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Footnotes
1. As can be seen from the figures given for the median and mean, the data are very positively skewed - that is, a small number of services reported a very high number of transactions compared to all the others. In such a situation, the median is a more accurate representation of the average number of transactions per service.
2. It was not possible to calculate the median because data on pharmacy transactions was reported as an aggregate figure for all the pharmacies in each NHS Board.
3. The Lord Advocate's guidance allows for provision of a maximum of 20 needles / syringes on a client's first visit to a needle exchange; a maximum of 60 needles / syringes on subsequent visits; and an exceptional upper limit of 120 for holiday periods when facilities are closed or are difficult to access.
4. The completion of the updated guidelines has been delayed pending publication of the present report.
5. The study in Scotland did not involve getting the views of service users. However, the English arm of the study did include this element.
6. There are 22 Scottish DATs, but are only 15 NHS Boards. Grampian Health Board includes Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray DATs; Lothian Health Board includes East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian and Edinburgh City DATs; and Tayside Health Board includes Angus, Dundee City and Perth & Kinross DATs.
7. Note that "specialist needle exchange" services may be provided either by statutory or voluntary sector agencies.
8. Interestingly, however, the overall figures reported by DATs were substantially higher than the figures reported by non-pharmacy services and pharmacy co-ordinators. ( See Appendix 3, Table A.3.3.) The reason for this is unclear, although again, it suggests that inadequate monitoring systems existed in many areas.
9. See the research undertaken by Jennifer Garden et al (2003) - available at http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/eiu/pdfs/citric_acid_full.pdf . Several people also referred to the on-going Scottish Executive-funded study being undertaken by Dr Jenny Scott, Bath University, called Safety, risks and outcomes from the use of injecting paraphernalia, which is due to report in Summer 2006.
10. The SMR24 is a detailed form used to monitor the number of people who enter drug treatment services. The form is completed by treatment providers and the completed form is sent back to the Information Services Division, where the data is entered into the Scottish Drugs Misuse Database and used to compile an annual statistical report. From April 2006, the SMR24 has been replaced by the SMR25. A copy of the SMR24 may be viewed at: http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/05dmss/05dmss-059.htm.
11. In Scotland, in general, DATs do not have their own budgets, but rather draw on the budgets of their member agencies.
12. Note: For more than a decade, allocations for BBV prevention funding were based on HIV prevalence figures. NHS Boards have been calling, for some time, for a revision in the funding allocation formula - claiming that it should take into account the growing incidence of Hepatitis C. A review of this formula took place in 2005, and in June 2005, NHS Boards were informed of revised allocations for 2005-08. Unfortunately, not all NHS boards benefited. Indeed, under the new formula, some stood to lose a substantial amount of their current funding. To prevent this - and the damaging impact it would have on existing services - the Scottish Executive has frozen allocations to these Boards at current levels for the next three years.
13. See http://www.rcpe.ac.uk/education/standards/consensus/hep_c_04.php.
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