Chamber and committees

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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15580 on 10 September 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing announced on 22 May that she was prioritising the new applications of the central heating programme (CHP) with immediate effect to give priority to the fuel poor and allow headroom for reform of the Programme. This decision was supported by Lindsay Scott of Help the Aged who said the universal scheme was unsustainable. With rising energy costs it is more important than ever that it is targeted at those who are in fuel poverty.

Households currently having their applications processed under the priority arrangements announced by the Cabinet Secretary are:

those over 60 who have no central heating system;

those aged 60 to 79 with a systems that has broken down, who are in receipt of the guaranteed element of Pension Credit, and

over 80s with a systems that has broken down.

The actual and average number of applications to the programme from January 2007 until August 2008 are shown in the following table.

Period	Total Applications Received	Average in Each Quarter	Average Over the Year
January 2007	2,514
February 2007	2,721
March 2007	2,605
Total	7,840	2,613	N/A
April 2007	2,838
May 2007	2,951
June 2007	2,755
Total	8,544	2,848
July 2007	2,362
August 2007	2,292
September 2007	1,910
Total	6,564	2,188
October 2007	2,581
November 2007	2,554
December 2007	1,340
Total	6,475	2,158
January 2008	2,320
February 2008	2,364
March 2008	2,100
Total	6,784	2,261	2,364
April 2008	2,327
May 2008	2,067
June 2008	914
Total	5,308	1,769
July 2008	871	-
August 2008	671	-
Total	1,542	N/A

Note:

1. Prior to the Cabinet Secretary''s announcement of 22 May 2008 information on the number of people applying who may have been in the priority group is not known.

2. Average provided for the year is based on financial year i.e. 1 April to 31 March.