Chamber and committees

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has received an abbreviated submission from the marketing authorisation holder, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, for vanzacaftor–tezacaftor–deutivacaftor (Alyftrek®), for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in people aged six years and older who have at least one non-class I mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. The appraisal of Alyftrek® via this abbreviated process is ongoing, and NHS National Procurement (NP) is continuing to work with Vertex Pharmaceuticals on the commercial arrangements.

The medicine product page on the SMC’s website will be updated with the advice in due course, once published.

In line with recommendations made by the Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group following annual reviews (since 2014) of the number of specialty training places needed in order to meet anticipated future service demand and consultant need, the Scottish Government has funded two additional haematology specialty training places in 2024.

We're gathering insights from doctors, residents, and senior clinicians through a series of focus groups. These are open to doctors at all career stages, from trainees to consultants, including Haematologists. The invitation to join focus groups has been open to all doctors in Scotland so we would expect that British Society for Haematology members will have had the opportunity to sign up through their employing boards and will also have the opportunity to respond to a survey which will be shared imminently.

The project’s Call for Evidence aims to understand the innovative approaches, both technological and non-technological – that can support the delivery of high-quality, equitable, and future-ready services. We will invite the British Society for Haematology to provide a submission to this call for evidence.

I refer the member to the answers provided for S6W-39724 and, S6W-39726 on 14 August 2025, S6W-39725 on 20 August 2025 and S6W-39723 on 21 August 2025.

To reiterate again we are working with NHS Scotland to address staffing as a matter of urgency, working closely with NHS Boards and clinical leaders from across the country to address pressures in a sustainable way. This includes retaining staff in specialist roles and prioritising staff wellbeing, as evidence shows that positive wellbeing enhances staff retention and engagement, which in turn raises standards of patient safety and quality of care.

With regards to the medical workforce specifically, since 2014 the Scottish Government has funded the creation of hundreds of additional specialty training places in Scotland across multiple different specialties, including in haematology.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

We continue to consider the findings of Sarcoma UK’s recent report and recognise the recommendations made within it.

We are working to improve access to timely and accurate diagnosis and on improving referral pathways to specialist care. We published the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Sarcoma on 6 August. These support primary care clinicians to identify those with symptoms suspicious of Sarcoma and identify those who require urgent assessment by a specialist.

Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services are a useful addition to how cancer can be diagnosed in Scotland. They provide primary care with access to a new fast-track diagnostic pathway for people with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer, such as weight loss and fatigue, important for those with Sarcoma. We introduced another RCDS this year, situated in NHS Forth Valley.

We are investing in research and clinical trials. The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) directly funds research projects and fellowships. All funding decisions are made based on an independent expert review process and we welcome applications for sarcoma-specific research.

The CSO also provides funding for NHS Research Scotland (NRS) whose role is to facilitate and develop the capacity of the NHS to support clinical research.

The Scottish Government is further committed to supporting patients to deal with the financial, emotional, and physical health effects of cancer.

We are currently working in partnership with Macmillan to improve the service we offer patients with cancer through the Transforming Cancer Care Programme (TCC).

This joint partnership with Macmillan is worth £27 million and is the first of its kind in the UK. The programme ensures that people affected by cancer in Scotland have access to a specialist key support worker, who can provide financial advice and emotional and practical support.

All cancers, including Sarcoma, remain a priority for the Scottish Government and wider NHS Scotland.

The Scottish Government published our Cancer strategy 2023 to 2033 - gov.scot along with an initial three year Cancer action plan 2023 to 2026 - gov.scot in June 2023.

Our strategic aim is to improve cancer survival and provide excellent, equitably accessible care. The strategy and plan take a comprehensive approach to improving patient pathways from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment and post-treatment care and will focus on reducing inequities in access to cancer care and cancer outcomes. This means treatment and care will be equally good for everyone, including for those with Sarcoma and we are taking action to achieve this.

For example, on 6 August we published the clinically reviewed Scottish Referral Guidelines for Sarcoma to help ensure the right person is on the right pathway at the right time. These guidelines support primary care clinicians to identify those with symptoms suspicious of Sarcoma and identify those who require urgent assessment by a specialist.

We do not expect to conduct a specific review for sarcoma care and treatment at this time.

The Scottish Government has funded the creation of hundreds of additional specialty training places for doctors in training in Scotland across multiple different specialties (including cancer-related specialties), since 2014. These training places have been created in response to recommendations made by the Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group (SSoTTG), which meets annually to review the number of specialty training places needed in order to meet anticipated future service demand, and consultant need.

The training programmes for relevant specialties (including Histopathology, Clinical Oncology, Surgical specialties and Clinical Radiology) follow curricula overseen by the respective Royal Colleges and include training on and/or exposure to sarcoma which varies depending on factors including the specific curriculum, specialty and placement. Furthermore, NHS Education for Scotland follow a multipronged approach to mitigate training gaps and there are also other opportunities and resources in relation to sarcoma knowledge available for doctors in Scotland.

Whilst Scottish Government sets the strategic policy direction for the NHS in Scotland, operational matters, including staffing, are ultimately the responsibility of NHS Boards.

How the recommendations are taken forward will be determined following consultation with stakeholders, including NHS Boards and OSCR. Consultation will ensure no unintended consequences as well as appropriate consideration of capacity, as significant work will be involved for both for the Scottish Government and for Health Boards. The timing of that consultation has yet to be determined.

In the meantime, funds remain available to be directed in accordance with the charities’ purpose, and taking account any restricted funds.

It is also important to note that neither OSCR's inquiry nor the Independent Review indicated that there are widespread issues in the decisions being made about the use of NHS Endowments’ charitable funds.

Significant Adverse Event Reviews are conducted at a local level within each NHS Health Board and the learning and improvement actions that are identified as part of that review process are considered within the Health Board to reduce the risk of the same event recuring in the future. When relevant this will include actions to ensure that findings inform related professional development or training plans and delivery. The Scottish Government is clear that this learning should be shared nationally to enable other Health Boards consider if their processes can be improved as a result.

The Scottish Government has funded the Joint Commission for Safety, Openness and Learning – delivered by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) – which has developed Compassionate Communication Skills training to support staff in having difficult conversations after adverse events, reinforcing a commitment to learning and patient-centred care. NES has developed professional development and training resources, such as Human Factors/Ergonomics (Safety Science for Patient Safety), which can be accessed by all NHS Scotland staff.