Chamber and committees

The Scottish Ambulance Service have advised that rosters for the Vale of Leven Ambulance Station include paramedics on a 24/7 basis, including on the weekend. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02448 on 21 September 2011.

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http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

There is currently an MCN for Chronic Pain operating in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

In addition, Chronic Pain Service Improvement Groups have been established in NHS Fife and NHS Lanarkshire and we continue to encourage NHS boards to establish service improvement groups or MCNs for chronic pain.

The cost of sending patients with chronic pain to pain management centre’s outside Scotland was:

(a) 2008-09 - £229,559

(b) 2009-10 - £201,347

(c) 2010-11 - £313,339

(d) 2011-12 to 09-01-12 - 231,757.

These costs are shared across all NHS boards as part of the national risk share arrangements administered by National Services Division. Boards’ contribution is calculated on their percentage share of the baseline allocation.

As a result of late presentation and/or invoice queries, figures can be subject to change. The total cost for 2009-10 provided in the table updates the figure of £184,937 provided in answer to question S3W-37826 on 10 December 2010.

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.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Coastguards at Clyde Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) do not routinely attend incidents. Clyde MRCC performs a search and rescue co-ordination function. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency search and rescue records show the number of incidents at Erskine Bridge reported to Clyde MRCC each year since 2007 as follows:

This will be an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. However, a programme board is being established to ensure a smooth implementation of the new arrangements. Current ambulance policy commits the service to ensuring that patients receive the most appropriate treatment. This is delivered by paramedics and other appropriately trained clinical staff and this mix of provision is likely to be reflected in the recruitment plan.

This is a matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. The information is not held centrally.

The Scottish Ambulance Service has advised that overtime payments covering hours worked between April and December 2011 total £6,218,303. Overtime is generally paid one month in arrears so overtime incurred in December is paid in January.

Emergency (999) calls to the Scottish Ambulance Service are categorised as A, B and C.

The national response time target for category A calls (life threatening) across mainland Scotland is that 75% of all incidents should be reached within eight minutes.

The national response time target for category B calls (serious but not life threatening) across mainland Scotland is that 95% of all incidents should be reached within 14, 19 or 21 minutes depending on population density.

The remaining calls (neither life threatening nor serious) are described as category C. Where an ambulance response is required that will generally attend within one hour. Many category C calls do not require an ambulance to attend, patients might be transferred to NHS 24, offered advice or referred to alternative pathways of care.