Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure better consistency of guidance across NHS Scotland in relation to the diagnosis and care of individuals with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD).
There are currently no NICE or British Society for Rheumatology clinical guidelines specific to hEDS/HSD, reflecting the current limitations in the evidence base to support their development at this stage.
In Scotland, clinicians can access national decision support resources through Healthcare Improvement Scotland's Right Decision Service, including guidance relating to the assessment and referral of people presenting with hypermobility, suspected hEDS and related HSD. This supports a more consistent approach to decision making, alongside local clinical pathways and governance arrangements.
The development of national evidence-based clinical guidance in Scotland is led by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), within Healthcare Improvement Scotland.