Chamber and committees

A Sleep Studies Working Group has been formed by the Scottish Government, with the aim of ensuring that people with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) are appropriately referred to specialist sleep services. The group (consisting of NHS clinicians, managers, members of the Scottish Government’s Access Support Team and a patient representative) is in the process of piloting sleep studies referral guidance within a number of NHS boards, including Dumfries and Galloway, Highland and Lothian for GP referrals.

GPs are being encouraged to complete this referral guidance as it will give secondary care clinicians valuable information prior to the out-patient review.

NHS boards are also encouraged to capture data for all patients undergoing investigation in the out-patient setting. In addition, the working group is developing GP guidance for management of OSAS to help raise awareness in primary care. It is expected that the group’s report will be cascaded via NHS board chief executives in early 2013.

Sleep disorders, including OSAS have also been discussed at meetings of the National Advisory Group for Respiratory Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs), which comprises representatives from the local respiratory MCN in each NHS board. The group has set up a sleep sub-group, which includes representation from the Scottish Sleep Forum, to identify issues and potential solutions for sleep services. The Scottish Government will be kept informed of its findings.

A key way of delivering safe, effective and person centred services is by NHS Boards implementing clinical standards. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 73 on the Management of Sleep Apnoea in Adults provides clinicians in NHSScotland with evidence based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnoea. NHS boards are expected to implement clinical guidelines.

In addition a Sleep Studies Working Group has been formed by the Scottish Government with the aim of ensuring that people with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) are appropriately referred to specialist sleep services. The group is in the process of piloting sleep studies referral guidance within a number of NHS boards, including NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Highland and NHS Lothian for GP referrals.

GPs are being encouraged to complete this referral guidance as it will give secondary care clinicians valuable information prior to the out-patient review.

NHS boards are also encouraged to capture data for all patients undergoing investigation in the out-patient setting. In addition, the working group is developing GP guidance for management of OSAS to help raise awareness in primary care. It is expected that the group’s report will be cascaded via NHS Board Chief Executive’s in early 2013.

The National Advisory Group for Respiratory Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs), has set up a sleep sub-group, which includes representation from the Scottish Sleep Forum, to identify issues and potential solutions for sleep services. The Scottish Government will be kept informed of its findings.

The information requested is not centrally available.

We are acutely aware of the continuous demand for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision throughout Scotland. That is why we made available additional funding of £15.3 million during the period from 2007-12 to improve the quality and quantity of ESOL provision.

We are also aware of the importance of ensuring that funding is targeted on areas where the evidenced need is greatest. That is why we introduced a new funding model for 2012-13, based upon improvements in sharing ESOL information between partner providers as well as an effective referral process.

We believe this new system is making it easier for not just asylum-seekers and refugees to access ESOL provision, but for other residents in Scotland whose first language is not English but who are seeking to access ESOL provision.

Information about health care from the NHS for asylum seekers or refugees living in Scotland is published on the Health Rights Information Scotland website at http://www.hris.org.uk/patient-information/information-about-health-rights/health-care-for-overseas-visitors/health-care-for-asylum-seekers-and-refugees/.

Processes have been introduced across secondary care for routine ethnicity data collection in NHSS and biannual reporting of completeness levels is undertaken by ISD (see http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Equality-and-Diversity/Publications/2012-08-28/2012-08-28-EDIP-Summary.pdf?12746828795 for most recent report).

More generally, online information support is available in a range of formats/languages on how to access health services (see Health Rights Information Scotland site at http://www.how-to-use-the-nhs.com/) and translated patient materials on topics such as health services, immunisation, mental health, patient rights, pregnancy and childbirth at Health in my language, NHS Inform (http://www.healthinmylanguage.com/home.aspx).

The Scottish Government provides funding to the Scottish Refugee Council (£1.65 million during 2012-15) in order that they can work with local partners to provide support, advice and practical assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland.

Local authorities do not take an active role in helping asylum seekers and refugees register GPs and dentists as it is dealt with by Greater Glasgow Health Board as the main dispersal area. They have an officer who has responsibility for ensuring that each asylum seeker who is dispersed to Glasgow is registered with a GP and dentist. In order to achieve this they work closely with UK Borders Agency and the introduction service provided by the Scottish Refugee Council to ensure that asylum seekers are able to access appropriate health services as soon as possible after their arrival in Scotland.

Through the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream the Scottish Government will provide £2.81 million for the period 2012-15 to third sector organisations who work with refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland.

Asylum seekers in Scotland, and those granted refugee status, have access to NHS services on the same basis as a UK national who is ordinarily resident in Scotland, while they remain in the country. NHS boards and their partners will ensure that their mental health needs are met on the basis of comprehensive needs assessment and delivery of culturally sensitive services.

Through the Scottish Government’s new mental health strategy, we are committed to working with NHS boards and their partners to ensure monitoring information about who is accessing services, such as their ethnicity, is consistently available to inform decisions about service redesign and to remove barriers to services.

Local authorities are under a statutory duty to provide 475 hours of pre-school education to three and four year olds in Scotland and it is their responsibility to deliver this throughout their local area. This includes asylum seekers and refugees.

The Scottish Government provides funding to the Scottish Refugee Council (£1.65 million during 2012-15) in order that they can work with local partners to provide support, advice and practical assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland, including in relation to accessing the services to which they are entitled.