Yes, such patients will have access to breast reconstruction surgery. Decisions on the nature and timing of hospital treatment, including breast reconstruction surgery, are matters for the clinical judgement of the relevant consultant, in discussion with the patient, subject to the application of national maximum waiting times.Information on cases placed on deferred waiting lists is collected centrally at specialty level only. No information is collected centrally on cases where a clinician may have declined to undertake surgery for any reason. Consequently information in the form requested is not available.The National Waiting Times Unit is currently working with North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust on the development and implementation of an action plan to tackle the longest waits for breast reconstruction surgery.

The planning and provision of secondary dental services, orthodontics and oral surgery at the Queen Margaret Hospital are matters for NHS Fife.The National Waiting Times Unit is working with NHSScotland to ensure better and more effective use is made of NHS capacity for the benefit of patients across Scotland. A key priority for the unit is to help reduce lengthy waits for out-patient appointments and for hospital treatment in all specialties, including secondary dental services.

Most dental treatment is provided in the community by General Dental Practitioners. The National Waiting Times Unit has no plans to monitor waiting times for access to such services. However, the unit is working with NHSScotland to reduce lengthy waits for out-patient appointments and for hospital treatment in all specialties, including secondary dental services.

The Executive has no current plans to increase the prior approval limit in Scotland.

The decision on whether or not to prescribe a drug for a patient is always a matter for the clinical judgement of the patient's doctor, informed by advice and guidance about the drug. In the case of methylphenidate hydrochloride for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), this would include the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network Guideline 52 on ADHD and the advice issued by the National institute for Clinical Excellence in October 2000.

The information requested is not held centrally. Police surgeons volunteer their services and are remunerated in accordance with local arrangements made with the respective police authorities and joint police boards.

Current guidance states that the police should arrange for a medical examination of a victim of crime with all possible speed. The provision of police surgeons is an operational matter for chief constables.

On 25 July 2002, the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) issued a comment on the NICE Guidance on the use of atypical antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia, advising that the NICE Guidance is as valid for Scotland as for England and Wales. The guidance recommends that the newer (atypical) antipsychotics should be considered alongside the older, existing medicines as one of the options of first choice to treat people with newly diagnosed schizophrenia. NHS Scotland is expected to take account of advice and evidence from the HTBS and ensure that recommended drugs or treatments are made available to meet clinical need.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27546 today for an update on the Executive's progress on the delivery of orthodontic treatment. No imminent changes to orthodontic fees are planned. The Executive has already reviewed the narrative and fees for sedation, contained in the Statement of Dental Remuneration, to increase patient safety, and is considering what further changes may be required to the overall framework for the delivery of sedation services in Scotland, following the recent publication of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network's guideline on the Safe Sedation of Children Undergoing Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures. A working group, which includes representation from the profession, has been set up by the Executive to examine this area.

The number of dental hygienists training in Scotland is as follows:

Centre	In Training	To Note
Dundee	10	10 additional starts in September 2002
Edinburgh	8	10 additional starts in September 2002
Glasgow	19	10 replacement course starts in January 2003

I also refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27548 today, which outlines the current position on training of dental therapists.