Funding for Parkinson's Disease: FOI release

Information requested

How much was spent on research into Parkinson's by the Scottish Government compared with the cost to care for people with Parkinson's over the past three years?

Response

The answer to your question is listed below, detailing our how much has been spent on direct research into Parkinson’s Disease by the Scottish Government in the last three years. This is the actual spend per year rather than funds committed in that year for multi-year programmes. Please note that the figure provided for 2020/2021 is for the entire financial year from 1 April 2020, thus going beyond the three years you requested:

• 2020/2021 - £144,168
• 2021/2022 - £144,168
• 2022/2023 - £106,668
• 2023/2024 - £53,334

The total that has been spent on Parkinson’s Disease research by the Scottish Government since 1st April 2020 is £448,338.

In the last three years, the Scottish Government has funded a total of £174,184 into a joint Parkinson’s UK and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde project “Parkinson’s Connect”. This is an integrated clinical and support service for people with Parkinson’s. Funding was made through “Neurological Care and Support: A Framework for Action”. A breakdown of these payments can be found on the Scottish Government website here.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. However, you may wish to contact specific Health Boards or local Health and Social Care Partnerships directly who may be able to help you.

The reasons why we don’t have the information are explained in the Annex to this letter.

ANNEX A

REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

The Scottish Government does not have the information.

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because while the Scottish Government provides baseline funding to NHS Boards, funding is not ring-fenced for treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. It is for Boards to use this funding to best meet the healthcare needs for their resident population.

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.