40 per cent cut in teacher training places as 250 Dundee primary school teachers set to retire over the next decade

9 February 2010

Marlyn Glen said today that the decision to cut back on teacher training numbers at Dundee University this year will have ” severe repercussions for primary education in Dundee over the next decade” and called on the Scottish Government to “re-think its ill-considered proposal.”

She was responding to the decision by the Scottish Government to reduce the number of places on the post-graduate teaching course at Dundee University from 143 to 40 this autumn.

She said, ” There are over 250 primary school teachers in Dundee who will be at or approaching retirement age over the next 10 years and who will need to be replaced.

” There are currently 155 primary school teachers in the 55-and-over year old age group, and a further 98 in the age group 50-54 years.

” These cuts in teacher training places will store up problems for the future when these posts have to be filled.

“In view of the widespread opposition that these cuts have provoked, the Scottish Government must re-think its ill-considered proposal.”

Filed under: Uncategorized

Ninewells C difficile outbreak : FoI submitted

8 February 2010

Ninewells C difficile outbreak : FoI submitted

Marlyn Glen, the Dundee-based MSP, has confirmed that Labour has made a FOI request to NHS Tayside to make public the results of the health board’s own internal investigation into the recent C difficile outbreak.

This follows a reply from NHS Tayside responding to a plea from Ms. Glen who had asked for the internal report to be released.

The health board said that evidence related to the C difficile outbreak at Ward 31, Ninewells Hospital is being submitted to the Vale of Leven public inquiry. it added, ” This will ensure full disclosure of the relevant facts, and that it is our view that any information in the public interest will emerge in the inquiry process.”

Ms. Glen said, “NHS Tayside need to inform the families concerned, Ninewells staff and the wider public of their findings and analysis of the outbreak inquiry long before the public inquiry inspects the health board’s evidence.

“They all need to know what were the circumstances surrounding the fatal outbreak and what recommendations have now been implemented to improve infection control .

“The retention of public confidence requires making this information public now.

“This can be done without compromising individual confidentiality.”

Filed under: Uncategorized

MSP calls on NHS Tayside to release its own internal findings on C difficile outbreak

02 February 2010

Marlyn Glen has re-iterated her call for NHS Tayside to reveal the findings of their own investigation into the C difficile outbreak at Ninewells.

Ms. Glen has written to both Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon and to NHS Tayside calling for its release.

Ms. Glen said,

“It is very much in the public interest, in the interests of the families concerned and in the interests of hard-working staff that the health board reveal as soon as possible what they have concluded were the reasons for the tragic outbreak.

 ”The public need to know that lessons have been learned from the Ninewells outbreak to prevent a recurrence of its causes.

“That’s why NHS Tayside should release the results of their own investigation.

“This would ensure the retention of public support in the campaign against hospital superbugs, and confidence in further preventative measures that are being taken.”

Ms. Glen said that NHS Tayside, in common with other health boards, use a “Root Cause Analysis” procedure which, they say, helps them “understand what may have caused a heathcare acquired infection and whether action can be taken to prevent it happening again.”

Filed under: Uncategorized

Ninewells C difficile inquiry : MSP calls for more online access for those who believe they have relevant information

29 January 2010

Marlyn Glen is asking Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon to ensure that the website of Lord Maclean’s Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry carries more details of its extension to include the recent outbreak of C difficile at Ninewells.
This is to allow those who believe that they have information that is relevant to the inquiry into the Ninewells outbreak will be made aware of the public inquiry’s website and how to contact it online.
The inquiry into the C-difficile-related deaths at Vale of Leven has a website at :

http://www.valeoflevenhospitalinquiry.org

Ms. Glen said,
“The remit of the inquiry was extended to include Ninewells only earlier this month, and understandably, the website concerns itself chiefly with Vale of Leven at the moment.
” However, prominence should now be given online acknowledging the eventual Ninewells proceedings.
“I am asking the Health Secretary to ensure that this appears on the inquiry site.
“Alternatively, a new, additional website specifically concerned with Ninewells could be set up, along with a specific e-mail address related to Ninewells rather than related to Vale of Leven as at present.”

Those who believe that they have information that is relevant to the Inquiry should contact the Inquiry Secretary by email at:
information@valeoflevenhospitalinquiry.org

or by post at:
Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry,
3rd Floor, Lothian Chambers,
59-63 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh, EH1 1RN.

Or by phone on : (0131) 240 6809

Filed under: Uncategorized

WARP funding plea for Dundee’s two universities

28 January 2010

Marlyn Glen is pressing Education Secretary Mike Russell to support the retention of WARP funding for universities such as Abertay and Dundee.
The Scottish Funding Council is to review WARP- the Widening Accesss Retention Premium programme – which aims to increase and sustain the number of students from low-participation areas.

In the latest year Dundee University received WARP funding of £700,000 and Abertay University £300,000.

Ms. Glen said,

“Now that the country has edged out of recession , this is not the time to limit the opportunities of those from less advantaged backgrounds to benefit from a university education.

” Education remains the best lifelong path to achievement, irrespective of background or personal circumstances, and WARP is a programme that recognises and fosters that potential.”

Ms. Glen had tabled questions in the Scottish Parliament on how the two Dundee-based universities fare in comparison with other higher education institutes in Scotland in the past three years in recruiting students from low-participation areas.
She has also tabled questions on their success rate at attracting students from state schools and colleges, the drop out rates after the first year of study, and how these compare from the “benchmark” figures set ( e.g. what percentage of students were expected to drop out after first year.)

The questions she has tabled are :

To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage of full-time first degree entrants from national statistics socio-economic combined classification groups 4, 5, 6, and 7 has been at each higher education institution in each of the last three years for which information is available and what the respective benchmarks were.

To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage of full-time first degree entrants from state schools or colleges has been at each higher education institution in each of the last three years for which information is available and what the respective benchmarks were.

To ask the Scottish Executive what have been the percentage of students not continuing full-time first degree courses beyond the first year at each Higher Education Institute in Scotland in each of the latest available three years; and what have been the respective benchmarks

Filed under: Uncategorized

MSP praises NHS Tayside work on Healthy Start Initiative

25 January 2010

Marlyn Glen has praised the work of NHS Tayside to encourage healthier nutrition amongst women of child-bearing age , pregnant women and children under 5 in disadvantaged areas.
She has been corresponding with the health board about how £1.5 million has been and is being allocated during the three year period 2008-11 in Dundee and throughout the rest of the health board to increase uptake of the four year-old Healthy Start initiative and to increase the degree of breastfeeding.
Over £793,000 of the £1.5 million is to be allocated to across Dundee, Angus and Perth and Kinross in the coming financial year 2010-2011.
Ms. Glen said,
“Poor diet can have real consequences for people’s health and life chances.
“Intervention at an early age can help prevent serious problems occurring later.
” A healthy diet is particularly important for low income pregnant women and families with young children.
” The initiative offers them more opportunities of healthier food, gaining advice from health professionals ,and giving their children the best possible beginning in life through breastfeeding.”

NHS Tayside described the scheme as “the first time that more vulnerable mums, pregnant and the under-5s will have a co-ordinate programme of opportunities, specially-tailored services, and access to even more support , which will be delivered in partnership with local authorities, other partners, and the communities themselves.”

In the period 2008-11, in Dundee £614,000 has been allocated for three priorities
*£390,000 for a “GrowWell Cafe to provide breastfeeding mothers with a safe and friendly environment where pregnant women, new mothers and their pre-school school children can access information , cooking sessions and other activities
*£212,000 on “intensive breastfeeding support in the first two weeks of birth and the development of a breastfeeding clinic to encourage pro-active problem solving.”

*£12,000 on “Good Health and Nutrition Activities at HELM working with young men and women aged 15-18 years and young parent groups.

NHS Tayside continued,

“The funding will enable an increase in the number of support workers such as breastfeeding support workers, nutritionists and other dedicated staff going out into the communities to help young families in their day-to-day lives.
“This approach of bringing services right into the heart of communities is a shift in how health care workers and others can help families, and means that nutrition can be tailored to the particular needs of communities across Tayside.”

The number of households in Tayside receiving Healthy Start vouchers which can be used to buy milk, fresh fruit and vegetables and infant formula is 2,155

Across the whole of NHS Tayside, £600,00 has been allocated on appointing a manager for the programme, developing nutrition training, and an evaluation of the programme.
£125,000 has gone to on the Healthy Start Vitamin Distribution

£182,000 has gone to a Maternal Obesity Weight Management Service for obese pregnant women and after birth weight management groups.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Alcohol consumption : new figures show Scotland could be 10 per cent higher than previous official figures suggest

21 January 2010

Marlyn Glen has released new figures she has obtained from the Scottish Government that sales of pure alcohol per head in Scotland could be 1.6 litres higher – over 10 per cent higher – when those Scots who do not drink are excluded from the estimates.

Scottish Government official figures use the measure of the number of litres of alcohol per head of the population over 16. This is 11.8 litres.

However, this figure takes no account of the Scots who abstain from drink.

Official estimates put these at 10 per cent of men and 13 per cent of women.

When these abstainers are excluded, the figure for sales of pure alcohol rises to 13.4 litres, an increase of 1.6 litres per head above the official figure.

Ms. Glen said,

“These adjusted figures, discounting those who abstain from alcohol, show that the problem with alcohol in Scotland is bigger than the original official figures indicate.”

Commenting on the cost to the NHS in Dundee and Tayside of alcohol-related illness and behaviour, Ms. Glen said ,

“The misuse of alcohol in Dundee and the wider NHS Tayside area is drawing away millions of pounds every year from the NHS that could be spent on other health concerns.

“Ambulance incidents are estimated to account for £2.2 million a year.

“New Outpatient attendances are estimated to account for £1.2 million a year.

“Accident and Emergency attendances , are estimated to account for almost £1.9 million a year.

“Beds occupied by patients with alcohol-related conditions, are estimated to account for £7.6 million a year.”

On the debate over whether or not minimum pricing should be introduced, she said,

“The root problem of minimum pricing is that it unjustly penalises the sensible drinker.

“For some hard drinkers, any minimum price for alcohol would never be too high a price to pay.

“The most realistic road to success comes through educating some people how to drink moderately.

” Some need to learn from countries such as Italy on how people enjoy drinking responsibly, others need to learn from other Scots that drunkenness is neither glamorous nor fashionable nor “career-enhancing.”

Filed under: Uncategorized

MSP queries Scottish Government on free fruit pledge : 6,600 primary schoolchildren in Dundee still don’t receive it.

14 January 2010

Marlyn Glen is asking the SNP Government why over 6,000 primary 3 to 7 pupils in Dundee still do not receive free fruit despite a promise by the Scottish Government that all primary schoolchildren would receive free fruit.

Information provided to Ms. Glen by Dundee City Council indicates that while all primary 1 and 2 classes in the city receive free fruit, there is still no equivalent distribution of free fruit for pupils in the primary 3 to 7 classes.

Ms. Glen said,

” Three years ago , the SNP election manifesto declared : ’We will ensure that all primary school pupils receive free fruit’

“Three years on from that rash promise, 70 per cent of primary pupils in Dundee do not receive free fruit.

” Councils such as Dundee cannot be faulted for not providing fruit for all primary pupils if the Scottish Government denies them the money to do so.

“The SNP Government cannot pretend otherwise.”

Ms. Glen is calling on the Scottish Government to ensure that all primary school pupils in Dundee receive free fruit.

Filed under: Uncategorized

More GP practices in Tayside offer extended opening hours

13 January 2010

Marlyn Glen has welcomed news that NHS Tayside are holding discussions with the remaining GP practices who remain undecided about extending their opening hours for patients.

Official Scottish Government figures given to her indicate that

* 39 GP practices in the NHS Tayside area already offer extended opening hours services

*22 practices have said “No” to participating in the scheme

* A further 8 have said that they are “undecided”

The 39 practices represents 56 per cent of the total number of practices in Tayside, an increase on the 51 per cent reported last July.

Ms. Glen said,

“GPs are independent self-employees, and are not employed by the health board, but more flexible access to health services is in the interest of both.

” The scheme is part of a general drive to make health services more in tune with how people live and work today.

“Research conducted by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found that UK businesses lose around 38 million working hours and £1billion a year because of employees having to make doctors’ appointments during working hours.”

Filed under: Uncategorized

Marlyn Glen queries Scottish Government spending on survey of Tayside New Year resolutions on health

11 January 2010

Marlyn Glen has criticised the Scottish Government for spending money as part of a £6,000 survey on questions that asked people in Tayside if they were making New Year resolutions about their health.

Ms. Glen said,

” The Scottish Government has spent money researching into something that is already very well -known, namely, that people make New Year resolutions about their health.

“That’s money that should have been spent instead on medical solutions to improve health rather than on New Year resolutions to improve health.

“The Scottish Government ’s insistence that they are ‘unable’ to make public details of all the other questions in the survey simply arouses people’s suspicions about the contents of the survey.”

Ms. Glen has written to Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon calling for details of all of the questions asked in the £6,000 survey to be released.

The question was part of a £6,000 survey undertaken on behalf of the Scottish Government .

The survey found that of those surveyed in Tayside , 49 per cent of New Year resolutions were about improving their health, with 27 per cent saying that more walking and cycling would be their New Year resolution.

Filed under: Uncategorized