Introduction The four tertiary centres in Scotland providing paediatric (<16 years of age) HPN are formalised within the Scottish HPN MCN; only these centres have facilities and expertise to give prolonged PN beyond term. Scotland comprises 8.6% (5.2 million/61 million × 100) of the paediatric population of the UK. Our aim was to demonstrate nationwide incidence and prevalence of need for paediatric HPN in Scotland, as a representative part of the UK.

Methods The prospective cohort of HPN cases managed in all 4 tertiary paediatric HPN centres in Scotland (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow) has been ongoing from 01/2003. We reviewed prevalence and incidence of paediatric HPN for each year from 2003 to 2010 (10 months only for 2010), with point prevalence on the 31^st of each October. Outcomes of interest included fate - continuing HPN or leaving paediatric network, and reason why.

Results There were 39 HPN cases in this period, with 6 prevalent cases on 01.01.03. There were 33 incident HPN, and 28 of 39 stopped HPN (14 adapted, 2 withdrew, 1 transitioned, 1 left Scotland, and 10 died). Prevalence and incidence data are shown in table 1. * 01.01.03-31.10.10 only.

Conclusion We report nationwide data on the incidence and prevalence of paediatric HPN in Scotland, managed in the 4 HPN centres. Extrapolation of our Scottish nationwide data (collected within a national MCN) to the UK ((nx100/8.6)/12 years) suggests that there are annual minimum paediatric incidences and period prevalences of 48 and 126 cases respectively needing HPN in the UK, with an increasing trend in the last 8 years. These data are important for counselling families and for planning regional and national paediatric HPN specialist services in the UK.