Chamber and committees

The Maternity Services Action Group is currently reviewing and updating the national maternity policy set out in The Framework for Maternity Services (2001) and the subsequent Expert Group on Acute Maternity Services (2002). We remain committed to the provision of women and family-centred services within a network of care, with the bulk of that care being offered as locally as possible by clinically competent professionals.

At July 2007, there were 15 DEXA scanners in NHSScotland. All NHS boards have access to DEXA scanning.

The antenatal care that a woman receives in accordance to A Framework for maternity services in Scotland, is supported by the report of the Expert Group on Acute Maternity Services (EGAMS) 2002, which outlines principles, national guidelines and local action that boards will consider within their own local maternity strategies, to ensure each woman is cared for in a clinically effective, multi-professional, evidence based network of care, before, during and after childbirth.

NHS QIS has produced maternity care standards against which all NHS maternity services in Scotland are audited.

The Maternity Services Action Group will also consider NHS board maternity strategies to ensure that they are in line with national guidelines.

Good history taking, communication between professionals and women and their families, and dynamic risk management throughout pregnancy ensure that each woman is cared for, according to her individual needs.

The booking assessment is the starting point at which a woman is assessed and level of risk determined to plan for her future care. Each further contact with a health professional is an opportunity to re-assess the current health and situation of the pregnant woman, altering the level of care to meet her individual needs, which will be managed under local guidelines and referral arrangements.

SIGN has consulted on the need to review the guideline on the management of osteoporosis (No 71) and agreed to a complete review of the guideline, encompassing new treatments, falls assessment and learning disabilities. This work will commence as part of the 2008-09 work programme, and is expected to take about 30 months.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9328 on 27 February 2008. 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/wa.search.

Waiting list information prior to 1 January 2008 was collected by a census undertaken on the last day of each month and published quarterly. The latest available information published on 26 February 2008, showed that the number of patients who had an availability status code indicating treatment of low clinical priority on 31 October 2007, 30 November 2007 and 31 December 2007 was 141, 112 and 34 respectively.

From 1 January 2008 where a patient is placed on a waiting list the patient is treated within the national maximum waiting time target, subject to any periods of unavailability. There is no category of low clinical priority.

The 18 weeks maximum waiting time guarantee for inpatient and day case treatment applies from 31 December 2007. Information published by ISD Scotland on 26 February 2008 shows that NHSScotland delivered the guarantee.

In preparation for the introduction of new ways of defining and measuring waiting times on I January 2008, NHS boards were required to review the cases of all patients holding an availability status code and to take action specified in published guidance. Patients with an availability status code who were available for treatment on 31 December 2007 will receive that treatment within 18 weeks, i.e. by 5 May 2008. Patients who were not available for treatment at the end of 2007 have either been transferred to the new waiting lists with their record noted as unavailable, in which case they will be reviewed regularly; or where clinically appropriate have been returned to the care of their GP “ again as provided in published guidance. As of 1 January 2008, no patient was still subject to an availability status code.

Waiting list information prior to 1 January 2008 was collected by a census undertaken on the last day of each month and published quarterly. The latest available information published on 26 February 2008, showed that the number of patients who had a highly specialised treatment availability status code on 31 October 2007, 30 November 2007, and 31 December 2007 was 472, 212, and 64 respectively.

From 1 January 2008 where a patient is placed on a waiting list the patient is treated within the national maximum waiting time target, subject to any periods of unavailability. There is no category of highly specialised treatment.

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There were no patients with a guarantee waiting longer than 18 weeks for in-patient or day case treatment on the census dates of 31 October 2007, 30 November 2007 and 31 December 2007.

Unlike the previous system where patients who had an availability status code applied could have exceedingly long waits - in some cases of over 12 months - all patients are now covered by the maximum waiting time standard under the new ways of defining and measuring waiting times which came into effect on  1 January 2008. Patients who held an availability status code on 31 December 2007 will be treated in hospital within 18 weeks from 1 January 2008, provided they are available. If they are unavailable, their case will be reviewed regularly until they can be treated or until a decision is made to return them to the care of their GP.

The 18 weeks maximum waiting time guarantee for inpatient and day case treatment applies from 31 December 2007. Information published by ISD Scotland on 26 February 2008 shows that NHSScotland delivered the guarantee.

Information is not available centrally. New ways of defining and measuring waiting times came into effect on 1 January 2008. I have made clear that this system will be open and transparent and much more information will be published. It is planned to publish the number of patients referred back to the care of their GP, along with other information not previously available. Information under new ways will be published for the first time at the end of May 2008 covering the three months to 31 March 2008.

As I have made clear, hospitals must follow published guidance when deciding whether a patient should be removed from a waiting list, whether for specialist services or for any other treatment.