their hospital appointment before leaving their local surgery, has been achieved in four NHS board areas.This experience has led to a reassessment of the processes needed to meet the needs of both patients and health professionals. Appointments made before the patient leaves the GP surgery may be appropriate for some urgent clinical conditions, but for the bulk of conditions the key is to involve the patient appropriately in making the appointment and, thereafter, to keep the patient informed of progress.In common with the NHS in England, which has reached similar conclusions, we are now developing flexible processes to ensure that that involvement takes place throughout Scotland. These processes need not be electronic, but must be proactive, transparent and appropriate to the clinical and personal circumstances of the patient.

There is currently no test for the screening of blood donation for vCJD. Several international groups of research workers are working to try to develop a blood test, but it is currently unclear whether this will be possible and, if so what the time frame is likely to be.I would also refer you to the answer given to your question S1W-32184 on 13 December 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

There are no fees specific to homeopathic treatment payable within the NHS. The clinicians who provide homeopathic services are remunerated on the same basis as they would be for conventional treatment. Homeopathic practitioners outwith the NHS, including veterinary surgeons, set their own fees.

The Executive has not commissioned any such market research, and has not been made aware of any recent poll on the subject. There is no barrier to the provision of complementary medicine through the NHS in Scotland. Decisions on whether to provide any particular form of complementary medicine are for NHS boards to make, based on their assessment of local needs.

The Department of Health maintains a National Research Register with details of all on-going and recent medical research, including research into complementary medicine. This is available on regularly updated CD-ROM in the Parliament's Reference Centre and online at:http://www.update-software.com/nrr/CLIBINET.EXE?A=1&U=1001&P=10001.

The Scottish Executive is not aware of any research into links between flu vaccines containing thiomersal (also referred to as thimerosal) and Alzheimer's disease.

The regulation and safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA).The MCA has advised that diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, with the exception of those containing acellular pertussis component; diphtheria and tetanus vaccines (DT/dT); tetanus vaccines (T); single hepatitis B vaccines; some hepatitis B combination products, and some influenza vaccines contain thiomersal (also referred to as thimerosal) as an excipient or use it in the manufacturing process.

Record of Achievement reports in full on progress on all the commitments in the two complimentary Programme for Government documents (Making it Work Together and Working together for Scotland). It is open and transparent acknowledging successes as well as slower progress. NHS 24 is referred to on pages 52 and 54 reflecting that this commitment featured in both of the Programme for Government documents. The provision of free personal care is featured on pages 54 and 55 reflecting that this policy has contributed significantly to the achievement of two separate Programme for Government commitments.

Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is currently forecasting a year end overspend of £4,724,000, based on the November financial report.

Guidance to medical professionals, Managing Incidental Drug Misuse and Alcohol Problems in Mental Health Care Settings, recommends that drug misuse is covered in assessments of patients with mental health problems. The Guidelines on Clinical Management of Drug Misuse and Dependence recommend that psychiatric issues should form part of assessments of patients seeking help with drug problems.Further guidance on developing integrated care services for drug misusers was published in October last year, and one of the aims of integrated care is to combine and coordinate all services to meet the assessed needs of drug misusers, including mental health aspects. We are also working with the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse to look further into the needs of drug misusers with underlying mental health problems.Our Know the Score booklet on cannabis includes a description of the risks to mental health posed by this drug. The booklet has been given wide distribution. Anyone who is concerned about the effects of cannabis on mental health can also contact the free and confidential Know the Score Informationline to speak to trained operators.