National Contact Point: Health boards

NHS Scotland provides public sector health care through 14 health boards.

Each board covers a different area of Scotland and is responsible for the delivery of health care and services to the local population.

European cross-border health care

Within each board, a dedicated contact for European cross-border health care will be available to take enquiries and give help and support.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran provides a comprehensive range of high quality health services to a population of around 367,000 across Ayrshire and Arran.

Ayrshire and Arran is a region in the south-west of Scotland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Ayrshire and Arran have made information about European cross-border healthcare in Ayrshire and Arran available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Ayrshire and Arran

Enquiries about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Appeals

Appeals regarding European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

NHS Ayrshire and Arran respect and maintain personal information of all patients in accordance with the principles set out by the Caldicott Report (1997).

Accessibility

NHS Ayrshire and Arran is committed to addressing equalities and diversity issues and in doing so comply fully with the Equality Act 2010.

All of NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s hospital premises are accessible for persons with disability.

Every effort is made to ensure all documents are accessible to everyone.

All publications are available in different languages, larger print, Braille (English only), audio tape or another format of your choice.

NHS Borders is responsible for providing health care services to protect and improve the health of the people of the Borders and plan services for the local population of around 110,000.

The Scottish Borders is a region in the south of Scotland bordering England.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Borders have made information about European cross-border healthcare in the Scottish Borders available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Borders

Enquiries about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Appeals

Appeals regarding European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

All patient information is treated in accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998), the NHS Code of Confidentiality Guidelines and the Caldicott Report recommendations.

All NHS Borders permanent and contracted staff are required to sign a confidentiality statement and comply with local information governance guidelines.

Accessibility

NHS Borders recognises it has a duty to promote equality in all that it does as an employer, public service provider and commissioner.

NHS Borders sets out to comply with the Equality Act 2010.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway provides a broad range of high quality, comprehensive health services across a remote and rural region with a population of around 148,000.

Dumfries and Galloway is a region in the South West of Scotland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Dumfries and Galloway have made information about European cross-border healthcare in Dumfries and Galloway available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Dumfries and Galloway

Enquiries about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Appeals

Appeals regarding European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board respects the privacy of all patients and information in line with the NHS Scotland Information Security policy and the NHS Scotland Information Assurance strategy.

The Caldicott Guardian is Ken Donaldson, Medical Director.

Accessibility

Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board complies with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act providing accessible services to patients.

NHS Fife is responsible for providing high quality health care services to a population of 370,000.

Fife is a region in the East of Scotland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Fife have made information about European cross-border healthcare in Fife available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Fife

Enquiries about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Appeals

Appeals regarding European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

NHS Fife respects the rights of service users to receive high quality care at all times. This includes the right to confidentiality and equal access to services and information.

NHS Fife also endeavours to provide a clear understanding of what processes to follow should there be any concerns about services, planned or received. There are dedicated departments and policies in place to support and inform staff and service users.

Hospital and information accessibility and confidentiality, including personal information privacy, can be obtained via the NHS Fife website or by writing to the relevant department.

Accessibility

The NHS Fife Equality and Diversity team can be contacted at:

NHS Forth Valley provides a range of acute and community-based health services to a population of nearly 300,000 across Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire

Forth Valley is a region in central Scotland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Forth Valley have made information about European cross-border healthcare in Forth Valley available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Forth Valley

Enquiries about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Appeals

Appeals regarding European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

NHS Forth Valley respects patient's privacy and treats information in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

They also have information governance policies in place as well as a Caldicott Guardian.

Accessibility

All NHS hospitals in Forth Valley are fully accessible.

You can find out more on the NHS Forth Valley webiste under equality and diversity.

NHS Grampian is responsible for providing high quality health services for a population of around 500,000 people living and working in the region.

Grampian is a region in the North East of Scotland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Grampian have made information about European cross-border healthcare in Grampian available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Grampian

Enquiries and appeals about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

NHS Grampian complies fully with the provisions and obligations of the Data Protection Act 1998 regarding storing and processing information.

The purpose of the Data Protection Act 1998 legislation is to protect people's rights and confidentiality in relation to how information about them is handled.

Accessibility

NHS Grampian has a legal duty to produce a Disability Equality Scheme every three years, setting out how it intends to progress disability equality both in the health care services provided, and within NHS Grampian.

Details are produced by the NHS Grampian Disability Discrimination Act Review Group, following extensive involvement and consultation with NHS Grampian staff, local people and disability groups in Grampian.

It includes sections on physical access to buildings and services, and also on aspects of parking.

Further details are available on the NHS Grampian website.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is the largest NHS Board in Scotland and provides services to a population of 1.2 million and specialist regional services to more than half of Scotlands population.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde is a region in the West of Scotland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have made information about European cross-border healthcare in Greater Glasgow available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Enquiries about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Appeals

Appeals regarding European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

Privacy Information: The Caldicott Guardian for NHSGGC is Dr Linda de Caestecker, Director of Public Health.

Linda is supported by the Board's Medical Director: Dr Jennifer Armstrong.

Accessibility

All NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde hospitals comply with the Disability and Discrimination Act.

NHS Highland serves a population of approximately 310,000 residents and provides a wide range of services across the largest land area of any health authority in Scotland.

The Highlands is a region in the North West of Scotland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Highland have made information about European cross-border healthcare in the Highlands available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Highland

Enquiries about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Appeals

Appeals and complaints regarding European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

Your information will be treated confidentially in line with the Data Protection Act, as per NHS Scotland policy.

Accessibility

Information on accessibility can be found in the NHS Highland Patient Access Policy.

NHS Lanarkshire is responsible for improving the health of more than 563,185 people living within the North and South Lanarkshire local authority areas.

Lanarkshire is a region in the West of Scotland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Lanarkshire have made information about European cross-border healthcare in Lanarkshire available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Lanarkshire

Enquiries and appeals about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

NHS Lanarkshire is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998.

They have robust information governance procedures in place to ensure that high standards of confidentiality are maintained in respect of all information held and such information is only shared with those who need to know.

Accessibility

The three acute hospitals in NHS Lanarkshire are fully accessible for people with disabilities.

More information on this is available on the NHS Lanarkshire website.

NHS Lothian provides a comprehensive range of primary, community-based and acute hospital services for a population of 800,000, the second largest residential population in Scotland.

Lothian is a region in the East of Scotland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Lothian have made information about European cross-border healthcare - including translated leaflets and application form available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Lothian: Outgoing patients

Enquiries about European cross-border healthcare for outgoing patients should be directed to:

Who to contact at NHS Lothian: Incoming patients

Enquiries and appeals about European cross-border healthcare for incoming patients should be directed to:

Appeals

Appeals regarding European cross-border healthcare should be directed to Hilda Stiven or Maria Palsdottir at the Safe Haven Office. 

The Divisional Medical Director will consider appeals.

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to: 

Privacy

Information on privacy can be found on the NHS Lothian website under Your rights.

Accessibility

Information about hospital accessibility can be found on the NHS Lothian website.

NHS Orkney delivers a wide range of health services to the people of Orkney, supplemented by specialist services provided by mainland health boards such as NHS Grampian and NHS Highland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Orkney have made information about European cross-border healthcare in Orkney available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Orkney

Enquiries about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Appeals

Appeals regarding European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

NHS Orkney adhere to the eight principles of Data Protection by the UK Information Commissioner, and have information governance systems in place, with a Caldicott Guardian overseeing data security.

Adherence to information governance is monitored by the Quality Improvement Committee.

All personal information is held securely, with access only in accordance with the principles of Data Protection.

Accessibility

Balfour Hospital is fully compliant with Disability Discrimination Act requirements.

NHS Shetland is responsible for health care for a population of around 23,000, supplemented by specialist services provided by mainland health boards such as NHS Grampian and NHS Highland.

Shetland is an island region in the far North of Scotland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Shetland have made information about European cross-border healthcare in Shetland available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Shetland

Enquiries about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Appeals

Appeals regarding European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

NHS Shetland has a framework in place for handling information in a confidential and secure manner to appropriate ethical and quality standards.

This framework makes sure that information is:

• held securely and confidentially
• obtained fairly and lawfully
• recorded accurately and reliably
• used effectively and ethically
• shared appropriately and legally.

Information governance covers all types of information and relevant legislation including Data Protection, Freedom of Information, Patient Confidentiality, Records Management, Caldicott Guardians, The Common Law and Professional Guidance.

More information can be found on the NHS Shetland website under policies.

Accessibility

NHS Shetland recognises that anyone who needs healthcare or medical treatment has the right to be treated fairly and not to be discriminated against. This is regardless of their 'protected characteristics' in relation to:

• disability
• gender reassignment status
• marriage and civil partnership status
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation

The Equality and Diversity Policy sets out the Board's commitment to delivering healthcare services where equality, diversity and human rights are understood and respected. It also sets out how that understanding and respect will be reflected in the everyday work of NHS Shetland staff.

This includes their hospital site conforming to current legislation in terms of accessibility for people with disabilities.

NHS Tayside is responsible for delivering healthcare to around more than 400,000 people living and working in the region.

Tayside is a region in the North East of Scotland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Tayside have made information about European cross-border healthcare in Tayside available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Tayside

Enquiries about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Appeals

Appeals regarding European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

NHS Tayside regards all identifiable personal information relating to patients as sensitive and confidential. Governance Policies are in place to ensure compliance with the requirements of national guidance, policy and law.

NHS Tayside also adheres to the Caldicott principles. The appointed Caldicott Guardians for NHS Tayside have responsibility for agreeing and reviewing internal protocols governing the protection and use of patient-identifiable information by the staff of the organisation or those shared with other NHS Scotland organisations.

Accessibility

NHS Tayside adheres to the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. All of its acute hospitals support people with a disability.

Useful information that patients may require to know prior to coming into hospital is available on NHS Tayside’s website.

NHS Western Isles works alongside mainland Health Boards and other local organisations, including the local authority and third sector (voluntary) organisations, to provide a wide range of healthcare services to the local population.

The Western Isles is an island region in the North West of Scotland.

Cross-border healthcare

NHS Western Isles have made information about European cross-border healthcare in the Western Isles available for:

• UK citizens considering treatment in Europe
• EEA citizens considering treatment in Scotland

Who to contact at NHS Western Isles

Enquiries about European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Appeals

Appeals regarding European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Complaints

Complaints about the handling of European cross-border healthcare should be directed to:

Privacy

NHS Western Isles is committed to ensuring that its information is managed to the highest standards and in accordance with the powers conferred on it by the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974/Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000.

NHS Western Isles is also committed to meeting its responsibilities in relation to information legislation, including the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2000.

NHS Western Isles will ensure that its policies, systems and processes are compliant with the Caldicott Principles. It will also ensure that it protects the privacy and dignity of the people whose information it accesses, holds and uses.

In doing so, it will comply with the legal requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the provisions in relation to confidential personal information within the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The Caldicott Principles are incorporated into NHS Scotland Caldicott Guardian's Principles into Practice - June 2012 v2. NHS Western Isles has adopted this in is its entirety.

NHS Western Isles will create and manage all records efficiently, protect and store them as securely as necessary, make them accessible to those with a right to see them and dispose of them safely at the appropriate time, in accordance with Legislation and the applicable NHS Scotland Code of Practice on Records Management.

Accessibility

All NHS Western Isles hospital sites comply with Disability Discrimination Act.