Roll out of paperless prescriptions and baby box costs: FOI release

Information requested

1. How much does it cost to offer free prescriptions to all Scots in each of these years, with a breakdown of costs: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024?

2. Could you supply all discussions, analysis and correspondence surrounding any plans to roll out paperless prescriptions in Scotland since January 2023, and any estimations of how much it would cost?

3. Could you list all the changes made to baby boxes since they were first rolled out and reasons for this?

4. In a recent press release, the Scottish Government said "there was around £420 worth of essential items" in a baby box. Could you supply the evidence to back this up? Including how much each item in the box costs.

Response

The detailed responses to your requests are below:

Question 1.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information that you have requested.

I can confirm that Scottish Ministers remain committed to the provision of free prescriptions as part of the social contract with the people of Scotland to not tax ill health but we do not have any analysis that meets the scope of the request on a breakdown of the costs of offering free prescriptions to all Scots in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Question 2.

With regards to the first part of your question on discussion, analysis and correspondence, I have attached the relevant documentation separately to the response.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

An exemption under Section 43(2) of FOISA also applies as it exempts information whose disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any legal person (an individual, a company, the public authority itself or any other legal entity).

With regards to the second part of your request on cost estimations as part of the documentation I have included a table that outlines the indicative cost without contingencies to build the digital prescribing solution.

This is sourced from the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways (DPDP) programme business case.

Further information about Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways Programme can be found at https://www.nss.nhs.scot/national-programmes/digital-prescribing-and-dispensing-pathways/about-thedigital-prescribing-and-dispensing-pathways-programme/.

You can also check for updates in our 2023/24 Digital Health and Care delivery plan.

Question 3.

Please see below list of all changes made to Baby Boxes since they were first rolled out, and reasons
for those changes:

• Change to box design – competition run to give young people an opportunity to have their design on the box;
• Update to box size to meet new BS 11130:2021 standard;
• Update to safety card to reflect new BS 11130:2021 safety requirement;
• Update to mattress from foam to polyester wadding to reflect industry trends and to enable the mattress being fully washable;
• Extra fitted sheet – following feedback from parents;
• Change from In-ear thermometer to underarm thermometer following feedback from parents and health professionals;
• Update to thermometer instructions in response to current health professional guidance on use of thermometers with infants;
• Update to underarm thermometer battery compartment in response to safety concerns regarding button batteries;
• Changes to Bath & Room thermometer to strengthen safety compartments containing button battery;
• Changes to designs & colours of clothing – to keep clothing up to date with recent trends;
• Update to wrap to add centre-point mark following feedback from interest groups to assist parents with use;
• Update to soother toy to shorten the tail following feedback from parents;
• Additional book provided – following feedback from parents;
• Additional leaflets on Scottish Child Payment, Button Batteries;
• Postnatal Depression Leaflet - updated to reflect current terminology;
• Baby toothbrush added – following discussions with Childsmile colleagues and advice from Chief Dental Officer highlighting benefits to babies;
• Reusable Nappy Voucher added – following feedback from parents & interested groups;
• Update Nappy Voucher to include QR code for ease of application;
• Update to Re-usable Nappy pack due to original supplier ceasing trading and product availability.

Question 4.

The pricing analysis was carried out by our Baby Box Managing Agent, APS Group (Scotland) in 2022. The methodology the APS team have used to bring together indicative retail costs was to research the market for a budget, mid-range and high-end example of each item included in the Baby Box . The value used for the comparison is based on the mid-range to align with the high-quality bespoke products manufactured for Baby Box.

Provided below is the retail value of the Baby Box and all its contents as per above described methodology:

Baby Box Item	Retail Value
Digital underarm thermometer (x1)	£14
Scratch mittens (1 pair)	£3
Short-sleeved vest (x1) - Newborn	£10
Long-sleeved vest (x1) - Newborn	£10
Reusable nappies voucher (x1)	£23
Long-sleeved side buttoning vest (x1) - Newborn	£14
Long-sleeved patterned vest (x1) - Newborn	£11
Cotton hat (x1) 0-3 months	£3
Long-sleeved sleepsuit (x1) 0-3 months	£12
Jersey trousers (x2) 0-3 months	£10
Pair of socks (x1) 3-6 months	£2
All-in-one day suit (x2) 3-6 months	£36
Long-sleeved sleepsuit (x1) 3-6 months	£12
Jersey trousers (x2) 3-6 months	£10
Pair of socks (x1) 3-6 months	£3
Fleece jacket with hood (x1) 3-6 months	£26
Mattress with protector with fitted sheet (x1) Size: 700 x 428 x 40mm	£23
Cellular blanket (150x100cm)	£20
Baby wrap (x1)	£35
Hooded bath towel (x1)	£7
Bath sponge (x1)	£5
Bath and room thermometer (x1)	£13
Teething ring soother (x1)	£4
Baby books (x2)	£14
Buggy book (x1)	£5
Playmat (x1)	£25
Emery boards	£2
Bib (x1)	£2
Muslin cloth squares (x3)	£6
Comforter toy (x1)	£13
Travel changing mat (x1)	£15
Pack of disposable nursing pads (x1)	£2
Pack of 12 maternity towels (x1)	£3
Box of 3 condoms (x2)	£2
toothbrush (x1)	£2
Baby Box	£25
Total	£422

We are unable to detail how much each item in the box costs to the Scottish Government as this information is commercially sensitive and subject to confidentiality of the contract the Scottish Government has with its managing agent APS (Scotland) Group . The price comparison reflects the cost to purchase each individual item on a retail basis, however it does not reflect the economies of scale leveraged by Scottish Government via bi-annual bulk manufacturing. There is an exemption under section s.30(b)(i) Commercial Interests of FOISA to some of the information you have requested.

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.

FOI 202400403386 - Information released - Annex

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