We have no current plans to review the structure of the Scottish NHS boards.

If responsibility for health services in remote and rural areas, including islands, of NHS Argyll and Clyde is transferred to NHS Highland then the level of funding to NHS Highland will be calculated under the Arbuthnott formula on the basis of the board’s resident population which will include any residents becoming the responsibility of the board following the redrawing of NHS board boundaries.

If responsibility for health services in Argyll and Clyde transfer to NHS Glasgow and NHS Highland, these boards will not be burdened by inherited deficits. The Scottish Executive will write off these deficits.

In addition, the level of funding to be allocated to each NHS board under the Arbuthnott formula is calculated each year on the basis of each board’s population, weighted to reflect the age and sex profile and the level of ill health and life circumstance in each board’s population and the unavoidable excess costs of delivering services in remote and rural areas. Any changes to the population of NHS Highland would be taken into account in this annual calculation and this would ensure that the level of funding the board receives reflects the relative health care needs of its resident population.

If responsibility for the health services of residents of the remote and rural areas of Argyll and Clyde is transferred to NHS Highland then the level of funding to NHS Highland will be calculated under the Arbuthnott formula on the basis of the board’s resident population which will include any residents becoming the responsibility of the board following the redrawing of NHS board boundaries.

The objective of the policy of single system working was to promote seamless care across different sectors of the health service, responsive to the needs of patients, and not to generate financial savings. Nevertheless, savings have been realised as a result of single system working and these are set out in the table. The Executive expects these savings, made through increased efficiency and eliminating duplication of effort, to be reinvested in patient care.

Table: Financial Savings Derived from Merger of NHS Trusts and Boards

NHS Board	2004-05 £000
Argyll and Clyde	1,016
Ayrshire and Arran	0
Borders	495
Dumfries and Galloway	604
Fife	173
Forth Valley	250
Grampian	1,228
Greater Glasgow	3,100
Highland	400
Lanarkshire	650
Lothian	1,900
Tayside	800
Total	10,616

 

The figures above represent the savings expected to be incurred in financial year 2004-05, i.e. the first full year of single system working across NHSScotland.

A dental inspection is offered to all children in Scotland at 2 key stages, primary 1 and primary 7. This is achieved through participation in the National Dental Inspection Programme. The extent of involvement in the programme varies across boards for both P1 and P7 inspections. Reasons for such variation include lack of consent and absences from school on the day of inspection.

The intention is that, in addition to current dental examinations, patients will be able to receive a more comprehensive oral health assessment free of charge.

All dentists on NHS board lists are expected to undertake a full range of NHS treatments including check-ups.

This is being discussed with representatives of the dental profession.

The majority of dentists who provide NHS general dental services are private contractors. Only a small number of dentists provide wholly private treatment and it will be for them to decide if they will join an NHS board’s dental list in order to provide NHS general dental services.