Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11487 on 7 December 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.

Officials meet regularly with representatives from Lothian, Fife and Borders health boards to discuss developments and actions being taken to maintain services.

At a regular meeting on 23 October, a verbal report was received regarding notification from the Dean of Post Graduate Medicine for the South East of a deterioration in the number of middle grade trainees projected to be available from February 2013. Further information was sought and a report on the emerging situation was passed to the Cabinet Secretary on 7 November.

As the First Minister reported on 22 November, it has been made clear to the three NHS boards involved that the Scottish Government will support every effort to ensure that the best quality paediatric services are maintained for children across the region.

Following a meeting on 20 November with NHS Lothian chief executive Tim Davison, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing allocated up to £100,000 in this financial year with a further £500,000 to be made available over the next two years to support immediate action. This will start with the appointment of four Clinical Fellows to support the resilience of the service. This will be part of a series of actions to support the paediatric and maternity services.

This funding will also support the launch of a national and international recruitment exercise, so that every effort is made to find suitably qualified permanent staff.

The Scottish Government is also working with NHS Education Scotland to develop a training programme that increases the number of Advanced Nurse Practitioners working in paediatrics.

Patient safety is a top priority for the Scottish Government and the three NHS boards, who are working with their partners to ensure the continued provision of safe, effective and person-centred healthcare for children across the South East of Scotland.

My understanding is that the contract is between Salus and Atos Healthcare. I am not aware that any other NHS board has signed a contract with Atos Healthcare to deliver personal independence payment assessments. Salus may, however, subcontract with other boards to help in the delivery of the contract.

This is a matter for individual boards. However, I would expect boards to deliver services to the highest standards.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11254 on 6 December 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11254 on 6 December 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11450 on 6 December 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11254 on 6 December 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.

It is understood that Salus has and had various arrangements and partnerships with the occupational health services of other NHS boards. The details of these contracting arrangements are a delegated matter for individual NHS boards to manage, and information is not held centrally.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11450 on 6 December 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.