Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to raise awareness of Lyme disease, and to improve diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
The Scottish Government is committed to continuing its work on raising awareness of Lyme disease and ticks.
The Scottish Government-led Lyme Disease Awareness Raising Group will run the Lyme Disease Awareness Raising Campaign in May 2023 to coincide with National Lyme Disease Awareness Month, during which patients, activists, educators and Government share information on how to prevent Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
The Scottish Government continues to work closely with stakeholders and clinicians through the Health Professionals Education Sub Groups. This is chaired by the Scottish Government and comprises representatives from primary and secondary care, including experts in infectious disease in general and Lyme Disease. The group are examining the current resources being used by GPs and considering options for additional learning and development.
Clinical decisions on the care and treatment of individual patients are always matters of professional judgement for the responsible practitioner. NHS Boards and clinicians are required to use methods of treatment that are clinically appropriate and have a strong evidence base for their efficacy.
The Scottish Government will continue to use its own platforms to highlight the need to be tick aware and to set out the signs and symptoms of possible infection.