Malcolm Chisholm

Answer · Shona Robison · 23 Mar 2016

An independent review of the way drugs are assessed for use in the NHS is being led by Dr Brian Montgomery. The review will look at how the changes made to the Scottish Medicines Consortium process in 2014 have improved patient access to medicines for rare and end of life conditions and will also look more broadly at how the whole system for getting patients access to newly licensed drugs safely and quickly is working.

Answer · Maureen Watt · 2 Feb 2016

Scottish Government officials meet cervical screening coordinators from all NHS boards on a quarterly basis to share best practice in promoting cervical screening services, development of initiatives to improve uptake and how best to communicate effectively with a range of audiences. Recent local initiatives to increase the screening for women with learning difficulties have included a video about smear tests for women with learning difficulties and dedicated staff working with women with learning difficulties, facilitating cervical screening and then assisting during the appointments.
We also encourage all boards to utilise the information materials available to them in discussing cervical screening with women who have learning difficulties. In particular, the two easy read leaflets in NHS Health Scotland's 'Keep Yourself Healthy' series which deal with cervical screening, both of which are available to support people with learning difficulties and any carer in making an informed decision on taking up their invitation to screening.

Answer · Maureen Watt · 2 Feb 2016

We recently commissioned NHS Health Scotland to conduct a Health Inequalities Impact Assessment to ensure that all national communications for cervical screening are appropriately targeted for women from a range of groups. All communication materials are translated into a number of languages and other translations can be requested, ensuring that women from black and ethnic minority groups have equitable access to communication materials in order to make an informed decision on taking up their invitation to cervical screening.
We work closely with health boards to develop initiatives to improve uptake for women from black and minority ethnic groups within the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme. Recent initiatives include running cervical screening awareness workshops to tackle the cultural differences that can cause barriers to attending for cervical screening.

Answer · Maureen Watt · 2 Feb 2016

We work closely with health boards to develop initiatives to improve uptake for women from disadvantaged backgrounds within the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme. Recent initiatives include dedicated nurses working with the local homeless and travelling women to assist them with GP registration and full health assessments including screening tests and drop in clinics at job clubs.
We recently commissioned NHS Health Scotland to undertake research with women into the reasons for non-uptake of the screening invitation. The results of this work will inform our engagement and communications strategy to support the programme and consider how to improve uptake of cervical screening.

Answer · Maureen Watt · 2 Feb 2016

We fully support the objective of increasing uptake in the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme and work is already taking place to help address the fall in cervical screening uptake rates.
Scottish Government officials meet cervical screening coordinators from all NHS boards on a quarterly basis to discuss a range of issues relating to the national screening programme, including increasing uptake of screening. NHS boards have responsibility for publicising screening within their local area and for working closely with their communities to increase screening uptake. Work of this nature is already taking place within NHS boards. Recent local initiatives have included out of hours clinics and sessions specifically designed for regular defaulters.
As part of the forthcoming changes to the age range and frequency of the screening programme, an awareness raising campaign will be launched, this will aim to highlight the importance of attending cervical screening and address some of the barriers which prevent women attending. Furthermore, our on-going Detect Cancer Early social marketing campaigns aim to raise awareness and encourage participation in the national cancer screening programmes and help people become more confident about recognising and reporting changes in their body.