Chamber and committees

While we do not fund a national pool of salaried locums, schemes within the general practitioners (GP) contract already provide resources to enable GPs in rural practices to obtain regular time off and training and to secure locum cover. First, the Associate GP scheme funds single-handed rural GPs to employ a half-time associate to provide the opportunity for regular time off and training. Second, isolated rural GPs qualify for extra locum payments from the Out of Hours Development Fund to relieve out of hours workloads. In addition, we are actively exploring further initiatives to help promote recruitment and retention of GPs in rural areas.

Statistics are not held centrally. Current clinical guidelines provide advice on patient monitoring and testing for signs of continued use of illegal drugs.

In addition to monies drawn from GAE, the Scottish Executive provides 100% direct funding to local authorities for community-based criminal justice social work services. This is reflected in the Gross Expenditure figures as detailed on page 78 of the Scottish Community Care Statistics 2000.

The 1996-97 information is not directly comparable with that for later years due to differences in the way the information is collected. Gross expenditure on services for adults with mental health problems increased by £15 million between 1997-98 and 1999-2000.

"Non-specific expenditure" covers: 1. "Service Strategy and Regulation" Some specific areas covered here are: strategic information, research and planning, director of social work costs, registration and inspection team costs, etc. 2. "Social Service Management and Support Services" Some costs included here are: personnel, finance, training, administration, etc. The level of spending in any one year across Scotland, as a whole, reflects decisions taken by individual local authorities as to their priorities for spending, based on their knowledge of local circumstances.

The Executive has no plans to introduce such a protocol. Current clinical guidelines already include advice on monitoring of patients, adjusting doses of prescribed substitute drugs where continued use of illegal drugs is confirmed, examination for physical signs of injecting and testing for misuse of illegal drugs.

The Scottish Executive is committed to supporting carers and we are already making a difference to the lives of many. Under the Carers Strategy, we have doubled the resources available to local authorities to support carers, including the provision of advice and information as well as more practical support. From this April authorities are also receiving additional funds, over the next three years, to increase significantly the availability of short break services, benefiting many more carers and the people they care for.The Community Care and Health Bill, currently before Parliament, will increase the rights of carers to an assessment of their support needs. The Bill also proposes to extend the availablility of direct payments to all client groups and to place a duty on local authorities to offer direct payments as an element in the overall package of care. Increased access to direct payments will inevitably benefit many people requiring support and their carers, particularly when it comes to purchasing short breaks. Guidance from the Executive will accompany the Bill, covering a range of issues affecting carers.

The report was commissioned by NHS Highland to provide them with accurate and contemporary information on drug misuse to assist service planning.We will, however, review the report. Current clinical guidelines provide advice on the management of patients where continued misuse of illegal drugs is suspected.

The level of spending in any one year across Scotland as a whole reflects decisions taken by individual local authorities as to their priorities for spending, based on their knowledge of local circumstances. We expect to see increasing figures in 2001-02 arising from the Executive's record investment in social work and, in particular, the £6.8 million we provided to local authorities in 2001-02 to expand drug rehabilitation services in their areas.

The nature and duration of treatment are determined on the basis of a patient's particular clinical needs and personal circumstances. Current clinical guidelines recognise that referrals to hospital, day care or residential care may be required in certain circumstances.