Chamber and committees

The Joint Improvement Team has funded five demonstrator sites to identify the contribution of intermediate care to a managed shift in the balance of care in order to achieve the outcome of increased independence at home.

We are currently engaging with stakeholders to draft a national framework for intermediate care services in Scotland. As well as building on the emerging evidence from the demonstrator sites, the framework will incorporate examples of good practice, including those from rural and remote areas. The framework will be published early next year.

Intermediate care is a range of enabling rehabilitative and treatment services delivered through an integrated approach in community settings to shift the balance of care from hospital to the community. It will include a wide range of services that help prevent avoidable acute hospital admissions and facilitate early discharge. The actual services provided will be a matter for local decision making and be based on local needs.

Having made this a specific requirement in the monitoring group''s remit, and having ensured there is relevant representation on the group for mental health service users and carers, I expect NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to ensure that the group continues to be fully involved in the consideration of the future of local inpatient mental health services.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advise that the acute physician appointments are to supplement the team of physicians based at the Royal Alexandria Hospital who will be providing acute care at the Vale of Leven Hospital on a rotational basis. The NHS board point out that these appointments are therefore not as locums to the Vale; the clinicians will play their part as members of the overall consultant team providing acute care at the Vale. The board has assured us that these arrangements are sustainable whilst the full complement of staff is put in place in a planned way to deliver the Vision for the Vale of Leven Hospital.

The information requested is presented in the following table, as provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Highland.

Postcode	Location	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10
(a) G81	(i) Christie Ward	*	*	*	*
	(ii) Other GG&C	131	134	137	126
	(ii) Other Highland	*	*	*	*
(b) G82	(i) Christie Ward	51	55	60	46
	(ii) Other GG&C	18	33	23	36
	(ii) Other Highland	9	*	*	*
(c) G83	(i) Christie Ward	36	30	45	31
	(ii) Other GG&C	12	11	19	6
	(ii) Other Highland	*	*	*	*
(d) G84	(i) Christie Ward	48	42	33	25
	(ii) Other GG&C	5	18	14	10
	(ii) Other Highland	6	*	*	*

Source: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Highland

Notes:

The data relates to the following mental health admissions: Adult, Addictions, Rehabilitation and Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit. Elderly, Forensic and Learning Disability admissions are not included.

*Numbers of less than five have been suppressed to help maintain patient confidentiality.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advise that, based on the likely dates of completion of training, they expect that substantive appointments to these posts will take place by the middle of next year.

Scottish ministers and officials regularly meet with NHS boards to discuss matters of importance to local people.

I was very concerned to learn of the fire at the Christie ward on 11 July 2010. I wrote to the ward staff shortly afterwards to pay tribute to their calm but rapid actions which I understand were instrumental in avoiding potentially very serious consequences, and ensured the safety of local patients.

I understand that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will fully brief the Vale of Monitoring Group on the position in respect of inpatient mental health services and the possible next steps at its meeting on 30 August 2010.

I understand that this will be discussed at the next Vale of Leven Monitoring Group on 30 August 2010. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde should be prepared to discuss all reasonable options with the Group in the first instance.

The fact that the ward is no longer operational will clearly affect the way both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the monitoring group take forward their roles in relation to providing ministers with a further report on local demand for inpatient mental health services.

I am aware that the board has been sharing data on the local demand for inpatient mental health services with the monitoring group since its inception. My view is that it is reasonable for the group to expect that the local demand for inpatient beds continues to be monitored over a longer period in order to establish a meaningful trend. I also think such an extended period, of around eight to 10 months, would allow the group to monitor the efficacy of the enhanced community-based services put in place by the board.

The monitoring group''s conclusions will ultimately inform consideration of future service proposals at Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board. Following a board decision, Scottish ministers will take all the available information into account in coming to a final view on the future of local inpatient mental health services.

This information is not held centrally. Responsibility for setting the level of taxi and private hire car licensing fees for their area is a matter for individual licensing authorities.

Health Protection Scotland advise that the optimal time for pre-admission screening for MRSA is around 30 days prior to admission.