Question reference: S5W-33652
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 1 December 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish figures for the number of doses of opioids prescribed during the COVID-19 pandemic for severe pain, and what assessment it has carried out of any increased usage due to the postponement or cancellation of operations.
Answer
Information on prescribing in the community is available on the Public Health Scotland website. This can be accessed here https://www.opendata.nhs.scot/dataset/prescriptions-in-the-community
However, it is not possible to provide the information in the manner requested as the reason prescriptions are provided to a patient is not given. It is not possible to differentiate between the different reasons opiates could be prescribed. In addition, it is not possible to identify if an increase in usage is due to a change or worsening in symptoms or due to delayed procedures.