Chamber and committees

As set out in answer S6W-38507, Scottish Government recognises that throughout their career, employees, including radiologists and oncologists, will face differing demands on their time and energies at home as well as at work which may lead to them leaving the workforce below the age of 50.

The national ‘Supporting Work Life Balance’ workforce policies provide staff with a range of flexible working options to help them to balance their lifestyle whilst maintaining and promoting the best possible service to our patients and service users.

Further, Scottish Government are supporting staff throughout the NHS, including radiologists and oncologists, through funding of over £2.5m annually to support staff wellbeing. Evidence shows that positive wellbeing enhances staff retention and engagement, which in turn raises standards of patient safety and quality of care.

This funding provides our workforce with access to psychological interventions and therapies, self-service resources through the National Wellbeing Hub and the National Wellbeing Helpline delivered by NHS 24. Registered staff also have access to confidential mental health services through the Workforce Specialist Service (WSS).

The Scottish Government has already provided reassurances to independent hospices that the funding will be allocated as soon as practically possible, based on the analysis of financial data provided by the hospices.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of children and young people in temporary accommodation that have been required to move school. Individual Local Authorities may hold some information on such cases.

Data on the average age of a doctor leaving the oncologist or radiologist NHS Scotland workforce is not held centrally.

Official Statistics published by NHS Education for Scotland, and available on the Data and reports | Turas Data Intelligence website, show that 32 doctors, across all ages, left the combined clinical oncologist, clinical radiologist and medical oncologist NHS Scotland workforce in the year to 31 March 2025. There were 43 joiners, and a turnover rate of 5.2%, which is the lowest turnover rate since at least 2010.

These Official Statistics also show that the median age of the combined clinical oncologist, clinical radiologist and medical oncologist NHS Scotland workforce was 46 years old as at 31 March 2025 – the same as 10 years prior. The proportion of this workforce aged 55 and over has increased from 17.7% at 31 March 2015 to 21.5% at 31 March 2025.

The Scottish Government published the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Delivery Plan and Workforce Action Plan: Progress Update and Next Steps on 11 June 2025. This update outlines progress made since publication of the Delivery Plan and includes information on the implementation of Psychological Therapies and Interventions Core Standards. A further high-level progress report is due to be presented to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leadership Board on 21 August 2025.

The update does not include a specific analysis of the mental health impact of non-communicable diseases, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring people living with long-term conditions, including CKD, have access to safe, effective and person-centred care, including appropriate psychosocial support. NHS Boards are expected to follow current best practice in delivering this care.

More broadly, the Scottish Government is currently consulting on a Long Term Conditions Framework, which will help inform future approaches to prevention, diagnosis and care, including support for mental health and wellbeing. We are also considering the findings of Kidney Care UK’s June 2025 report Left to get on with it and will reflect these in future planning where appropriate.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of timely access to psychological therapies and continues to work with NHS Boards to reduce waiting times. We are taking forward targeted actions to expand the mental health workforce by making better use of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists who are currently not in practice. In collaboration with key partners, we are developing practical measures to support these professionals to return to the workforce. This includes exploring flexible employment opportunities, providing access to professional supervision, and ensuring alignment with the needs of mental health services. These efforts are part of our wider investment in workforce development and contribute directly to the implementation of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Action Plan. Workforce planning and service delivery are led locally, aligned with national frameworks and informed by local need.

The Scottish Government has provided substantial investment since the pandemic to help clear backlogs and to implement the Specification, leading to a 31.7% growth in the psychological therapies' workforce since March 2021.

Further to the answer to question S6W-36591 on 22 April 2025, provided by the former Minister for Housing Paul McLennan MSP, on plans to implement a presumption against children moving schools when they are placed in temporary accommodation, I can advise that the Scottish Government plans to cover this issue when it next updates the Code of Guidance on Homelessness. This guidance, used to guide local authorities in their duties to assist people who are threatened with or who are experiencing homelessness, was last updated in November 2019.

The Scottish Government is committed to a substantial review of the Code of Guidance once the Housing (Scotland) Bill is passed by the Scottish Parliament. The updated Code of Guidance will cover all legislation, policies and practices to prevent and resolve homelessness.

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.

The Scottish Government has established the National Oncology Coordination Group to provide a coordinated and collaborative response to immediate and foreseeable service pressures. This group provides rapid real-time assessment of highest risk services and proactively develops risk mitigation proposals, in line with the overall strategic aim for cancer. Officials also meet with Boards’ Cancer Management Teams monthly to identify immediate challenges, explore solutions and share best practice to reduce delays and improve patient outcomes.

We have mobilised an ambitious Oncology Transformation Programme and are working closely with NHS Boards and regional leaders from across the country to address longer-term pressures. We have also committed to further funding for chemotherapy and acute oncology services using a phased approach to ensure we build a sustainable workforce. The funding will reach up to £10 million per annum by 2027 and will support increased regional working, workforce recruitment, and maximise capacity across the existing workforce. £6.6 million has been provided in 2025-26 and will support NHS Boards to develop sustainable plans.

As stated in the answer to question S6W-38508 on 18 June 2025, whilst Scottish Ministers are responsible for determining the strategic policy of the NHS in Scotland, NHS Boards are responsible for delivering their services, including making decisions to outsource NHS contracts to the independent sector where appropriate to meet the Board’s needs.

Scottish Government has committed to reduce the radiology backlog so that 95% of referrals are seen within six weeks by March 2026, through expanding to seven-day services, recruitment, and using mobile scanning units. More than £106 million has been allocated to NHS Boards in 25-26 to help address waits for procedures and operations, with £21 million for imaging.

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.

The Scottish Government does not currently have plans to introduce specific measures to train and upskill NHS kidney care teams in relation to psychosocial support.

NHS Boards are expected to follow current guidelines and best practice in delivering safe, effective, and person-centred care. Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023 sets out a long-term vision for improving mental health, supported by the National Specification for Psychological Therapies and Interventions and the new Mental Health Core Standards, introduced in September 2023. Workforce planning and training are led locally, aligned with national frameworks.