Chamber and committees

Enforcement bodies are continuing their efforts to reduce the illicit availability of drugs, and seizures of benzodiazepines, including diazepam, have increased throughout the 1990s. The UK Health Departments' Drug misuse and Dependence-Guidelines on Clinical Management set out guidance for clinicians on the prescribing of diazepam, including patient monitoring, checking for signs of polydrug misuse and liaison with dispensing pharmacists. The procedures are intended to reduce the risks to patients.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:There are currently sufficient forensic psychology services for prisoners, with further developments planned for 2002-03.Against a national shortage, the Scottish Prison Service is currently seeking to recruit further clinical psychologists to fill vacant posts.There is no risk to public safety, given the input of both forensic and clinical psychology input, to prisoner risk assessment and management.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:In March 2000, SPS launched its drug strategy, Partnership and Co-ordination. In February 2001, its updated Health Care Standard, Substitute and Detoxification Prescribing was published.Work is currently under way to develop a similar standard for alcohol withdrawals.

Information on how many young people under the age of 16 have been treated for drug addiction outwith Scotland is not held centrally.

Prescribing heroin under medical supervision is a reserved matter. The Department of Health and the Home Office have held a consensus event reviewing current guidelines on prescribing and have asked the National Treatment Agency to take forward this work with a view to developing further guidance on best practice by the end of 2002. This guidance would also apply in Scotland.

During 2002-03, the Health Education Board for Scotland's (HEBS') approach to coronary heart disease (CHD) prevention will continue to be through programmes focussing on behavioural aspects such as stopping smoking and promoting physical activity and healthy eating. One of the main strands of this activity will be a continuation of the award-winning "Big 3" (CHD, cancer and stroke) advertising campaign, encouraging adults to think about making small changes in their lifestyle, which are easy to achieve, easy to maintain and can have such a beneficial impact on their health. HEBS will continue to track and monitor these adverts and develop programmes as appropriate, using both qualitative and quantitative research. NHS boards are key partners for all HEBS work.During the course of the next financial year, HEBS estimate that expenditure on CHD/cancer and stroke will be in excess of £1.5 million. The Public Health Institute for Scotland's remit does not extend to the design and delivery of health promotion campaigns. It will, however, be creating a Scotland-wide learning network on heart health during 2002.

New nurse/midwife consultant posts were introduced in Scotland in spring 2000 and 13 were recommended for establishment. None of these posts were for nurse consultants specialising in coronary heart disease.Following the nurse recruitment and retention convention in November 2001, a commitment was made to create a further 18 nurse/midwife consultant posts in Scotland and guidance has been sent out to the service encouraging their introduction.

The Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and Stroke Reference Group is currently considering the evidence on the effectiveness of defibrillators in public places, including the Lanarkshire initiative, as part of the national strategy it is developing for coronary heart disease and stroke.

SIGN Guideline 40, on Lipids and the Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease, indicates that for primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD), statins are the drugs of first choice for lowering the level of fat circulating in the blood. The guideline is very clear, however, that lifestyle measures, in particular stopping smoking, eating better and exercising more, remain the first priority in the primary prevention of CHD. In relation to secondary prevention following a coronary event, a local protocol for the prescription of statins is one of the essential criteria in the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland's standards for secondary prevention, following an acute myocardial infarction. The board's standards are mandatory across NHSScotland.

The information requested is not held centrally.