shield

Secretary For Scotland's Report for Guild Council Meeting 9.2.2006



Review of NHS Production in Scotland
Nothing further has been heard as to progress on this matter.


back to top


In the Press
29.11.05 - It was reported on the Scottish Executive website that “National Procurement, a new division of National Services Scotland (NSS) which aims to use the NHS's financial muscle on a national scale to deliver the best deals locally for health boards, was launched today. Health Minister Andy Kerr said smarter spending by the NHS could generate over £30 million in savings this year, which would go straight back into patient care. It also involves creating a national distribution centre servicing the whole if NHS Scotland”. Medicines are excluded from this as existing structures already achieve the desired results.

7.12.05 - A letter to Chief Executives states that “The NHS Scotland Shared Support Services Project is now proceeding to Full Business Case approval. There are estimated to be significant recurring savings to be achieved, i.e. £10m per annum across NHSS. The majority of savings result from the more efficient processing of transactions in the functions included in the scope of the project, i.e. Finance, Procurement and Payroll. It is estimated that around 600 posts will be saved.”

8.12.05 - Auditor General Robert Black said the Scottish NHS was on course for a £183m deficit in the current financial year. He said "Further improvements are needed in financial management, workforce planning and performance management." Mr Black's report set out "financial weaknesses" in the service, which spent £8bn last year, but the health minister pointed to progress in key areas such as the availability of treatment and cuts in death rates in the country's 'Big Three' killers - cancer, stroke and heart disease.

25/26.1.06 - In a highly-charged debate on the Abolition of NHS Prescription Charges at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, MSPs voted to keep prescription charges. The motion to abolish the charges proposed by the Scottish Socialists was supported by the SNP and the Greens but it was defeated by 77 votes to 44 by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Tories, with one abstention. However, ministers have promised to reform the system and introduce more exemptions for chronic conditions, students and those on low incomes. A three-month consultation on the prescription charging system was announced by Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald only hours before the Holyrood debate was due to begin. Mr Kerr admitted that there were anomalies in the current system and said that the executive was committed to making the charges "fairer, simpler and affordable to all". He also stated during the debate: "Some say that it may be as high as £100 million a year, while the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has estimated that the additional cost to the NHS in Scotland could be as much as £245 million per year."


back to top


Scottish Health Service Senior Reps Committee
I was unable to attend the inaugural meeting held in December, but made the January meeting. This discussed a number of issues including the forthcoming Scottish NHS Sector Conference (3rd March 2006), the first meeting of SWAG (Scottish Workforce and Staff Governance Committee), updates on the other Scottish NHS Committees (SPF and STAC) and SPRIG.

There was also discussion about the DoH decision not to produce any more Whitley Advance Letters. These were likely to be required in Scotland because of the number of staff who will not have assimilated by 1st April 2006. There is also the situation of those staff currently protected under the Organisational Change Policy who stay on their original payscales and get all pay increases. AfC and connected issues also provided some considerable discussion.


back to top


Scottish Health Sector Committee
The next meeting of this group is scheduled for 17th February 2006.


back to top


Scottish NHS Sector Conference
It has been announced that the second conference will be held in John Smith House in Glasgow on 3rd March 2006. All accredited representatives are invited to attend.


back to top


NES Pharmacy KSF Advice short life working group
Further to discussions with Christine Gilmour at the last Council meeting, I will be representing the GHP on this group. Unfortunately, I was unable to make the January meeting. I cannot make the February meeting either, but I have the papers and will feed any comments back to it.


back to top


Association of Scottish Chief Pharmacists
I have attended one meeting of the Acute Group since the last Council meeting. The meeting in January was to be followed by a meeting of the new Scottish Pharmacy Network (SPN). As I was unaware of this, I was unable to attend. However, I hope to be able to make future meetings of the network on which GHP has a seat. The SPN comprises representatives of ASCP, SSiPPHs, SPGC and others and is intended to be a unified voice for pharmacy in Scotland.


back to top


Consultations
The Review of NHS Prescription and Exemption Arrangements in Scotland consultation was issued at the end of January, for comment by early April.

Colin Rodden
2 February 2006

back to top