Chamber and committees

The Scotland Rural Development Programme is being delivered through eight different funding mechanisms, some of which, including the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC), have already made announcements regarding the award of grants.

The most recent of these announcements, on Thursday 11 September, gave the results of the first assessment round for the new Rural Development Contracts “ Rural Priorities (Rural Priorities).

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment announced that 81 proposals had been approved, in full or in part, and would share £5.9 million of funding.

The next assessment round for Rural Priorities is scheduled to take place in October this year and the results will be announced shortly thereafter.

Our key stakeholders meet every two months and provide regular progress reports on their sections the Healthcare Associated Infection Delivery Plan. The delivery plan can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/07110818/0.

The HAI Task Force meets on a quarterly basis and provides updates on the progression of the HAI three year delivery plan.

I meet with officials on a regular basis to discuss all aspects of the HAI Delivery Plan.

We adhere to the due processes for the release of information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the Scottish Government''s Six Principles are available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/FOI/6principles/Q/EditMode/on/ForceUpdate/on.

The £54 million set aside for HAI over the next three years is not allocated in this way. Funding supports the work of the Scottish Government, NHS boards and stakeholders such as Health Protection Scotland (HPS), Health Facilities Scotland (HFS), NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS). The funding allocated to stakeholders is for the benefit of all NHS health boards across Scotland in tackling key areas of HAI and introducing best practices and methods. This work is being led by the multi agency HAI Task Force.

In addition, dedicated resources have been allocated to NHS boards for a range of initiatives including MRSA screening, implementation of care bundles and hand hygiene campaign and to support the employment of infection control managers, local hand hygiene co-ordinators and antimicrobial pharmacists. The initiatives are outlined in the three year HAI Delivery Plan introduced in April 2008. The delivery plan can be viewed on the Scottish Government website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/07110818/0.

In response to the recent independent review of the Vale of Leven Hospital, the HAI Task Force is also taking charge of the work in the new HAI National Action Plan for all NHS boards (all areas to be completed by March 2009). The action plan can also be viewed on the Scottish Government website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/19529/2005/actionplans/cdiff-general-actions.

In line with other NHS boards, the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has been set a 2% recurring efficiency savings target over the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. These savings will be retained in the SAS.

I have already met twice with the families of those affected by the Clostridium difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital on 7 and 12 August 2008. I am aware of their views concerning a public inquiry, and am willing to meet with the families again, following the conclusion of the investigation of the Area Procurator Fiscal for Argyll and Clyde, should they wish to do so.

As was made clear in the Independent Review Report on Clostridium Difficile Outbreaks at the Vale of Leven Hospital a series of organisational and structural issues needed to be addressed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. All recommendations in the review team''s report are being taken forward by the board.

Cover for the infection control nurse is provided by one of the infection control team; all of them operate from hospitals within the west sector of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Yes. The summary reports for the two previous HAI Delivery Plans (2002-05 and 2005 and 2008) are available from the HAI Task Force website, the link to which is:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/19529/2005.

The annual report for the current three year delivery plan will be submitted to me and published on the HAI Task Force website.

The Lord Advocate has asked the Area Procurator Fiscal for Argyll and Clyde to make urgent enquiries into the circumstances of the deaths at the Vale of Leven and report its findings to Crown Counsel. It will then be a matter for Crown Counsel to consider what further action is required in light of the circumstances which have emerged.

The Procurator Fiscal will be required to consider the terms of the expert reports carefully, as well as carrying out his own independent investigations in consultation with Crown counsel. Given the number of deaths involved, it is not possible to put a timescale on the inquiries, however, in light of the concerns which these matters have given rise to, the investigations will be completed as quickly as possible.