Chamber and committees

For the fiscal period 2011-12, nine NHS boards reported an underlying recurring deficit. For the same period, the combined underlying recurring deficit for NHS Scotland was £31.29million. For 2012-13 the number of boards reporting an underlying recurring deficit has reduced to seven; with the current combined forecast for NHS Scotland reduced to £16.68million.

The following table details the recurring surplus/deficit reported by NHS boards to Audit Scotland for 2011-12 (actual position) and projected for 2012-13. This information is contained within the Audit Scotland NHS financial performance 2011-12 report. For 2011-12 boards reported a combined underlying recurring deficit of £31.29million. The projection for 2012-13 previously reported to Audit Scotland is for the combined underlying recurring deficit to reduce to £15.04million.

The latest combined information reported by NHS boards to the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates (SGHSCD) from the financial returns covering the period to 30 September 2012 is a forecast for 2012-13 of a recurring deficit of £16.68million (c0.17%).

NHS Fife has an agreed financial plan to achieve recurring financial balance by the end of 2013-14. In the context of an £11.6 billion health budget this is not considered to be a high risk area particularly when the forecast for 2012-13 is that the recurring deficit will substantially reduce from the previous year.

 

NHS Board

Audit Scotland SGHSCD to 30 September 2012 Actual Underlying Recurring surplus/(deficit) 2011-12 Projected Underlying Recurring surplus/(deficit) 2012-13 Forecast Underlying Recurring surplus/(deficit) 2012-13

	£m	£m	£m
NHS Ayrshire & Arran	0.60	0.00	0.00
NHS Borders	(0.19)	0.00	0.00
NHS Dumfries & Galloway	0.00	0.00	0.00
NHS Fife	(4.02)	(7.37)	(7.37)
NHS Forth Valley	(11.24)	0.00	0.00
NHS Grampian	2.62	(0.07)	0.00
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde	0.00	0.00	0.00
NHS Highland	(8.83)	(5.87)	(5.87)
NHS Lanarkshire	0.07	0.25	0.25
NHS Lothian	(7.00)	0.00	(2.41)
NHS Orkney	(1.19)	0.03	0.00
NHS Shetland	(1.56)	(1.38)	(1.03)
NHS Tayside	(2.80)	(3.10)	(3.00)
NHS Western Isles	(0.50)	(0.40)	(0.31)
Territorial Boards	(34.04)	(17.91)	(19.74)
NHS National Services Scotland	0.00	0.00	0.00
Scottish Ambulance Service	0.00	0.00	0.00
NHS Education for Scotland	1.50	2.70	2.77
NHS 24	0.20	0.00	0.00
NHS National Waiting Times Centre Board	0.00	0.00	0.00
The State Hospital	0.25	(0.25)	(0.13)
NHS Health Scotland	0.61	0.42	0.42
Healthcare Improvement Scotland	0.13	0.00	0.00
Mental Welfare Commission	0.06	0.00	0.00
Special Boards	2.75	2.87	3.06
NHS Scotland	(31.29)	(15.04)	(16.68)

Many of the areas highlighted within the Diabetes in Scotland: A Transition to Better Care report are being addressed through the implementation of our Diabetes Action Plan (2010).

We will ask the Scottish Diabetes Group, which is responsible for overseeing implementation of the Diabetes Action Plan, to consider the findings of the report at their next meeting on the 29 November 2012.

Responsibility for assessing and investigating allegations of criminal activity in Scotland rests with the relevant police force. The Scottish Government maintains close liaison with the police, local authorities, child protection committees, health boards and voluntary organisations about child protection issues in general, and is monitoring the situation in relation to reports about Jimmy Savile’s activities in Scotland. It has not had discussions with the UK Government on this issue.

If anyone has evidence of, or has, suffered criminal activity or sexual abuse, they should contact the police so that an investigation can be made. Anyone who is looking for support should visit www.survivorscotland.org.uk which gives details of a range of support services which can help.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway has confirmed that Jimmy Savile attended a public fund raising event in 1977. Whilst the responsibility for assessing and investigating allegations of criminal activity in Scotland rests with the relevant police force, NHS Dumfries and Galloway are unaware of any investigation by police.

No other territorial NHS boards within Scotland have involved Jimmy Savile in fundraising or promotional activity. However NHS Lanarkshire has confirmed that Jimmy Savile performed the opening of the renal unit and garden area at Monklands Hospital in August 2000.

As the member will be aware the report entitled Health Care Needs Assessment of Services for Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis (HCNA) was conducted by the Scottish Public Health Network (SPHN) at the Scottish Government’s request, to provide an update to a previous report published in 2002 by the Public Health Institute for Scotland (PHIS). The report outlines Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) service provisions across Scotland and takes account of recent advances in understanding, treatment and care of people living with RA.

The purpose of the HCNA was to identify gaps in service provision, highlight priority areas for change and make recommendations that aim to assist NHS boards to plan and develop services for people living with RA.

The role of the Scottish Government is to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS boards in order that they can deliver services that meet the needs of their local population. It is for NHS boards to plan and provide services in line with the health needs of their resident populations. NHS boards will need to consider how they will take the recommendations in the HCNA forward.

The Scottish Government circulated the Health Care Needs Assessment to NHS boards to afford them the opportunity to consider and comment on its content and recommendations. Once views have been gathered we consider any actions that may be required to support boards to take forward the recommendations.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11016 on 21 November 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The recently published Health Care Needs Assessment for Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis (HCNA) was conducted by the Scottish Public Health Network (SPHN) at the Scottish Government’s request to obtain an update on the provision of services, taking account of recent advances in understanding, treatment and care of people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Scotland. The purpose of the report was to identify gaps in service provision, highlight priority areas for change and make recommendations to assist NHS boards to plan and develop services.

It is for NHS boards to plan and develop services in line with the needs of their resident populations taking account of local and national guidelines. Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline’s Network (SIGN) produce guidelines for use in NHS Scotland and are developed through a very robust process drawing on a wide evidence base and also significant clinical expertise. The HCNA report highlights the need for the early diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in keeping with the recommendations of SIGN guideline 123.

The Scottish Government is currently gathering views from NHS boards in relation to the HCNA and will consider what action may be required to assist boards in taking forward the recommendations within the report.

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines are recommended to NHS Scotland and should be taken into account when services are being developed. Implementation of SIGN guidelines is the responsibility of NHS boards and their operating divisions which are reinforced and supported by their clinical governance arrangements.

<>I refer the member to the question S4W-10481 answered on 6 November 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.