This information isnot recorded.

I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

The SPS will considerparticipation in conferences or other forums in the UKor elsewhere where we have something to contribute, something to learn or both.

The Neuroscience ImplementationGroup is taking forward detailed work on planning the service model set out in Buildinga Health Service Fit for the Future. The group will submit its proposals tothe Scottish Government by the end of December 2007.

This is a matter forNHS Lothian. I understand that the board set out its plans for the redesign of acutehealth services during a public consultation in 2004 entitled “Improving Care, Investingin Change”. I further understand that most of the action flowing from these planshas been taken but that some aspects of the plans are still to be implemented.

Any proposal for furthermajor service changes would have to be subject to full consultation with the publicand would require ministerial approval.

Current plansapproved by NHS Lothian Board include the relocation of colorectal surgery fromthe Western General Hospital to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh to concentrateall general surgery on one site and to ensure compliance with the EuropeanWorking Times Directive.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3797 on 18 September 2007. Allanswers 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.

NHS Lothian providesservices to patients from three acute hospital sites - the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh,St John’s at Livingston and the Western General Hospital. NHS Lothian has publicly committed to retaining these three sites as acutehospitals and has assured me that there are no plans to change this.

Service changeproposals are a matter for NHS Lothian. I am not aware of any such plans. Anyproposal for major service changes would have to be subject to fullconsultation with the public and would require ministerial approval.

There is no precise definitionor definitive description of an acute district general hospital. Acute hospitalsprovide a wide range of specialist care and treatment for patients. These serviceswill vary depending on geographical location, proximity to other acute hospitalsand specialists centres, and the skills and experience of clinical staff. Servicesat a district general hospital could include: consultation with specialist clinicians(consultant medical staff, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists and a wide rangeof other professionals); emergency treatment following accidents; routine and complexsurgery; specialist diagnostic procedures, and close observation and short-termcare of patients with worrying health symptoms.

I understand fromNHS Lothian that the board is preparing a plan to change the current catchmentareas (zones) for emergency medical admissions. NHS Lothian have confirmed thatthey expect to implement the plan in early 2008.