Chamber and committees

NHS boards meet the costs of antiviral therapy for HIV from core budgets. The costs of antiviral therapy for hepatitis C is supported by the £28 million funding the Scottish Government provides under the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework. NHS boards can determine how best to use that funding, and funding from their own core budgets, to reflect local need. However, under the framework boards are set an annual treatment target hepatitis C. During 2015-20 the aim is for at least 1,500 people per year will be initiated onto antiviral therapy.

In recognition of the new, highly effective therapies for hepatitis C which were approved for use by Scottish Medicines Consortium in 2014, the Scottish Government has provided additional recurring funding to NHS boards from 2015-16 to assist with the costs of new drugs, including hepatitis C therapies.

The Scottish Government has allocated £28 million this financial year to support NHS boards and third sector organisations to implement the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework. Funding to support subsequent years of the framework will be subject to spending review decisions.

The Scottish Government’s Diabetes Improvement Plan focuses on implementing a wide range of activities to provide advice and guidance to boards to support them in delivering diabetes care. The activities include the CPR for feet campaign, the diabetic-ketoacidosis (DKA) campaign, development of structured education and inpatient care of diabetes, and improving glycaemic control, which is particularly important for those with type 1 diabetes.

In addition, the Scottish Government provides funding for Nutrition and Diet Resources UK to develop a wide range of leaflets that health professionals and dieticians can use with diabetes patients.

A key aim of our Diabetes Improvement Plan is to support people with diabetes to self-manage their condition through the provision of timely information and advice. We continue to build on this work to ensure that a range of high quality person-centred structured education programmes are in place and delivered by appropriately trained healthcare professionals. For example, we are providing funding for the development of programmes that are designed for those newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

To complement our wider health strategy to address the underlying risk factors associated with diabetes by reducing obesity, encouraging healthy eating and promoting healthier living across Scotland, the plan contains specific action to develop and implement an appropriate framework for assessing the risk of diabetes for people currently undiagnosed to support early identification, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

An essential part of staying healthy with diabetes is to ensure that people receive the appropriate healthcare checks, or care processes, which can help to minimise the risk and detect early signs of the complications of diabetes. We know that more people than ever before have had their HbA1c and foot risk score measured, and have received retinopathy screening. However, there is more to be done to increase uptake of these important health checks.

Our Diabetes Improvement Plan sets out a range of measures that we expect NHS boards to report on, including the nine care processes and the provision of structured education.

The health and safety of student nurses falls under the governance and care of university occupational health systems.

Student nurses who may be exposed to the flu during placements in NHS boards should receive flu vaccination in line with all other NHS healthcare workers. Each year the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer issue a letter to the NHS setting out arrangements for the flu season. This letter highlights the importance of staff or other individuals who may be at risk of occupational exposure being offered the vaccine by employers. This programme is supported by a range of marketing materials to raise awareness amongst staff, including posters and leaflets.

The Scottish Government’s Diabetes Improvement Plan, published in November 2014, updated and aims to build on the progress made through the implementation of the previous Diabetes Action Plan 2010. The improvement plan outlines a range of key priorities for focussed activity to ensure continued improvement in the care and treatment for people with diabetes.

A key aim of our Diabetes Improvement Plan is to support people with diabetes to self-manage their condition through the provision of timely information and advice. We continue to build on this work to ensure that a range of high quality person-centred structured education programmes are in place and delivered by appropriately trained healthcare professionals. For example, we are providing funding for the development of programmes that are designed for those newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

To complement our wider health strategy to address the underlying risk factors associated with diabetes by reducing obesity, encouraging healthy eating and promoting healthier living across Scotland, the plan contains specific action to develop and implement an appropriate framework for assessing the risk of diabetes for people currently undiagnosed to support early identification, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

An essential part of staying healthy with diabetes is to ensure that people receive the appropriate healthcare checks, or care processes, which can help to minimise the risk and detect early signs of the complications of diabetes. We know that more people than ever before have had their HbA1c and foot risk score measured, and have received retinopathy screening. However, there is more to be done to increase uptake of these important health checks.

The annual seasonal flu vaccination programme seeks to protect members of the public who may be at risk of flu due to age or because of certain medical conditions. The annual seasonal flu programme does not provide vaccination to those who may be at risk of flu because of occupational exposure. Responsibility for the health and safety of staff rests with employers. The vaccination of all NHS health care workers against flu is the responsibility of NHS boards as employers. Responsibility for the health and safety of student nurses lies with the relevant university or college occupation health system.

The Scottish Government know that cervical screening can detect cervical changes before they become cancerous and reduces the incidence of cervical cancer. Every woman in Scotland between 20 and 60 years of age is invited to be screened every three years. As well as information on screening, each invitation includes information on how the human papilloma virus causes cervical cancer.

Additionally, through our on-going £30 million Detect Cancer Early programme, we aim to increase the proportion of cancers detected at the early stage through raising awareness of cancers, the importance of knowing about screening programmes and the benefits of earlier treatment.