Chamber and committees

The table referred to in PQ S6W-33144 on 21 January 2025, which is held in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (BIB number 65598), gives a breakdown of the numbers of specialty posts available for recruitment and vacancies after recruitment for the past 10 years.

NHS Education for Scotland, in collaboration with wider stakeholders, are taking action to support recruitment into underfilled specialties including cancer and psychiatry. These actions include initiatives to promote these specialties through recruitment campaigns; increase exposure to these specialties, particularly during medical school and early career stages through Foundation placements and programmes, careers fairs and training days and; supporting recruitment in specific regions.

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 data below shows that 1083 Foundation Year 2 doctors have returned to training in Scotland since 2020.

In line with the Tobacco and Vaping Framework, work is underway to improve the technical infrastructure of the existing register of Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product retailers.

Officials are working with Scottish IT developers ePass, selected by the Scottish Government through CivTech Challenge 9, to create and deliver an up-to-date web-based register product. It is expected that this new product will make enforcement easier, will support improvements in data quality, as well as support engagement with retailers and increase the value of registration for retailers. It is expected to launch in Spring this year.

The number of established training places in each specialty is determined by anticipated future demand and workforce need for consultants and General Practitioners rather than foundation programme numbers.

While resident doctors are eligible to apply to specialty training after completing foundation training, other career routes are available and many choose deferred application or alternative routes including periods in locally employed doctor roles or periods of travel alongside options to develop their skills and experience through SAS grade roles. Data shows a trend of increasing proportions of Foundation Year 2 doctors delaying NHS specialty training in the whole of the UK and in Scotland. However, of all the cohorts from 2017 to 2021, only 8% of Foundation Year 2 doctors did not receive any offer of a training post after applying in the same year they completed foundation training.

There is no evidence to show that the reduction in Foundation Year 2 doctors entering specialty training has had an impact on the availability of medical professionals. Progression data from the General Medical Council shows that 90% of trainees have obtained a specialty training post in the UK within three years of completing the Foundation Programme.

As of 5 January, over 2.89 million winter vaccines have been delivered, with more than 1.27 million adult flu and over 523,000 child flu vaccines administered, as well as over 1.09 million Covid-19 vaccines administered.

Working with Public Health Scotland (PHS) and Health Boards, those eligible for vaccination have been encouraged through a number of mechanisms this winter, such as:

• Appointment or prompts to book via letters, emails or texts for all eligible citizens, depending on their communication preference, with the flexibility to book an appointment at any clinic in Scotland.
• Clear, updated information on NHS Inform, with particular prominence given to flu.
• Updated flu and Covid information leaflets for eligible citizens, with new content based on insight work and feedback on how previous leaflets could be improved.
• Dedicated updated resources for Health and Social Care Workers, based on insight work and feedback on how they can be improved.
• Public Health Scotland (PHS) has developed a range of tailored resources and promotional materials that have been disseminated through trusted partners, including local NHS Boards and the third sector, that can be used to inform and encourage uptake for all those eligible.

With cases of flu increasing over the Christmas holidays, the Scottish Government, PHS and territorial Health Boards put out a range of communications highlighting the seriousness of flu and advertising how eligible people could access vaccination immediately and easily, notably through drop-in clinics. Boards increased clinic capacity at this time and as a result, between 15 December and 5 January, delivered over 68,000 flu vaccinations, compared to 39,000 over the same three week festive window in 2023-24. Public Health Scotland surveillance information is available here.

The Scottish Government is continuing to work with PHS and territorial Boards on strategies to bring more people forward for their flu vaccine in the coming weeks. Since 26 December, the First Minister has chaired a number of meetings with senior leaders from across the health system in Scotland to support a cohesive and focussed effort to improve vaccine uptake and ensure the system as a whole is able to manage the increased demand typically seen in winter.

The winter Covid vaccine programme closes on 31 January, and PHS are planning additional communications to encourage eligible people to take up their vaccination before the programme ends. Flu vaccination will remain available until 31 March, and continued efforts will be made to encourage those eligible to come forward for their vaccination.

The Scottish Government has been working with Public Health Scotland and Health Boards to ensure that those who are eligible this winter are easily able to access vaccination.

Citizens were appointed to their nearest available clinic, with flexibility to reschedule into any clinic in Scotland, via the online booking portal or the national vaccination helpline, should their original appointment be unsuitable.

This gives citizens flexibility to get their winter vaccinations outside their own area, should it be easier for them to receive vaccination nearer their place of work or somewhere they visit regularly.

Boards maintain lists of those requiring home visits, and there are clear instructions on appointment letters on how to seek a home visit, if not already on a local list.

The Scottish Ambulance Service mobile vaccination service was deployed over the winter programme, offering accessible vaccination to those in rural and island areas, as well as underserved urban communities, identified by Boards.

Additionally, Boards have run dedicated clinics and drop-ins for health and social care staff, including offering vaccination at their place of work for NHS and care home staff.

On top of routine scheduling, when clinic capacity allowed, most Boards opened drop-in clinics in December, allowing those eligible to turn up and receive vaccination without having to book. These have been heavily promoted via Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, NHS Inform and by Boards.

The primary and secondary school child flu school is delivered directly in schools.

The Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP), led by PHS, reviews every winter vaccination campaign. SVIP will evaluate what went well and what can be improved for future campaigns, including what can be done to improve access. Ministers will be informed of the outcomes and will engage with key delivery partners to consider and implement improvements.

Details are as follows:

The direct distribution funding is targeted using the risk profile developed through Dynamic Coast research. Since year two, all coastal local authorities can apply for case study funding. The distribution methodology is discussed and agreed through COSLA’s formal financial governance process including recommendations from the jointly attended Settlement and Distribution Group and approval from COSLA Leaders.

The information is available at: Dynamic Coast - Coastal Change Adaptation

UK data from the General Medical Council (GMC) shows that the reported trend of Foundation Year 2 doctors delaying NHS specialty training in Scotland is similar to the trend in the UK as a whole. There are a number of possible (and complex) explanations for this trend but progression data from the GMC shows that 90% of trainees have obtained a specialty training post in the UK within three years of completing the Foundation Programme.