PE1723/P - Essential tremor treatment in Scotland
Thank you for your letter dated 10 September regarding essential tremor treatment in Scotland, and please accept my apologies for the delayed response.
Firstly, I am sorry to hear of the difficulties experienced by patients who suffer from the effects of this condition.
Regarding an update on our plans to make an application to the National Specialist Services Committee (NSSC) for a MRgFUS service, I would like to highlight that during the pandemic, NSSC have agreed to not progress new applications, with the exceptions of when something was considered essential for patient safety and risk; or was cost neutral or cost saving. However, this position is being regularly reviewed with a view to resume services when system pressures have eased.
Presently, patients in Scotland with medication-refractory essential tremor can be referred for MRgFUS treatment to the current centre in London which offers this service. These arrangements are managed through robust commissioning arrangements between NHS England and NHS National Services Scotland’s National Services Division (NSD). Referral to the service is dependent upon the patient’s local neurologist considering their eligibility and whether they would benefit from MRgFUS treatment.
In Scotland a partnership between NHS Tayside and University of Dundee is also enabling a small number of eligible patients to receive MRgFUS treatment at a newly developed facility in Dundee. So far 80 patients have been referred for assessment this year, and around 25% of those have been considered as being appropriate for treatment. The National Deep Brain Stimulation Service in Glasgow has been working closely with the facility to ensure that patient selection is appropriate with a view to the best clinical outcomes as well as patient safety.
While evidence continues to be gathered on the effectiveness of the technology, the National Services Division continues to engage with the clinical team in Tayside with a view to the development of an application for national designation in Scotland. NHS National Services Division are engaging with both the clinicians in Dundee and with commissioning colleagues in NHS England on how the treatment might be made available more widely to eligible Scottish patients.
I hope this helps answer the Committee’s queries.
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
PE1723/O – Essential tremor treatment in Scotland