- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 23 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26853 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 September 2009, whether the proposed expert group on infertility services will consider whether patients should be able to choose where to have IVF treatment based on waiting times.
Answer
It is for individual NHS boards to decide where patients in their area receive IVF treatment. The Expert Group on Infertility Services, when formed, will consider how best to ensure equity of access to IVF across NHS boards in Scotland.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22915 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 May 2009, whether the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate has published its detailed operational arrangements for undertaking inspections.
Answer
These details can now be accessed on the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland website using the following link
http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/6710.140.1366.html.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22914 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 May 2009, when the programme of inspections will be rolled out.
Answer
Announced inspections will commence on 29 September 2009. The full programme for the first year of operation has been notified to NHS boards. A programme of unannounced inspections is also being rolled out.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) report, All you need to know?: Scottish Survey of People’s Experience of Psychiatric Drugs, which reported that most mental health service users experienced unwanted effects when given antipsychotic drugs and many found them unhelpful.
Answer
Antipsychotic medicines are an important group of medicines that are very effective in the treatment of conditions such as schizophrenia, agitation, anxiety, mania and aggression. The use of such medicines is recommended within clinical guidelines such as those produced by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN).
As with all medicines, the available data on efficacy and safety are carefully considered at the time of licensing to ensure the benefits outweigh any potential risks. Once marketed, the safety of all medicines, including antipsychotics, is monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the independent scientific expert advisory group the Commission on Human Medicines. Any new safety concerns that arise are thoroughly evaluated and the balance of risks and benefits is kept under continuous review.
All medicines have the potential to cause unwanted side-effects. The side-effects associated with antipsychotic medicines are well recognised and information and guidance on the use of these treatments is available from a number of sources such as the British National Formulary www.bnf.org and the Patient Information Leaflet, which should be supplied with the medicine.
In every case, the decision whether or not to prescribe any treatment for a patient depends on the clinical judgement of the doctor concerned wherever possible in consultation with the patient and also bearing in mind the risks and benefits of treatment.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, when a mental health officer (MHO) interviews a person prior to consenting to the granting of a short-term detention certificate under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, whether the MHO should produce a report to be made available to the person in question.
Answer
There is no requirement for a written report to be made available, although this may be done in practice. Volume 2, Chapter 2 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Code of Practice provides guidance on procedures to be followed before the granting of a short-term detention certificate.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason a person sectioned under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 is not allowed to change their responsible medical officer or seek private mental health care instead.
Answer
NHS boards have procedures in place to allow for a change of Responsible Medical Officer (RMO) and for seeking second opinion medical reports.
The Compulsory Treatment Order (CTO) made by the Mental Health Tribunal will specify the hospital for treatment or the care package in the community; this may include, where appropriate, an independent health care facility. Volume 2, Chapter 3 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Code of Practice provides guidance on potential conflicts of interest where treatment in an independent health care service is proposed.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22912 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 May 2009, whether each inspection team will have a former infection control nurse.
Answer
Arrangements with regard to the composition of inspections is available from the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland website using the following link:
http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/6710.140.1366.html.
The inspection teams will comprise the required expertise and competencies.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 23 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26853 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 September 2009, when the proposed expert group on infertility services is expected to (a) begin and (b) complete its work.
Answer
The Expert Group on Infertility Services is expected to start its work in autumn 2009. Six monthly reports from the group, once set up, will be shared with Parliament.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been identified in the Strategic Transport Review to improve the A82 and when this work will commence.
Answer
The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) has recommended a targeted programme of measures to improve road standards on the A82 between Glasgow and Oban/Fort William and reduce accident severity rates between Fort William and Inverness.
In addition to a general upgrade of the route, the measures would include:
carriageway widening at selected locations between Tarbet and Inverarnan and Corran Ferry and Fort William, and
physical works including climbing lanes at Loch Tulla, overtaking lay-bys aimed at providing safer overtaking opportunities and improving journey time reliability and safety targeted measures such as hard strips, junction improvements and local realignment.
On the section between Fort William and Inverness, measures recommended to reduce accident severity include physical works aimed at providing safer overtaking opportunities, hard strip provision for agricultural vehicles and junction improvements.
A timetable for undertaking this work will be set in the context of overall affordability and our commitments to other STPR proposals.
Within the current programme work is progressing to deliver improvements at Pulpit Rock and a new Western bypass at Crianlarich. We are currently engaging with interested stakeholders, including Hitrans and SPT to discuss a vision for the A82.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 23 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve the road following the recent landslip on the A83 at the Rest and be Thankful.
Answer
This is a complex site and our key priority is the safety of the road users. An improvement scheme which is planned for next year will be reassessed following the recent landslide. Work will involve building a culvert under the road and strengthening the embankment below the road and installing new drainage above and below the road. Construction is expected to start in early spring 2010, pending completion of statutory procedures.
