County’s high cost of prescriptions down to ‘complex’ set of issues

HEALTH: NHS chiefs told ageing population could be one important factor

A “complex” set of issues has been blamed for Angus being labelled the “sick man of Scotland.”

An ageing population and a high percentage of people living with chronic disease were among the reasons put forward during talks on the area’s above average prescribing costs.

Members of the Angus Integration Joint Board (IJB) in Forfar were told prescribing is forecast to hit a £2.5 million overspend this year – more than 10% of the total budget figure of £21m.

Alison Clement, clinical director, admitted Angus prescription costs were “significantly greater” than those for the rest of Scotland, at 13% above the national average spend.

A report said the reasons for the higher prescribing spend in Tayside and in Angus in particular were complex, multi-faceted and not entirely understood.

Board member Alison Rogers questioned why the reasons were still “not entirely understood.”

“Why are we not any nearer in understanding this?” she asked.

Ms Clement replied: “We are understanding some of it. We are diagnosing more illnesses, there is a better detection rate and recognition of more chronic conditions.

“There is not one thing the same across Angus when we look at GP practices.”

She added that Angus had a very high elderly population.

Asked how costs could be curbed, Ms Clement added: “We are particularly interested in the amount of prescriptions we are issuing.

“It is coming down, but at the same time the cost of medicine is going up considerably, which has affected Angus.”

Chairman Hugh Robertson referred to a story about the issue in The Courier, which described Angus as the “sick man of Scotland”.

He said: “We did get some press coverage. I am concerned that the costs are high.

“There continues to be concerns on the committees I sit on over the prescribing costs.

“I note that it will be about six months before we start to see initiatives put in place and I hope to see financial benefit within the three-year target.”

“We are particularly interested in the amount of prescriptions we are issuing. It is coming down, but at the same time the cost of medicine is going up