Chamber and committees

Provisional figures for the year ending 31 December 1999 show that 63% of patients received their first outpatient consultation within nine weeks of a General Medical Practitioner/General Dental Practitioner referral.

Provisional figures for the year ending 31 December 1999 show that 82.6% of patients were treated within three months of being placed on the waiting list.

An additional £13.8 million has been made available to the NHS in Scotland. £6.8 million is to be spent on intensive care and high dependency beds and on new equipment, with the remaining £7 million to be used to meet local priorities. It is for health boards, working with NHS Trusts, to determine how best to use the additional resources in light of local needs and circumstances.

The Chief Medical Officer has established a short-life group to examine how intensive care and high dependency services can be improved. The group will look at ways of improving the flexibility of these services and of matching provision with need. health boards will be expected to take full account of the group's recommendations when taking decisions about how their share of the additional £6.8 million should be used.

The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland issues a letter annually to medical practitioners, including GPs, which reflects advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, providing details of the particular strains of the influenza virus circulating that year and identifying the groups considered to be at risk, for whom vaccination is recommended. Since 1998 all people aged 75 and over have been included in the "at risk" categories. It is considered to be good clinical practice for GPs to manage the requirements of their "at risk" patients by advising them of the availability and benefits of vaccination.

It is for Highland Health Board, Argyll and Clyde Health Board and their respective Trusts to provide health services appropriate to the needs of the local population.

There is no evidence to suggest that there is any link between the use of anti-perspirants and breast cancer.

Lothian Health Board fully supports and follows the principles and spirit of the CoSLA guidance in all its dealings with the voluntary sector. In relation to the Waverley Care Trust, Lothian Health Board is participating in a joint review with the Trust and the City of Edinburgh Council of the services provided by the Trust, including those at Milestone House. The review is due to be completed in the near future.

I refer to my answer to questions S1W-5084 and S1W-5086 by Mrs Ullrich which refer to the efforts being made in a number of areas to raise awareness and knowledge of sexual health issues and encourage more people, including young men, to seek advice and help. It should be noted in relation to the statistics set out in the press release SE0963/2000, that increased attendance at GUM clinics does not necessarily imply an increase in numbers of infections. The indication that twice as many females as males, in the 15-19 year old age band, attended these clinics reflects the fact that attendances at GUM clinics and diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases peak in females at a younger age than in males. Male attendance outnumbers female in the age groups 20-24 years and 25-34 years.

I refer to my answer to questions S1W-5084 and S1W-5086 by Mrs Ullrich which describe the work being done by the Executive to develop a comprehensive sexual health strategy for Scotland. A review of genito-urinary medicine services will form part of that work.

All local authorities are required to produce a care plan for each looked-after child which should include arrangements for leaving care and making a positive transition to independence. Support may be offered up to the age of 21.

The Scottish Executive has commissioned research into the extent and effectiveness of local authority throughcare and aftercare arrangements. This is a two-year study by the University of York and all local authorities have agreed to participate.