ISD Scotland | Information Services Division

About ISD

Scotland has some of the best health service data in the world. Few other countries have information which combines high quality data, consistency, national coverage and the ability to link data to allow patient based analysis and follow up. The Information Services Division (ISD) is a division of National Services Scotland, part of NHS Scotland. ISD provides health information, health intelligence, statistical services and advice that support the NHS in progressing quality improvement in health and care and facilitates robust planning and decision making.
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What's New in ISD?

Technical Consultation on the Design of the Data Sharing and Linking Service

This consultation launched on 6 March 2013 in relation to the new Data Sharing and Linking Service which will deliver additional capacity and technical expertise to enable linkage to take place more quickly, securely and efficiently and to enable new research to be undertaken.

[Added 6 March 2013]

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Latest Statistics

Primary 1 Body Mass Index (BMI) statistics for school year 2011/12

Published: 30 April 2013 - show summary

In school year 2011/12 a total of 52,139 valid height and weight measurements were recorded for children in Primary 1 in Scotland. This is approximately 92% of children in Primary 1. This is the first year that data are available for all council areas in Scotland.

Based on epidemiological thresholds used for population monitoring purposes:

In 2011/12, 76.9% of children in Primary 1 were classified as healthy weight, a marginal increase on the 2010/11 figure of 76.7%.
The BMI distribution of children in Primary 1 has remained broadly similar over the period 2000/01 to 2011/12 with around 21% to 23% of children (one in five) at risk of overweight and obesity combined and around 1.5% at risk of underweight. In 2011/12, 21.9% of children in Primary 1 were at risk of overweight and obesity combined and 1.2% at risk of underweight.

Based on clinical thresholds for assessing children:

In 2011/12, 84.6% of children in Primary 1 in Scotland were classified as healthy weight, a marginal decrease on the 2010/11 figure of 84.7%.
The BMI distribution of children in Primary 1 has remained broadly similar over the period 2000/01 to 2011/12 with around 14% to 16% of children overweight, obese and severely obese combined and around 0.5% underweight. In 2011/12, 14.9% of children were classified as overweight, obese and severely obese combined and 0.4% underweight.

In school year 2011/12 a total of 52,139 valid height and weight measurements were recorded for children in Primary 1 in Scotland. This is approximately 92% of children in Primary 1. This is the first year that data are available for all council areas in Scotland.

Based on epidemiological thresholds used for population monitoring purposes:

In 2011/12, 76.9% of children in Primary 1 were classified as healthy weight, a marginal increase on the 2010/11 figure of 76.7%.
The BMI distribution of children in Primary 1 has remained broadly similar over the period 2000/01 to 2011/12 with around 21% to 23% of children (one in five) at risk of overweight and obesity combined and around 1.5% at risk of underweight. In 2011/12, 21.9% of children in Primary 1 were at risk of overweight and obesity combined and 1.2% at risk of underweight.

Based on clinical thresholds for assessing children:

In 2011/12, 84.6% of children in Primary 1 in Scotland were classified as healthy weight, a marginal decrease on the 2010/11 figure of 84.7%.
The BMI distribution of children in Primary 1 has remained broadly similar over the period 2000/01 to 2011/12 with around 14% to 16% of children overweight, obese and severely obese combined and around 0.5% underweight. In 2011/12, 14.9% of children were classified as overweight, obese and severely obese combined and 0.4% underweight.

Cancer Incidence 2011

Published: 30 April 2013 - show summary

Over the last ten years, age-standardised incidence rates of cancer in Scotland have fallen by 3% in males but increased by 9% in females.
Cancer incidence rates and trends in incidence rates show considerable variation between different types of cancer.
Actual numbers of cases of cancer have risen over the last decade. This is likely to be largely due to an ageing population.
Two in five people in Scotland will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime. This includes cancers that will have no detrimental impact on life expectancy, such as indolent prostate tumours.
It is estimated that there are 165,000 individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer over the last 20 years in Scotland and who are still alive. This is approximately 3% of the population of Scotland.

Over the last ten years, age-standardised incidence rates of cancer in Scotland have fallen by 3% in males but increased by 9% in females.
Cancer incidence rates and trends in incidence rates show considerable variation between different types of cancer.
Actual numbers of cases of cancer have risen over the last decade. This is likely to be largely due to an ageing population.
Two in five people in Scotland will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime. This includes cancers that will have no detrimental impact on life expectancy, such as indolent prostate tumours.
It is estimated that there are 165,000 individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer over the last 20 years in Scotland and who are still alive. This is approximately 3% of the population of Scotland.

Place of Death from Cancer 2011

Published: 30 April 2013 - show summary

In the five year period, 2007-2011, half of the deaths in Scotland from cancer occurred in NHS hospitals (38,157 out of 76,510). A quarter of deaths from cancer were at home (19,457), while 18% were in hospices (13,894).
The overall pattern described above has also been consistent over the 10 year period 2002-2011, with only a small decrease in the percentage of deaths occurring in hospital and a small increase in the percentage of deaths occurring at home.

In the five year period, 2007-2011, half of the deaths in Scotland from cancer occurred in NHS hospitals (38,157 out of 76,510). A quarter of deaths from cancer were at home (19,457), while 18% were in hospices (13,894).
The overall pattern described above has also been consistent over the 10 year period 2002-2011, with only a small decrease in the percentage of deaths occurring in hospital and a small increase in the percentage of deaths occurring at home.

Scottish Breast Screening Programme Statistics 2011/12

Published: 30 April 2013 - show summary

NHSBSP Performance Standards, at 31st March 2012:

Looking at three year performance standard attendance figures, uptake has dropped slightly from 74.9% in 2008-11 to 74.5% in 2009-12.
Greater Glasgow and Clyde were the only NHS Board not to meet the minimum performance attendance standard of >70% of women invited during the previous three years. The attendance rate for Greater Glasgow and Clyde was 70.8% in 2008-11 but dropped slightly to 69.8% in 2009-12.
In 2011-12, all but one of the NHS Breast Screening Programme Minimum Performance Standards and all but 3 of the 13 targets were met.

NHSBSP Performance Standards, at 31st March 2012:

Looking at three year performance standard attendance figures, uptake has dropped slightly from 74.9% in 2008-11 to 74.5% in 2009-12.
Greater Glasgow and Clyde were the only NHS Board not to meet the minimum performance attendance standard of >70% of women invited during the previous three years. The attendance rate for Greater Glasgow and Clyde was 70.8% in 2008-11 but dropped slightly to 69.8% in 2009-12.
In 2011-12, all but one of the NHS Breast Screening Programme Minimum Performance Standards and all but 3 of the 13 targets were met.

The National Drug Related Deaths Database (Scotland) report 2011

Published: 30 April 2013 - show summary

In 2011, there were 438 cases identified as eligible for inclusion in the NDRDD cohort (an increase from 365 in 2010).
Over three quarters (78.3%) were male, over half (53.4%) lived in the most deprived areas in Scotland and the 35-44 years age group accounted for the highest proportion of deaths (38.1%).
Over two fifths (44.5%) of the cohort, where known, were a parent or parental figure.
Where known, nearly two thirds (63%) had a history of drug injecting and over three quarters (77.4%) had a medical condition recorded in the 6 months prior to death.
Where known, almost two thirds of individuals (64.5%) had been in contact with a drug treatment service at some point in their lives.
Where known, in the 6 months prior to death, one third (34.3%) had been released from police custody and almost a fifth (18.1%) had been released from prison.
This year's report includes data on drugs 'present' in the body and drugs 'implicated' in the death. The presence of a drug in the toxicology of the deceased individual does not necessarily mean that the drug was implicated in (contributed to) the death.
In the vast majority of cases (97%) more than one drug was present in the toxicology and in 68.9% more than one drug was implicated in the death.
In relation to drugs present, the proportion of deaths with heroin/morphine and alcohol has decreased over the period 2009-2011, while the proportion of deaths with methadone, diazepam and anti-depressants has increased over this period.
In 2011, diazepam was the drug most frequently found to be present in the body at death (81.4%) and methadone was the drug most frequently implicated in the death (53.4%).
The majority of individuals (150, 60.7%) with methadone found in their toxicology were not in receipt of a methadone prescription at the time of death.
Where known, almost three quarters (73.8%) of individuals in the 2011 NDRDD cohort were not currently in receipt of a prescribed substitute drug.

In 2011, there were 438 cases identified as eligible for inclusion in the NDRDD cohort (an increase from 365 in 2010).
Over three quarters (78.3%) were male, over half (53.4%) lived in the most deprived areas in Scotland and the 35-44 years age group accounted for the highest proportion of deaths (38.1%).
Over two fifths (44.5%) of the cohort, where known, were a parent or parental figure.
Where known, nearly two thirds (63%) had a history of drug injecting and over three quarters (77.4%) had a medical condition recorded in the 6 months prior to death.
Where known, almost two thirds of individuals (64.5%) had been in contact with a drug treatment service at some point in their lives.
Where known, in the 6 months prior to death, one third (34.3%) had been released from police custody and almost a fifth (18.1%) had been released from prison.
This year's report includes data on drugs 'present' in the body and drugs 'implicated' in the death. The presence of a drug in the toxicology of the deceased individual does not necessarily mean that the drug was implicated in (contributed to) the death.
In the vast majority of cases (97%) more than one drug was present in the toxicology and in 68.9% more than one drug was implicated in the death.
In relation to drugs present, the proportion of deaths with heroin/morphine and alcohol has decreased over the period 2009-2011, while the proportion of deaths with methadone, diazepam and anti-depressants has increased over this period.
In 2011, diazepam was the drug most frequently found to be present in the body at death (81.4%) and methadone was the drug most frequently implicated in the death (53.4%).
The majority of individuals (150, 60.7%) with methadone found in their toxicology were not in receipt of a methadone prescription at the time of death.
Where known, almost three quarters (73.8%) of individuals in the 2011 NDRDD cohort were not currently in receipt of a prescribed substitute drug.