Chamber and committees

Recommendations on whether to screen for a particular condition or disease are made at a UK level, by the UK National Screening Committee. Before making a recommendation, the UK National Screening Committee reviews evidence against a set of criteria, including cost effectiveness criteria.

The most recent review of evidence for diabetes in 2006 found that existing
cost-effectiveness modelling was not conclusive on whether screening should be undertaken, or on which sub-groups of the population could potentially benefit from screening. Further information on this review can be found at: http://www.screening.nhs.uk/diabetes. In light of the review findings, the UK National Screening Committee recommended that general population screening for diabetes should not be offered. This recommendation is due to be reviewed shortly.

We hold regular discussions with the UK Government at Ministerial and official level on welfare matters. There have been no discussions with the Department for Work and Pensions in relation to how many adults are claiming Employment and Support Allowance in Scotland as a result of rheumatoid arthritis.

The information requested is not available centrally. Information is only available on the number of referrals from all sources.

There are currently no plans for Scottish Government to publish the data underpinning Healthcare Improvement Scotlands’ update report on Scottish Pain Management Services.

The Scottish Service Model for Chronic Pain has a strong focus on improving the care and management of chronic pain in primary care settings. The model aims to improve awareness and education for people living with chronic pain and healthcare professionals to ensure people receive safe and effective treatment and that their medication is appropriately managed. Another key part of the model is providing people with the necessary information and advice to support self management techniques.

The National Chronic Pain Steering Group continue to make steady progress in taking forward their extensive work plan and are working with NHS Boards to provide support in implementing the service model.

A further key way of improving treatment and care is through the implementation of clinical guidelines. Healthcare Improvement Scotland is contributing to the development of a Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline on non malignant chronic pain. The guideline is expected to be published in 2014 and will aim to improve patient management in both primary and secondary care.

The information is not collected or held centrally to the level of detail requested. The Scottish Government provides policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards so that they can deliver services that meet the needs of their local population, including in relation to chronic pain. All NHS Boards are expected to ensure that resources are spent in a way that improves the health and wellbeing of the community and that delivers best value for taxpayers.

Information on patients resident in mainland Europe and the rest of the world who were treated in hospitals in Scotland cannot be identified from national Scottish data. Information on patients resident Outside UK is available and is provided below for the months April 2010 to June 2012. The information is for all inpatients and day cases (elective and emergency admissions).

Information on the cost is not available centrally.

Numbers of discharges¹ from Scottish hospitals for patients recorded as being resident Outside UK; April 2010 to June 2012

Source: ISD SMR01 linked catalogue

p - provisional

1. The basic unit of analysis for these figures is an individual patient. Patients who have more than one discharge will be counted once in each time period their discharges occur.

Information on patients resident in England who were treated in hospitals in Scotland cannot be identified from national Scottish data. Information on patients resident in England/Wales/Northern Ireland combined is available and is provided below for the months April 2010 to June 2012. The information is for all inpatients and day cases (elective and emergency admissions).

Information on the cost is not available centrally.

Numbers of discharges¹ from Scottish hospitals for patients recorded as being resident in England/Wales/Northern Ireland; April 2010 to June 2012

Source: ISD SMR01 linked catalogue

p – provisional. Data is currently only available to June 2012.

1. The basic unit of analysis for these figures is an individual patient. Patients who have more than one discharge will be counted once in each time period their discharges occur.

In the latest annual return to the Care Inspectorate (at December 2011), there were 916 registered Care Homes for Older People. 853 Care Homes provided workforce information in their annual return and of these 471 (55%) employed registered nurses.

The latest National Statistics published by Information Services Division show that there were 916 Care Homes for Older People at 31 March 2012.