Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government supports medical research financially by three routes: (1) through research and infrastructure support allocations to the NHS Boards, (2) by its contribution to the Office for the Strategic Co-ordination of Health Research which allows Scottish researchers to bid for National Institute for Health Research Grants and (3) through the research funding committees and fellowship schemes run by the Chief Scientist Office. The Scottish Government does not routinely hold information of funding allocated for research into specific health conditions via routes 1 and 2.

The following table shows the figures for funding awarded via the Chief Scientist Office research funding committees and fellowship schemes for the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2016. The figures also include the Chief Scientist Office contribution to a number of co-funding initiatives with medical research charities.

Motor Neurone Disease	£75,000
Multiple Sclerosis	£211,433
Stroke	£3,864,934
Cardiovascular Disease	£1,927,025
Cancer	£9,709,622

The Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office continues to support Scottish-based medical researchers and all of its research funding and support mechanisms remain in place.

Opt-out blood borne virus testing (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV) for all new prisoners is being phased into the Scottish Prison estate. This service has already been introduced in HMP Shotts, HMP Perth, HMP Glen Ochil and HMP Kilmarnock, and we are working with NHS boards to deliver it in other prisons over the life of the framework.

The Scottish Government has regular discussions with NHS boards through the Scottish Health Protection Network’s Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Programme. A number of the framework sub-groups, which meet regularly, are involved in action relevant to this aspiration, including the prevention, diagnoses, testing and treatment, and information and data. On 28 May 2016 the World Health Assembly adopted the first ever Global Viral Hepatitis Strategy and made a commitment to the elimination of viral hepatitis as a major public health threat by 2030. The Scottish Government supports this international commitment and is working towards elimination by 2030.

Under this government we currently have the highest NHS staffing levels ever, and we greatly value the significant contribution made to our health service by our dedicated NHS workforce – including those doctors, nurses and other staff from EU countries who care for us daily.

As members of the EU, free movement of staff has not required us to hold information on numbers of EU citizens working within NHSScotland. However, on the basis of information from the Office of National Statistics, it is estimated that EU citizens account for approximately five per cent of the NHSScotland workforce.

The Scottish Government assures EU citizens working in Scotland that we want them here, we value their contribution, and we will be doing everything we can to make sure they can continue with us without detriment.

The Scottish Government is distributing the £250 million to health Bbs via their annual allocations, using the same allocation formula as was used for distribution of the Integrated Care Fund. This approach takes account of funding formulae used for the NHS and local government, using a 1:1 ratio of the National Resource Allocation Committee formula for the NHS and grant aided expenditure formula for local government.

The scope of the NHS targets review will focus on the 20 existing local delivery plan standards. The review will encompass cancer waiting times targets – linking in with the Scottish Government’s Cancer Strategy which includes a commitment to review cancer waiting times targets. In that strategy we said that we will examine whether additional targets for treatment or diagnosis would improve outcomes for people with cancer.

The NHSScotland Target Review Group will have an independent chair.

A £1 million initial testing programme is underway with eight sites throughout Scotland testing a range of aspects of the recommended new model of urgent care. Sites are testing new ways of working, including new approaches to leadership and providing new opportunities for multi-disciplinary working.

A further £400,000 is being invested in a technology improvement programme, the first phase of which will focus on improving configuration and enhancing the use of Adastra - the system used throughout Scotland to manage unplanned instances of care during the out-of-hours period.

The learning and results from the initial testing programme, as well as input from our delivery partners and other stakeholders as part of our national engagement programme 2016, will inform the National Delivery Plan for the Transformation of Urgent Care which we aim to publish later in 2016.

Health and social care in Scotland is being integrated to ensure people have access to the right care, at the right time, in the right place, and in particular that people are supported to stay in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.

Over the last two years, NHS Tayside has been reviewing its existing clinical models of care, including its mental health services. The priorities for this exercise have been patient safety and improving quality of care. It is important to recognise that, in relation to mental health, NHS Tayside’s review process is ongoing and that no decision has been made about the future shape of the service.

Since 1 April 2016, the lead role for the planning of mental health services has been devolved to the Tayside Integrated Joint Boards (IJBs), with the in-patient element being hosted in Tayside by Perth and Kinross IJB. Health and social care partnerships must make best use of their resources across health and social care, in communities and hospitals, to ensure people are supported to maximise their wellbeing with the highest standards of care. The Scottish Government is providing support to partnerships, health boards and local authorities as integration is implemented locally and new models of care are developed to better support vulnerable people.

The board is committed to working with the IJBs in taking forward the next steps in identifying a sustainable long-term model for mental health services across Tayside, with public engagement being a key aspect in finding the right solution.