Chamber and committees

Allergy was recognised for the first time by the Specialist Training Authority as constituting a related but distinct specialty in 1999. The effects of specialist training in this discipline will take time to be fully reflected in NHS provision.

Most mild or moderate allergy symptoms are managed successfully in primary care.

The majority of secondary care referrals are made to organ-based specialists such as ENT surgeons, chest physicians, dermatologists and gastroenterologists.

Patients with severe, drug-resistant or life-threatening disease require expert allergy assessment at tertiary care level. These patients are seen by consultant immunologists who conduct a number of sessions in allergy per week.

Latest statistics as at 30 September 2004 suggest that NHSScotland does not employ specific allergy nurse specialists. However, it is important to note that nurses work across a number of fields and as such clinical nurse specialists may work with patients presenting with allergy symptoms, the most likely group being dermatology nurse specialists.

Information on staff in post - including clinical nurse specialists - in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at www.isdscotland.org/workforce.

Considerable progress has been made following the launch in February 2004 of this strategy, which identifies specific actions to conserve red squirrels in Scotland. These include addressing threats such as the effect of grey squirrels, changes to woodland habitats, the spread of disease and predation by other species upon the red squirrel population in Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have published a report in which 127 priority woodlands for the conservation of the red squirrel have been identified across Scotland and squirrel friendly silviculture is being promoted through the Scottish Squirrel Group.

The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 amended the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 making the reckless destruction of the resting places of a schedule 5 listed species an offence. Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) has now the ability to attach conditions to felling licences to conserve the red squirrel and its habitat.

In August 2004 a Scottish Squirrel co-ordinator, based within the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), was appointed by the Scottish Squirrel Group for a three year period. They will co-ordinate the existing records on the distribution of red and grey squirrels and allocate volunteer resources where required.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) have received applications from RSSS and the Ayrshire Red Squirrel Group for funding to employ part and full time squirrel workers. SNH has also received applications from the Grampian and Highland Squirrel Groups for funding as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid. These applications are at various stages of consideration and a decision will be made on them shortly. Additionally, and under the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme, FCS offers funding to local groups and for a range of red squirrel conservation measures.

The number of qualified school nurses (headcount) in each NHS board for years 2000 to 2004 is shown in the table. The information presented is as at 30 September each year and the latest available data is at 30 September 2004.

NHS Board	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Argyll and Clyde	34	33	36	33	30
Ayrshire and Arran	27	30	32	36	35
Borders	5	8	8	7	7
Dumfries and Galloway	11	13	15	13	16
Fife	38	38	40	37	34
Forth Valley	17	23	20	19	22
Grampian	54	56	52	52	57
Greater Glasgow	69	70	62	69	73
Highland	22	24	24	21	27
Lanarkshire	51	51	54	55	53
Lothian	31	42	35	27	26
Orkney	-	-	-	-	1
Shetland	1	1	1	1	1
Tayside	41	39	43	40	37
Western Isles	1	1	2	4	4
National Services Scotland	1	-	-	-	-
Scotland	403	429	424	414	423

 

There are no NHS allergy centres in Scotland. Most mild or moderate allergy symptoms are managed successfully in primary care. The majority of secondary care referrals are made to organ-based specialists such as ENT surgeons, chest physicians, dermatologists and gastroenterologists. Patients with severe, drug-resistant or life-threatening diseases require expert allergy assessment at tertiary care level. These patients are seen by Consultant Immunologists who conduct a number of sessions in allergy per week.

The Scottish Executive remains committed to building the capacity of the NHS workforce in Scotland.

While there is no specific target associated with the recruitment of school nurses, latest figures show that there were 423 headcount qualified school nurses working in NHS Scotland as at 30 September 2004 (the latest date for which figures are available).

The Scottish Framework for Nursing in Schools, which was published in March 2003, sets out the future direction for school nursing in Scotland. The framework is being implemented locally and the Executive is currently liaising with NHS boards to determine how best we might professionally support these developments.

As part of the redesign of public health services, NHS boards are also developing workforce plans which reflect the health needs of their local areas.

The Executive is committed to developing integrated services for children and is currently working closely with NHS Health Scotland to develop an integrated health profiling and planning tool for schools. This tool will helpfully support schools respond to the needs of individuals within the school setting and as such, identify the appropriate professional to best meet the needs of pupils. It is being developed in partnership with local authorities, education and health colleagues.

We are committed to developing our health services, including services for people with allergic conditions. The Scottish Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee, which forms a part of the advisory structure of the Health Department, has set up a Working Group to prepare a report to the Chief Medical Officer on allergy services in Scotland. The group will focus mainly on the development of resources to aid patient diagnosis and management within primary care and give consideration as to how primary care staff can be supported in their work.

The ratio of school children to qualified school nurses by NHS board is shown in the following table. The latest available data is at 30 September 2004.

NHS Board	Ratio of School Children to School Nurses1
Argyll and Clyde	2,240:1
Ayrshire and Arran	1,708:1
Borders	2,472:1
Dumfries and Galloway	1,460:1
Fife	1,682:1
Forth Valley	2,098:1
Grampian	1,456:1
Greater Glasgow	1,825:1
Highland	1,275:1
Lanarkshire	1,744:1
Lothian	4,528:1
Orkney	3,361:1
Shetland	3,951;1
Tayside	1,625:1
Western Isles	1,057:1
Scotland	1,900:1

Note: 1. Population figures used derive from mid-year estimates from the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) at 30 June 2004. Figures used cover ages 5 to 18 years.

Red Squirrel South Scotland (RSSS) and Dundee Red Squirrel Project made representations to the Scottish Executive, receiving £15,000 and £25,000 respectively for 2005 to 2007 under the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme. This funding will allow them to employ Red Squirrel Conservation Officers and to raise public awareness of the work being carried out to conserve the species.

The Scottish Executive subsequently allocated a further £10,000 funding to monitor the health of squirrel populations and consider methods of keeping the squirrel pox virus out of Scotland.

In addition, I am aware that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) have received applications from RSSS and the Ayrshire Red Squirrel Group for funding to employ part and full time squirrel workers. SNH has also received applications from the Grampian and Highland Squirrel Groups for funding as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid. These applications are at various stages of consideration and a decision will be made on them shortly.

Red Squirrel South Scotland was allocated £10,000 by the Scottish Executive in September 2005. This funding will support monitoring of the local populations of red squirrels in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders and allow examination and implementation of contingency measures to keep the squirrel pox virus out of Scotland.

The Scottish Executive is considering the need for further funding into research for the prevention/containment of the squirrel pox virus should it enter Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland will be closely consulted in this process. Forest Research, an agency of the Forestry Commission, has already contributed to a recent workshop and paper on the research needs in relation to squirrel pox virus.

The Scottish Executive has alreadymade funding of £25,000 available through its Biodiversity Action Grants Schemeto Red Squirrel South Scotland (RSSS), together with an additional award of £10,000for them to monitor the local populations of red squirrels in Dumfries and Galloway,and the Borders areas, and to examine and implement contingency measures to keepthe squirrel pox virus out of Scotland.

The Scottish Executive is consideringthe need for further funding into research for the prevention/containment of thesquirrel pox virus should it enter Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotlandwill be closely consulted in this process.

 

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

 

Rhona Brankin: The ScottishExecutive has already made funding of £15,000 available through itsBiodiversity Action Grants Scheme to Red Squirrel South Scotland (RSSS),together with an additional award of £10,000 for them to monitor the localpopulations of red squirrels in Dumfries and Galloway, and the Borders areas,and to examine and implement contingency measures to keep the squirrel poxvirus out of Scotland.

The Scottish Executive isconsidering the need for further funding into research for theprevention/containment of the squirrel pox virus should it enter Scotland.Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland will be closelyconsulted in this process.