Question reference: S5W-06305
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 18 January 2017
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Current status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 31 January 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans the NHS has to review its method of (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment for Lyme disease.
Answer
Current diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease in Scotland is in line with published guidelines. A multi-agency Lyme Borreliosis Group was set-up in February 2016 to identify and deliver national priorities with the aim of reducing the burden of this disease in Scotland. The Group is currently focussing on raising awareness among health professionals and the public in order to prevent cases and to ensure the early diagnosis and treatment of cases. The group has representation from the National Lyme Borreliosis Testing Laboratory at Raigmore Hospital which collaborates closely with experts at Public Health England and elsewhere, and keep the testing offered in Scotland under constant review to ensure that patients have access to the most robust and scientifically justified testing regimen available. As part of their regular discussions on priorities, the group will consider the outputs of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s review on this topic which is expected to be published in 2018.