Chamber and committees

Foundation Year 2 (FY2) doctors are encouraged to apply for and start specialty training through a range of initiatives that increase awareness and exposure to specific specialties, including educational and career events and targeted Foundation placements/programmes. Additionally, pay enhancements, including an 8.5% pay rise for doctors in training, help to improve the financial appeal of specialty training.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are responsible for supporting the education, training and development of Advanced Nurse Practitioners.

There are a total of 940 Foundation year 2 doctors working across all Health Boards as of 17 December 2024. This number will fluctuate daily due to trainees going out of programme or completing training. Please see the following table for further information.

From February – May 2024, the Scottish Government held a public consultation on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt. The consultation was run in parallel with a programme of extensive stakeholder engagement.

During the consultation period, I met with a range of stakeholders across public health groups and the food and drink industry. Several Ministerial roundtable events were held with stakeholders to discuss their views on proposals for regulations. We will publish the outputs of these roundtable events alongside independent analysis of the consultation responses in early 2025, as well as set out next steps for the regulation of HFSS food and drink promotions.

Ministers meet regularly with a broad range of stakeholders including public health groups and industry to discuss a range of issues relating to public health policy.

The Best Start (2017) recommended that all neonatal facilities should provide emergency overnight accommodation on the unit for parents, with accommodation available nearby for parents of less critically ill babies. We have no plans to introduce guidance on the number of parent beds that should be available in each unit.

We are currently working with Regional Chief Executives and Regional Planners who are leading on development of plans for implementation of the new model of neonatal care, with the expectation that a phased transition to the new model will begin later this year. Accommodation is part of Board’s planning under the new model of neonatal care implementation.

The Best Start (2017) recommended all neonatal facilities should provide emergency overnight accommodation on the unit for parents, with accommodation available nearby for parents of less critically ill babies. Boards are expected to include provision for this in their planning.

We also provide support to all families with babies in neonatal care to cover the costs of food, travel and accommodation as part of our Young Patients Family Fund.

Hospitals with the neonatal intensive care units have accommodation for families on site, and this will be offered to families in the first instance. If hospital accommodation is not available, the Health Board will usually be able to book and pay for nearby accommodation for families in advance.

Data on the amount local authorities spend on reading books is not collected centrally. The delivery of education is devolved to local authorities and funding is provided to local authorities via the “block grant”. Each local authority will have their own approaches to funding school reading materials, which will vary according to local needs and resources.

We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis are able to access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

Through the NHS Inform Women’s Health Platform, we have made a range of information on endometriosis available to women online.

This has included the Endometriosis UK Pain and Symptom Diary as well as access to a self-help tool on periods and mental wellbeing.

A menstrual health symptom questionnaire has also been developed by NHS Education for Scotland and is available through the TURAS platform for healthcare professionals to share with women. It will also be available for women to access directly via the NHS Inform Women’s Health Platform shortly.

We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis are able to access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

Through the delivery of the Women’s Health Plan we have worked to ensure that women have access to comprehensive information on endometriosis – including options for treatment.

We have; launched a Women’s Health Platform on NHS Inform which includes an endometriosis page with consistent, reliable and accessible information, including a short lived experience film, empowering women to make informed decisions about their health; worked with organisations such as the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, Young Scot and Endometriosis UK to raise awareness about the condition and deliver accurate and supportive information to the public; funded Endometriosis UK to produce a booklet and two webinars on treatments and self-management tips for managing endometriosis pain.

More information can be found in the Women’s Health Plan Final Report.

This data is not routinely collected.

We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis are able to access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

That is why endometriosis is one of the key priorities in the Women’s Health Plan and will continue to be so.