Chamber and committees

The conference being held in Lyon between 18-19 December is not an Inter-Governmental meeting and the Executive will not be represented. We welcome the aims of conference to discuss the development of the information society within the context of eEurope with a view to influencing structural policies at the European level. We are fully aware of the significance of the information society to Scotland's economic and social development. Indeed, our own Digital Scotland initiative, which is being given high priority within the Executive, shares similar objectives to eEurope, particularly on accelerating access to the Internet and promoting social inclusion.

The literature is mainly of limited pilot studies showing technological feasibility. It is likely that as the technology improves and prices fall, videoconferencing will, in time, become more routine. However, experience to date suggests that other developments such as "store and forward" of digital images and electronic transfer of data provide greater benefit to primary care than videoconferencing.

To date, there has been no systematic evaluation of why videoconferencing facilities in GP surgeries are not more widespread.

In light of the current cost and quality of videoconferencing, the evidence is insufficiently compelling to recommend the widespread adoption of videoconferencing by GPs. This position will be kept under review and will be influenced by convincing evidence of benefit, improving technology, value for money and demand.

The Scottish Health On the Web (SHOW) website acts as a host site for all NHS in Scotland organisations. It has compliance standards which require that the logo of the organisation (or its full name where a logo is not available) is indicated on the menu bar of each page and that the full name of the organisation should be shown on the entry page to the site. Comprehensive security measures are in place to protect against unauthorised alteration; update procedures are in place which forbid any updating of websites by a third party.

All patient identifiable electronic information exchanged between GPs and hospitals under the Electronic Clinical Communications Implementation programme must be transmitted on a private health service telecommunications network such as NHSnet which is dedicated to NHS purposes. Some health board areas have their own private secure networks which are able to link to NHSnet to allow messages to be transmitted on a UK basis. All networks (whether single GP Practices, hospital networks or health board level private networks) connecting to NHSnet must conform to the NHSnet Code of Connection which maintains the security and integrity of NHSnet.All NHS in Scotland computer-based systems are developed and operated under a published Security Policy and Security Standards.

The senior management team of LT Scotland comprises a Chief Executive, and three Assistant Chief Executives.The Chief Executive of Learning and Teaching Scotland was recruited following an external advertisement placed in The Scotsman, Herald and Press and Journal, Dundee Courier and Scottish TES in the week 31 January 2000. Internal applicants used the same application process as external candidates.Following specialist legal advice, LT Scotland invited expressions of interest in the Assistant Chief Executive posts from serving Directors of LT Scotland's predecessor organisations, SCCC and SCET. Appointments to these posts were subsequently made from those internal applicants. The posts were not advertised externally.

Lay members of the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland's service review groups will receive reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses and compensation for loss of earnings in accordance with NHS rules.

The board has decided not to pay lay members (unlike, I believe, the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Centre for Health Improvement (CHI)) because the board felt that this would breach the tradition of voluntarism and in response to views expressed by a number of potential lay members that payment would compromise their independence.

Nominations to the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland's service review groups were invited from all NHS Trusts in Scotland, from Health Councils and from a wide range of voluntary organisations. In addition, individuals who, for example, attended the board's open meetings, have been invited to put themselves forward. Selection from the pool of nominations will be undertaken by the board's staff in accordance with selection criteria the board has determined. The board is also working to develop more open procedures to enable as many people as possible to put themselves forward.

The lay members of review groups are full members and their views will have exactly the same weight as those of members drawn from the NHS.

Technically qualified members of the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland's service review groups will receive no payment other than reimbursement of travel and subsistence if they are NHS employees. This is in accordance with Health Department policy and the funding for the board was calculated on this basis. The board will, however, pay locum fees to independent contractors on production of evidence that a locum has been employed.