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FOI release

FOI – 000278 Specialist Treatment (HTML)

Published on 30 November 2022

Date received – 02 November 2022 | Date responded – 30 November 2022

Request

I would like to request an FOI on specialist services.

I would like to know the number of individuals in Scotland who were transferred to hospitals in the rest of the UK to receive specialist treatment. Specialist treatment being those defined in your document here: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/specialist-healthcare/specialist-services/specialist-services-uk/. I would like these numbers to be broken down by year from 2015 to 2021.

For patients transferred for specialist treatment, I would like to know the top 5 treatments each year in terms of number of individuals and their associated costs to the NHS.

Over the same time period, I would like to know the number of individuals in other parts of the UK who receive specialist treatment in Scotland. Similarly, I would like to know what treatments these were and the number of individuals receiving them.

Response

I refer to your freedom of information request that we received on 2 November 2022. I can advise you that we have now completed the search of our records and can provide you with the following information:

I would like to request an FOI on specialist services.

I would like to know the number of individuals in Scotland who were transferred to hospitals in the rest of the UK to receive specialist treatment. Specialist treatment being those defined in your document here: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/specialist-healthcare/specialist-services/specialist-services-uk/. I would like these numbers to be broken down by year from 2015 to 2021.

Under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002, an organisation does not have to provide information if it does not hold that information. NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) does hold information on the number of individuals who were transferred to hospitals elsewhere in the UK to receive specialist treatment. Each year NHS National Services Division (NSD) receive a number of funding requests for approval to allow patients to access specialist healthcare elsewhere in the UK using financial resources which are administered on behalf of the 14 Health Boards. Whilst we can confirm that we hold details as to the number of funding requests we have approved each year, we cannot be more specific as to how many of these patients have undergone the treatment or where this was the treatment took place.

Please find attached Appendix 1 - Funding requests approved by NSD, for the information we can provide which relates to the number of funding requests received for the years requested.

For patients transferred for specialist treatment, I would like to know the top 5 treatments each year in terms of number of individuals and their associated costs to the NHS.

Under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002, an organisation does not have to provide that information if it does not hold that information. NHS NSS does not hold specific detail regarding the individual treatments which patients receive and associated costs. Please find attached Appendix 1 - Funding requests approved by NSD, for the information we can provide regarding the top 5 clinical indications/services to which we have approved funding requests for each year requested. Please note there are some caveats around the information provided:

  • Data is by financial year.
  • Numbers provided are for approved funding applications received by NSD to access highly specialist/specialised treatments in England (or by exception out with the UK).
  • Numbers do not necessarily reflect the number of patients who have been referred and/or undergone treatment out with the UK.
  • Territorial NHS Boards may choose to refer patients to facilities in other parts of the UK without seeking national funding, provided by NSD. Therefore, the NHS Board is responsible for costs.

Over the same time period, I would like to know the number of individuals in other parts of the UK who receive specialist treatment in Scotland. Similarly, I would like to know what treatments these were and the number of individuals receiving them.

Under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002, an organisation does not have to provide that information if it does not hold that information. NHS NSS does not hold any detail regarding the number of individuals from other parts of the UK who receive specialist treatment in Scotland.

I trust you will find the information of assistance and if you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of how we have dealt with your request you can make representations to us asking us to review the handling of your request.

If you require any further information please contact Associate Director Information Security & Governance, within 40 working days of the date of this correspondence.

Contact

Email: nss.foi@nhs.scot

Address

NHS National Services Scotland Headquarters Gyle Square 1 South Gyle Crescent Edinburgh EH12 9EB

If after a review you are still unhappy, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner, who can be contacted at Kinburn Castle, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, or via their application form.

National Services Scotland (NSS) is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. You can view all FOI responses within our FOI Publications repository.

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