Question reference: S5W-33244
- Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 13 November 2020
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 November 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to NHS boards across Scotland to prioritise patients waiting for elective care.
Answer
Whilst we are working to maintain as much non COVID-19 healthcare activity as we safely can, that will inevitably be affected by the degree to which the virus is suppressed. Consequently, given our Strategic Framework approach and the differing levels of virus prevalence we are seeing across the country, we need to give our clinicians and Board flexibility to manage the demands on activity in this continuing emergency situation.
As outlined in the NHS Winter Preparedness Plan published on 28 October, I am today publishing the Framework for the Clinical Prioritisation of Elective Care: https://www.gov.scot/publications/supporting-elective-care-clinical-prioritisation-framework
The Framework provides NHS Boards with clear guidance for prioritising elective care ensuring appropriate COVID-19 safety and priority measures are in place.
NHS Boards will follow the Framework to categorise patients into four levels of urgency based on their particular clinical condition. This clinically based prioritisation will determine the timeframe within which patients will be seen and treated, ensuring that patients with the greatest clinical need are treated quickest.
The Framework sits alongside section 8(3) and (4) of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 which continues to require NHS Boards to take all reasonably available steps to ensure they are compliant with the treatment time guarantee (TTG). These steps include appropriately prioritising the start of the patient's treatment taking account of their clinical needs, and the clinical needs of other eligible patients, in accordance with the treatment time guarantee.
Implementation of the Framework will ensure patients have a clear and realistic expectation of when they will receive their treatment that is clinically appropriate to their individual circumstances. This is especially important at the current time as the NHS manages the demand pressures of winter, responding to COVID-19 and delivering non COVID-19 healthcare. We will also take steps to ensure that patients receive clear and timely communication with respect to their planned procedure.
The Framework has been developed with senior clinical leadership from the Deputy Chief Medical Officer and senior clinical representation from across Scotland.