Chamber and committees

Membership of the strategic engagement group is still to be finalised.

The allocation formula developed by the NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) was designed to allocate funds to health boards for hospital and community health services and prescribing. The formula was derived using data relating to the utilisation of hospital and community health services and drugs dispensed by community pharmacists. The NRAC committee ceased to exist once its final report and recommendations were submitted, and the formula is now maintained by the Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation (TAGRA). The work of TAGRA is published at the following link:

http://www.tagra.scot.nhs.uk/index.html.

The funds for the provision of General Medical Services (primary care) are allocated according to the General Medical Services Statement of Financial Entitlements. The latest version is available via the following link:

http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pca/PCA2012(M)13letter.pdf.

The remit of the strategic engagement group will be finalised soon after the first meeting of the group which is due to be held on 15 May 2013.

The new rules being introduced by the Department of Health in April 2013 do not extend to Scotland where NHSScotland boards have responsibility for recruitment. Patient safety is a top priority and it is important that those who are providing care and treatment have the ability to communicate effectively.

In order for doctors to provide primary medical services in Scotland they are required to be on a health board’s performers list and each board has a statutory duty to maintain their own list.

A board can refuse to admit an applicant if it is not satisfied that an applicant has the knowledge of English which, in the interests of the applicant and of patients who may receive primary medical services from the applicant, is necessary for performing primary medical services.

Whilst the conclusions of the report on Reduced Mortality with Hospital Pay for Performance in England are interesting, the Scottish Government has no plans to introduce pay for performance at the clinical team level. The research findings in this area are mixed and we would need much more compelling evidence that financial incentives alone contribute to reduced mortality.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) would routinely ask for this information on arrival at the hospital being inspected. This provides inspectors with a current list of patients that, if necessary they can look at further to assess suitability, i.e. cognitive ability, and time moved etc.

Boarding information is considered on the day of the inspection so that it is considered in a timely manner. If it had been submitted in advance as part of the self-assessment process, it would be out of date by the time of the inspection. HIS is currently exploring opportunities to further enhance the data and intelligence it collects and receives to support and underpin inspections.

The strategic engagement group is due to hold its first meeting on 15 May 2013.

A Health Innovation Fair for Scotland is being planned. The proposed NHS innovation awards will be included in the Fair’s programme.

The Innovation Partnership Board Measures Group met for the first time on 12 February 2013.

Education Scotland is strongly committed to ensuring “zero tolerance” to bullying in Scottish schools.

Schools’ approaches to meeting the pastoral needs of children and young people are looked at in all school inspections. This includes evaluating how well schools deal with any bullying, and ensure safe use of the internet.