- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned that a claim of bullying and harassment has been submitted to NHSScotland against senior management of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Answer
The Scottish Government takes very seriously all claims of bullying and harassment.
However, it is important that such claims are dealt with thoroughly and appropriately by the board of the Scottish Ambulance Service as the employer, ensuring that due process is followed and that rights under employment law and NHSScotland’s staff governance framework are respected.
The statement to Parliament on 4 June by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing made clear the position of the Scottish Government on these matters.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many ambulances are available on each shift pattern in the Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Arrochar stations.
Answer
The Scottish Ambulance Service has provided the following table.
| Station | Resource | Mon | Tues | Wed | Thur | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| Vale of Leven | Day shift double crew Ambulance | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| | Night shift double crew Ambulance | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| | Day shift FRV Single crew paramedic 7-3 Mon-Fri & Sat/Sun 9am to 9pm | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| | Back shift FRV Single crew paramedic up to 11pm Mon-Fri | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Helensburgh | Day shift double crew Ambulance | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| | Night shift double crew Ambulance | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Arrochar | Day shift double crew Ambulance | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| | Night shift double crew Ambulance | o/c | o/c | o/c | o/c | o/c | o/c | o/c |
Notes:
o/c = on call from home address.
FRV = Fast Response Vehicle paramedic car.
Excludes Patient Transport Ambulances.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the availability is of thrombophilia screening for individuals considered to be at high risk.
Answer
We have accepted the advice of the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) that there is no evidence to support screening for thrombophilia in asymptomatic women prior to prescription of oral contraception or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The NSC goes on to recommend that a woman with a personal history of venous thrombosis should be advised to avoid oral contraception and HRT if acceptable alternatives are available, and should be counselled regarding the level of risk faced.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that women taking hormone replacement therapy or the contraceptive pill are forewarned of the possible risk of thrombosis associated with such medication.
Answer
In primary care, the risks and benefits of any prescribed medication are discussed during consultation between the patient and their GP. This would include the risks of thrombosis associated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the contraceptive pill, which are well-known.
Pharmacists will discuss the indications, contra-indications, drug interactions and side effects with the patient before dispensing medication. There is also a legal requirement for each prescription for HRT and the oral contraceptive pill to contain an information leaflet which describes product characteristics, including the risk of thrombosis.
We would also expect clinicians providing maternity services to assess pregnant women for risk factors for DVT as part of their clinical assessment, and to provide further management in line with the current clinical guidelines produced by SIGN and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
In addition, we have commissioned Lifeblood, the thrombosis charity, to develop a general information leaflet on DVT. The leaflet includes guidance for individuals considered to be at high risk, including those on HRT and the oral contraceptive pill, and mentions that a simple blood test is available which may show a genetic susceptibility to DVT. The leaflet has been distributed to every GP practice in Scotland so that it can be on display and available to the general public.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations attended the First Minister’s National Conversation event in Brussels on 23 April 2008.
Answer
A list of the organisations represented at the National Conversation event in Brussels on 23 April 2008 is provided below:
| European Commission |
| European Parliament |
| Council of the EU |
| Committee of the Regions |
| Flemish Permanent Representative to the EU |
| Belgian National Committee for SMEs |
| Delegation du pays basque |
| NASC (West Ireland Liaison Office) |
| Flemish Permanent Representation to the EU |
| Catalonia representation to the EU |
| North Westphalia Representation to the EU |
| Flemish Department for Foreign Affairs |
| British Council Brussels |
| Scotland Europa |
| Highlands and Islands Enterprise |
| Scottish Government |
| Scottish Parliament |
| Welsh Assembly Government |
| Northern Ireland Executive |
| Law societies Joint Brussels office |
| Sun Microsystem |
| European Policy Centre |
| Callanish Health |
| Cabinet Stewart |
| Hill & Knowlton |
| Chaps Law |
| White & Case |
| The Times |
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the criteria adopted for moderating the National Conversation website take into account the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976.
Answer
The Scottish Government definition, used in the application of the moderating criteria, that racism “can be indirect, direct or institutional, and that racism is unacceptable in any context no matter who it is perpetrated by or against”, is consistent with the Race Relations Act 1976 as amended in 2000.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which MEPs attended the First Minister’s National Conversation event in Brussels on 23 April 2008.
Answer
Ian Hudghton MEP attended the event personally, and several other MEPs were represented by their assistants.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing confirmed the authenticity of “Spiderman’s” contribution to the National Conversation in advance of quoting his comments.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7812 on 10 January 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.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has sought in relation to the prospective publication of racist comments on the National Conversation website.
Answer
It is the practice of successive governments, reflected in the Scottish Ministerial Code and the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, that the fact and content of legal advice is not revealed.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive why, in the context of the National Conversation website, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing considers “Spiderman” to be a reliable source of advice in relation to Scotland’s constitutional future.
Answer
Contributors to the National Conversation website may submit comments under any name, as long they do so in line with the criteria used for the moderation of the site.
The National Conversation is an open and inclusive debate, where all contributions posted according to the moderating criteria are welcome and valid.
