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Research into living with flooding 20/04/2007

New research exploring the social impacts of flood risk and flooding in Scotland was published today. The study explores the extent of the social impacts of flooding and living with flood risk in Scotland. This research will inform the technical guidance on flood prevention schemes which is currently being prepared for the use of local authorities. The report has a number of recommendations, including: that further research be undertaken on the immediate and long-term physical and mental health impacts of flooding in Scotland; that the intangible social impacts of flooding as well as the potential environmental benefits, be incorporated to a greater degree in option appraisal guidance for relevant local authorities, alongside the standard cost-benefit approach; that, where practicable, flood warning schemes be extended to all communities at risk. When new schemes are appraised, the existing cost benefit appraisal process should be adapted to incorporate the intangible social impacts of flooding; and that there is a continued role for the Scottish Executive's Flooding Issues Advisory Committee as a means for facilitating on-going exchange between key institutional stakeholders and the promotion of sustainable flood management. Background: In response to substantial flood losses during the 1990s the Scottish Executive developed a policy of "Awareness, Avoidance, Alleviation and Assistance", which enhanced the 'people dimension' in flood risk management. In 2003, sustainable flood management became a duty for responsible authorities under section 2 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003. It was recognised that, for the full potential benefit of these policies to be achieved, there was a need for a more robust evidence base surrounding flooding and flood risk.

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Special Protection Area for rare bird 03/04/2007

The future of one of Scotland's rarest bird species, the Chough, is to be further safeguarded through the creation of a new Special Protection Area (SPA) on The Oa peninsula on Islay. Following a consultation process undertaken by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Deputy Environment Minister Sarah Boyack today announced that the site has been awarded Special Protection Area status under the EC Wild Birds Directive. The new SPA supports 2% of the UK breeding population of the species. Commenting on the designation, Ms Boyack said: "The Scottish Executive is committed to safeguarding our important native bird species." "I took the decision to classify this new site on the basis of strong scientific advice and I am delighted that this new SPA will consolidate Scotland's position as one of the UK's strongholds for this rare and charismatic species" Angus Laing, SNH Area Manager said: "Chough, with their distinctive red legs and red beaks are only found in a few areas of Scotland, with Islay as the stronghold. On The Oa they breed in caves along the cliffs and feed on the coastal and arable grasslands. Visitors to the area often see families of chough searching for insects found in the shallow soil and in cow dung. They favour these areas because the low intensity, traditional way of farming means that there is plenty of food for them." Stuart Housden, Director RSPB Scotland said:

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Oral health takes to the road 20/03/2007

Dental staff will treat children in mobile dental facilities under The Childsmile (East) scheme to improve oral health that was officially launched today, Childsmile aims to ensure children from the age of three in the most deprived areas get improved dental care. Participating children will be offered a fluoride booster for their teeth. Those without a dentist who require further care will be sent on to a local clinic. The programme has already begun in Fife, with ten nurseries and several hundred children already taking part since January, and will also be developed in Tayside, Lothian, Borders, Forth Valley and Ayrshire & Arran NHS board areas. Dental staff will visit nurseries and schools twice a year, using Childsmile-branded vans to carry equipment and to treat children when there isn't space in the school. At Inzievar Nursery School in Fife, Deputy Health Minister Leiws Macdonald said: "Childsmile (East) aims to make sure that we are getting good dental care to the children who need it most. "We want to establish good dental habits at an early age and prevent tooth decay and this scheme is an innovative, and effective, way of doing this. "We have already made significant improvements in children's oral health and last month, figures from the National Dental Inspection Programme showed that P1 children in Scotland now have the best oral health ever recorded, with 54 per cent showing no signs of tooth decay.

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Minister outlines refocused drugs strategy 03/03/2007

Scotland's drugs strategy is to be refocused to place much greater emphasis on drug prevention and drugs education, it was announced today. In a wide-ranging speech at the ACPOS Drug Conference in Turnberry today, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said strong enforcement of the law, effective treatment and rehabilitation, and support for communities affected by drugs would all remain key parts of the strategy. However, as the Executive moves to refine its drugs strategy, more emphasis will be placed on tackling the demand as well as supply of drugs - to stop more young people getting involved in drugs in the first place. Key aspects to that work will include: An examination of the materials available for young people, including the Know the Score campaign, to develop more targeted, specific messages for those most at risk of moving from experimentation with drugs to drug addiction. More work to support young people growing up exposed to drugs through the actions of their parents, including piloting voluntary 'contracts' between service providers and drug-abusing parents. These will make sure those parents are clear about their responsibilities, the consequences of their actions if they let their children down, and the support and treatment they will receive. Improved drugs education in schools, as announced by the Education Minister Hugh Henry today. This will include better explaining the links between underage smoking and drinking and drug use, and drawing on the experience of recovered addicts and young offenders so young people can hear the damaging impact which drugs can have on real lives. Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:

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Local health checks rolled out 14/02/2007

A Ł10 million new wave of radical preventative care programmes is to go live later this year, helping make the NHS more local than ever, it was announced today. Services will be developed in south Glasgow, Aberdeen, Fife, North and East Ayrshire, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire. The move expands on an initial wave of programmes which was announced in October. Keep Well services are already operating in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and North Lanarkshire. Speaking in advance of a parliamentary debate on local health services, Health Minister Andy Kerr said: "We are moving from a culture of treating ill-health to preventing it, as locally as possible. This means targeting resources where they are needed most and designing services which are easier for the public to use. "Keep Well is a new and ambitious approach to engage with people who have not traditionally made best use of health services - reaching out to those who may be at risk and learning wider lessons for the NHS. "I am delighted that a further wave of Keep Well services will become operational later this year. "These enhanced services will mean more direct and targeted interventions than ever before. These will be world leading services, aimed at those with high risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, poor diet, smoking, alcohol misuse and inactive lifestyles. "Services will aim to offer appointments in evenings and weekends to ensure there are no barriers to access, outreach workers will contact patients through phone calls and other means."

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Dental health of children smiles better 08/02/2007

Children's oral health is better than ever but there is still more work to be done, according to new figures published today. The National Dental Inspection Programme results for 2006 show that 54 per cent of children in Primary One now have no signs of tooth decay. The figures are the best since the programme began in 1987 and show that the Executive is well on the way to meeting the target of having 60 per cent of children with no signs of dental disease by 2010. Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald welcomed the figures today during a visit to a nursery class at St John's Primary School in Alloa, where children regularly take part in a toothbrushing scheme. NHS Forth Valley reported the best oral health results of any health board in Scotland, with 68 per cent of P1 children's teeth showing no obvious signs of decay. Mr Macdonald said: "I am really encouraged that children's oral health is improving so rapidly. These figures are the best since reporting began in 1987 and show continuous improvement since 1996.

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Scotland's environmental challenge 06/02/2007

Scotland can become an example to the rest of the world when it comes to environmental attitudes and behaviour, the First Minister said today. In a speech at Edinburgh's Botanic Gardens to mark the start of Scottish Environment Week and the fifth anniversary of his Environmental Justice speech, Mr McConnell said that he wants to see everyone in Scotland take personal responsibility for addressing climate change. Mr McConnell added that it was particularly important that young people in particular are at the forefront of environmental concern. Read the full text of the First Minister's speech He said "It is now a given that the world's climate is changing, and that change is accelerating. In the five years since I first spoke, this issue has grown. "Ordinary Scots are growing more and more concerned about the impact their actions are having - they are thinking about the implications of their flights; they are recycling more and more; and they are thinking about energy consumption. Our research tells us that over 80 per cent of Scots agree that they will have to start making changes to their lifestyles to ensure a better quality of life for future generations. "I want to encourage everyone in Scotland - not just a few - to make the changes that will allow us to live within our environmental means and to make a contribution to reducing climate change." The First Minister said that whilst Government will do all it can to help Scottish families live more sustainable lifestyles, it is vital that there is a wider shift in behaviour and attitudes towards the environment. He continued:

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Nursing target met one year early 30/01/2007

New figures show 15,735 registered nurses and midwives have been brought into the NHS since 2002, well over the Executive's target of 12,000 - with 12 months of the target period still remaining. Workforce statistics released today also show a rise in the numbers of consultants, GPs and Allied Health Professional's while the number of new dentists is more than three times the annual recruitment target of 50. The statistics show that at September 2006 there were: 155,043 staff in NHS Scotland, an increase of 2.6 per cent since September 2005 56,699 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) nursing and midwifery staff, an increase of 2.3 per cent since September 2005 3628 WTE hospital consultants, up 3.9 per cent. 4637 GP's, up 1.3% 8968 WTE Allied Health Professionals, up 3.8 per cent 2842 general, community and hospital dentists. This represents an extra 173 staff since September 2005. Along with increases achieved in 2004/05, it means the March 2008 Action Plan target of 200 has already been exceeded, almost two years early. Health Minister Andy Kerr said:

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Old records, new format 25/01/2007

The birth and marriage certificates of Scotland's National Bard, Robert Burns, make their first appearance on the Internet today, the 248th anniversary of his birth. Scotland's Old Parochial Records, which range from 1553 to 1854, are the last records to be transferred into digital images as part of a Ł3 million project to make all records held by the General Register Office for Scotland available online. The five-year digital programme aims to improve access and speed up searches on Scotland's genealogical archives. Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Service Reform and Parliamentary Business George Lyon said: "These records span more than 450 years. They are the last set of registration documents to go online, marking the end of a Ł3 million project to improve access to Scotland's records for genealogists worldwide. "Since this project first began in 2001 there has been an explosion of interest in family history. Visitors from around the world can now research their Scottish roots from their own homes, using documents hundreds of years old. I'm sure it will encourage their interest in visiting Scotland to see for themselves where their ancestors lived. "Scotland is very fortunate to hold such good historical records. The expansion of the digital records available on the website and in Edinburgh will enhance one of the world's finest resources for genealogy. "For the first time, family historians will be able to see on their computers anywhere in the world excellent images of the oldest records held by the General Register Office for Scotland. "The birth and certificate for Rabbie Burns are just some of the interesting and famous records held in Scotland now easily available by the click of a mouse."

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Education for care children tops agenda 15/01/2007

The Scottish Cabinet will get regular reports on how looked after children perform at school as part of new actions to improve education for these youngsters. A national 'champion' will also work with councils to make sure they are providing the best possible education for children in care. The measures, which were drawn up by a working group established to examine the education of looked after children, were announced by Education Minister Hugh Henry during a visit to St Joseph's Academy, Kilmarnock today. Currently, children in care gain fewer qualifications than other pupils. Ministers have made it clear that this is unacceptable. The report includes recommendations for councils, teachers, social workers and health workers, including: Reminding councils of their role and responsibility as corporate parents Improving training for teachers and other professionals to ensure that they have the skills to deal with these pupils Providing key workers with guidance on their role in supporting individual young people Ensuring that councils continue to provide young people with support beyond their eighteenth birthday, including financial support for those going on to further and higher education Mr Henry said: "Too many of our most vulnerable young people are not fulfilling their potential. This is not their failing. This group was established so that we would have a clear understanding of the challenges that they face in school and at home.

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National hand washing campaign 12/01/2007

A Ł2.5 million national awareness campaign on hand hygiene was launched today with the message: 'Germs - wash your hands of them'. The campaign will include television adverts, motion-sensored talking posters in public toilets and prompts for customers using some cash machines. Health Minister Andy Kerr said: "It is a simple fact that hand washing is one of the single most important things you can do to help to reduce the spread of infections and is key to preventing ill health. Just wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water and you and your family are more likely to stay healthy "We can all play a part in reducing the spread of infection by washing our hands more thoroughly and more regularly. "Our campaign aims to achieve a widespread and long-term change in attitudes and behaviour, to improve hand hygiene practice and reduce avoidable illness. "The key message of the campaign is 'germs - wash your hands of them.' It's a simple message, but washing our hands is something that we don't always do perhaps because our hands don't look dirty, we don't have time, or we don't believe it makes any difference. "But it does make a difference. The most common way germs are spread is by people's hands and they can carry a range of bugs, including food poisoning and diahorrea, viruses like flu and more serious germs like MRSA and E-coli.

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Highland NHS Board 09/01/2007

Health Minister Andy Kerr today announced the appointments of Mr Okain McLennan and Mrs Gillian McCreath as members of Highland NHS Board. Mr Okain McLennan is a caseworker in the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help. He retired from the Civil Service in 2000, having served in various capacities in the Benefits Agency, the Employment Service, the Manpower Services Commission and, HM Customs and Excise. Mr McLennan is a current Community Council member, is the Chairman of Volunteering Highland and is a Member of the Standards Commission for Scotland. Mr McLennan receives Ł5,417 as a Member of the Standards Commission for Scotland. Mrs Gillian McCreath has been a member of Highland Council, representing the Westhill and Smithton area of Inverness since 1999. She has been closely involved with the development of integrated children's services. She previously was a member of the Highland Health Council and worked for a number of years in a community pharmacy. Mrs McCreath does not hold any other Ministerial appointments. Both appointments shall take effect on 1 February 2007. Mr McLennan's appointment will be for a period of 3 years until 31 January 2010 while Mrs McCreath's appointment shall be for a period of 4 years until 31 January 2011. These posts are part time with a time commitment of eight hours per week for which the annual remuneration is Ł7,490. Highland NHS Board is responsible for the strategic planning of health services and the development of measures to improve the health of the community in the Highland region.

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DNA retention powers extended 03/01/2007

From today Scotland's police forces will have new powers to retain the DNA of those accused of sexual or violent offences even if they are not convicted. The measures in the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 provide police with a new proportionate power to assist in the investigation and detection of crime. At present police are required to destroy the DNA of those accused of sexual or violent offences if a conviction has not been obtained. They will now be able to retain DNA samples for up to three years and apply for an extension if necessary. Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said: "Record numbers of police officers supported by record investment and new powers are helping tackle crime and create safer communities throughout Scotland. "Already, through our Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006, we have given the police powers to crack down on knife crime, sex offenders and football-related disorder. "These new DNA provisions, which come into force today, will mean that those accused of sexual or violent offences, even if not convicted, may have their DNA retained for up to three years and potentially longer. "It represents a sensible balance between those who believe that the police should retain all the DNA that they take and those who argue that police powers to keep DNA should be limited. The focus on violent and sexual offences is proportionate, given the seriousness of those offences. Provisions already introduced on September 1, 2006, under the Act include:

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Job satisfaction up among doctors 11/12/2006

New independent academic research published today shows that job satisfaction among Scotland's senior doctors has risen substantially over the last five years. A team from the Health Economics Research Unit at Aberdeen University and NHS Education for Scotland North Deanery undertook a national survey of the working conditions and job satisfaction of doctors in NHS Scotland. This follows a similar exercise carried out in 2001. Today's report finds: Overall job satisfaction has increased significantly among the doctors questioned A substantial drop in the numbers of doctors who feel workload is impacting on patient care Consultants and GP's are spending more of their time on clinical work Health Minister Andy Kerr said: "Better patient care is delivered by doctors who are happier in the work they do. That's why I'm delighted to see the growing positive attitudes among our senior doctors. "In recent years we have introduced high profile new contracts for consultants and GP's. Rightly, that has meant improved pay and conditions, but in return it's also given us far more control over how our doctors work. "I'm convinced this research means we can also look forward to longer-term improvements in quality, productivity and the recruitment and retention of doctors. That can only be good news for our health service and good news for patients too."Lead researcher Professor Matt Sutton said:

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Progress maintained on waiting times 29/11/2006

Patients are continuing to benefit from improved NHS waiting times but substantial improvements are still needed on cancer waits, Health Minister Andy Kerr said today. The latest quarterly figures (to end September 2006) for inpatient and day cases, and for outpatient consultations, show that the current six month maximum wait guarantee has again been met with further progress made towards the 18 week target effective from the end of 2007. Performance on the latest quarterly cancer waiting times (to end June 2006) shows 79.2 per cent of patients were treated within the target time of 62 days of urgent referral to treatment. The Minister said good progress has been made over the past year in working towards meeting the target of 95 per cent of patients being seen within that time, but today's figures showed it is not good enough and the NHS must re-double its efforts. Mr Kerr said: "Today's figures are the best ever and show just how far we have travelled in bringing down waiting times in Scotland. The numbers of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for inpatient and day case treatment is at an all time low - down 65 per cent over the year. Those waiting for an outpatient appointment are benefiting from similar progress with the numbers down 59 per cent over the year. "Cancer waiting is proving to be a tougher challenge. Quarterly performance has improved slightly, and over the year there has undoubtedly been progress with colorectal cancer performance up 14 per cent and lung cancer up 12 per cent. But at 79.2 per cent overall, we are still falling significantly short of the target to have 95 per cent of patients who are urgently referred treated within 62 days. "That is why we are taking a range of measures including weekly monitoring to better track patient progress through the system and the establishment of a new Cancer Performance Support Team to help Boards in driving forward improvements. "We must do better on cancer and I am determined that we will." Also today, information was published for the first time on performance against the nine week waiting times standard effective from end 2007 for eight key diagnostic tests. For the first time, monthly A&E waiting times statistics were also released. Commenting on these, the Minister said:

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New dental centres for Highlands 27/11/2006

Two new NHS dental centres in the Highlands were officially opened today. The Lochshell Dental Clinic in Wick and an expansion to Culloden Dental Clinic will between them provide dental services to an estimated 5,000 NHS patients in the next 18 months. Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said: "This is great news for the north of Scotland. These two projects I am opening today will dramatically increase the number of patients in the Highlands who are able to be seen and treated by an NHS dentist. "We know that there have been problems with access to NHS dentistry in the Highlands and these new centres form just one aspect of the work we are doing to improve access. "Expanding the salaried NHS dental service at places like Wick and Culloden, together with generous new financial rewards for high street dentists who treat all categories of patient in the NHS, will help restore the health of our dental services and allow us to improve Scotland's oral health." Lochshell Dental Clinic provides routine and emergency care for patients across Caithness and will be the base for all NHS dentists working in the county. Three hundred patients have already been offered the chance to register with the clinic, which has five surgeries, and it is anticipated that around 2,200 more patients will be registered within 18 months. The construction of the new building was commissioned by Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE), as part of the development of Wick Business Park. CASE chief executive Carroll Buxton said: "The development of Wick Business Park is an integral part of our plans to regenerate the local area

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Men talking about violence against women 25/11/2006

Twenty well-known men in Scottish life have added their voices to the international campaign, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, due to start tomorrow - the day designated by the United Nations as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. For the first time, these men from the worlds of politics, business, sport, media and the arts have come together to speak out against the violence women experience every day in Scotland. Celebrities including actors Brian Cox, Alan Cumming and David Hayman, author Christopher Brookmyre, entrepreneurs Duncan Bannatyne and Charan Gill, Scotland football manager Walter Smith, chef Nick Nairn and photographer Rankin have joined Scotland's Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm in raising awareness. The Executive also supports the 16 Days campaign and the White Ribbon Campaign as part of its work to tackle violence against women which includes the 'Domestic Abuse, there's no excuse' campaign. Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said: "The 16 Days international awareness campaign reminds us all of the continuing prevalence of men's violence against women all over the world. We often hear women standing up and speaking out against the violence women face and it's crucial for men to add their voices too. "It is an appalling reality that violence against women takes place in Scotland, in so many forms, including domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault. It is my duty and my privilege to take this opportunity to add my voice, to put on record that violence is never acceptable. "We all have the right to live free from harm and fear and the time has come for us all to stand up and challenge those men who abuse to take responsibility for their actions and stop their violent behaviour." Entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne said: "Domestic violence usually starts with a few angry words and a few hurt feelings, over time it escalates to rage and revenge and before you know it the violence has begun. We all need to stand together to make people aware that these terrible things are happening to our friends and families and by standing together, we can take responsibility for our own actions and help those closest to us to keep them safe from such terrible things." Crime writer Christopher Brookmyre said

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Smoking prevention working group 22/11/2006

The Smoking Prevention Working Group's report - Towards a Future without Tobacco - was published today. Written by Dr Laurence Gruer, Director of Public Health Science at NHS Health Scotland, the report sets out 31 recommendations, mainly aimed at preventing children and young people from starting to smoke and becoming regular smokers. An Executive spokeswoman said:"We would like to extend our thanks to Dr Gruer and his colleagues on the working group for their hard work in writing this report. We will now give careful consideration to the report and its recommendations before publishing a full response in due course." The Smoking Prevention Working Group was established as a sub-group of the Scottish Ministerial Working Group on Tobacco Control. It was asked to make recommendations to help develop a new long term smoking prevention strategy to guide future tobacco control activity at national and local level. This included reviewing current national communication and education programmes and the development of a long term communication strategy. Following an amendment to the Smoking Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005, it was also tasked with advising Ministers on the question of evidence to support raising the age of sale for tobacco products from the current age of 16 years. The Group met on six occasions between August 2005 and May 2006, and included key academics in the field of youth smoking, representatives from health boards, ASH Scotland, the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health and the Scottish Executive.

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Appointment of first Police Complaints Commissioner 19/11/2006

Mr Jim Martin has been appointed as Scotland's first Police Complaints Commissioner. The new Commissioner, who will begin work on April 1, 2007, will provide independent scrutiny of the way the police handle non-criminal complaints from the public. He will also have powers to direct police forces to reexamine any complaints that he considers have not been dealt with properly. Investigations of criminal allegations about the police will continue to be handled by area procurators fiscal. Mr Martin is currently the Scottish non-executive chairman of Logica CMG and runs a consultancy. He was General Secretary for the Educational Institute of Scotland from 1987 until 1995 and serves as a member of the Scottish Funding Council. Announcing Mr Martin's appointment, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said: "Scotland now has a record number of police officers, supported by record investment, working hard to make our communities a safer place to live and work. "Through the Police Act we have provided the police service with better tools to support the challenges of policing in the 21st Century. "It is vital that the public continues to have confidence in our police service and modernising Scotland's police complaints system and making it fully transparent for those who need to use it is an important element in that work."That is why we pledged to establish an independent police complaints body which will begin work next April. I am delighted that Jim Martin is to be Scotland's first Police Complaints Commissioner. I am confident that he will play a major part in driving up standards and ensuring consistency in the way the police handle complaints.

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Climate change emmissions continue to fall 13/11/2006

According to figures announced today, Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 16 per cent since 1990. Net emissions of the main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, have fallen by 14 per cent since 1990, more than any other part of the UK and 14 of the 15 Member States that make up the EU Kyoto burden sharing agreement. Webcast - Environment Minister Ross Finnie - It's Our Future The greenhouse gas inventory for Scotland shows a steady decline in the emissions which contribute to climate change. During this period, the European Union had an overall increase in emissions. Speaking from the Climate Group Event at the UN Climate Change talks in Nairobi, Environment Minister Ross Finnie said: "Scotland takes climate change seriously. Our global contribution to greenhouse gas emissions may be small but the effect of climate change on developing countries, including many in Africa, could be catastrophic. "Small countries, states and regions have an important role in building momentum towards a concerted international response. That is why I am delighted that today's figures demonstrate that Scotland is taking the lead in tackling climate change. "In Nairobi this week I will seek to build on the action we are taking internationally and I hope that Scotland's achievements and actions may inspire others to recognise that by working together we can make a difference." Background The Scottish Environment Minister is at an event in Nairobi to coincide with the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

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Aberdeenshire social work inspection 10/11/2006

Social work services are making a difference to communities and vulnerable people across Aberdeenshire, according to social work inspectors. The Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA) has covered all aspects of the council's services, with most areas being rated good. The inspection highlighted a number of strengths, including good leadership, committed and competent staff and a commitment to working with local communities and other agencies to provide vulnerable people with the help they need. Inspectors also made 12 recommendations to improve the service. These include, ensuring staff's workloads are manageable, working more effectively with carers and strengthening performance management systems. SWIA chief inspector Alexis Jay said: "Across the country, social work services provide vital support for vulnerable people. We know these services can always be improved and inspection helps us drive up standards. "Today's report measures how well Aberdeenshire Council is performing and, overall, services are good. Clearly, there is always scope to improve and we did find areas where Aberdeenshire can do more. "We will continue to work with the council to agree an action plan and ensure that the necessary changes are both implemented and monitored." In 2006 SWIA began a series of performance inspections of all local authority social work services, following three pilot inspections in 2005. The inspection of Aberdeenshire Council took place from February - July 2006.

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Public role in controlling infection 08/11/2006

The public has a key role to play in helping reduce the spread of infection, Health Minister Andy Kerr today as part of this year's Infection Control Awareness Week. He visited the Hilltop Nursery in Glasgow to discuss the importance of hand hygiene with nursery staff and he participated in a hand washing demonstration with an infection control nurse and children at the nursery. Also, later this week, the Minister will take part in a World Health Organization event on infection control to talk about Scotland's comprehensive work to tackle healthcare associated infections (HAI).Mr Kerr said:"Clean hands are safe hands. The importance of good hand hygiene cannot be overestimated. It is recognised as being one of the single most effective measures in the prevention and control of infections. "Hands can carry a range of bugs, including healthcare associated infections like MRSA, illness such as food poisoning and viruses like flu. Washing hands regularly and thoroughly will dramatically reduce the spread of these bugs. Good hand hygiene is particularly crucial to preventing and controlling the spread of infections like MRSA in the NHS. "We will launch a national Ł2.5 million hand hygiene campaign early next year as part of our wider infection control work. Our main aim is to achieve a widespread and long-term change in attitudes and behaviour, which will improve hand hygiene practice and reduce avoidable illness. "The advertising campaign will be aimed at the general public, and particularly young children, who are the healthcare workers and parents of tomorrow. The campaign will also focus on healthcare settings and hospital visitors.

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Flu campaign targets 'at risk' groups 06/11/2006

A new campaign is launched today aiming to encourage on people of all ages in 'at risk' groups, healthcare workers and carers to get their free flu immunisations. It is specifically targeted at people over 65 and those with chronic medical conditions (asthma, diabetes etc) as they are at risk of developing serious complications, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, if they catch flu. Chief Medical Officer Dr Harry Burns said: "Even for people who are in good general health, flu can be a nasty illness as it is much more severe than the common cold. "For people who are 'at-risk' flu is potentially dangerous. These individuals cannot fight flu as effectively and it can lead to more serious illness if they are not protected so it is vital that they contact their GP and arrange for a free flu jab, before winter begins. "I would urge people if they know a family member or a friend who falls into one of these 'at-risk' groups to encourage them to get their flu jab now." The campaign shows the speed that flu-infected sneezes can travel, which may result in possible infection. It depicts someone sneezing who is carrying the flu virus. As they sneeze they project between 2,000 and 5,000 particles of virus-filled droplets at a speed of 100mph. Anyone within 30 feet of that sneeze is unlikely to avoid those droplets and therefore could become infected. Flu is highly infectious and around 10 to 15 per cent of the UK is affected by flu every year. They are being encouraged to protect themselves from flu by arranging to get immunised this winter. The new campaign will appear on radio across Scotland, billboards, buses and trains, posters, leaflets and pharmacy bags.

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Review of disclosure law 03/11/2006

A review of the law and practice of disclosure of evidence in the Scottish criminal justice system is to be undertaken by Lord Coulsfield, a retired High Court judge, at the request of Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson. Ministers have asked for a comprehensive review of this area of law, taking account of recent developments in criminal cases and all the interests involved, in order to secure continuing confidence in the system. Lord Coulsfield intends to report to Ministers by Summer 2007. The remit is:"To review the law and practice of disclosure of evidence and other relevant material in criminal proceedings in Scotland with a view to making recommendations that will secure a system that is both practical and effective, recognising the rights of the accused, the interests of victims and witnesses and the wider interests of justice."Lord Coulsfield is inviting a number of key interests to join a Reference Group for the review, including representatives from the police and defence practitioners. Ms Jamieson said "Our wide-ranging reforms of Scotland's criminal justice system are based firmly on the principle of fairness. Fair for victims, fair for witnesses - but also ensuring a fair trial for the accused. "Effective and fair disclosure procedures are essential if we are to respect the rights of all these groups - and also to preserve the confidentiality of vital aspects of criminal investigations. "I am delighted that Lord Coulsfield has agreed to review the law and practice of disclosure, as part of that end-to-end reform of the Scottish criminal justice system."

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Heart disease and stroke mortality continues to fall 01/11/2006

The latest mortality rate figures for heart disease and stroke show progress being made in targeting killer diseases. Figures for 2005 include (all figures standardised rates per100,000population) Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) mortality rates fell by 5.2 per cent between 2004 and 2005: from 139.4 to 132.1 The under 75 CHD mortality rate fell by 4 per cent: from 70.3 to 67.5 Cerebrovascular Disease (CVD, which includes Stroke) mortality rates fell by 8.4 per cent: from 74.2 to 68 The under 75 CVD mortality rate fell by 8.4 per cent: from 22.5 to 20.6 At the Physical Activity and Health Alliance conference in Edinburgh, Health Minister Andy Kerr said: "Fewer Scots are dying from heart disease and stroke, services have improved and treatment is quicker. "We have invested Ł40 million in our CHD and Stroke strategy - this has helped to deliver a rapid access chest pain clinic in each NHS Board and a dedicated Stroke Unit in every mainland Board. "And we are firmly on track to meet our tough targets to halve premature stroke deaths and cut premature heart deaths by nearly two thirds. "Major challenges remain, particularly in tackling health inequalities. Despite big improvements, those in the most deprived areas are still far more likely to die than those in the least deprived. That's why preventative care aimed at communities with the greatest health needs is so necessary. The Keep Well pilot programme, launched last week by Lewis Macdonald, will play an important part in closing the gap.

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Response to report on Beatson incident 30/10/2006

The Lisa Norris report highlights significant lessons which must be learned not just at the Beatson Oncology Centre, but across Scotland and beyond, Health Minister Andy Kerr said today. The report outlines a number of key safeguards that should be in place to ensure patient safety during radiotherapy. In a letter to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Mr Kerr has made it clear he now expects action to be taken at the Beatson. However, he also adds others should use the recommendations to examine and improve their own procedures. Immediate inspections of Scotland's five Cancer Radiotherapy Centres will also take place in the wake of today's report. Within the next few weeks the warranted Inspector will undertake visits to the centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. A more detailed round of investigations, carried out in conjunction with the Health Protection Agency, will follow later in the year. Mr Kerr said:"Firstly, I want to express my deepest sympathies to the Norris family at this very difficult time. My impression of Lisa Norris was of a dignified, brave and determined young woman. I hope today's report will help to ensure that the mistakes made in her treatment are not repeated.

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Response to report on Beatson incident 27/10/2006

The Lisa Norris report highlights significant lessons which must be learned not just at the Beatson Oncology Centre, but across Scotland and beyond, Health Minister Andy Kerr said today. The report outlines a number of key safeguards that should be in place to ensure patient safety during radiotherapy. In a letter to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Mr Kerr has made it clear he now expects action to be taken at the Beatson. However, he also adds others should use the recommendations to examine and improve their own procedures. Immediate inspections of Scotland's five Cancer Radiotherapy Centres will also take place in the wake of today's report. Within the next few weeks the warranted Inspector will undertake visits to the centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. A more detailed round of investigations, carried out in conjunction with the Health Protection Agency, will follow later in the year. Mr Kerr said:"Firstly, I want to express my deepest sympathies to the Norris family at this very difficult time. My impression of Lisa Norris was of a dignified, brave and determined young woman. I hope today's report will help to ensure that the mistakes made in her treatment are not repeated. "Every year around twelve thousand life-saving radiotherapy treatments are successfully prescribed, planned and delivered across Scotland. Nearly five thousand of these take place at the Beatson, with only a handful of reported errors, almost all of which present minimal risk to the patient. Nonetheless, I am determined that lessons are learned.

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World beats a path to Scotland 25/10/2006

Nearly 2.4 million overseas visitors came to Scotland last year, a 50 per cent increase since 2001 and the highest figure ever recorded. These visitors are spending more - over Ł1.2 billion, surpassing the previous highest amount in 1996. Overseas tourism revenues accounted for 28 per cent of all tourism revenues. The 2005 figures show that hotel occupancy rates are also at a record 10-year high. Tourism Minister Patricia Ferguson said VisitScotland's award winning marketing and a substantial increase in its international marketing budget, helped increase overseas visitor numbers. The Minister also announced plans for further investment. VisitScotland will receive an extra Ł800,000 for more marketing of direct air services to Scotland. Ms Ferguson said:"These figures, set against a competitive and ever-changing international market, are encouraging and all the signs are that these fantastic growth rates will continue. "Scotland's tourism industry has been resilient and worked hard to regain its place in the marketplace after 9/11 and the foot and mouth crisis in 2001. Both events hurt our tourism industry. "The Executive has invested millions of pounds on international marketing, which has opened up new markets for Scotland's tourism industry. "Our ambition, which we share with the tourism industry, is to grow our tourism revenues by 50 per cent over the decade to 2015. "To achieve this, the private and public sector must build on their already excellent working relationship to ensure Scotland remains a must-visit, must-return destination.

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Smoking cessation project for mums-to-be 23/10/2006

Pregnant women who are being given help to quit smoking thanks to an innovative cessation project met Health Minister Andy Kerr today. Mr Kerr visited the specialist midwife-led smoking cessation service based at Forth Park Maternity Hospital in Kirkcaldy. The two midwives who run the service visit women in their own home, giving advice and support on stopping smoking and other pregnancy-related health advice. The dedicated service started in May this year and is ensuring that more pregnant women in Fife are now trying to quit, with 50 expectant mums currently getting help to give up. Mr Kerr said: "Giving up smoking is the best thing you can do for you and your baby's health. "I am very pleased that the mums-to-be I am meeting today have recognised the risks smoking poses to their unborn children and decided to stop and I hope many more women will be encouraged to do the same. "But I also know that giving up smoking is very difficult, and that is why projects like this are so important in giving mums-to-be the support they need to kick the habit. "It is now being recognised that midwife-led cessation services can be more successful in getting pregnant women to stop smoking for good, because of the holistic care they can provide. "This scheme is an excellent example of what can be done to encourage expectant mothers to stop smoking and reduce the harmful effects of second-hand smoke on their unborn babies." Last week, NHS Health Scotland launched a new series of adverts for Smokeline and a DVD featuring pregnant women who have given up smoking with the help of their local smoking cessation specialists.

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Hundreds of new jobs for Ayrshire 18/10/2006

Goodrich Corporation Aerostructures division has announced hundreds of new jobs as it expands its aircraft component maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Prestwick. First Minister Jack McConnell met senior Goodrich staff at the division's California facility during his visit to the United States. It follows closely on a visit to the company's facility at Prestwick International Aerospace Park last month where he took part in a ground breaking ceremony. The extended facility will employ more than 500 people and double in size from 120,000 square feet to 250,000 square feet. The latest expansion has been backed with Ł1.8 million from Scottish Ministers under the Regional Selective Assistance scheme. Welcoming the announcement, the First Minister said, "I know from speaking to senior management here in San Diego that Goodrich really value the skills of their Scottish workforce. I visited Goodrich in Scotland last month to discuss their plans and I am delighted to be meeting them in the US on the day the extent of their expansion plans are made public. Their decision is great news for Ayrshire and a real tribute to the skills of the current staff.

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Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2006 17/10/2006

The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2006 was published today. The SIMD is the Executive's official tool for identifying small area concentrations of multiple deprivation across all of Scotland and is relevant to policies aimed at tackling the causes and effects of area based multiple deprivation. SIMD 2006 divides Scotland up into 6,505 small geographical areas (called 'data zones'), with a median population size of 769. These are ranked from 1 (most deprived) to 6505 (least deprived) using 37 indicators of deprivation across seven categories or domains: current income, employment, health, education, geographic access to services, housing and crime. The SIMD 2004 and SIMD 2006 are both based on a consistent statistical geography - the data zone - so, for the first time, change over time in the relative distribution of Scotland's deprived areas can be measured. It is imperative to note that the rankings of data zones within the index are relative and so a data zone with a more deprived rank in SIMD 2006 may not necessarily have become more deprived in absolute terms, rather its relative position to other areas has worsened. Guidance on the appropriate use of the SIMD is available in the SIMD 2006 guidance leaflet. The SIMD 2006 general report contains a preliminary analysis of relative change in deprived areas between SIMD 2004 and SIMD 2006 and each of the SIMD domains. A 15 per cent cut-off is used to identify the highest concentrations of multiple deprivation in Scotland. Some of the main statistical findings from the report include:

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Funding for Scottish libraries 16/10/2006

Eight projects aimed at improving public library services across Scotland have been awarded more than Ł440,000 from the Public Library Quality Improvement Fund. The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), the advisory body to Scottish Ministers on library and information matters, administer the fund. Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said:"Libraries are the cornerstones of our communities. "They help nurture and encourage the skills and learning people need to realise their ambitions. "This funding will allow more people to access information, expand their knowledge and realise the importance of libraries." Christine May MSP, Chair of SLIC, said:"We are delighted to make these awards to these eight library services, across such a wide range of service areas. "We hope this investment will result in improvements for users and increase awareness of the role invaluable role of public library services to their communities "I believe that this is a start of a new era for library services as we move to launch the new Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix later this year, which will enable local authorities and their library services demonstrate the quality of the services they provide. We look forward to seeing the results of this investment in coming months" The successful awards totalling 440,746 are:

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Newcastle disease confirmed 14/10/2006

Laboratory results received today have confirmed Newcastle Disease on a poultry holding in East Lothian. The results from Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge follow investigation of suspect disease at the holding in Fenton Barns, Drem. Newcastle Disease is a disease of poultry. It is not Avian Influenza and has no significant implications for public health. In response to this confirmation the Scottish Executive, Defra and the State Veterinary Service are undertaking thorough epidemiological assessments to determine the source of the disease and the level of risk it may pose to other poultry. Restrictions have been put in place and poultry on the premises will be culled in line with EU requirements. A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone have been established. Within the 3km protection zone housing of poultry is required, and appropriate means of disinfection must be put in place at the entrances and exits to poultry premises. Throughout both areas the movements of poultry, captive birds, racing pigeons and hatching eggs are restricted and may only be moved under licence. Bird shows and other gatherings are banned. Keepers of poultry in the areas are being contacted with information on disease and how to maximise biosecurity protection for their flock. Background Newcastle Disease is a notifiable disease of birds and is characterised by:

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Scottish businesses cashing in on the arts 12/10/2006

The arts in Scotland have attracted Ł830,000 in sponsorship in the last five months after a scheme backed by the Scottish government was taken up by 28 private companies getting involved for the first time. In April the Executive launched the New Arts Sponsorship Awards scheme which pledged to match any first-time sponsorship from the private sector. Since then, new sponsors have contributed Ł510,000, triggering almost Ł320,000 in payments from the public purse. The scheme effectively doubles any funding from new sponsors at a minimum of Ł1,000 (in cash or kind) up to a maximum of Ł50,000 for each project. It has attracted a number of significant businesses to the arts sector in Scotland including Rolls Royce, Microsoft UK, BAE Systems, Scottish Widows, Isle of Jura and MacLean Electrical Group. The scheme is funded through the Scottish Arts Council and managed by Arts & Business Scotland, an organisation working to build private sponsorship. Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said: "I am delighted that 28 new businesses have decided to sponsor the arts, bringing Ł830,000 into the sector in just five months. "Scotland's business community is discovering the many benefits of arts sponsorship and at the same time support arts organisations in increasing their revenue." Barclay Price, Director, Arts & Business Scotland, said:

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Consultation begins on licensing laws 10/10/2006

Consultation on the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 Draft Guidance and Regulations starts today. The consultation will cover key parts of the Licensing Act, including; Premises, mandatory, discretionary, occasional and personal licences Mandatory licence conditions for late night and adult entertainment venues Controls and regulations to tackle underage drinking A discretionary condition which would create separate display areas for alcohol off-sales Training of Licensing Standards Officers and Licensing Board members Transitional arrangements until the Act fully comes into force in 2009 Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform George Lyon said: "Today's consultation on guidance and regulations is another important step in implementing the Licensing Act. It represents substantial progress. It aims to balance the needs of the licensed trade for a modern and responsive licensing system against our wider aims to change our cultural attitude to alcohol to help reduce health problems and antisocial behaviour. "This consultation is an opportunity for those who work or have a direct interest in the licensing industry to comment on the proposals, to help us develop this secondary legislation. The Executive will examine the findings of this consultation before laying the regulations in Parliament next year." The consultation ends on December 8, 2006

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More graduates choose to stay in Scotland 06/10/2006

A record number of graduates from Scottish higher education institutions are finding work in Scotland, according to the latest statistics on graduations from universities and colleges. Higher Education Graduates and Graduate Destinations 2004-05 reveals that more graduates than ever before successfully completed a first degree or postgraduate course in Scotland. And 80 per cent of respondents who gained permanent employment after qualifying in 2004-05 went into a job in Scotland. Lifelong Learning Minister Nicol Stephen said: "Scotland's colleges and universities have earned a worldwide reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Today's statistics clearly show that our higher education institutions are going from strength to strength. We are now producing a record number of graduates, not only from Scotland but also from Europe and the rest of the world.

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Blood team to be put on standby 04/10/2006

An elite team of Scotland's most committed blood donors will be able to donate a pint of blood within 24 hours under a new campaign. First Minister Jack McConnell and Health Minister Andy Kerr both gave blood today to launch the Blood Donor 24 scheme which asks donors to be on standby in case stocks of their blood group reach a low level. Believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, the scheme has been launched in Edinburgh and Glasgow and aims to recruit 5,000 donors from each city. Mr McConnell said:"Blood donors save lives. By giving blood regularly you can make a real difference to the health and well-being, not just of people you have never met, but to those closest to you. It really is the most valuable gift you can give someone." "This new service will enable people to give blood when it is needed the most. It is another great example of tailoring our health service to best meet the needs of patients, and I hope that many donors will volunteer. Mr Kerr added: "Giving blood is a simple way of saving lives and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the thousands of Scots who give blood regularly. "But we know at times there simply isn't enough blood to carry out all the vital treatments the NHS in Scotland carries out every single day. "By signing up to Blood Donor 24, donors will be able to give blood when the health service - and patients - need it most, in the knowledge that they are helping save even more lives." Keith Thompson, National Director of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, said:

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Recycling reaches for the sky 28/09/2006

Over half a million people living in tenements and high rise flats will be better able to recycle their household waste. Environment Minister Ross Finnie said new funding will make it more convenient for people to use recycling facilities. Up to Ł47 million from the Executive's Strategic Waste Fund will be available to six councils with high numbers of people living in flats. Mr Finnie said:"We know everyone in Scotland wants to recycle. The number of people regularly recycling is on the rise and I want to say thank you for that. "However, recent research shows that people living in flats and high rises are not participating as much as we would like. That's because services for many flats are local recycling centres or kerbside collection points some distance away."Successful pilots across the country have shown that we can provide convenient, cost-effective recycling facilities for people living in flats. This now means that another half a million Scots really can reduce, reuse and recycle." The six schemes are:Dundee City Council will provide on street recycling containers for 7,200 properties across the city. Total allocation Ł1.3 million City of Edinburgh Council - final discussions are underway regarding provision of on-street recycling services to an additional 60,000 households in multi-occupancy properties. These discussions will be concluded shortly. Total allocation tbc The allocation for Falkirk Council will assist in the provision of a door-to-door collection service to 6,000 households living in high-rise buildings in Central Falkirk and Grangemouth. Total allocation Ł1.4 million Glasgow City Council will provide a fortnightly backcourt collection service to 120,000 tenement households across the city. Total allocation Ł27 million South Lanarkshire Council will provide a blue bin recycling scheme to 15,000 households in Thorntonhall and West Craigs. Each household will be provided with a blue recycling bin which will collect paper, card, cans and mixed plastic bottles. Total allocation Ł3.3 million West Dunbartonshire Council will provide a fortnightly doorstep collection service to 12,000 households. Each household will be provided with a box and bag for storage of paper, cans and plastic bottles. Total allocation Ł2.9 million

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Six months of Scotland's smoking ban 26/09/2006

Scotland became the first part of the UK to introduce a smoking ban in enclosed public places six months ago today. A group of ordinary Scots who say their lives have been improved thanks to the new law joined Health Minister Andy Kerr at Bute House in Edinburgh to mark the anniversary. Mr Kerr said:"So far, I've been really encouraged by the extremely positive response we've had for the smoking ban both in Scotland and beyond. "People across the country are using the ban as an incentive to give up smoking. Others are simply enjoying the opportunity to go out and socialise without having to breathe in second hand smoke. "But it's in the years to come that I expect to see even bigger benefits. So much of our poor health in Scotland is linked to smoking, and I think this legislation will have a real impact on that in the long term." Guests invited to the event also gave their comments: Ellen Humphries lives in Glasgow along with her 14 year old son Richard, who is asthmatic. Until six months ago, Richard's condition meant the family were limited in their social life. "At big family occasions like weddings or birthday parties Richard could only go for a short while and then had to leave because of his asthma. Now we can go out and enjoy these things as much as anyone else." Mike McGregor is a retired engineer from Edinburgh, who has asthma, said: "Before I would only be able to go into a pub for a couple of drinks and then leave while my friends and relatives stayed on enjoying themselves. It really curtailed my social life but the smoking ban has changed that."

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Scottish Ambulance Service Board 21/09/2006

Health Minister Andy Kerr today announced the appointment of Mr Andrew Richmond as a member of the Scottish Ambulance Service Board. Mr Andrew Richmond was formerly a number one rated stockbroking healthcare analyst in the City of London and, most recently, was a Director of Covenant Healthcare, a private healthcare provider, which was sold in April 2005. Mr Richmond is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and is married with two small children. He is a non-executive board member of NHS Tayside for which the annual remuneration is Ł7,490. Mr Richmond's appointment will be for a period of four years from October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2010. This post is part-time with a time commitment of eight hours per week for which the annual remuneration is Ł7,490. The Scottish Ambulance Service provides pre-hospital treatment and care for some 500,000 accident and emergency patients a year. It also provides non-emergency services for transporting patients to and from hospitals and clinics for elective treatment and therapies. This Ministerial appointment was made in accordance with Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland (OCPAS) Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Within the last five years, Mr Richmond has not been involved in any political activity.

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Commonwealth Sports Development Conference 18/09/2006

Glasgow is set to host the first ever Commonwealth Sports Development Conference this week welcoming more than 150 delegates from across the 71 member nations including Canada, Australia, Fiji, South Africa, Malta, India and Jamaica. Organised by the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations, the conference aims to share the unique capacity of sport to both change lives and bring people of different cultures and circumstances together. Through a series of presentations speakers will show how, by utilising often scant resources, communities with little or no previous involvement in sport or physical activity can be reached and lives changed. Louise Martin CBE, Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland said: "Scotland was one of the 11 founder members of the Games movement and has enjoyed extensive involvement and success as part of this special family. We have always been keen to be at the leading edge of the Commonwealth and in 2000 we introduced the successful Commonwealth Youth Games which continue to go from strength to strength. This year as part of our 75th anniversary celebrations we have decided to establish a platform to share and celebrate the exciting work in sports development that is taking place across the Commonwealth. "We are particularly delighted that Michael Fennell, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation has agreed to open this inaugural event, as well as taking the opportunity to visit Glasgow and see for himself some of our exciting plans for Scotland's 2014 Commonwealth Games bid." Sport Minister Patricia Ferguson said:

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Cancer on the retreat 16/09/2006

Cancer is on the retreat in Scotland with the lifetime risk of developing the disease beginning to fall and more people surviving it, according to thelatest statistics released today. The lifetime risk of getting cancer has fallen slightly for both men and women, while cancer mortality rates are down by 16 per cent over the last 10 years. This includes significant reductions for cancers which cause the highest numbers of deaths. The figures come as it was revealed that cancer waiting times for January to March 2006 have also improved. Health Minister Andy Kerr said; "Tackling cancer has been one of our top priorities and it's a great credit to the work we are doing across the service that people are now less likely to contract the disease, and if they do, less likely to die from it. "In Scotland we are often guilty of failing to highlight the good work we do. I firmly believe we are beginning to establish one of the best cancer services in the world, and these figures are testament to the hard working staff who are making that possible. "But our efforts must not stop here - we will go on tackling this disease." And commenting on the rise in the numbers of cancer patients being treated within two months of urgent referral, from 74 to 79 per cent, Mr Kerr said: "This is a step in the right direction with improvements against almost every tumour type, and I welcome that. But we still have more to do. "Whilst significant investment is now beginning to show some results, we must do more to translate this into real benefits for patients.

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Help for those in most need 11/09/2006

Funding of Ł4 million for projects to help the most excluded groups in society was announced today. The Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative will fund 14 pilot projects in a range of locations and activities across Scotland. Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said: "Research shows that health, education and other public services often do not reach the very people with the greatest need for them - those who experience multiple disadvantage. "We have to do more to address this imbalance. It is what our Closing the Opportunity Gap approach to tackling poverty and exclusion is all about. "We will learn from these pilot projects what works and what does not work. This way we will be able to see what approaches work best for people with multiple and complex needs and which can then be rolled out as best practice and adopted across different services throughout Scotland. "In providing new opportunities and support we can help people to access the support they need in order to help themselves. "The potential benefits for individuals and families are enormous - improving their physical and mental health and enabling them to lead fuller and more productive lives." The largest award of Ł1 million over two years goes to a unique project by the Wise Group and the Scottish Prison Service, which ultimately aims to reduce reoffending rates. Working with Families Outside, it will recruit former inmates to act as mentors for newly released prisoners to help them integrate back into their families and find work or training. Research has shown that prisoners are six times less likely to reoffend if strong family ties are maintained.

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Bursary scheme for dental students 07/09/2006

Details of a new NHS dental bursary scheme were unveiled today. It will provide Ł4,000 per year of study to dental undergraduates starting in year two of the course, on condition that recipients are tied into carrying out five years (or part time equivalent) of NHS dental work in Scotland, beginning within one year of graduation. Students in Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5 will be eligible for a bursary of Ł4,000 per year of study in return for a four, three and two year tie-in respectively. Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said the scheme would give a real incentive to commit to the NHS. Meeting students at Dundee Dental School he added: "I am delighted to be able to announce the details of our bursary scheme today. Today's dental students are tomorrow's dentists and the NHS in Scotland is where we want them to work. "By making NHS dentistry a more attractive option for our graduates we will retain a far higher number within the NHS in Scotland than ever before. "Our aim is to restore the balance so that patients who want to access NHS dental services can do so, wherever they live in Scotland. Increasing the number of dental students staying within the NHS Scotland is one way in which we will achieve this. "We have also paid out millions of pounds this year to dentists already working in Scotland to encourage them to remain within the NHS, while at the same time working to attract new dentists to Scotland and building up the salaried dental service. "We are determined to improve access to NHS dentists. Offering this bursary to our dental students, coupled with all the other actions we are taking, will have a real impact on NHS dental provision across the country. That is good news for patients and good news for the future of NHS dentistry in Scotland."

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Human Tissue Act comes into force 01/09/2006

The Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 comes into effect today, marking the start of a new era for organ retention, organ donation and transplantation issues in Scotland. The Act is based on the principle of 'authorisation' - the idea that people have the right during their lifetime to set out their wishes about what should happen to their bodies after death. Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald, at a road show in Aberdeen to encourage people to sign up to the organ donor register, said: "We made a pledge to families affected by the issue of organ retention in the past that the law would be changed to make sure that never again could organs be kept without the full knowledge and permission of the families. Today that pledge has been fulfilled. "Most of the families distressed by organ retention said that if only they'd been asked, they'd have said 'yes'. We hope the new legislation will give hospital staff the confidence to approach this issue with families at what is obviously a very difficult time. We also hope that the new authorisation forms will help restore public confidence in what is, after all, part of the overall care offered by the NHS. "The new Act will also modernise the legal framework for organ and tissue donation by strengthening the existing system, based on giving effect to people's wishes. We firmly believe that building upon the current 'opt-in' system is the right way forward for Scotland at this time.

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Changes to health records 28/08/2006

NHS clinicians will be able to find patient medical details much more quickly, with the introduction of an Emergency Care Summary (ECS) for every patient, Health Minister Andy Kerr said today. The ECS is designed to allow NHS staff to find a patient's details much more quickly than is possible under current arrangements. It will contain important basic information such as name, date of birth, CHI (Community Health Index) number, medication prescribed by a GP and any adverse reactions to prescribed medicines. A leaflet - Your Emergency Care Summary - is being distributed to all 2.5 million households in Scotland with a further 400,000 sent to GP practices, primary and secondary care services. The leaflet is the first in a series informing the public about the eventual transition to fully electronic health records. Mr Kerr said:"At the moment, although GPs have your details, it is difficult for other health workers to access them out of hours, or in an emergency. "This new shared record means that NHS staff who need it to look after you can get important information about your health, even if they can't contact your GP. Health workers will have a more complete picture of a patient's health and medical background. "The Emergency Care Summary might be important if you need urgent medical care when your GP surgery is closed, or when you go to an accident and emergency department. "In the future, all health records will be stored and linked electronically, and that will bring great benefits over the old paper files kept in different places and electronic records that are not linked up.

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Plugging into the planning system 25/08/2006

People across Scotland will be able to plug into the planning system with the click of a mouse thanks to Ł12 million Executive funding announced today. The investment will be made over the next two years to deliver efficiency savings in the planning process. It will allow the public instant online and round the clock access to: the development plans shaping their areas websites for submitting planning applications and monitoring their progress through the system clear and simple guides around the whole planning process - answering the most common questions Deputy Communities Minister Johann Lamont said: "Online access means that planning will no longer be off limits - as some people believe it is now. "Some local authorities in Scotland are already pioneering this approach. In most cases planning has attracted far more hits than other services on their sites. It is clearly popular with the public, developers and professional planners. "We are now undertaking the most radical overhaul of our planning system in 60 years. We need to sweep away the old culture of out of date plans and a system clogged by bureaucratic red tape. "All of this is changing and it will change a lot faster as a result of today's announcement. "It is a huge boost in making the system more efficient and responsive. That is essential if we are to create a smart, successful Scotland with a growing economy which benefits all. "At the same time it will also enable communities to get involved from the outset in the plans that shape their areas. They can also contribute to and track individual applications affecting them.

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Go ahead for health service changes in Lanarkshire 22/08/2006

Modernisation of health services in Lanarkshire will receive Ł300 million of investment under the NHS Board's future plans which were endorsed by Scottish Ministers today. In addition to existing plans, the Executive will make provision for up to Ł100m of investment for the regeneration of Monklands Hospital, while the Minister has asked NHS Lanarkshire to speed up its own Ł100m programme to revolutionise primary care in the area. This will include a range of new or upgraded facilities, starting in Airdrie and Coatbridge. More than Ł100m will also be spent increasing capacity at Wishaw and Hairmyres Hospitals. Changes to acute services will see emergency services re-organised with Monklands becoming a Planned Care Hospital with a 24-hour Community Casualty facility. Ahead of that change, Ministers will accelerate provision for the establishment of a Community Casualty Unit in Cumbernauld. In addition, patients in that part of Lanarkshire who wish to access A&E facilities at the new hospital in Larbert will be able to do so when it opens in 2009. The Minister also announced a significant expansion of ambulance services in Lanarkshire which will see more than 40 new paramedics and ambulance technicians along with a number of new vehicles. The Board has also agreed to meet local demands for the introduction of a shuttle bus service. Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said:

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Anti-fraud measures save NHS Ł18 million 17/08/2006

Anti-fraud measures since 2000 that have saved the NHS more than Ł18 million, including Ł7.4 million last year, were revealed in the latest annual report from NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services (CFS). Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said:"I am delighted to note that the cumulative savings since NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services was set up in July 2000 are now over Ł18 million. "This is money which has gone into frontline patient care rather than being lost to fraud. "CFS is not just a fraud investigation body. A major focus of its activities is the prevention and deterrence of fraud against the NHS in Scotland which costs far less than investigating it after it has occurred. "We will continue to take action against fraudsters, but everyone can make a difference. NHS staff, healthcare professionals and the general public can protect our health service by reporting suspected fraud." In one case investigated by CFS, a pharmacist claimed for payment from NHSScotland for drugs which had not been dispensed through the pharmacy he owned. He pled guilty at court to fraud and repaid his NHS Board Ł120,000 in respect of unlawful fees. Last year, CFS also tested dental inlays for gold content, recovering Ł30,000 from nine dental practices across Scotland which had been claiming for treatment that failed to meet the required precious metal specifications. Neil Billing, Head of CFS, said:

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Access all areas for disabled in Scotland 03/08/2006

Nearly Ł4 million a year was committed today to improving disabled access in Scotland's railway stations. Transport Minister Tavish Scott said the money would ensure that disabled people have trouble-free access to rail services. Improvements such as new lifts, escalators, ramps, signage, lighting and flooring at local stations will now happen. The funding comes from Transport Scotland's share of the Access for All fund, a GB-wide scheme led by the Department for Transport. Tavish Scott said:"We are already working to increase accessibility at some of our major railway stations. Plans for Waverley include escalators to the main shopping street, and Haymarket will see the installation of new lifts. "This new fund will help us improve access to local railway stations as well. "It will ensure that disabled people have trouble-free access to rail services, allowing them to travel without the difficulties and stresses they have experienced in the past. "But all Scotland's travellers are set to benefit from these improvements. New lifts and escalators will make life easier for the elderly and infirm, mothers with prams or those with heavy luggage. "Along with our concessionary fares scheme and our support for community transport initiatives we are making a real difference for people across Scotland." The Minister announced work has already started on feasibility studies for improvements to be made to the following stations: Dalmuir, Kirkcaldy, Motherwell, Mount Florida, Rutherglen and Stirling. Background The Railways for All Accessibility Strategy for Great Britain was launched by the Department for Transport in March 2006 and describes what the railway industry is doing to improve access for disabled people. A key part of this Strategy is the Access for All finance targeted at improving the accessibility of stations. It has been agreed that under the scheme Network Rail will be able to spend up to Ł3.91m per annum on stations in Scotland. This investment is over and above commitments made in the franchise, the ongoing renewal of stations and major station improvements.

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New fire safety law for business premises 01/08/2006

Booklets designed to spark awareness of the new fire safety law are being sent to more than 156,000 organisations across Scotland from this week. The booklet provides guidance to the owners and users of non-domestic premises on their new fire safety responsibilities, before Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act comes into force from October 1. Part 3 of that Act requires those with responsibilities - such as owners, employers, employees, managers and other occupiers - to take steps to prevent and reduce the impact of fire even if they have never previously held such responsibilities. Launching the booklet, Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said: "Too many people in Scotland are killed each year as a result of fire and tragically many of these deaths could be prevented. That's why we are determined to ensure we do all we can to improve fire prevention, not just in the home, but in other premises too. "Fire prevention already lies at the heart of the work of Fire and Rescue Services across Scotland, but we need everyone else to play their part too. Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act does exactly that by giving new responsibilities to the owners, occupiers and users of non-domestic buildings -both public and private - for ensuring fire safety. "I would urge all organisations using or occupying non-domestic premises to read the guidance booklet carefully to ensure that they understand whether or not these responsibilities apply to them and what to do to be fully prepared. No-one can afford to be complacent about fire safety because complacency kills. Let's make sure that every building in Scotland is as safe as it can be." The new legal duties imposed by the legislation seek to achieve safety through seven general requirements, each of which is covered by the booklet:

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Drug drivers think they're above the law 28/07/2006

A new report shows that most people who take drugs do not think they affect their driving and do not expect to be caught by the police. The report investigated the prevalence of, and attitudes towards, recreational drug use and driving among drivers aged 17-39. Commenting on the report, Transport Minister Tavish Scott said: "Driving under the influence of drugs is dangerous driving. It is just as dangerous as driving when drunk. "This report shows too many people think that taking drugs doesn't affect their driving. Yet the effects can last for hours or even days. Our message is simple - Drugs can affect your driving. It isn't worth the risk." Assistant Chief Constable Ian Learmonth, Secretary of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, Road Policing Business Area said: "There can be no doubt that certain legal and illicit drugs impair the ability to drive safely. "Scotland's eight police forces now have specially trained officers who can detect those who are unfit to drive after taking drugs. If an officer suspects that a person is unfit to drive due to the influence of drugs, then they can be subjected to a Preliminary Impairment Test. "This test consists of an examination of the eye pupils and four psycho physical tests which will indicate whether a person's ability to drive is impaired. If it is confirmed that the impairment was due to drugs then the courts can impose the same penalties as for drink driving. "Our message is clear, don't risk it! Your chances of being caught are higher than ever." The reports main findings were:

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Figures show GDP growth 26/07/2006

Scotland's economy grew both over the latest quarter and over the year to the first quarter of 2006, according to statistics published today. The GDP 2006 quarter one figures show that Scottish GDP rose by 0.5 per cent compared with the previous quarter, and by 1.9 per cent over the year - a yearly growth equal to that across the UK. Welcoming the figures, Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said: "Growing the economy is the Executive's top priority and I welcome this confirmation that the Scottish economy is continuing to expand. The continued stability of the Scottish economy is important and we have not experienced negative quarterly growth for four years now. "The manufacturing sector has exhibited positive growth in the latest quarter, demonstrating that Scottish manufacturers are adapting to the difficult challenges that have been presented to them in an increasingly competitive global market. "Furthermore, Scotland's largest sector - the service sector - performed well and continues to underpin the performance of the Scottish economy. "We are committed to creating the conditions to maximise sustainable economic growth in the medium and long term and have a comprehensive strategy in place to deliver this. "Tough challenges are still there, but we remain clearly focused on our key aim of ensuring the conditions are right for economic growth. The labour market is performing well - we have a higher rate of employment than other parts of the UK, Germany, France and the United States. All the independent forecasts predict further positive growth in the Scottish economy for the end of 2006 and in 2007 - good news for business and good news for Scotland." The statistical publication notice Gross Domestic Product for Scotland for the first quarter of 2006 was issued today. Accompanying tables are available at: www.scotland.gov.uk/gdp or http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/07/GDP2006Q1/SPN2006Q1

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Scotland in frame for olympic training camps 24/07/2006

Scottish sporting facilities are being asked to register their interest in hosting pre-Games training camps for teams preparing for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, it was announced today. London 2012 organisers are producing a guide that will showcase the best sporting facilities that the UK has to offer to Olympic and Paralympic teams across the globe. The guide will feature those sporting venues that can provide a complete training environment with support services. Scotland's national sports agency, sportscotland, will co-ordinate applications from Scottish sports facilities that wish t

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