Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government supports first-time buyers through its Low Cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT). This currently offers three options for first-time buyers in the Highlands and Islands:

1. New Supply Shared Equity or shared ownership. Properties are built buy a Registered Social Landlord and offered for sale to first-time buyer

2. Open Market Shared Equity. Eligible first time buyers can purchase properties being sold on the open market with a grant from Scottish Government.

3. Rural Home Ownership Grants. Eligible individuals can apply for a grant to build their own home.

No decisions have yet been taken on the availability of the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot scheme beyond March 2010. Decisions on the scheme''s future in all areas of Scotland will be taken soon.

This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0910-01.htm

This information is not held by either the Scottish Government or Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which deals with all operational matters relating to the connected communities project.

It is for each NHS board to ensure the national zero tolerance approach to non compliance with local hand hygiene policies by healthcare staff is being adopted; and where staff fail to comply that appropriate action is taken in accordance with each NHS board''s employee conduct policy.

The Scottish Government is funding a pilot project in NHS Tayside to determine how compliance could be improved more generally across the medical staff group.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21150 on 18 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The key Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) training programme for all NHS staff, new and established, is the Cleanliness Champions programme - a comprehensive national programme which provides staff with the knowledge and understanding of why it is important to follow certain principles and procedures in the healthcare environment; and to recognise infection risks and the action that is appropriate “ including hand hygiene. Cleanliness Champions act as role models for others to influence their behaviour in their workplace. To date, over 5,800 nurses have completed the programme.

Standard 5 of the recently revised NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Standards requires all NHS boards to develop an action plan to deliver on the national strategy for HAI education and training and to ensure that nationally and locally identified priority areas for HAI education are addressed. All NHS boards are assessed against these standards, both in terms of organisational structures and compliance with HAI policies.

The national HAI strategy on HAI education and training is itself contained in Delivery Area 2 of the Scottish Government''s three-year HAI Task Force Delivery Plan which sets out the 13 HAI-related education and training work packages that are being developed for the NHS over the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. NHS Education for Scotland (NES) lead on this section of the HAI Task Force Delivery Plan with input and assistance from key stakeholders including Health Protection Scotland, NHS QIS and Health Facilities Scotland. The link to the HAI Delivery Plan is:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/07110818/1.

NHS boards receive annual funding allocations for both revenue and capital expenditure on the basis of a formula that takes account of a range of demographic and geographical factors. Island NHS boards also receive an additional allocation of capital resources to cover planned capital investment projects within their delegated authority not covered by the formula allocation.

Over and above these allocations, £30 million of capital resources are allocated across NHSScotland annually to support the purchase and replacement of medical equipment. NHS boards are required to plan and prioritise the use of capital resources locally.

NHS boards are expected to fund the running costs of capital projects from their existing revenue allocations.

Of the six rural general hospitals, five have CT scanners. These are in Lerwick, Wick, Stornoway, Oban and Fort William.

It is a matter for the relevant NHS board to decide if a CT scanner is required within their area.