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The Scottish Government circulated the Health Care Needs Assessment to NHS boards to afford them the opportunity to consider and comment on its content and recommendations. Once views have been gathered we consider any actions that may be required to support boards to take forward the recommendations.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11016 on 21 November 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The recently published Health Care Needs Assessment for Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis (HCNA) was conducted by the Scottish Public Health Network (SPHN) at the Scottish Government’s request to obtain an update on the provision of services, taking account of recent advances in understanding, treatment and care of people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Scotland. The purpose of the report was to identify gaps in service provision, highlight priority areas for change and make recommendations to assist NHS boards to plan and develop services.

It is for NHS boards to plan and develop services in line with the needs of their resident populations taking account of local and national guidelines. Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline’s Network (SIGN) produce guidelines for use in NHS Scotland and are developed through a very robust process drawing on a wide evidence base and also significant clinical expertise. The HCNA report highlights the need for the early diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in keeping with the recommendations of SIGN guideline 123.

The Scottish Government is currently gathering views from NHS boards in relation to the HCNA and will consider what action may be required to assist boards in taking forward the recommendations within the report.

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines are recommended to NHS Scotland and should be taken into account when services are being developed. Implementation of SIGN guidelines is the responsibility of NHS boards and their operating divisions which are reinforced and supported by their clinical governance arrangements.

<>I refer the member to the question S4W-10481 answered on 6 November 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

There are no plans to establish a registry of rheumatoid arthritis patients in Scotland.

We have shared the Health Care Needs Assessment of Services for Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis, conducted by the Scottish Public Health Network at our request, with NHS boards and have invited comments on the report and its recommendations. This includes Part D of the report: Cost Implications for Rheumatoid Arthritis Services in Scotland. We are currently gathering responses and will consider these and how we can support boards to take forward the recommendations in due course.

The information is not collected or held centrally to the level of detail requested.

The information that would inform a comprehensive assessment is not held centrally. The Scottish Government wishes to minimise the impact of long-term conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis on the economy; firstly by appropriate prevention and treatment and secondly by supporting employers and employees to maintain work and employment. This is a key focus of our health works strategy and the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives offers a range of support to employers to help people with long term health conditions to continue to work while managing their condition.

The recently published Health Care Needs Assessment (HCNA) on Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) was conducted by the Scottish Public Health Network at the request of the Scottish Government. It outlines current RA service provisions across Scotland and makes a number of recommendations that aim to assist NHS Boards to plan and develop services for people living with RA.

A number of the recommendations within the HCNA are applicable nationally and we are currently considering these.