- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 18 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that Lothian Health Board will have no increase in its budget for oncology and renal services until 2003-04.
Answer
Lothian Health Board receives an annual general revenue allocation. It is for the Board to determine within the funds available how to manage and deliver local healthcare services that meet the healthcare needs of their resident population, including oncology and renal services. For 2000-01 Lothian Health Board has been allocated a unified budget of 拢571.5m, an increase of 5.4% over that for 1999-2000.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 January 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 18 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what was the average length of time, in days, spent in hospital by mothers after the birth of (a) their first child and (b) subsequent children in the years 1990-91, 1994-95 and 1998-99.
Answer
The table below shows the average length of time, in days, spent in hospital after the birth of the first child and subsequent children in the years 1990-91, 1994-95 and 1998-99.There has been a gradual reduction in the length of time spent in hospital by post- natal mothers, which reflects changed practices. This has also responded to the wishes of mothers to leave hospitals earlier and to the change of policy in providing more post- natal care by midwives in the community. However the provision of care is based on a flexible approach and mothers who feel they would benefit from a longer stay can do so.
Length of post-natal stay (days)
| 听 | 1990-91 | 1994-5 | 1998-99 |
All maternities | 3.9 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
First maternities | 4.6 | 4.1 | 3.6 |
Other maternities | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.4 |
Notes:
1. Maternities are defined as pregnancies which result in a live or stillbirth, multiple pregnancies counting only as one.
2. Excludes maternities delivered at home or at non-NHS hospitals.
3. The figures for 1998-99 are as yet provisional.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 07 January 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 18 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it estimates the proposal by Greater Glasgow Health Board to close the maternity unit at the Queen Mother's Hospital while retaining the units at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Southern General Hospital would have on (a) the number of staff employed in maternity units in Greater Glasgow Health Board area; (b) the average number of hours worked per week by staff employed in maternity units in Greater Glasgow Health Board area; (c) the number of induced births and (d) the average time spent in hospital by mothers giving birth.
Answer
It is for Greater Glasgow Health Board to determine how to organise services to meet the health care needs of the local population. Such provision must take account of declining numbers of births and changes in provision across the country, which reflect a shift in balance towards community provision. Further details are available from Greater Glasgow Health Board.In considering the provision and configuration of maternity services, local Health Boards are expected to take account of the 1993 Policy Review of the Provision of Maternity Services in Scotland. This recommended a move to increasing the choice for the woman, greater continuity of care and a move to midwife led care while at the same time maintaining the safety of both mother and baby.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 January 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 18 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of births were induced in each health board area in each of 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.
Answer
Figures for the calendar years 1997, 1998 and 1999 are shown in the table below.
| Health Board Area | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 3 |
| of Treatment | Percentage of births induced |
| Argyll and Clyde | 28.9 | 27.7 | 30.1 |
| Ayrshire and Arran | 20.5 | 23.2 | 27.0 |
| Borders | 16.3 | 19.0 | 22.2 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 16.5 | 22.0 | 21.0 |
| Fife | 24.4 | 24.0 | 23.8 |
| Forth Valley | 29.5 | 30.0 | 36.1 |
| Grampian | 18.9 | 22.7 | 25.2 |
| Greater Glasgow | 26.7 | 31.5 | 34.0 |
| Highland | 27.9 | 26.6 | 27.7 |
| Lanarkshire | 23.1 | 21.6 | 21.8 |
| Lothian | 23.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
| Orkney | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.6 |
| Shetland | 8.7 | 9.9 | 14.1 |
| Tayside | 19.9 | 19.9 | 23.3 |
| Western Isles | 24.8 | 30.3 | 28.6 |
| Scotland | 23.7 | 25.5 | 27.1 |
Notes:
- The figures exclude Home births and births at non-NHS hospitals.
- From 1998, where four or more babies are involved in a delivery, birth details are recorded only for the first three babies delivered. Prior to 1998, birth details were recorded only for the first two babies delivered.
- The 1999 figures are as yet provisional.
Year end is 31 March.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 17 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time for cataract operations is for each health board at 1 January 2000 or the most recent date for which figures are available.
Answer
Information on the median waiting times for cataract surgery for the year ending 30 September is given in the table.Median waiting time for cataract surgery
1: Year ending 30 september 1999
pHealth Board | Median Wait (Days) |
Argyll and Clyde | 85 |
Ayrshire and Arran | 78 |
Borders | 42 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 121 |
Fife | 114 |
Forth Valley | 83 |
Grampian | 103 |
Greater Glasgow | 103 |
Highland | 98 |
Lanarkshire | 126 |
Lothian | 78 |
Orkney | 78 |
Shetland | 80 |
Tayside | 62 |
Western Isles | 187 |
Scotland | 87 |
Source SMR0p
Provisional1 Cataract Surgery defined as primary operation OPCS4 C17-C75 and any mention of ICD 10 diagnosis H25, H26, H28.0, H28.1 or H28.2
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 January 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 17 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a standardised age restricted sales law for products, such as alcohol and tobacco, whose sale is restricted on age grounds.
Answer
Products and services subject to age restriction are wide-ranging and some are governed by consumer protection legislation which is reserved. However, the Scottish Executive is examining measures for better enforcement of the law to tackle those who make illegal sales to young people within the powers available to the Scottish Parliament.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 15 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to recognise Glasgow's position as a provider of services to large numbers of people not resident in the city by awarding "metropolitan" status to Glasgow.
Answer
There is no such thing as "metropolitan" status in Scotland, and I refer you to my reply of 29 July 1999 to question S1W-573.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 January 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 11 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive why oncology patients suffering stomach and intestinal problems are having to wait up to 24 weeks for a barium x-ray diagnosis.
Answer
I refer the Member to the answer S1W-3560.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 January 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 11 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive why waiting times for ultrasound examinations and barium x-ray diagnosis vary across Scotland and what impact different waiting times have on patient outcomes.
Answer
Health boards and NHS Trusts have to plan and deliver services which meet the needs of their local population within the resources allocated to them and taking account of national and local priorities. A patient may require an ultrasound examination or barium x-ray for various clinical reasons, and the priority attached to each case is a matter for the clinical judgement of the doctor concerned. The impact on patient outcomes from differing waiting times for these investigative/diagnostic procedures would depend on the nature of the patient's condition at the time of referral.The Scottish Executive is committed to improving waiting times, addressing all stages of a patient's care pathway through the Health Service, and to creating greater equity of access across the country. As I announced in Parliament on 16 December, we will be working with the NHS across Scotland over the coming months to establish national maximum waiting times, to be met by March 2000, in the three national clinical priorities of heart disease, cancer and mental illness.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 January 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 11 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts it is making to reduce waiting times for oncology patients requiring x-ray examinations in Glasgow hospitals.
Answer
North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust has taken a number of steps to reduce waiting times for oncology patients both for diagnostic and therapeutic services, including extending its working week by 20 hours and the appointment of an extra half-time consultant radiologist. Further information is available on request from the Trust.The Scottish Executive is committed to improving waiting times, addressing all stages of each patient's care. Over the coming months we will be working with the NHS across Scotland to establish national maximum waiting times to be met by March 2001 in the three national priorities of heart disease, cancer and mental illness.
