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.

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.

We know that this winter is one challenge for our health and social care system and recognise the impact of sustained pressure across our services during this time. We remain committed to supporting local systems to meet demand and deliver high quality services.

The allocation of medical specialty training places is made annually to ensure it meets the needs of the healthcare workforce, recognising that completion of specialty training can take a minimum of 3 to 8 years depending on the specialty. This process is overseen by a group of senior representatives from the Scottish Government, NHS Education for Scotland, professional bodies, and Health Boards. Based on workforce data and service demands, the group makes recommendations to Scottish Ministers regarding any changes needed, including the potential expansion of training places in specific specialties.

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) recruit to specialty training posts in Scotland as a whole, rather than recruiting to posts in individual Health Boards. Therefore, this data is not available from our recruitment reporting system.

Data on Fracture Liaison Service referrals across Scotland are not centrally held by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government recognises that primary and community care services should be developed to meet the needs of distinct localities, including those in our rural areas and islands. We have a range of levers to support rural and island areas, including Scotgem, golden hellos, rediscover the joy , a GP sustainability project, and our current work with NES to deliver GP fellowships and rural credentials. We also established the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care to support health boards, HSCPS and individuals to improve capability in rural and island areas.

The Scottish Government estimates that the Employer National Insurance Contribution increase might cost between £520 and £580 million for directly employed public sector employees and a further £210 million for contracted out services and the third sector. For NHS contractors, including GPs, we estimate costs of £40 million.

If the chancellor does not fund that in full, it could be, that at best £380 million would be forthcoming; leaving a significant shortfall. We continue to press for clarification.

Since implementation of Best Start commenced in 2017 Scottish Government has provided over £30 million of funding to NHS Boards to support implementation of the Best Start recommendations.

We continue to provide funding for the ongoing delivery of neonatal intensive care and continuity of carer, and to NHS National Services Scotland for the Perinatal Network.

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.

Provisions in the Community Wealth Building (CWB) Bill will be informed by operation of the internationally recognised CWB economic development model.

Community Wealth Building provides a strategic framework that can be applied to local areas and regions to bind together action in areas such as Fair Work, Sustainable Procurement and supporting the creation and sustainability of democratic and inclusive business models.

The Scottish Government has now confirmed arrangements for an implementation process with regard to the independent report, “Developing Scotland's Economy: Increasing the Role of Inclusive and Democratic Business Models.”

A new group will be formed to examine how the recommendations in this report can be delivered. Consideration of supported businesses can be included in the work of the group.