Seòmar agus comataidhean

I would expect Greater Glasgow NHS Board to ensure that high quality care is delivered on all hospital sites in any reconfiguration of maternity services.

NHS Greater Glasgow’s proposals for the reconfiguration of maternity services include a proposal for the recruitment of two additional neonatal consultants in order to ensure neonatal support for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

During the debate on the Acute Services Review (Glasgow) on 12 September 2002, I supported a commitment from Greater Glasgow NHS Board that a review of the accident and emergency services would take place in two years time involving staff, patient and community groups, Glasgow Health Council and the Scottish Royal Colleges. This will take place over the summer and the outcome of that review will be reported to the NHS board for consideration in the autumn. The review will focus on the robustness and appropriateness of the decision relatingto accident and emergency services in Glasgow and will test if the decision taken by the NHS board in 2002 remains appropriate.

Plans for the reconfigurationof maternity services in Glasgow include a proposal for the relocation of extra‑corporeallife support services (ECLS) from the Queen Mother’s Maternity Hospital to thePrincess Royal Maternity Hospital. 

I would expect Greater GlasgowNHS Board to consider this issue in any reconfiguration of maternity services.

This is in the first instancea matter for Greater Glasgow NHS Board. However, I would expect Greater GlasgowNHS Board to address any access concerns identified in the consultation exercise.

The Executive has no currentplans for a new performing arts venue in Glasgow or elsewhere. 

I would expect NHS Greater Glasgowto take into account the points raised by the Area Pharmaceutical Committee in anyreconfiguration of maternity services.

The report of the Expert Groupon Acute Maternity Services (2002) makes it clear that professionalsat all levels of maternity care must have appropriate skills and competences forthe service they provide. They should have access to regular continuing professionaldevelopment opportunities to equip and maintain the competencies and skills theyneed to provide high quality, safe maternity care.

It will be for NHSGreater Glasgow to ensure that staff have appropriate skills and receive appropriatetraining to maintain a high quality of maternity and neonatal care in any reconfigurationof maternity services.

There is a pan-Scotlandspecialist neonatal intensive care transport service based on three regional locationsin the north of Scotland, west of Scotlandand south east Scotland. Also with increased antenatal care and diagnosis of fetalabnormality, planned neonatal transfers between units can be carried out so thatemergency neonatal transports are minimised.

I refer the member to the answer I gave to S2W-8612 answered 10 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary question are available on the Parliaments website , the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.