Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-23530

Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2014
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many instances have been reported of the NHS misreporting cases of Clostridium difficile infection in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

This information is not held centrally. NHS boards are expected to report all cases of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) to Health Protection Scotland, following the established guidelines.

Health Protection Scotland publishes methods and reporting for quarterly surveillance which is outlined in the following link:

http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/sshaip/publications/cdi/2014/methods-caveats-q1.pdf

Health Protection Scotland also publishes Guidance on Prevention and Control of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Care Settings in Scotland (revised October 2014) which outlines procedures in the reporting of outbreaks (see following link):

http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/about-hps/hpn/clostridium-difficile-infection-guidelines-v2.1.pdf

Question reference: S4W-23531

Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2014
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that NHS boards are properly reporting cases of Clostridium difficile infection.

NHS boards are expected to report all cases of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) to Health Protection Scotland, following the established guidelines.

Health Protection Scotland publishes methods and reporting for quarterly surveillance which is outlined in the following link:

http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/sshaip/publications/cdi/2014/methods-caveats-q1.pdf

Health Protection Scotland also publishes Guidance on Prevention and Control of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Care Settings in Scotland (revised October 2014) which outlines procedures in the reporting of outbreaks (see following link):

http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/about-hps/hpn/clostridium-difficile-infection-guidelines-v2.1.pdf

Question reference: S4W-23481

Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 December 2014
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government in how many cases it has intervened as a result of a monthly report on NHS posts that have been vacant for more than three months in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

While the data requested is not held centrally, data on vacant posts in NHSScotland is collected and published on a quarterly basis by Information Services Division Scotland for nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and consultants. The most recently published data is from 2 December 2014 and is available here:

http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/data-tables.asp

Published data for both nursing and midwifery and allied health professions present the number of posts vacant for three months or more, and consultant posts vacant for six months or more. This data is published from March 2006 onwards for nursing and midwifery and allied health professions, and from September 2006 onwards for consultants.

Question reference: S4W-23500

Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 December 2014
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether the New Medicines Fund allows for the procurement of products that have not been recommended by the Scottish Medicines Consortium for routine use and, if so, under what circumstances.

Question reference: S4W-23483

Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 December 2014
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how much the NHS has spent on private (a) ambulances, (b) nurses and (c) contractors in each year since 1999.

<>Information relating to agency nurses is published by NHS Information Services Division. Whilst information concerning the years prior to 2004-05 is not held, data relating to years 2004-05 to 2010-11 are available here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2014-05-27/Bank_and_Agency_comp_M2014.xls?63103885

More recent data are available here:

http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2011-06-28/Agency%20Nurses.xls?36075551

Information relating to NHS spend on private ambulances and private contractors is not held centrally and is a matter for individual health boards.

Question reference: S4W-23275

Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 4 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS staff have reported (a) facing abusive behaviour and (b) being attacked in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

<>While the data requested is not held centrally, the 2013 NHSScotland staff survey asked this question and the following link is provided to the results: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/12/4235/18

This data provides an indicative measure only as the staff response rate was 28%. The results show 9% of survey respondents indicated they had experienced physical violence from patients/service users or other members of the public in the past 12 months, and 32% said they had experienced emotional/verbal abuse from patients/service users or other members of the public in the past 12 months.

Question reference: S4W-23249

Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 3 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the shovel-ready projects submitted to the UK Government are progressing.

The Scottish Government initially provided the UK Government with a list of projects totalling £302 million on 2 March 2012. A further detailed list of projects totalling £820.8 million was subsequently provided on 23 November 2012. The majority of the projects within these lists have been taken forward despite significant cuts to our capital budgets. Information relating to the status of the projects is provided in the following two tables:

List of projects provided to the Prime Minister on 2 March 2012

Project Name	Funding required (£million)	Status
Ullapool Pier – passenger access system, traffic management, new berthing dolphin and replacement linkspan	4	In construction
Gourock-Dunoon Pontoons	2	Cancelled
Kennacraig Phase 2	4	Completed
A75 Hardgrove to Kinmount	10	Completed
A96 Threapland	6	Statutory procedures complete
A68 Pathhead to Tynehead Junction	6	Statutory procedures complete
A95 Lackgie	4	Statutory procedures complete
A702 Candymill Bend and Edmonstone Brae	4	Statutory procedures complete
A737 Head Street Roundabout	1.5	Superseded by A737 Improvements at Beith project which is currently in preparation.
A876 Kincardine Bridge Refurbishment	14	Statutory procedures complete
M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements: Advance Public Utilities	37.8	In construction
Transport
Health maintenance to ensure assets are safe, effective and patient centred	50	Projects which formed this inclusion are all completed.
Health
Accelerating Schools for the Future	30.8	Five projects formed this inclusion. One secondary school, two primary schools and one additional special needs school are completed and one primary school is currently in construction.
Schools
University of Glasgow - Centre for Virology Research	13	Completed
University of Dundee - Phases 2 and 3 - refurbishment of Duncan of Jordanstone	8	Completed
University of Abertay/ Dundee College - Dundee Academy of Sport	6	In Preparation
University of Edinburgh – Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences	8	Completed
Further and higher education
Dundee Central Waterfront	4.5	In construction
Fife Energy Park – Site Development	3.5	In construction
ITREZ Technology Innovation Centre	4	In construction
ATOS Building – Forres Enterprise Park	3	Completed
Inverness Campus	6	Completed
Forres Enterprise Park – Extension of Roads	2	Completed
Forres Enterprise Park – Provide 2 Units	3	Completed
European Marine Science Park – Ground works	3.5	Completed
Creative Clyde	1.7	In construction
National Renewable Infrastructure Plan – Hunterston Quay Upgrade	2	In preparation
Enterprise
Priority investments within Local Authority Strategic Housing Investment Plans	15	Majority of projects which formed this inclusion are completed.
Housing
Clyde Gateway developments at Bridgeton Cross, Dalmarnock Cross, Rutherglen and Shawfield	37	Five projects formed this inclusion. One is completed, two are currently in construction and two are in preparation.
Ayr Gaiety regeneration	1	In preparation
Regeneration
National Records of Scotland – Thomas Thomson House – urgent roof repairs	1.5	Completed
Historic Scotland – Abbotsford House – restoration to bring into public use	0.7	Completed
Historic Scotland – Lews Castle development	1	The elements which formed this inclusion are completed.
Culture and heritage
Forestry Commission Scotland – upgrade of visitor facilities at David Marshall Lodge, Aberfoyle and Queen's View, Perthshire	1	Completed
National Parks - visitor facility improvements within the National Parks	1	Completed
Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh – commence replacement of the Garden's ageing glasshouses	1.5	Completed
Rural and environment
Total	302

List of projects provided to the UK Chancellor on 23 November 2012

Project Name	Funding required (£million)	Status
A96 Threapland	6.0	Statutory procedures complete
A68 Pathhead to Tynehead Junction	11.0	Statutory procedures complete
A95 Lackgie	4.0	Statutory procedures complete
A702 Candymill Bend and Edmonstone Brae	4.0	Statutory procedures complete
Trunk Road maintenance	34.0	Completed
Cycling infrastructure projects	3.9	Completed
Ferry port infrastructure	5.7	Five projects formed this inclusion. Two are completed, one is currently in construction, one is in preparation and one has been cancelled.
Canal infrastructure projects: Regeneration and Tourism	6.3	Projects which formed this inclusion have been completed.
Transport total (8)	74.9
Highlands and Islands Enterprise: economic development projects	9.8	Completed
Scottish Enterprise: economic development projects	40.4	Eight projects formed this inclusion. Two are completed, four are currently in construction and two have been cancelled.
Port of Leith masterplanning	119.0	Under Review
VisitScotland: investment in Visitor Centre infrastructure, including Glasgow Visitor Information Centre	1.3	In construction
Roslin International Centre for Livestock Improvement	10.0	In preparation
Enterprise total (5)	180.5
Forestry projects: access, road infrastructure and buildings refurbishment	6.2	Majority of projects which formed this inclusion are completed.
National Parks: developing the rural economy	12.4	Some elements which formed this inclusion are completed.
Scottish Natural Heritage: co-location Fort William	0.2	Completed
Rural and environment total (3)	18.8
Scottish Court Service: estate improvement, essential maintenance and statutory compliance	8.4	Elements which formed this inclusion are completed or ongoing.
Upgrading the Safety Camera Network	2.4	Completed
Justice total (2)	10.8
Affordable Housing Supply Programme: additional grant funding	40.0	Majority of projects which formed this inclusion are completed.
Housing total (1)	40.0
Clyde Gateway: Office and Industrial Developments for Economic Growth	63.4	Seven projects formed this inclusion. Three are completed, two are currently in construction and two are in preparation.
Irvine Enterprise Area: Infrastructure and Innovation Campus, and Irvine Ailsa Road Industrial Units	5.9	Three projects formed this inclusion. Two are completed and one is in preparation.
Ardrossan Quayside and Medical Centre	4.7	Two projects formed this inclusion. One is completed and one is currently in construction.
Regeneration total (3)	74.0
National Theatre of Scotland: Glasgow regeneration project	2.0	In preparation
Works to Historic Scotland’s estate	1.4	Completed
National Museums of Scotland: maintenance	3.6	Completed
Creative Scotland: grants programme	1.5	Majority of elements which formed this inclusion are completed with the remainder ongoing.
Culture and heritage total (4)	8.5
College projects: targeted investment in priority estates	65.0	Three projects formed this inclusion. Two are in preparation and one has been cancelled.
Further and higher education total (1)	65.0
Health: backlog maintenance/equipment replacement	75.0	Projects which formed this inclusion are all completed.
Health: bring forward projects through capital funding projects currently earmarked for revenue funding	188.9	Twenty one projects formed this inclusion. Four are completed, seven are currently in construction and ten are in procurement.
NHS Highland Renal and Endoscopy	2.0	Completed
NHS Highland Day Services	15.0	Completed
NHS Grampian Inverurie Health Centre and Community Maternity Unit	7.0	In hub development
NHS Grampian: Aboyne Health Centre	2.0	Smaller scale project completed
NHS Grampian: Stonehaven Health Centre	2.0	Cancelled
NHS Grampian: additional theatre capacity	3.0	Completed
NHS Lanarkshire: Monklands – additional backlog investment	10.0	Completed
NHS Tayside: additional theatre capacity – Ninewells	3.0	Completed
NHS Tayside: intensive care unit upgrade	1.0	Completed
Health total (11)	308.9
20 x 3G Pitches	6.0	Some elements which formed this inclusion are completed
National Sporting Facilities	2.0	Two projects formed this inclusion and both are in preparation.
School Investment	5.0	Elements within this inclusion are ongoing.
Community Hub investment	3.0	Elements within this inclusion are ongoing.
Sports legacy projects	23.6	Some elements within this inclusion are completed or ongoing.
Sport total (5)	39.6
Total capital investment (43)	820.8

Question reference: S4W-23250

Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many secure inpatient care places there are for children with mental health conditions in each NHS board.

There is no provision within NHS Scotland for children and young people with mental health conditions who require secure inpatient care.

Where secure inpatient care is required for children who have mental health conditions, NHS boards will use the Nation Services Division nationally funded-service for secure mental health services for adolescents or make individual arrangements with other providers in NHS England or specialist private sector providers.

Question reference: S4W-23276

Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for (i) abusive behaviour toward and (ii) attacking NHS staff in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

While we do not hold this information centrally, we do hold the following information under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005. The 2005 Act was extended in 2008 to enhance the protections provided to NHS staff by extending it to GP, other doctors, nurses and midwives working in the community.

Persons proceeded against in Scottish Courts for offences under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005¹, 2005-06 to 2012-13.

Section of Act	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13
Section 1(1)	12	47	44	76	117	140	164	148
Section 2(1)	14	78	96	79	39	42	34	39
Section 3(1)	0	3	2	4	2	5	1	2
Section 5(1)	31	84	145	150	132	149	173	160
Total	57	212	287	309	290	336	372	349

1. Where main offence.

Persons convicted in Scottish Courts for offences under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005¹, 2005-06 to 2012-13.

Section of Act	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13
Section 1(1)	11	44	40	74	113	136	159	139
Section 2(1)	14	74	90	76	37	39	34	36
Section 3(1)	0	3	2	4	2	4	1	2
Section 5(1)	29	79	143	147	129	144	162	153
Total	54	200	275	301	281	323	356	330

1. Where main offence.

Question reference: S4W-23248

Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how it will fund testing for the BRAF marker in people with malignant melanoma when the current external funding support comes to an end.

Molecular pathology testing for BRAF mutations in melanoma samples is currently undertaken in laboratories in Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh, which are funded as part of a national service agreement.

The laboratory in Glasgow is currently developing this test and will be providing it from January 2015. This will mean from that date all four molecular pathology laboratories in Scotland will offer the test.

Chamber and committees