Argyll And Clyde Health Board

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nominations he received for the positions on Argyll and Clyde health board which fell vacant on 31 March; which individuals, parties or organisations submitted these nominations; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 19 May 1993]: The information requested is as follows:

	Number
Total nominations received	194
Self-nominations	162
Parties or organisations	32

There is a statutory requirement on the Secretary of State to seek nominations for membership of health boards from specified bodies including local authorities and organisations representing the health professions. On this occasion it was decided in addition to place public advertisements relating to NHS trusts as well as health boards. Organisations which responded in respect of Argyll and Clyde were: univeristy of Strathclyde, Paisley chamber of commerce, British Medical Association, Scottish Trades Union Congress, Inverclyde Community Care Forum, British Red Cross Society (Dunbartonshire area), Bank of Scotland, Scottish Association of Care Home Owners, Argyll and Bute district council, Renfrewshire Enterprise Limited, Arthritis Care, Strathclyde regional council, Renfrew district council, Scottish National Housing and Town Planning Council and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. The hon. Member himself made two nominations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints have been received by (a) the Scottish Office and (b) the Scottish ambulance service about the operation of that service in the Argyll and Clyde health board area in each month since January 1992; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 19 May 1993]: The number of complaints received are as follows:

Month	Scottish Office	Scottish Ambulance Service
1992
January	—	4
February	—	—
March	—	4
April	—	2
May	—	4
June	—	5
July	—	1
August	—	3
September	2	5
October	1	6
November	—	6
December	—	2
1993
January	3	7
February	1	8
March	—	6
April	3	7

In proportion to the average number of patients carried each month of 12,500, the number of complaints is relatively small at approximately 0·03 per cent. Of patients dealt with. This is broadly similar to other areas in the west of Scotland. However, the Scottish ambulance service takes all complaints seriously and will investigate these promptly. The senior managers take appropriate action to remedy any practices or procedures which have been deficient and to discipline any member of staff who has failed to comply with the appropriate instructions. A senior ambulance officer will usually visit the complaint to explain and apologise where the service was not at the required standard. The Scottish ambulance service patient charter sets out the standards aimed at and the procedure for making complaints. Copies of the charter have been widely distributed and its contents are made known on a regular basis to patients and relatives being conveyed by the service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals the Argyll and Clyde health board has for the disposal or utilisation of the former clinic at Quarry street/Church street, Johnstone; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 19 May 1993]: The former clinic premises have been advertised for sale by selling agents appointed by Argyll and Clyde health board.

Volume 225: debated on Thursday 20 May 1993