Chamber and committees

We deeply regret the tragic deaths of Erin Casey and Christina Llia and recognise that measures should be put in place to minimise the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). We are currently working with clinicians, pharmacists, Epilepsy Scotland, the Association of Chief Polices Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland to take forward the recommendations from the Fatal Accident Inquiry report.

For example, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) has produced two guidelines on epilepsy, one for adults and one for children and young people. Both guidelines state that SUDEP should be discussed with patients and if appropriate, their parents or carers as soon as possible after diagnosis. We expect clinicians to follow these guidelines.

SIGN has confirmed that SIGN 70 on the diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults is due for review next year. As part of that process, SIGN will review the available evidence on information giving on SUDEP.

We have also agreed also to provide Epilepsy Scotland with funding to conduct research into the information needs of people with epilepsy regarding SUDEP. The research aims to identify at what point post-diagnosis, individuals would prefer to receive information on SUDEP, in what form and by whom. The findings of the research will help support healthcare professionals in the vital process of sharing information with people at risk of SUDEP.

In addition, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) has confirmed that they will make changes to their probationer training in light of the recommendations from the FAI report.

The East Ayrshire Community Hospital is an existing PFI project, the contract for which was signed by the former Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare NHS Trust in 1998. The proposed dental facility was, therefore, being taken forward as a variation to the existing PFI contract but with capital being provided by NHS Ayrshire and Arran from within the overall capital allocated to the health board by Scottish Government.

The overall project cost for the construction of the dental facility at East Ayrshire Community Hospital was estimated by NHS Ayrshire and Arran to be within their delegated financial limits for capital expenditure and therefore did not require direct Scottish Government approval. Moreover, the proposed dental facility was taken forward as a variation to an existing PFI contract without a requirement for additional debt funding.

The Scottish Government’s guidance on the Procurement of Care and Support Services states that local authorities should take account of the costs associated with good employment practice and a competent and qualified workforce when analysing the costs involved in operating different kinds of care and support services. The level of staff salaries is, however, a matter for individual service providers.

The Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate requested that Scottish Futures Trust review the accounting and budgetary classification of the East Ayrshire Community Hospital PFI project contract signed with Cumnock Special Purpose Vehicle Limited. The preliminary assessment under European System of Accounts 1995 indicated that the asset should remain on the government’s balance sheet for national accounts purposes.

Scottish Government officials and Scottish Futures Trust have also assisted by providing advice and opinion at a number of the discussions held between one or more of the parties to the contract variation. The main parties to the discussions have been the board, the Special Purpose Vehicle parent company and the funding bank.

The Scottish Government published comprehensive guidance for local authorities on the Procurement of Care and Support Services in September 2010 after extensive consultation with stakeholders, including service user and carer representative organisations, independent, voluntary and public sector service providers and organisations which procure care and support services. The guidance is available on the Scottish Government’s website:

http://www.Scotland.gov.uk./Resource/Doc/324602/0104497.pdf.

The Scottish Government’s guidance on the Procurement of Care and Support Services recognised the need for commissioning bodies to work in partnership with service providers to make the best use of available funding whilst maintaining the quality of services and meeting service users’ needs and expectations.

The guidance was published following a two-year review of the procurement of social services. In addition, Audit Scotland is currently undertaking a performance audit of the commissioning of social care services in Scotland. Pending the outcome of this work, we do not intend to initiate a further review of the procurement of social care services.

This information is not collected or held centrally to the level of detail requested. It is for NHS boards to determine spend on services from their allocations and in accordance with the needs of their population. This will vary from board to board and region to region.

Data on the mortality rate for lung cancer patients, broken down by age group and health board since 1985, is publicly available on the Information Services Division (ISD) website:

http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Cancer-Statistics/Lung-Cancer-and-Mesothelioma/m_cancer_lung_mesothelioma.xls?1

This information is not available at cancer network level due to reasons of potential disclosure.

Source: Information Services Division.

Data on the mortality rate for male and female lung cancer patients, broken down by health board since 1985, is publicly available on the Information Services Division (ISD) website:

http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Cancer-Statistics/Lung-Cancer-and-Mesothelioma/m_cancer_lung_mesothelioma.xls?1

This information is not available at cancer network level due to reasons of potential disclosure.