Chamber and committees

The effectiveness of NHSScotland smoking cessation services is monitored via statistics published annually by ISD Scotland. There were a total of 69,882 quit attempts made/quit dates set in 2009. This compares with 51,621 quit attempts during the previous calendar year (revised 2008 figures), representing an increase of 18,261 (or 35%). Of the 69,882 quit attempts made in 2009, 26,485 were recorded as a successful quit at one month after the quit date'', up from 20,188 in 2008 (revised 2008 figures), a rise of 6,297 (or 31%). Specific information on the cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions is available from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), including health economic appraisals which emphasise the high cost-effectiveness of evidence-based smoking cessation interventions and that the cost per life year saved is well below the NICE benchmark.

NHS boards working with their statutory and voluntary partners, have primary responsibility for designing and delivering services to their local population. Psychological therapies will be delivered by different groups of staff including psychologists, nurses and allied health professionals, and NHS boards are responsible for ensuring that their workforce is trained and competent to deliver a range of appropriate therapies as part of the preparation for the target.

Delivery of good quality psychological care requires that the correct numbers of well trained staff are available for career posts in psychology services across NHSScotland. NSS Information Services Division (ISD) and NHS Education Services (NES) have collaboratively collected and reported psychology services workforce information since 2001 and will continue to do so.

In collaboration with Skills for Health, NES has also produced psychological therapy competence frameworks to ensure that training equips staff to deliver therapy safely and effectively. We have also funded NES to support the training of a range of staff in a number of evidenced based therapeutic approaches.

Food safety controls on materials and articles in contact with food are harmonised at European level and Scottish Ministers are advised on such matters by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland. European Law currently allows the use of bisphenol A (BPA) up to certain permitted levels in many plastic food packaging materials.

Since 2000 the FSA has undertaken two research projects and one survey on BPA in food contact materials. In all cases the levels of BPA identified were unlikely to be of concern to health. The agency continues to keep the published evidence on BPA under review and will act to protect consumers if the evidence shows that it is necessary to do so.

In November 2010, a precautionary measure proposed by the European Commission was adopted which will introduce, from 1 March 2011, a phased European Union-wide prohibition on polycarbonate feeding bottles intended for infants of up to 12 months of age manufactured using BPA. The agency has recently completed a public consultation on a draft Scottish Statutory Instrument which would give effect to this new measure, along with an associated draft Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment, and is currently considering the responses.

Cost per patient at The State Hospital;

2007-08	£135,513
2008-09	£151,773
2009-10	£202,615
2010-11 (as at December 2010)	£224,014
2011-12 (estimated)	£209,531

 

With reference to my response to question S3W-37464 the budget for the smoke-free laws has not been applied separately from the budget for smoke-free legislation. This budget allows local authorities to enforce the smoke-free laws.

Separately identified in my response to S3W-37464 was the specific budget for the new Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010. This budget in the main will be used to raise awareness of the measures contained in the new act, specifically among tobacco retailers but also the general public. It will also be used to produce guidance materials for the trading standards service and to set up a national register of tobacco retailers.

As at 12 January 2011, £244,617 has been spent from the allocated budget. We expect to spend the remainder of the budget by the end of this financial year.

The Scottish Ambulance Service have advised that Naloxone was administered to patients 44 times in 2008 and 44 times in 2009. The administration of Naloxone by ambulance crews is always recorded on the patient record.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38376 on 17 January 2011. 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 Scottish Government Health Directorates are currently discussing implementation of the report with the respiratory Managed Clinical Networks National Advisory Group.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38376 on 17 January 2011 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 Scottish Sleep Forum''s report on obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome gives a very clear account of the consequences the condition can have on people''s daily functioning and quality of life.

The number of prescribed items for antibiotics for the year ended 31 March 2009 was 4,434,236. This relates to items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors but does not include medicines dispensed in hospitals or hospital-based clinics.

This information has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland. Further information on antibiotic prescribing can be found at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/6125.html.