Chamber and committees

Feedback from the joint local action plans on delayed discharge shows that all but three partnership areas either have rapid response teams in place or are developing them. We will continue to chart the development and expansion of these teams.Specific information on how many rapid response teams are attached to psychiatric units is not held centrally.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29706 today. 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/webapp/search_wa.

Substantial additional resources are being made available to the NHS in Scotland over the years of the spending review as announced on 12 September 2002, with an average annual increase of 8.7% over the years 2003-04 to 2005-06 rising to £8.6 billion a year by the end of the period. Within these substantially increased resources, NHS boards are responsible for ensuring that patients residing in their areas have access to clinically appropriate treatment, including new drug treatments such as the new atypical anti-psychotic drugs. At national level, the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) reviews new drug treatments and provides guidance on their use. NHSScotland is expected to take account of advice and evidence from the HTBS and ensure that recommended drugs or treatments are made available to meet clinical need. At local level, Area Drug and Therapeutic Committees are responsible for giving advice to clinicians and for ensuring consistent application of national and local guidelines.

The information requested is not available. Available data relates to the number of prescribed items dispensed by either community pharmacists or dispensing doctors and are not patient specific.

The 2002 review of latest evidence by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network determined that 10 to 15% of women in Scotland who give birth can suffer from post-natal depression. Depression as a separate condition can affect a large proportion of women of childbearing age, though studies are evenly divided in reporting one condition more or less severe than the other. There is, however, some evidence that there is an increased risk of depression occurring in the early postnatal period. The care objective is to apply proper screening and follow up that identifies and responds to all assessed needs in each case.The Scottish Executive has not funded any research on the incidence of post-natal depression. Details of recent and current research on post-natal depression can be found in the National Research Register, which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17404).

Core funding can be awarded under section 16b of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 and section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Facilitate (Scotland) have been given feedback as to why their applications under these two schemes have been unsuccessful.

The grant schemes under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and section 16b of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 support a number of voluntary organisations, which provide support for people with mental health problems in Scotland, including the Glasgow area. Each organisation provides its own particular service and will differ in some respects from others in the field. Core funding is awarded through the section 10 and section 16b schemes and contributes towards the administration costs of the organisation.

The information requested is not readily available. Each NHS board is responsible for assessing the health care needs of its population and for putting in place arrangements to meet these needs. These arrangements may include sharing treatment and other facilities and services with partner agencies and neighbouring NHS board areas. Mental health is, along with cancer and heart disease, one of three clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland. NHS boards provide resources for mental health services from within their general financial allocation. These are growing at an average annual rate exceeding 7% in cash terms.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29419. 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/webapp/search_wa.

Accurate data on the cause of depression in each case is not collected routinely.Addressing cause is important and our National Programme for the Improvement of Mental Health and Well-being and the available treatment services are designed to help prevent as well as treat the condition.