Chamber and committees

The total cost to the NHS of hyperbaric provision in Scotland for the seven years from 2003-04 to 2009-10 was £8,264,255. The following table details the breakdown of costs by health board.

Table: Combined cost of both Independent and National Hyperbaric Provision by each NHS Board 2003 to 2010

The National Hyperbaric Medicine Unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is a nationally designated service commissioned by National Services Division and funded by health boards on a proportionate basis (using the NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) formula).

The independent chamber in Orkney at Stromness is operated by Orkney Hyperbaric Trust, a non-profit making charitable trust. NHS Orkney has an agreement with the Orkney Hyperbaric Trust to provide a level of funding to support medical and nursing cover for the chamber in Orkney.

The independent chambers in Oban and Millport are funded in part through public funding, but currently receive no NHS funding other than through payment of invoices for patients treated.

The Oban chamber is part of National Facility for Scientific Diving, which is part of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). The main purpose of SAMS is to promote and deliver high quality independent research and education in marine science and it takes its funding from a variety of sources both public and private. The National Facility for Scientific Diving is funded by the National Environment Research Council (NERC), which is a quasi-public body which awards funding to various programmes. The majority of NERC’s funding comes from Government Departments and therefore the funding to Oban for the National Facility for Scientific Diving is mainly public funding.

The Millport chamber is part of the University Marine Biological Station Millport (UMBSM) and its host body is the University of London. Its main function is to provide undergraduate and post graduate courses in marine biology and marine microbiology for the University of London and University of Glasgow and thereby receives funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Scottish Funding Council. It therefore receives public funding from Government for the infrastructure but not for the treatment of recreational divers treated for Diving Decompression Illness.

The review of hyperbaric medicine undertaken by National Services Division and the outcome of subsequent discussions with NHS boards with hyperbaric chambers is to be considered by the National Services Advisory Group in October. Any proposed changes to the nationally designated service for hyperbaric medicine will be subject to the agreement of Scottish ministers.

Four hyperbaric chambers in Scotland are recognised by the Hyperbaric National Registration Service to provide care for diving related illness and receive funding from the NHS. The chamber in Aberdeen is an NHS facility operated by NHS Grampian. The other three chambers are independent – Oban (within NHS Highland), Millport (NHS Ayrshire and Arran) and Stromness (NHS Orkney).

The following table details the number of patients treated for diving decompression Illness in each chamber from 2003-2010. The chamber in Aberdeen is an NHS facility, the other chambers are independent. Information is not held centrally on the use of hyperbaric chambers for training.

Table: Patients Treated for Diving Decompression Illness 2003-10, by Hyperbaric Chamber

The figure for alcohol quoted in the march bulletin represents the total budget for tackling alcohol misuse in 2011-12 (£42 million).

The figure quoted in the july bulletin for alcohol represents the funding allocated to NHS boards in 2011-12 to deliver local services in line with the priorities determined by their local Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships (£37 million).

The figure for drugs quoted in both bulletins reflect the allocation to NHS boards in 2011-12 (£28.6 million). The total funding for tackling drugs in 2011-12 is £31.9 million.

The following table shows the numbers and rate of NHS registered Orkney residents as at 31 March 2011, and those participating in the General Dental Service over a two year period up to 31st March 2011.

Source: ISD Scotland

Note:

Participation is defined as a measure of attendance at an NHS dental practice for treatment, registration or other forms of contact within a 2 year period.

This information is not held centrally. As independent contractors dentists are not obliged under their NHS terms of service to advise NHS Boards of any waiting lists they may hold. Individual NHS Boards may hold information on those waiting to register with their salaried dental service.

The specific information requested is not held centrally.

The warm homes fund will deliver renewable energy and energy efficient homes in those communities worse affected by fuel poverty. We expect to publish more details on the fund following the spending review.

The warm homes fund will deliver renewable energy and energy efficient homes in those communities worse affected by fuel poverty. We expect to publish more details on the fund in the spending review.