Scottish Health Resource Utilisation Groups (SHRUGS)

SHRUGS is a method of allocating hospital patients to resource utilisation groups, and is based upon measurement of need for care and dependency.

The data was collected on (a) patients in long stay care of the elderly hospital wards and (b) patients in Psychiatry of Old Age (POA) facilities.

National coverage of SHRUGS data was estimated at 83% of patients in long stay care of the elderly wards and 35% of POA patients. Data were obtained by interviewing care staff who knew the patients well and then entered onto a database held on a laptop computer.  ISD has collected SHRUGS data from all NHS Boards on an annual or biannual basis since 1995.

It is important to note that the SHRUGs data represented a 'snapshot' of the position at a certain point in time. Because data was recorded at different times during the year in different hospitals, comparisons of data between NHS Boards should be made with caution.

 

Scottish Care Resource Utilisation Groups (SCRUGS)

In 1998 SHRUGS was adapted to SCRUGS to better describe the dependency and care needs of residents in care homes.

The data from care home residents was collected in a similar way to that of SHRUGS, except that local agencies requested ISD for a SCRUGS survey. Data were obtained by interviewing care staff who know the patients well and then entered onto a database held on a laptop computer.

 

Note: The collection of SHRUGS and SCRUGS data ceased in October 2009.

 

Older People Services: Measuring Relative Need Statistical Reports

For a number of years ISD has produced a report containing information on the care needs and dependency of patients in long stay hospitals and residents in care homes. The information was produced from analysis of data from the SHRUGS and SCRUGS surveys. The most recent report was published in 2009.

More recent reports also contains information relating to the Indicator of Relative Need (IoRN) (LINK) and the Care Home Staffing Model (CHSM) (LINK).

The reports are intended to be of interest to all those involved in the delivery and management of care for older people particularly in long term institutional care but also for those living in their own homes.

Reports by year:

1999    2000    2001/02    2003    2004    2005     2006    2007    2008     2009   

   

This topic is part of the Health and Social Care Information Programme