Chamber and committees

This is a matter for the Scottish Prison Service who say that both Prison Medical Officers and Hospital colleagues liaise with each other regarding on-going care when prisoners are transferred for operational reasons.

I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. Mr Cameron's response is as follows:

Prison Doctors' continuing medical education includes training on the management of drug misuse.

This is a matter for the Scottish Prison Service which in 1998, published its Health Care Standards for Prisoners. These include a specific Standard on Throughcare.

I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. Mr Cameron's response is as follows:

This is a matter for the Scottish Prison Service which published its Health Care Standards for Prisoners in 1998.

The Executive is committed to improving patient and public involvement in the NHS. In recognition of their key role, the Executive is working with local councils, and the Scottish Association of Health Councils, to ensure that their effectiveness is improved wherever possible. As a part of this process, funding has been provided to the association to employ two Development Officers to improve the focus of the work of local councils. This work will examine all aspects of the organisation framework within which Health Councils operate and will include the selection and appointment process for Health Council members.

The aim of the Executive is to encourage councils to work more closely with their health board so that their activities are targeted at achieving the greatest health gain for the people they serve.

The Executive is committed to improving patient and public involvement in the NHS. In recognition of their key role, the Executive has recently provided the Scottish Association of Health Councils with funding to employ a Development Officer to improve the focus of the work of local councils. Part of this work will include the examination of all aspects of the organisation framework within which Health Councils operate and will include the selection and appointment process for Health Council members.

Capital resources are not specifically allocated to individual NHS Trusts for the provision or replacement of diagnostic equipment.

It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

Capital resources are not specifically allocated to individual NHS Trusts for the provision or replacement of diagnostic equipment.

Health boards and NHS Trusts must reach decisions on local priorities and then plan how to fund those priorities, including the provision of equipment. NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

The Tayside Task Force Interim Report has been received by Susan Deacon for her consideration. The Executive's response will be issued in the very near future.

The Clinical Standards Board was established in April 1999 and incurred expenditure of approximately £850,000 in its first year. The board has an allocation of £3 million for 2000-01. Details will be published in the board's annual accounts, which I understand will be available following the next meeting on Friday 28 July.

The Clinical Resources and Audit Group have provided £650,000 towards the costs of the independent Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) in 2000-01.

The Health Technology Board was established on 1 April with an allocation for 2000-01 of £1 million.

Discussions on the establishment of a Public Health Institute are progressing. No decisions on its budget have been taken.