Chamber and committees

In line with the actions set out in the Scottish Government’s Donation and Transplantation Plan: 2021-2026 , a short-life working group has been set up to consider the issue of “timely transplantation” and to discuss perceived barriers to pre-emptive living donor kidney transplant and timely listing for deceased donor transplant. The group is currently gathering data and will report at the December 2024 meeting of the Scottish Donation and Transplant Group, which brings together key stakeholders.

In addition, as part of the Living Donation Scotland initiative, link nephrologists from each Renal Unit meet at an annual living donation event supported by the Scottish Government. A key objective is to work with nephrology colleagues to document transplant suitability on all electronic patient records in their patient groups so the multi-disciplinary team is aware of the individual pathway and progress, and this is now supported by the Renal Education and Choices at Home (REACH Transplant) nurses in each Renal Unit.

Transplant patients can experience a variety of emotions following their transplant and as a result the Scottish Government recognises the importance of psychological and emotional support. In order to better understand patients’ experiences, the Scottish Government carried out a patient survey on organ transplant aftercare and support between September and December 2023, receiving 569 responses from patients in Scotland, including 192 from those who had received a kidney transplant. The survey asked about patients’ experience of psychological and emotional support both before and after transplant; about the sources of such support; about patients’ preference for where to receive this support; and about whether they had any further comments about what would have improved their experience.

The Scottish Government is currently analysing the responses to the survey with the intention of publishing the analysis by the end of the year. Working with the Scottish Donation and Transplant Group, which brings together key stakeholders, and NHS National Services Division as commissioners, the Scottish Government will consider whether further actions might need to be taken in this area and how best to ensure patients get what they need.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) at Policy 11 (Energy) ensures that consideration is given to the decommissioning of developments and site restoration, as well as to the quality of site restoration plans. This includes the measures in place to safeguard or guarantee availability of finance to effectively implement those plans. The enforcement of such matters is a matter for the relevant local authority.

The Scottish Government is committed to promoting the rights of disabled people and ensuring that they benefit from all that we are doing to improve people’s lives. This includes ensuring that all serving Armed Forces personnel and veterans living in Scotland, as well as their families, are able to access the best possible care and support; enjoy their rights on an equal basis to others; and participate fully and lead their own lives.

Creative Scotland’s regularly funded organisations are contractually obliged to develop and implement Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plans. This covers all aspects of the organisation including audiences and marketing. Creative Scotland are also involved in “All In”, a UK wide initiative from Arts Council England, developing a new UK arts access scheme for D/deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent people, representing the Scottish perspective.

VisitScotland’s website already provides information on the benefits for event organisers of engaging further in accessible tourism and how events can create their own access guides.

Regards to the development of a standardised booking system, the Scottish Government expects all relevant organisations to comply with the requirement of the Equality Act 2010 and relevant codes of practice published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and address their broader duties under UK health and safety and equalities legislation including the requirement for service providers to make reasonable adjustments in circumstances where a disabled person is placed at a substantial disadvantage compared with non-disabled people. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is an independent, and reserved public body, and therefore cannot be directed by Scottish Ministers.

Energy policy, including smart meter policy, is mostly reserved to the UK Government and telecommunications is wholly reserved.

Despite the limitations imposed by these reservations, the Scottish Government has taken the lead in addressing poor coverage by allocating its own resources to ensure Scotland's homes and businesses are not left behind.

The Scottish Government has invested over £600 million in the Reaching 100% (R100) programme – including the three R100 contracts and our R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme – which will improve access to broadband services in Aberdeen and across Scotland. This will enable Scottish energy consumers to benefit from the advantages of smart meters, helping to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.

Scottish Government officials and Ministers continue to engage frequently with their UK counterparts and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the connectivity needs of the people of Scotland are being met.

With regards to the recruitment of staff, the Scottish Government’s role is to set policies and frameworks at a national level broadly to ensure sufficient workforce supply. Health Boards are autonomous institutions and as such, are responsible for their own recruitment activity taking into account, retention, absence rates and budgets when making decisions.

Whilst it is hoped that all graduates are able to join the NHS within their trained field upon graduation, this is not always possible as vacancies can fluctuate across NHS Scotland boards and by specialism.

The Scottish Government has been engaging with Health Boards regarding their current position in relation to job offers and supply. Health Boards remain committed to maximising opportunities for new qualified nurses to find employment

We will publish our finalised Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan later this Summer.

Transitionary funding, sometimes known as sustainability payments, were made to GP practices in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and reflected the status of the Primary Care Improvement Plans at that time. Since then we have continued to implement the plans and practices are now supported by over 4,900 multi-disciplinary team staff.

In 2024-25, we are investing over £190 million in the ongoing development of primary care multi-disciplinary teams.

As part of the 2018 GP Contract, the Scottish Government amended regulations for the delivery of CTAC Services. Boards are now responsible for providing a Community Treatment and Care service. These services are being designed locally, taking into account local population health needs, existing community services, and optimising benefit to practices and patients.

Our annual statistical publication provides a progress update on implementation of the 2018 GP contract.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring equitable access to living kidney donation. All nine Renal Units in Scotland are currently supporting living kidney donation, with sixteen living donor co-ordinators in post across the Renal Units. In 2016, the Scottish Government supported the creation of the Living Donation Scotland Board, whose role, working with referring Renal Units and Transplant Centres, is to make it easier to access living donor kidney transplantation. The Scottish Government also supports the Renal Units in their work by hosting an annual event for staff to share good practice and learning.

In addition, the Scottish Government is taking a number of steps to make accessing kidney donation easier as set out in the Scottish Donation and Transplantation Plan: 2021-2026 . The plan makes clear that whilst it will not be feasible for everyone, the aim is to encourage all those who need a kidney transplant to consider and explore options for a living donor transplant as their first transplant.

To ensure that every recipient who would benefit from a kidney transplant receives standard information about living donation during transplant assessment, the Scottish Government provides living donor information packs and a range of resources through the Organ Donation Scotland website, including written information, video and clear pathway contact information access for recipients and donors. Annual living donation multi-media campaigns have also proven successful in increasing awareness for donors.

Finally, following a pilot project, the Renal Education and Choices at Home (REACH Transplant) programme was implemented in 2022. REACH Transplant is funded by the Scottish Government and has involved the appointment of both a REACH transplant programme lead and ten REACH Transplant nurses across Scotland, based in each Renal Unit. The REACH Transplant nurses work with local nephrologists to identify those at an early stage who may need a kidney transplant in the future. A visit is organised with the recipient and their support network in a place of their choice to provide information on living kidney donation and to support the recipient to discuss living donation. The aim of this tailored support and timely referral for living donor transplantation is to increase the likelihood of pre-emptive transplantation by overcoming barriers and ensuring equity of treatment choice.