Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 7 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of NHS appointments missed, cancelled, or rescheduled by residents of island communities due to ferry cancellations or disruption in the last three years, and if it does not hold this data, what assessment it has made of any impact of ferry disruption on healthcare access.
The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of appointments missed, cancelled, or rescheduled by residents of island communities due to ferry cancellations or disruption in the last three years. We do however engage regularly with NHS Boards on the issue through our Transport to Health Delivery Plan and associated work. We have provided funding to HI Trans through our National Islands Plan to further develop the partnership work around Health and Transport, including consideration of resilience.
During a disruption, CalMac will undertake a network wide review for a core service to be delivered to all parts of the ferry network they serve. However, it is impossible to completely remove the risk of disruption due to either inclement weather or other reasons. During times of disruption, CalMac will always aim to minimise the impact.