Publication - FOI/EIR release

Information held in relation to Liothyronine (L-T3): FOI release

Published: 18 December 2017
Directorate: Health and Social Care Finance Directorate
Topic: Health and social care, Public sector

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

FOI reference: FOI/17/02842
Date received: 15 November 2017
Date responded: 12 December 2017

Information requested

You asked for "all information held in relation to the communication (regarding Liothyronine) Shona refers to being issued on 28th August including:

Who exactly has it has been distributed to
All details held relating to the named experts who have made the recommendations within the communication
A copy of the communication itself in electronic format or hard copy/letter
All details held in regards to the "high quality evidence" itself which led to the communication content and recommendations
All details held that provide a more specific explanation of how the removal of T3 from patients will offer "more appropriate levels of care"
All information held regarding current cost of Liothyronine versus projected financial efficiency saving as a result of this communication

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you have requested (Annex A-E)

Appendix	Title	Format	Size
A	NHS Communication 24 Aug 2017	PDF	1.5MB
B	NHS Communication-Levothyroxine and Liothyronine 1 Nov 2017	PDF	1.9MB
C	British Thyroid Association Statement	PDF	95KB
D	Guidance on the prescribing of Liothyronine Sep 2015	PDF	84KB
E	GP's FAQ's regarding Liothyronine	PDF	434KB

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you requested. However, you may wish to contact NHS National Services Scotland via NSS.FOI@nhs.net to request the information which we do not hold. The reasons why we don't have the information are explained at the bottom of this letter.

Requested Information

Who exactly has it has been distributed to

This communication was distributed to members of:

Scottish Prescribing Advisors Association (SPAA)
NHS Board Medical Directors Group
NHS Board Directors of Pharmacy Group

A copy of the communication itself in electronic format or hard copy/letter

See Annex A & Annex B

Please note August's communication was superseded by a letter sent in early November, copies of both are attached for reference.

All details held in regards to the "high quality evidence" itself which led to the communication content and recommendations

Please see Annex C

All details held that provide a more specific explanation of how the removal of T3 from patients will offer "more appropriate levels of care"

Please see Annex D & Annex E

All information held regarding current cost of Liothyronine versus projected financial efficiency saving as a result of this communication

This is an appendix in the copies of the communication provided. Please note that for patient confidentiality reasons, we have redacted information relating to Boards with small numbers of patients affected.

Reasons for not providing information

All details held relating to the named experts who have made the recommendations within the communication

This information is not held by the Scottish Government as the piece of work was led by the Effective Prescribing Programme, hosted by NHS National Services Scotland.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses