What consultation has taken place by (a) its Health Department and (b) NHS boards in respect of savings through improvements in prescribing…

During the preparation of its report on GP prescribing issued in June 2003, Audit Scotland consulted closely with NHS board prescribing leads and other interested parties and produced evidence based recommendations for more efficient prescribing which, were accepted by the Executive and which NHS boards and prescribers continue to pursue.
In February 2005 the Executive invited NHS boards to advise their proposals for on-going savings through more effective prescribing in the context of the savings targets within the Efficient Government initiative.
NHS boards are in continuous dialogue with prescribers to adopt best prescribing practice and reduce inappropriate prescribing.