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In April 2019, Scottish Government wrote to NHS Boards asking them to work with Information Services Division (ISD) to deliver an individual patient-level core dataset – the Child Adolescent and Psychological Therapy National Dataset (CAPTND).

Scottish Government recognises that some of the current systems used by Boards to record Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Psychological Therapies activity require significant improvement. While these improvements take place, NHS Boards have been asked to deliver a subset of 15 of the core variables as a minimum. Type of diagnosis will be recorded in the final core dataset, although not in the minimum dataset.

The first data transfer (for the minimum dataset) from NHS Boards to ISD is expected at the end of September. Once each Board and ISD are content with the quality of individual level data, the aggregate collection will be discontinued for that Board. The dataset will then form the basis of the official statistics on mental health waiting times, produced by ISD. NHS Boards are currently working with ISD to agree a timeframe for moving from the minimum to core dataset.

The Scottish Government is committed to increasing digital participation and ensuring that all of Scotland is able to enjoy the social, cultural and economic benefits of the internet. Home internet access has increased steadily over time, reaching an all-time high of 87 per cent of households in 2018. For those unable to access the internet at home, all of Scotland’s libraries provide free wi-fi access.

Community pharmacies are independent contractors which provide NHS services, and each one is responsible for its own day-to-day operational processes taking into account their business model. While some pharmacies will deliver prescribed medicines to patients’ homes, this is not provided as an NHS service and they offer the service at their own cost. Some may therefore choose to apply a charge for their home delivery services.

We are working with chronic pain services across the whole patient pathway to ensure that people can receive appropriate and timely treatment and care. This will cover all services across primary and secondary care, including specialist chronic pain clinics, with a view to developing sustainable services.

Under the Waiting Times Improvement Plan we have made over £102 million available to Health Boards in 2019-20. These resources will help to reduce waiting times across Scotland in line with the activity agreed in Health Boards Annual Operational Plans, which will be published on Health Boards websites shortly.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-25421 on  26 September 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at .

I agree with the member’s aspiration that there should be an equitable and consistent provision of services for people with eating disorders across Scotland.

As referenced in the answer to question S5W-24291, we have committed to Scotland-specific clinical guidelines, produced by SIGN. Additionally, we understand that the Mental Welfare Commission intend to publish a needs assessment report in 2020, outlining the current availability of Eating Disorders services. These two pieces of work will inform the level of support and resources that will be required by NHS Boards.

Scottish Government officials have been in discussions with the Royal College of Psychiatry’s Eating Disorders faculty over the course of 2019 in relation to a needs assessment, and a review of the existing evidence base.

As referenced in the answer to question S5W-25424, we understand that the Mental Welfare Commission intend to publish a needs assessment report in 2020. This report will outline the current availability of Eating Disorders services, and together with the SIGN guidelines, will inform future improvement work.

The Scottish Government is clear in our engagement with NHS Boards that patients should be assessed according to their clinical need. Our expectation is that those who need immediate treatment, whether for an eating disorder or for any condition or disorder requiring access to mental health services, will receive that care quickly – whether that takes place in specialist settings, or via the work of community mental health teams.

Community mental health teams already provide a range of services for different conditions, including Eating Disorders, covering a range of intensities. The forthcoming SIGN guidelines for Eating Disorders will outline the evidence for treatment, and will be an important consideration to further inform how local areas respond to individual cases.

The Cullen Centre provides an outpatient service for patients with an eating disorder who require support. This can include home visits where necessary, which would take place if patients have been clinically assessed as requiring it.

The Integration Joint Boards (IJB) Chief Officers Group is currently working to build a picture of which IJBs have formally adopted the terms set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) since its agreement earlier this year.

Although this work concluded earlier this year at a national level, timescales associated with local adoption of the MOU are expected to vary depending on the existing arrangements between individual Hospices and IJBs.

As set out in the Scottish Governments Rights, Respect and Recovery strategy we continue to support Harm Prevention work on a national level; this includes the potential provision of naloxone to first responders such as the Police.

Dialogue is ongoing between the Scottish Government and Police Scotland, with the latter recently establishing a short life working group to address; along with partners, the subject of Police access and carriage.