Chamber and committees

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of people seeking a neurodevelopmental diagnosis and support, resulting in increased pressure across a range of services.

Recognising these pressures, last year the Scottish Government and COSLA undertook a review of the implementation of the National Neurodevelopmental Specification for Children and Young People. The Specification is clear that support should be put in place at the earliest opportunity on the basis of need, and should not wait for, or be dependent on, a formal diagnosis.

The review identified areas of good practice and areas where further action is required. It highlighted the significant pressures facing services and the need for clearer national direction and practical support to help deliver timely, neuro-affirming care across Scotland.

In response to these findings, the Scottish Government committed to a programme of work to support health boards and local authorities in delivering the aims of the Specification. This work is being supported by the cross-sector Children and Young People’s Neurodevelopment Taskforce, which brings together expertise from health, education, local government and the third sector to ensure a collaborative, whole-system approach to improving support and services for children and young people.

The Managed Clinical Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MCN CYPC) will be one of several stakeholders Scottish Government will engage with to consider priorities and approaches that best support improved outcomes for children and young people with cancer. I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02402 on 31 August 2026.

As a national network of healthcare specialists in children and young people’s cancer services, and the organisation responsible for the delivery of the current children and young people’s cancer strategy – The Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care: cancer strategy for children and young people 2021–2026, their input into these discussions is valuable.

Scottish Government has invested in the MCN CYPC since it was first established in 2011 to deliver on its remit of supporting NHS Boards to deliver high-quality cancer services for children and young people, whilst supporting the holistic needs of patients.

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.

As indicated in Parliamentary Question S7W-01610 on 5 August 2026, the Long Term Conditions Advisory Groups, were established under the previous government to provide recommendations to inform our way forward for long term conditions. It is for Scottish Ministers to decide whether and to what extent any of the recommendations become government policy. We are carefully considering these recommendations as we develop this work.

We are grateful to all members of the Advisory Groups for their involvement in developing these recommendations and continue to engage with the Advisory Groups as this work develops.

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 committed to a review of the Patient Travel Reimbursement Schemes guidance. However, as the scope, timing, and governance of the review have not yet been agreed and no start date has been confirmed, it is not currently possible to provide details of any wider reform programme that the review may inform or support, or when the work is expected to conclude.

The Scottish Government will provide further information on the review, including its remit and timescales, once these have been established.

The Scottish Government has committed to a review of the Patient Travel Reimbursement Scheme guidance. No further details are available at this stage as the work on determining scope, terms of reference and timings have still to take place.

No financial penalties, contractual remedies or performance improvement notices have been issued to OneAdvanced in relation to the performance of the Vision GP IT system.

User feedback from GPs, practice managers and other primary care staff who have migrated to the new Vision system has been collected by Public Services Delivery Scotland through an ongoing lessons learned exercise. There is also continued engagement with stakeholders including GP representative groups including the Royal College of GPs and the Scottish GP Council.

In March 2022, Vision successfully met all Tranche 1 accreditation requirements. Functional and non-functional testing was undertaken covering security, hosting arrangements, clinical safety, support arrangements and training provision, with Health Board subject matter experts contributing to the assessment process.

Public Services Delivery Scotland GP IT Business As Usual Service Management team monitor all adverse events that occur from GP systems. Of the 8 adverse events that have occurred since OneAdvanced have acquired the Vision software, there have been no reported incidents that have impacted clinical safety for patients.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on GP Practices implementing short term reductions in clinical activity, appointment availability or service provision. The Scottish Government has agreed with Public Service Delivery Scotland to increase the post migration support to help practices familiarise themselves with the new system and reduce any short-term disruption.