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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S2W-06893

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive what the average waiting time has been for a patient to be referred for rheumatologist specialist opinion and treatment in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

The median waiting times for a first outpatient appointment with a consultant, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner, and for inpatient and day case treatment, in the specialty of Rheumatology, by NHS Board area of residence, in each year since 1999, are given in the tables.

NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times For A First Outpatient Appointment With A Consultant In The Specialty Of Rheumatology, Following A General Medical Practitioner Referral, By NHS Board Of Residence: Years Ended 30 September 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003^P.

	Median Wait (days)
NHS Board	30 Sep 1999	30 Sep 2000	30 Sep 2001	30 Sep 2002	30 Sep 2003^P
Argyll and Clyde	52	74	77	94	103
Ayrshire and Arran	55	78	70	78	92
Borders	92	56	66	69	98
Dumfries and Galloway	58	43	31	41	44
Fife	62	103	125	106	82
Forth Valley	112	141	167	217	122
Grampian	33	35	38	42	44
Greater Glasgow	77	71	81	95	92
Highland	41	64	72	54	83
Lanarkshire	78	74	79	97	86
Lothian	68	55	63	69	92
Orkney	*	*	*	*	*
Shetland	*	*	30	29	*
Tayside	56	57	70	61	55
Western Isles	*	*	*	*	*
Scotland	58	62	65	70	72

Source: ISD Scotland, SMR00.

Notes:

^PProvisional.

*Information not shown due to small numbers.

NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times For Inpatient And Day Case Treatment In The Specialty Of Rheumatology, By NHS Board Of Residence: Years Ended 30 September 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003^P.

	Median Wait (days)
NHS Board	30 Sep 1999	30 Sep 2000	30 Sep 2001	30 Sep 2002	30 Sep 2003^P
Argyll and Clyde	8	10	7	7	6
Ayrshire and Arran	10	12	13	9	12
Borders	*	*	*	*	*
Dumfries and Galloway	*	*	*	*	*
Fife	*	*	*	*	*
Forth Valley	10	9	8	4	4
Grampian	7	5	5	5	10
Greater Glasgow	10	12	12	13	10
Highland	*	*	*	*	26
Lanarkshire	4	7	6	7	7
Lothian	12	14	14	12	15
Orkney	*	*	*	*	*
Shetland	*	*	*	*	*
Tayside	*	*	*	*	*
Western Isles	*	*	*	*	*
Scotland	8	9	7	9	8

Source: ISD Scotland, SMR01.

Notes:

^PProvisional.

*Information not shown due to small numbers.

Question reference: S2W-06892

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards (a) are and (b) are not meeting Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines that all patients who have experienced persistent inflammation of the joints for more than six to eight weeks and are receiving simple painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs are to be referred for specialist opinion and treatment within 12 weeks of the onset of treatment.

Question reference: S2W-06840

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Hugh Henry on 19 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the Scottish Drugs Forum's response to the Executive's review of drug treatment and rehabilitation services, what steps will be taken to reverse any trend within the drugs rehabilitation services for high levels of staff turnover, particularly in the voluntary sector, as a result of issues relating to morale, skill shortages and short-term funding.

I welcome the verycomprehensive and well informed submission made by the Scottish Drugs Forum tothis review. However, this is one of around 60 responses, and it would beinappropriate for me to give precedence to one organisation’s views over otherswho contributed to the review.

We have analysed all theresponses to the consultation, and the report from this review will bepublished by the end of April.

Question reference: S2W-06838

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Hugh Henry on 19 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have needle exchange programmes and what measures are being taken to ensure that all NHS boards operate such programmes.

All areas of Scotlandhave needle exchange services, but services are provided from a wide range ofsources, such as community pharmacies, voluntary groups and outreach services,as well as from NHS facilities.

The benefits from providingsterile injecting equipment, particularly in respect of reducing transmissionof blood-borne viruses, are well known. In December 2002, the Lord Advocateincreased the limits on the numbers of needles and syringes which could beissued by needle exchange services, and this information was widelydisseminated to NHS boards and other providers of services for drug misusers.It is for local service commissioners and providers to deliver servicestailored to local needs and circumstances.

Question reference: S2W-06839

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Hugh Henry on 19 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the Scottish Drug Forum's report A Brief Survey on Drug Paraphernalia Distribution following Amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) on behalf of the Scottish Needle Exchange Workers' Forum, what steps will be taken on the recommendations that (a) citric/ascorbic acid and sterile water are additional paraphernalia items that should be supplied/distributed in the future, (b) identified organisational and financial issues need to be addressed to allow services to provide additional paraphernalia and (c) lead stakeholders should ensure that the amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) of August 2003 to allow the supply of specific services such as additional drug paraphernalia including spoons, acidifiers, filters and water ampoules, are clearly communicated to all local services, relevant training is provided and alternative methods of sourcing/distributing supplies, locally and nationally, are explored.

Question reference: S2W-06907

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 19 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what account is taken of increases in water charges when care home charges are set.

Question reference: S2W-06667

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Euan Robson on 19 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Forgotten Children, Addressing the Health Issues of Looked After Children and Young People, what steps will be taken to follow the recommendations on training issues for care service staff, in particular (a) that health and social work departments need to work together to ensure adequate training for staff in health issues, (b) that health-related training should be an essential part of residential care practitioner training, (c) that training in mental health issues is given a high priority within care practitioner employee development, (d) to ensure ongoing training in recognition of drug and alcohol abuse and (e) that more emphasis should be given to addressing the underlying root causes of mental and emotional ill health as part of training packages.

The Scottish Institute forResidential Childcare ensures that residential childcare staff have access tothe skills and knowledge they require to meet the needs of the child in theircare, including health needs. Scottish Training on Drugs and Alcohol undertakeswork with professional staff to improve their skills when addressing drug andalcohol misuse and ensure that interventions are based on evidence of whatworks. We are also looking for other examples of best practice and willconsider how training links can be developed.

Question reference: S2W-06750

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 18 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government with regard to the complexity of the application form for the pensioner credit scheme, in light of the impact of the scheme on services the Executive provides to pensioners.

Question reference: S2W-06749

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 18 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has with regard to the uptake of the pensioner credit scheme, in light of the impact of the scheme on services it provides to pensioners.

Question reference: S2W-06748

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 18 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provides to those wishing to access the pensioner credit scheme, in light of the impact of the scheme on services it provides to pensioners.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues,including pension credit, and issupporting the implementation in Scotland by disseminating information andencouraging applications by a variety of means, including: benefitshealthchecks through our central heating programme; publishing agenda newsletterfor older people; and advising the pension service on the content anddistribution of the Scottish version of the pensioners' guide.

This is in addition to the UKgovernment’s current uptake campaign and application advisory services.Applicants are recommended to apply through, and get advice from, the pension creditapplication helpline on freephone 080099 1234. The Minister for Finance and Public Services welcomed the latest uptake campaign on 1 March 2004. Acopy of his statement can be read at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2004/03/SENW1047.aspx