Chamber and committees

In 2025-26 we allocated more than £22 million additional funding to Health Boards to help tackle the longest waits for Radiology. The latest data shows that the Radiology list size decreased by 18.1% compared to last quarter. We are determined to continue to build on this momentum, ensuring people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible.

We have also provided additional funding of more than £12 million for 13 MRI mobile scanners and 4 CT mobile scanners, this will provide capacity of almost 90,000 additional scans throughout 2025-26.

The Scottish Government commissioned Centre for Sustainable Delivery who routinely monitor planned and actual diagnostic performance, and work with Boards towards the delivery of the 95% of patients seen within 6 week target. Their evaluation of this work will help inform plans for 2026-27.

Section 48(5) of the Scotland Act 1998 provides that any decision of the Lord Advocate in their capacity as head of the systems of criminal prosecution and investigation of deaths in Scotland shall continue to be taken independently of any other person. It is therefore the case, as the Lord Advocate made clear to Parliament during an Urgent Question on 25 February 2026, that the Lord Advocate is required to discharge their duties in that office independently of any other person and independently of any political interference.

During the Urgent Question, the Lord Advocate explained to Parliament that the Lord Advocate of the day may provide the First Minister of the day, or the Prime Minister or another constitutional office-holder, with appropriate information on casework or investigations. This has been done by different Lord Advocates irrespective of the political party of the recipient of the information, and is done in the proper administration of the legal system.

We have increased Radiography staff from 2,248.2 WTE to 2,773.0 WTE a 23.3% increase (Dec 2015 – Dec 2025). This includes:

• 24.1% increase in Diagnostic Radiographers (from 1,978.8 WTE as at Dec 2015 to 2,455.9 WTE as at Dec 2025).
• 17.7% increase in Therapeutic Radiographers (from 269.4 WTE as at Dec 2015 to 317.1 WTE as at Dec 2025).

The National Radiology Lead from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery meets regularly with Health Boards to discuss imaging performance, staffing levels and scanner stock. NHS Boards have been asked to provide plans to support delivery of the 95% target, of patients seen within 6 weeks, throughout 2026-27.

We have increased Radiography staff from 2,248.2 WTE to 2,773.0 WTE a 23.3% increase (Dec 2015 – Dec 2025). This includes:

• 24.1% increase in Diagnostic Radiographers (from 1,978.8 WTE as at Dec 2015 to 2,455.9 WTE as at Dec 2025).
• 17.7% increase in Therapeutic Radiographers (from 269.4 WTE as at Dec 2015 to 317.1 WTE as at Dec 2025).

The National Radiology Lead from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery meets regularly with Health Boards to discuss imaging performance, staffing levels and scanner stock. NHS Boards have been asked to provide plans to support delivery of the 95% target, of patients seen within 6 weeks, throughout 2026-27.

The recommendations of the National Child Mortality Database study emphasise the importance of timely and appropriate genetic testing and clear communication to support informed decisions about pregnancy, clinical care and family planning.

The Scottish Government does not have any plans to ban first-cousin marriages in Scotland.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has a duty to improve the quality of health care and its scrutiny activity, including its inspection programmes, is a key part of this.

Since November 2021, they have implemented a Safe Delivery of Care inspection methodology approach. The scope of inspections is intelligence-led and currently excludes certain facilities, such as smaller community hospitals. For hospitals within scope, HIS utilises a risk-based, data-informed prioritisation procedure to determine inspection frequency and specific service areas for review.

This broader approach is designed to provide independent assurance on the safety and quality of care delivered by NHS boards. The Safe Delivery of Care inspections are unannounced and are specifically designed to ensure an accurate and real-time assessment of care delivery.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) holds this information. Data on waiting list sizes is available at the following link: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-stage-of-treatment. However, it is important to note that PHS does not publish information on removals for the reason “Died.” Instead, this information is grouped into ‘Other reasons’ and can be found in Tab 2.4 of the Inpatient and day case spreadsheet, available here: https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/37438/ipdc_feb26-data-file-up-to-31-december-2025.xlsx.

There are no current plans to introduce an annual gynaecological check-up entitlement for gynaecological cancers as there are no suitably accurate screening tests for Ovarian, Uterine, Vaginal or Vulva Cancers.

Our national screening programmes are guided by the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee, an independent expert advisory group which advises all four nations of the United Kingdom on screening policy. We are working to increase coverage and uptake within the established cervical screening programme.

We are committed to improving the early detection of Gynaecological Cancers by raising awareness of symptoms through our Detect Cancer Earlier programme including featuring people who have been successfully treated for ovarian cancer in our public awareness campaigns.

We know that Gynaecological Cancers often have non-specific symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fatigue or changes in bowel habits. Non-specific symptoms are associated with delayed diagnosis, higher rates of later-stage disease and poorer outcomes. The revised Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer (SRGs) were published in August 2025 and include a new guideline for patients with non-specific symptoms to support primary care clinicians to identify those requiring urgent assessment by a specialist.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43803 on 5 March 2026. 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.

No such information has been sought.