NHS Scotland policy on recording financial costs: FOI release

Information requested

I would be grateful if you could provide me under Freedom of Information Act or if not other available contact for NHS Scotland Health Policy on reasons NHS Scotland are only able to provide record of costs against specific wards units and departments but not against individual procedures. The currently NHS Scotland policy means you cannot find out individual costs for surgical procedures for example removing wisdom tooth.

Response

NHS Boards are required to produce costs at speciality level as part of their annual contribution to the Scottish Health Service Costs (Costs Book) as published on the Public Health Scotland website. Costs are not required to be produced at individual procedure level albeit some NHS Boards may be able to produce such costs if local costing systems permit – this will be specific to individual Boards. In England, costs are produced at procedure level to assist with charging under the National Tariff payment system but this does not apply in Scotland.

About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.