- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which wards at the Vale of Leven Hospital have been affected by the outbreak of clostridium difficile.
Answer
I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that the look-back exercise for the period 1 December 2007 to 1 June 2008 confirmed that patients in wards 3, 4, 6, 14, 15 and F of the Vale of Leven Hospital were treated for clostridium difficile.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths have been caused by clostridium difficile in each year since 1997, broken down by NHS board.
Answer
The data in the following table were provided by the General Register Office of Scotland (GROS). It should be noted that it is unusual for clostridium difficile to be the sole cause of death as a range of contributory factors are normally involved, and it should be noted that changes in the number of cases year on year may be influenced by increased public and professional awareness of clostridium difficile and may not be a reliable indicator of the true incidence.
Between 1997 and 1999, it was also not possible to state whether clostridium difficile was the underlying cause of the death as death certificates were not recorded in this way. It is therefore only possible to provide the member with data on deaths where clostridium difficile was the underlying cause of death between 2000 and 2006. Figures for 2007 and 2008 are also not yet available from GROS.
The death certificates that have recorded clostridium difficile as the underlying cause of death between 2000 and 2006 are as follows:
| NHS Board of Residence | Year |
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
| Scotland | 38 | 57 | 70 | 73 | 98 | 102 | 164 |
| Ayrshire and Arran | 2 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 5 |
| Borders | 2 | - | 1 | 2 | - | - | 3 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | - | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Fife | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 11 |
| Forth Valley | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 8 |
| Grampian | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| Greater Glasgow and Clyde | 9 | 15 | 21 | 18 | 26 | 22 | 41 |
| Highland | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 4 |
| Lanarkshire | 10 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 24 |
| Lothian | 6 | 11 | 13 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 40 |
| Orkney | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Shetland | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Tayside | - | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 13 |
| Western Isles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive in how many deaths (a) clostridium difficile and (b) MRSA was recorded as a contributory factor in each year since1999, broken down by hospital and expressed also as a proportion of all deaths.
Answer
The data in the following tables were provided by the General Register Office of Scotland (GROS). The figures should be noted with caution. Recording of MRSA and clostridium difficile infections on death certificates is based on the clinical judgement of each doctor. Changes in the number of cases year-on-year may therefore be influenced by increased public and professional awareness of these infections and may not be a reliable indicator of the true incidence.
It should also be noted that before 2000 it was not possible to say whether Clostridium difficile was a contributory factor in the deaths. It is only possible to provide information where Clostridium difficile was mentioned in the death certificate. A separate table has therefore been provided for 1999.
Table 1: Deaths where Clostridium Difficile was a Contributory Factor in Deaths in Scotland Between 2000 and 2006
| | Year |
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
| Aberdeen Royal Infirmary | 2 | - | 4 | 2 | - | 4 | 4 |
| Annan Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Arbroath Infirmary | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Ashludie Hospital | - | 2 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Astley Ainslie Hospital | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Ayr Hospital | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 |
| Ayrshire Central Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 |
| Balfour Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Bannockburn Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Belford Hospital | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - |
| Belhaven Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Biggart Hospital | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | - | 1 |
| Bonnybridge Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Borders General Hospital | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Camerone Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Chalmers Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Coathill Hospital | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| Community Hospital | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Corstorphine Hospital | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cottage Hospital | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | - |
| Crosshouse Hospital | 6 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Dalrymple Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Doctor Gray’s Hospital | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | 1 | - |
| Drumchapel Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dumfries/Galloway Royal Infirmary | - | 5 | - | 1 | 2 | 9 | 3 |
| Dunoon General Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Edington Cottage Hospital | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ellen’s Glen House | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 |
| Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary | - | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Fraserburgh Hospital | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Gartnavel General Hospital | 4 | 4 | 2 | - | 2 | 3 | 11 |
| Glasgow Royal Infirmary | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Glenrothes Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Hairmyres Hospital | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 12 |
| Holmhead Hospital | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Inverclyde Royal Hospital | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Inverurie Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Irvine Memorial Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kello Hospital | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Kildean Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Kirkcudbright Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Kirklandside Hospital | 1 | - | - | 2 | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lady Home Cottage Hospital | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Leanchoil Hospital | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Liberton Hospital | 4 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 6 |
| Lightburn Hospital | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Loanhead Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Lynebank Hospital | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Memorial Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Monklands General Hospital | 3 | 2 | - | 2 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| Montrose Royal Infirmary | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh | - | - | - | 4 | 3 | 9 | 14 |
| Newton Stewart Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Ninewells Hospital | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Perth Royal Infirmary | - | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Queen Margaret Hospital | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Raigmore Hospital | - | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Roadmeetings Hospital | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Roodlands General Hospital | 1 | 2 | - | 1 | - | 1 | 4 |
| Rosslynlee Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Rothesay Victoria Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Roxburghe House | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Royal Alexandra Hospital | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 9 |
| Royal Edinburgh Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh | 7 | 5 | 7 | 1 | - | - | - |
| Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 7 |
| Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee | - | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 3 |
| Sauchie Hospital | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - |
| Southern General Hospital | - | - | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| St John’s Hospital | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| St Michael’s Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Stirling Royal Infirmary | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Stobhill Hospital | 2 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Stonehouse Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Stracathro Hospital | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strathclyde Hospital | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - |
| Udston Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Uist And Barra Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Vale of Leven Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Victoria Hospital | 1 | - | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Victoria Infirmary, Helensburgh | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - |
| Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
| Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, Geriatric Unit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| Wester Moffat Hospital | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| Western General Hospital | 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 |
| Western Infirmary | 1 | 6 | - | 3 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| Western Infirmary, Beatson Oncology Centre | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Whyteman’s Brae Hospital | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - |
| Wishaw General Hospital | - | 1 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Woodend Hospital | 2 | - | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Law Hospital | 1 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Findlay House | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Roxburghe House | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Hospital Total | 73 | 106 | 88 | 110 | 129 | 194 | 240 |
| Non-hospital | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 13 |
| Total | 78 | 113 | 94 | 115 | 141 | 211 | 253 |
| Proportion of all deaths | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.5% |
Table 2: Deaths that Mention Clostridium Difficile in the Death Certificate in Scotland in 1999
| Hospital | Number of Deaths |
| Airbles Road Hospital | 1 |
| Ayr Hospital | 1 |
| Ayrshire Central Hospital | 1 |
| Bannockburn Hospital | 1 |
| Blawarthill Hospital | 1 |
| Borders General Hospital | 2 |
| Camerone Hospital | 1 |
| Crosshouse Hospital | 6 |
| Dumfries/Galloway Royal Infirmary | 2 |
| Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary | 7 |
| Gartnavel General Hospital | 1 |
| Glasgow Royal Infirmary | 8 |
| Hairmyres Hospital | 2 |
| Inverclyde Royal Hospital | 2 |
| Liberton Hospital | 1 |
| Lightburn Hospital | 5 |
| Ninewells Hospital | 2 |
| Portree Hospital | 1 |
| Queen Margaret Hospital | 3 |
| Roodlands General Hospital | 1 |
| Royal Alexandra Hospital | 1 |
| Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh | 4 |
| Royal Victoria Hospital | 1 |
| Sauchie Hospital | 1 |
| Southern General Hospital | 1 |
| St John’s Hospital | 2 |
| Stirling Royal Infirmary | 5 |
| Stobhill Hospital | 6 |
| Stracathro Hospital | 1 |
| Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow | 2 |
| Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, Geriatric Unit | 1 |
| Western General Hospital | 1 |
| Cowglen Hospital | 1 |
| Law Hospital | 5 |
| Hospital total | 81 |
| Non-hospital | 5 |
| Total | 86 |
| Proportion of all deaths | 0.1% |
Table 3: Deaths where MRSA was a Contributory Factor in Deaths in Scotland Between 2000 and 2006
| Hospital | | Year |
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
| Aberdeen Royal Infirmary | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| Arbroath Infirmary | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| Ashludie Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 2 |
| Astley Ainslie Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | - |
| Ayr Hospital | - | 2 | - | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | - |
| Ayrshire Central Hospital | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Biggart Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - |
| Borders General Hospital | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | - | - | 4 |
| Brechin Infirmary | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| Caithness General Hospital | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Chalmers Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Community Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - |
| Cottage Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Crosshouse Hospital | - | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Doctor Gray’s Hospital | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Drumchapel Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Dumbarton Joint Hospital | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary | 1 | 2 | - | 2 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 3 |
| Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary | 1 | - | - | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - |
| Findlay House | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| Fraserburgh Hospital | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Gartnavel General Hospital | 2 | - | 2 | 3 | - | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Gilbert Bain Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Glasgow Royal Infirmary | 5 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 10 |
| Glen O’Dee Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Glenrothes Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Hairmyres Hospital | 1 | - | 2 | - | 2 | 4 | 7 | 5 |
| Haylodge Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Ian Charles Cottage Hospital | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Inverclyde Royal Hospital | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - |
| Inverurie Hospital | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - |
| Irvine Memorial Hospital | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 2 |
| Jubilee Hospital | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Kincardine Community Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| King’s Cross Hospital | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Kirkcudbright Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Kirklandside Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Lady Margaret Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Law Hospital | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Liberton Hospital | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Lightburn Hospital | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | 4 | - |
| Little Cairnie Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Loanhead Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Lorn & Islands District Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - |
| Lynebank Hospital | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - |
| Mid Argyll Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Monklands General Hospital | 1 | 3 | - | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Montfield Hospital | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Montrose Royal Infirmary | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | - |
| New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh | - | - | - | - | 10 | 8 | 13 | 18 |
| Ninewells Hospital | 3 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| Perth Royal Infirmary | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Peterhead Community Hospital | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | - |
| Portree Hospital | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Queen Margaret Hospital | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Raigmore Hospital | 2 | - | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | - |
| Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Ravenscraig Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Roodlands General Hospital | - | - | 2 | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Rosslynlee Hospital | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Roxburghe House | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Royal Alexandra Hospital | - | - | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Royal Cornhill Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Royal Hospital for Sick Children | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - |
| Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh | 7 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 4 | - | - | - |
| Royal Northern Infirmary | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee | - | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | - | 1 |
| Sauchie Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| Seafield Hospital | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Southern General Hospital | 1 | 1 | - | - | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| St Brendan’s Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| St John’s Hospital | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | - | 5 | 2 | - |
| Stirling Royal Infirmary | - | - | 3 | 1 | - | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Stobhill Hospital | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Stracathro Hospital | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Stratheden Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| The Orchards | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| The Princess Royal Maternity Unit | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ugie Hospital | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Vale of Leven Hospital | 3 | - | - | - | 3 | - | 1 | 1 |
| Victoria Hospital | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Victoria Infirmary, Helensburgh | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Western Infirmary | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Western Infirmary, Beatson Oncology Centre | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| Wester Moffat Hospital | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - |
| Western General Hospital | - | 1 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Western Infirmary | - | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 9 |
| Western Infirmary | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Western Isles Hospital | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Whyteman’s Brae Hospital | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Wishaw General Hospital | - | - | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Woodend Hospital | 2 | 2 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | - |
| Hospital Total | 63 | 61 | 92 | 99 | 117 | 132 | 153 | 149 |
| Non-hospital | 6 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 21 | 13 |
| Total | 69 | 74 | 100 | 109 | 130 | 148 | 174 | 162 |
| Proportion of all deaths | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when Health Protection Scotland met the Health Protection Agency to discuss guidance on clostridium difficile.
Answer
Health Protection Scotland (HPS) has not formally met with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to discuss their new draft guidance on clostridium difficile, although I am advised that a member of HPS attended a conference hosted by the Health Protection Agency on 14 February at which the draft guidance was discussed.
Scottish guidance on surveillance of clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) has been available since the start of the mandatory CDAD surveillance programme in September 2006 and this was updated in October 2007. New guidance on CDAD in Scotland is being prepared by HPS and will be discussed at the next HAI Task Force meeting in September.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what action the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing took after being made aware of cases of clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital on Wednesday 21 May 2008.
Answer
I refer the member to the statement I made to the Parliament on 18 June 2008 which details all the steps taken by me, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Scottish Government officials since these cases became known.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what action the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing took after being made aware of multiple deaths of clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital on Friday 6 June 2008.
Answer
I refer the member to the statement I made to the Parliament on 18 June 2008.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has taken to ensure that there is a robust surveillance and monitoring system in place for the reporting of hospital-acquired infections, including clostridium difficile.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14659 on 4 July 2008. I also announced on 18 June 2008 that an independent review would be held into the circumstances surrounding the clostridium difficile cases at the Vale of Leven Hospital. The review team’s report will be published at the end of July 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
-
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will bring forward a real time system of surveillance and monitoring for hospital-acquired infection, including clostridium difficile.
Answer
Real time local surveillance and monitoring is already in place in NHS boards. As part of the board wide review into numbers of clostridium difficile cases and deaths going back to December 2007 which is currently underway, all NHS boards have been asked to review and validate the performance of local surveillance systems and provide comments. Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and the Scottish Government will consider their responses to that exercise once the results are known at the end of July. Thereafter, HPS will produce draft guidance on local surveillance for healthcare associated infection (HAI) generally for discussion at the next HAI Task Force meeting on 3 September.
As confirmed to Ross Finnie at the question and answer session following the my statement at the Parliament on 18 June, I will update members about the above exercise should anything arise. I will also be discussing the adequacy of local systems and the type of monitoring that is being applied across each board area when I next meet with chief executives and we have asked HPS to ensure that all diagnostic labs are linked to the Electronic Communication of Surveillance in Scotland (ECOSS) system later this year to pave the way for a web-based local surveillance reporting system.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Bruce Crawford on 17 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the criteria on which the First Minister will refer any allegations of breach of the ministerial code to the independent advisers.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14804 on 17 July 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Bruce Crawford on 17 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will apply to the referral of allegations of breach of the ministerial code to the independent advisers by the First Minister.
Answer
As the First Minister said in Parliament on 18 June, matters referred to the independent advisers will be matters of substance and import, and will not include matters which have already been resolved, or on which ministers have previously made a statement or apology, or cases in which allegations are unsubstantiated.
