Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government sets national policy direction for mental health and provides funding to NHS boards and local authorities to support implementation of policy. The management of local actions in implementing national policy, and decisions on local service planning and delivery, spending priorities, and the contribution of the voluntary sector in this, is the responsibility of relevant local agencies.

NHS boards and their partners are expected to plan and deliver services in line with relevant legislation including the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 which has at its heart fundamental principles to ensure equal access to health care: participation; non-discrimination; respect for diversity; reciprocity; and equality

The Scottish Government is currently developing its mental health strategy, and the consultation period closed on 31 January 2012. This strategy will build on the work of Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland and Delivering for Mental Health, bringing together mental health improvement work, and our work to improve services in one document.

One of the outcomes in the consultation on the mental health strategy focuses on improving the reach of mental health services to give better access to minority and high risk groups and those who might not otherwise access services.

For example, the national Suicide. Don't Hide it. Talk about it. campaign tackles the stigma associated with suicide, and encourages people at risk to talk to someone about feeling suicidal as the first step towards getting help. The campaign signposts people to the Breathing Space and Samaritans help lines. Since almost three out of four suicides are by men and young people are more vulnerable, the campaign particularly aims to reach young men, who traditionally find it less easy to talk about their mood or difficulties they may be facing.

In line with their professional code of conduct, NHS staff are expected to meet the needs of patients by providing safe, compassionate and effective care. This includes ensuring that information, such as information about the norovirus and its implications, is communicated clearly and effectively.

The guidance for the completion of criminal record checks within NHSScotland is contained within the Safer Pre and Post Employment Checks Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policy. The PIN Policy describes the process that boards must undertake in relation to such checks and applies to all staff in NHSScotland. In addition, in the case of staff working for contractors, national procurement rules require that all such contracts include provisions to ensure that satisfactory criminal record checks are undertaken. The PIN Policy is currently under review to reflect the changes in legislation in respect of Disclosure and Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) checks. The decision to conduct a criminal record check is a matter for individual employers based on their risk assessments of particular posts, but must comply with current legislation.

Student nurse and midwifery intake numbers, including those of 2012-13, are set on an annual basis to ensure the number of students is in line with emerging employment trends in NHS Scotland and the wider healthcare sector.

This is a matter for NHS boards to manage.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-05361 on 7 February 2012. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

A medical device alert prepared by the Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) about metal on metal hip replacements was circulated in April 2010 to NHS boards by NHS National Service’s Incident Reporting and Investigation Centre.

This advised NHS boards to put in place arrangements for the follow up of all patients with metal on metal hip replacements.

As part of the procurement process for the Forth Replacement Crossing Scottish Government set out a minimum requirement of 25 vocational training places, including modern apprenticeships, per annum. The successful main contractors propose to offer an average of 50 places per annum.

This information is not currently available. However, the main contractors propose to offer an average of 50 vocational training places per annum. This is double the minimum requirement as set out as part of the procurement process.

This performance information is not yet available for 2011-12.

We do not hold the information requested.