Long term health conditions statistics: FOI release

Information requested

1. Statistics relating to current and projected future costs to NHS Scotland for treatment and management of long-term health conditions either nationally or by NHS Board.

2. Statistics relating to numbers of population suffering from long-term health conditions and future projections either nationally or by NHS Board.

3. Costs for patients currently undergoing dialysis – both haemodialysis and peritoneal – as an average per year per patient.

4. Costs of additional medication relating to patients relating to End Stage Renal Failure.

5. Cost benefits to NHS Scotland resulting from the “Opt-out” legislation scheduled to be implemented in March 2021.
 

Response

1. Statistics relating to current and projected future costs to NHS Scotland for treatment and management of long-term health conditions either nationally or by NHS Board.

The Scottish Government provides baseline funding to NHS Boards, which Boards use to best meet the healthcare needs of their resident population. Funding is not ring-fenced for the management of long-term conditions. It is not therefore possible to provide a breakdown of funding by NHS Board. 

In 2020-21, the Scottish Government held a dedicated budget of £440,000 for long-term conditions which supports a range of activities intended to improve care and support, including for people with chronic kidney disease, including the Scottish Renal Registry. Subject to Parliamentary approval, this level of funding will be maintained in 2021-22.

2. Statistics relating to numbers of population suffering from long-term health conditions and future projections either nationally or by NHS Board.

Some of the information you have requested on prevalence of long-term conditions for Scotland and each NHS Board is published on the Scottish Government website at: Scottish Health Survey (shinyapps.io). Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested on future projections of the numbers of people with long-term conditions. The reasons why we don’t have the information are explained in the Annex to this letter.

3. Costs for patients currently undergoing dialysis – both haemodialysis and peritoneal – as an average per year per patient.

Some of the information you have requested is available from the Scottish Government website at: Finance | Costs | File Listings 2019 | Health Topics | ISD Scotland. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.

You may find it useful to refer to the following specific reports on the above website for some of the information you requested:

• R042/R042X for Nephrology treatment costs
• R048/R048X for Intermittent Haemodialysis costs

Please note these costs are derived from 2018-19 figures and publication of the 2019-20 Costs Book has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is due to be published in the near future.

4. Costs of additional medication relating to patients relating to End Stage Renal Failure.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. The reasons why we don’t have the information are explained in the Annex to this letter.

5. Cost benefits to NHS Scotland resulting from the “Opt-out” legislation scheduled to be implemented in March 2021.

The information on the cost benefits to the NHS as a result of opt-out is available from the Scottish Government website at: Final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment: Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill (www.gov.scot). Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.

ANNEX
REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

2. Statistics relating to numbers of population suffering from long-term health conditions and future projections either nationally or by NHS Board.

The Scottish Government does not have the information The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because it does not regularly publish future projections on the numbers of people with long-term conditions.
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

4. Costs of additional medication relating to patients relating to End Stage Renal Failure.

The Scottish Government does not have the information
The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because this information is not routinely reported by Health Boards or via the Scottish Renal Registry.
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

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.