Chamber and committees

As part of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) of the General Medical Services contract, GP practices hold a register of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychoses - the Mental Health register. The combined number of patients per 100 is reported as part of National Statistics and published by Information and Statistics Division (ISD), Scotland. There are no plans to collect data on the individual conditions.

We have a specific commitment to increasing the availability of evidenced based psychological therapies for all ages and are working closely with NHS Education for Scotland and NHS boards to deliver on this commitment and meet patients needs better and sooner. We have a specific focus on the delivery of psychological services to older people that includes access issues such as delivering care to the housebound and those in case homes. We have also funded NHS Health Scotland to work with partners, such as Age Concern Scotland and the Mental Health Foundation, to address mental health in later life.

We are putting in place arrangements to collect accurate and complete data based on common definitions that link therapies to particular conditions. The first stage of that work has been completed with the publication of The Matrix - a Guide to delivering evidence-based Psychological Therapies in Scotland. This can be accessed at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/mental-health/servicespolicy/matrixfeb2009.

We are about to commence stage two of this work which will focus on referral pathways and information systems. That work should be completed during 2010-11.

Vaccination policy in Scotland is informed by recommendations by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the UK-wide independent advisory committee that provides advice to all UK health departments on vaccination. In making their statement of 20 February 2009 on rotavirus vaccination the JCVI considered a range of evidence, including information from the USA.

Vaccination policy in Scotland is informed by recommendations by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the UK-wide independent advisory committee that provides advice to all UK health departments on vaccination. The JCVI have considered rotavirus vaccination and have concluded that while rotavirus vaccines would reduce the incidence of gastroenteritis in the population, at current vaccine prices they do not meet the current economic criteria for the introduction of a new vaccine. The JCVI keep all recommendations under review.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) considered all evidence around the rotavirus vaccination, including potential benefits of the vaccination, prior to making their statement of 20 February 2009. Vaccination policy within Scotland is informed by the JCVI recommendations.

This information is not available centrally.

No such assessment has been made.

The exact number of GP consultations related to a rotavirus infection in Scotland is not available centrally. However, national estimates can be made based on the number of consultations for the condition at general practices participating in PTI (Practice Team Information). PTI data are obtained from a sample of Scottish general practices. This sample covers the full range of age, sex, deprivation and urban/rural classes existing in Scotland.

There were an estimated 58 consultations with a member of a practice team (GP, practice-employed nurse) for a rotavirus infection in Scotland, during the financial year 2007-08. For further information see www.isdscotland.org/isd/3729.html.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations (JCVI), the UK-wide independent advisory panel that provides UK health departments with advice in relation to vaccines, receives regular updates on the surveillance of rotavirus from the Health Protection Agency and Health Protection Scotland. This surveillance has been taken into account by the JCVI when making its decisions about the rotavirus vaccines.