Chamber and committees

As with all cancer centres, the numbers of patients treated at the Beatson Oncology Centre depend on the numbers of new patients referred and the pattern and disposition of in-patient and out-patient services. Out-patient facilities are delivered both at the Beatson and at outreach clinics across the West of Scotland. Chemotherapy treatment is often delivered at local hospitals and clinics so that patients are treated as close to home as possible. During the year ending 30 September 2001 the following in-patient and day case episodes and out-patient attendances were recorded at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, for clinical and medical oncology. The Beatson Oncology Centre is sited within the Western Infirmary.

	In-Patient Episodes1	Day Case episodes	Out-Patient Attendances
Clinical Oncology	5,234	6,476	14,238
Medical Oncology	2,265	3,794	8,965
Total	7,499	10,270	23,203

Notes:1. Includes in-patient discharges and transfers out.2. Provisional data provided by ISD Scotland.3. Some of these episodes and out-patient attendances will relate to multiple treatments/attendances of individual patients.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22733.

Staffing information below trust level is not available centrally but will be held by local NHS management. Contact details for NHS management personnel are available on: www.show.scot.nhs.uk.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22733.

Firearms policy and legislation are reserved matters. However, the Scottish Executive is represented on the Firearms Consultative Committee, the independent statutory body established to keep under review the working of the provisions of the Firearms Acts and to make recommendations to the Home Secretary for improving their working.The latest published statistics for Scotland on gun-related crimes and deaths show a marked downward trend between 1991 and 2000. Final figures for 2001 in respect of crimes and offences recorded by the police in which a firearm was alleged to have been used will not be published until September 2002. It is difficult to comment substantively in advance of that but any increase would be deplored. As regards the circulation of illegal weapons, the police and other enforcement agencies continue to put significant effort into tackling this.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20764 on 4 February 2002.

NHS local management has advised that:all clinics currently serviced by consultants based at the Beatson have been reviewed. Over the next six months, prior to substantive appointments being made, interim arrangements will be put in place so that new patients will be a priority to be seen at outreach clinics taking place within their local NHS board area;there is no formal waiting list for medical oncology and it is not envisaged there will be an impact on this, andradiotherapy waiting times are currently reducing as the new machines funded by the Scottish Executive come on stream. I am pleased to confirm that the radiotherapy equipment modernisation programme continues and it is hoped this downward trend will continue. Two new, additional, linear accelerators are expected to be commissioned during the course of 2002.

I expect the review to conclude in the spring of 2002.

Chief Constables both individually and collectively through the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland are providing diversity awareness training, guidance and support to create a climate which will enable officers to engage with confidence and in an appropriate manner with members of minority ethnic communities.

This is primarily a matter for Chief Constables to consider. However, under the direction of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Scottish Police Service is considering the research findings and what improvements it could make to improve its practice, particularly in regard to young people.