17 August 2007
Scotland's public sector watchdog has criticised the NHS and councils over a lack of information about the costs of providing care for people with long-term conditions.
In a report published on August 16, Audit Scotland said the shortage of data on costs and activity means that many decisions on the use of resources are made with limited evidence about what works for patients.
'The NHS and councils need to urgently address this in order to meet its aims of effectively developing more services based in the community,' the report, Managing long-term conditions, states.
Barbara Hurst, director of public reporting for Audit Scotland, said there had been many improvements in various clinical areas. However, these were often local projects, driven by local need or enthusiasm rather than by a national strategy.
She added: 'The Scottish Executive, health boards and councils need to do more to make improvements nationwide and to create joined-up services. The NHS and councils should try to get a better understanding of the true cost and the scale and types of activity.
'This is an area of particular priority, given that demographic changes mean that there are likely to be more people living with long-term conditions.'
It is estimated that about a million people in Scotland have at least one long-term health problem. In the UK as a whole, it is estimated that people with long-term conditions account for 80% of all GP consultations and for more than 60% of hospital bed days.
Audit Scotland said it was expected that, because of Scotland's ageing population, the number of people with chronic illnesses would rise markedly over the next 20 years.
PFaug2007
