Chamber and committees

NES published the Core Competency Framework for General Practice Administration Staff and Practice Managers in September 2023, which includes an accompanying learning needs analysis tools and training packages. The training packages include training resources specifically for GP receptionists.

Scottish Government is undertaking a range of actions to ensure healthy foods are available to and affordable for individuals living in areas of socioeconomic deprivation. This includes steps towards ending the need for food banks through our £1.8 million Cash-First Programme.

The programme will support eight public and third sector partnerships with four local authorities participating – Aberdeenshire Council, Fife Council, North Lanarkshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Council. This will strengthen urgent access to cash in a crisis and reduce the need for food parcels, meaning people can access the essentials they need whilst maintaining dignity.

Throughout 2023-24, we have also maintained funding levels for regional Community Food Networks so that they can continue to support people struggling to access healthier food options. The Networks help promote healthier diets in disadvantaged groups, whether that is due to lack of income, skills or cultural barriers. They provide a broad range of activities including: cooking classes, benefit checks, ‘grow-your-own’ food groups, cafés and food pantries.

Through funding the Healthy Living Programme, we are also helping convenience stores provide access to affordable healthier food options. More than two-thirds of the 2,300 strong Healthy Living Programme membership serves the most deprived areas of the country and ensures access to affordable, healthier food and drink in those communities.

In January 2022, the Scottish Government commissioned research to understand the outcome of primary care reforms for Scottish people. It commissioned a survey to assess public understanding, perceptions and experiences of primary care in the context of recent reforms and the COVID-19 pandemic. The report can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/public-understanding-perceptions-primary-care-scotland-survey-analysis-report/pages/3/

To strengthen the evidence base on the national context for implementation of primary care multidisciplinary teams, including on patient experience and awareness, we have established a Phased Investment Programme. Through this programme, we will work with a small number of areas using an improvement science approach to demonstrate what a model multidisciplinary team can look like in practice and collect evidence on the impact of Multi-Disciplinary Team working which will then inform and support future long term investment.

In conjunction with Scottish Government and wider stakeholders, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are leading the development of a national midwifery career framework, although this is not a formal commissioned piece. The work is being overseen by a steering group, chaired by the Chief Midwifery Officer.

The steering group has already developed a Midwifery Preceptorship Framework to support those starting their career in the midwifery workforce and a Midwifery Development Framework Ecosystem has also been created to underpin the framework activity. A development framework for Level 2-4 Perinatal Healthcare Support Workers is nearing completion with a draft framework for consultation anticipated in April 2024.

In addition, the group will consider career development in Bands 5-9 across the four pillars of practice.

The Scottish Government has delivered the Right Care Right Place campaign during October to November 2023 which outlined the options for those seeking urgent medical care across A&E/999, General Practice and NHS 24 111. The campaign also promoted the self-help guides that are available on NHSInform.scot and messaging relating to multi-disciplinary teams within General Practices.

In addition, NHS 24 has delivered their healthy know-how campaign which promoted the option of contacting a local pharmacist, as well as our regular campaigns as to how best to use NHS services (including primary care) over the winter period.

All patients who access NHS Pharmacy First Scotland do so by self-referral. In some cases though they will have been advised to attend a community pharmacy by NHS24 or another healthcare service.

Public Health Scotland has published data on the number of patients who used NHS Pharmacy First Scotland during its first full year of operation, 2021/22. Between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022, twenty-three percent of the Scottish population (1,242,801 people) accessed Pharmacy First Scotland services at least once. This data is not published as a breakdown by Health Board. More information can be found at NHS Pharmacy First Scotland - NHS Pharmacy First Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland .

The figures for 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 (up to September 2023) will be published on 16 April and will be available at the same link.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on how many primary care appointments were cancelled in the last two years, broken down by NHS board.

The Scottish Government have recently corresponded with the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on this question. See Electronic patient record | Scottish Parliament Website . To support our ambitions set out in the 2021 Strategy - Digital Healthcare Scotland % (digihealthcare.scot) we will be publishing our Delivery Plan for 2024-25 in late April 2024.

The information requested on how many NHS care navigators currently work in the NHS, broken down by NHS board is not centrally available.

Information on the NHS Scotland Workforce, broken down by NHS Board, can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: NHS Scotland Workforce Data .

The Scottish Government recognises the issues raised by pet owners concerning the cost of veterinary care for their animals, but does not provide financial support for veterinary charges. Regulation of the veterinary profession is a matter reserved to the UK Government.

For those experiencing difficulties providing treatment for their pets there are options available. In June 2023 we welcomed the expansion of the Scottish SPCA’s Pet Aid initiative to include veterinary treatment which can assist owners struggling financially. Concerned owners looking for help and advice can contact the Scottish SPCA, in confidence, via their helpline on 03000 999 999 or can visit their website to find out more details of their Pet Aid scheme https://www.scottishspca.org/pet-aid

Additionally, StreetVet assists homeless pet owners and the PDSA provides free or reduced cost treatment to those eligible and receiving benefits.