Chamber and committees

As part of Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) benchmarking, a mapping exercise is currently underway which includes the consideration of national KPI reporting for audiology services.

An executive lead group for audiology has been reestablished, with representation from each NHS Territorial Health Board to consider the outputs and next steps of this work, which will conclude within the current financial year.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on payments to consultants for (a) the introduction and development of AI across the public sector or (b) staff training on the use of AI.

However, the Scottish Government has prioritised building internal capability and expertise to ensure sustainable and responsible adoption of AI technologies.

Work to support the development and implementation of AI has been led by civil servants, supported by specialist input from The Data Lab, in line with the Scottish Government’s AI Strategy which promotes inclusive, ethical, and trustworthy use of AI. Staff training and upskilling in AI have also been delivered internally including by the Scottish Digital Academy.

Scotland’s Baby Box is a universal demand led programme and the cost for the programme fluctuates according to Scotland’s birth rates. The specific cost of the items contained within the Baby Box and the box itself are subject to commercial sensitivity of the contract the Scottish Government has with its managing agent APS (Scotland) Group.

The total cost of an individual Baby Box which includes contents and all logistics is provided in the following table.

Scottish Government knows that the earlier cancer is diagnosed the easier it is to treat, and even cure. Diagnosing brain cancer can be challenging as symptoms are wide-ranging and often vague.

We continue to have a focus on the less survivable cancers, including brain tumours, and improving their outcomes and this vision is part of our Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-2033 along with an initial three year Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023 – 2026.

The Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme initially launched in 2012, takes a whole-systems approach to early detection and encompasses primary care, diagnostics, public education, data, innovation and screening.

A new primary care cancer education platform - Gateway C, launched in 2024, is a free online platform providing innovative and tailored information to support earlier cancer diagnosis efforts and enable effective decision-making.

The Scottish Referral Guidelines (SRGs) for Suspected Cancer support primary care clinicians to identify those with symptoms suspicious of cancer and identify those who require urgent assessment by a specialist. For the first time, the guidelines includes an update to the guidance for urgent referral for suspected brain tumours, to help ensure the right person is on the right pathway at the right time.

A new National Headache Pathway has also been published by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery. This pathway, based on presentation at General Practice, clearly lists red flag symptoms that indicate the need for urgent and/or emergency assessment to exclude a secondary cause, such as a brain tumour.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39938 on 4 September 2025. 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 is clear that patients should not pay for any part of their NHS treatment, and NHS patients are not permitted to use purchased donor eggs for NHS treatment. However, NHS treatment should not be withdrawn from patients who purchase their own donor eggs for use in future private treatment. If a patient is unhappy with the care they have received, they should contact their NHS Board who have responsibility for delivering services.

Scottish Audiology Heads of Service have recently initiated an in house peer review process and are continuing to see positive results from this. As part of Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) benchmarking, a mapping exercise is currently underway which includes the consideration of national peer review for audiology services.

An executive lead group for audiology has been reestablished, with representation from each NHS Territorial Health Board to consider the outputs and next steps of this work, which will conclude within the current financial year.

The Scottish Cancer Network (SCN) has developed a Clinical Management Pathway on adult neuro-oncology. It sets out the delivery of a Scotland-wide approach to optimal treatment options throughout the patient journey, from diagnosis through to follow-up or end of life care.

The neuro-oncology pathway provides a clinical consensus to delivering the optimal treatment and support options to individuals diagnosed with and living with brain cancer, regardless of individual or geographical variation. It also signposts resources and support services to live well with a brain tumour, take control and find practical help that meets their specific needs.

I also refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39990 on 4 September 2025. 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 expects NHS Boards to meet the needs of couples who are eligible for NHS fertility treatment and require donor gametes (eggs and sperm) for that treatment. We have always been clear that couples who are eligible for NHS fertility treatment should not pay for any aspect of their treatment, and this includes the purchase and use of donor gametes.

The Scottish Government has committed funding to all territorial Health Boards to undertake Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) benchmarking throughout the current financial year.

An executive lead group for audiology has been reestablished, with representation from each NHS Territorial Health Board to consider the outputs and next steps of this work, which will conclude within the current financial year.