North Edinburgh News – Page 267 – The NEN

Edinburgh’s Christmas: Full Ross Bandstand programme unveiled

Red Hot Chilli Pipers announced to headline the community programme

Excitement mounts as Edinburgh’s Christmas opening is less than 3 weeks away
Traditional Norwegian Christmas Tree & Advent Concert to light-up The Mound and herald beginning of Edinburgh’s winter celebrations
Plus, Scottish bagpiping icons, silent discos, ceilidhs, carol concerts and more top the bill for the beloved Ross Bandstand

With just under three weeks until Edinburgh’s Christmas events and attractions open to Edinburgh residents and visitors, the full Ross Bandstand programme has been unveiled, promising a lively hub of family-friendly and community events, taking place across four weekends leading up to Christmas.

From a showstopping performance from the world-famous Red Hot Chilli Pipers to St. Andrew’s Day ceilidhs, carol concerts, Santa Runs and more, the much-loved Ross Bandstand stage will be at the centre of Edinburgh’s seasonal celebrations for 2025.

A full list of highlights includes:

Norwegian Christmas Tree Light-Up – Tuesday 18 November, 6pm (Public switch on at 6.15pm):

A beloved annual tradition which recognises the help given to the Nordic country by Scots during World War II, this special event stands as a powerful symbol of friendship between the two nations. Each year, the must-see light-up of the gorgeous Norwegian Spruce Christmas Tree on the Mound marks a cherished moment in the city’s festive calendar, heralding the beginning of Edinburgh’s winter celebrations.

The ceremony is followed by Scottish-Norwegian advent concert at St Giles’ Cathedral at 7pm, where locals and visitors alike are invited to join in for a night of musical reflection. This event is free to attend, with St Giles’ providing an atmospheric, accessible venue for elves of all ages to enjoy!

Light Night Concert at West Princes Street Gardens – Sunday 23 November, 2pm until 6pm:

Edinburgh’s Christmas team is busy decking the halls – and the stage! – for an afternoon of Christmas magic, featuring an appearance from the Big Man himself.

Between 2pm and 4pm, the warm-up features local community groups, choirs and dancers taking over the stage with roaming entertainment, from juggling elves and face painting to dazzling Snow Queens.

From 4pm until 6pm, the main event includes enchanting magical acts, big choir singalongs and a special visit from Santa, with a lantern parade and collaborations with Edinburgh’s cultural venues adding extra festive sparkle.

This is a must-attend for families – giggles and jingles guaranteed! Free entry and no tickets required, just turn up on the day and get ready to sing!

A Taste of Scotland – Saturday 29 November, 12pm until 6pm (free to attend):

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers take centre stage at the Ross Bandstand to headline a free day of fun celebrating Scotland’s culture, craft and community spirit. Renowned across the world for their signature “bagrock” sound, the group’s high-energy performances fuse traditional pipes with rock anthems, promising to round off the day in unforgettable style.

Earlier in the day, explore stalls from Scottish makers in recognition of Fair Saturday – the global movement that celebrates artists, cultural organisations, and social projects the day after Black Friday. With live music from local performers, Highland dancers, hearty stovies and more, it’s the perfect way to celebrate Scotland’s creativity and charm!

St Andrew’s Day Ceilidh & Market – Sunday, 30 November, 12pm until 6pm (free to attend):

Celebrating St. Andrew’s Day, Ross Bandstand comes alive on 30 November with a special free Family Ceilidh. This year, The Sensational Jimi Shandrix Experience will take to the stage – a band renowned as one of the top ceilidh acts in the world.

With a caller to teach the steps, it doesn’t matter whether you are a dab hand at the Dashing White Sergeant or a first time Highland Flinger, everyone’s in for a lively whirl. These traditional Scottish dances are as fun and joyful to watch as they are to join, with local Highland Dancers on hand to show how it’s done.

This event also brings back the local makers’ market and delicious food stalls from A Taste of Scotland on Saturday, offering another chance to browse unique crafts and enjoy a taste of Scotland’s finest fare.

Nativity Scene Carols on The Mound – Sunday 30 November, 5pm until 6pm, Mound Place:

Once again, the beautiful Nativity Scene, crafted by Munich sculptor Thomas Hildenbrand, returns to The Mound as a central part of Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations. Since 2023, the stunning display has become a much-loved seasonal landmark, offering a quiet space for reflection amid the bustle of the festive period.

This year, the scene will be blessed by Reverend Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh, marking the beginning of the city’s Christmas celebrations and inviting residents and visitors alike to pause and share in the message of peace and hope that lies at the heart of Christmas.

After the blessing, visitors are invited to join the annual Nativity Carol Concert held in collaboration with Edinburgh Churches Together in Assembly Hall’s beautiful Courtyard, featuring performances from local school and church choirs. This event is free to attend, with everyone welcome!

Edinburgh Sings – Saturday 6 December, 2pm until 5pm:

Enjoy a wholesome afternoon of free festive music with performances from community and performance choirs. Audiences can expect performances of their favourite carols and Christmas classics at the Ross Bandstand, with plenty of opportunity to join in!

Santa Run and Santa Paws – Sunday 7 December, 11am (registration 9.30am to 10.30am – starts 11am):

Edinburgh’s Christmas is delighted to welcome the beloved When You Wish Upon a Star Edinburgh Santa Fun Run & Walk, celebrating 21 years this winter.

The event sees Santas, Elves, Olafs and other festive creatures run, jog or walk around the 2.5km circuit in West Princes Street Gardens to fundraise money for a very deserving cause.

When You Wish Upon a Star is a Scottish charity that makes the dreams of children with life-threatening diseases come true. Those who would like to take part, can register and purchase tickets here.

If you are worried about your furry friends feeling left behind, worry no more: Santa Paws is here! A Santa Run but for animals, Santa Paws sees our canine friends throw on their best festive outfits and make a run for it.

With photo opportunities, activities throughout the afternoon and a dog show of best dressed pups on the Bandstand stage, West Princes Street Gardens is paw-sitively the place to be this festive season!

Silent Disco Christmas Cracker – Saturday 13 December, 6.30pm-8pm:

Get ready to dance the night away beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle as the Christmas Cracker returns to the Ross Bandstand.

Partygoers can choose from three music channels packed with festive favourites, with both a static DJ and a roving DJ going head-to-head to deliver the ultimate Christmas playlist.

A lively, feel-good celebration, this event promises an unforgettable night of music, lights and festive cheer right in the heart of the city.

For tickets, visit www.edwinterfest.com.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Christmas is beginning to arrive in Edinburgh, and there’s so much to look forward to across this year’s celebrations. From festive performances and community celebrations to special moments for families, most of the events on offer are free so there truly is something for everyone to enjoy.

“I’m especially delighted to welcome the ever popular Red Hot Chilli Pipers to the Ross Bandstand for what promises to be a showstopping performance. I’m sure it will be a real highlight of the season and a fantastic way for people to get in the holiday spirit.”

A Unique Assembly spokesperson said: “West Princes Street Gardens will be bursting with festive cheer this winter, with a packed programme of free and ticketed community events spreading Christmas cheer and a warm Scottish welcome to locals and visitors alike.

“Whether singing loud for all to hear at the Light Night Concert and Silent Disco Christmas Cracker, birling beneath Edinburgh Castle to live ceilidh bands, watching the world-famous Red Hot Chilli Pipers sleighing the stage on St. Andrews Day weekend, or joining hundreds of Santas for a run around West Gardens, there is festive fun for everyone!’

Winter Festivals

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Ambulance staff subjected to violence and harassment on alcohol-related callouts

Ambulance staff subjected to violence and harassment on alcohol-related callouts, study finds
Stronger regulation of late-night alcohol sales and marketing likely to help

Scottish ambulance staff are frequently being subjected to violence, aggression and sexual harassment when they attend alcohol-related callouts, according to new research.

The first-of-its-kind study by the University of Stirling reveals anxiety and frustration among ambulance staff and warns that alcohol-related ambulance callouts have knock-on effects on responses to other patients.

The authors of the study highlight the need for improved support options for patients with chronic alcohol problems, as well as stronger government regulation. Limiting the sale of alcohol after midnight to fewer premises, and introducing restrictions on alcohol marketing, would help reduce this demand for ambulances over time, they say.

The qualitative study, funded by the Chief Scientist Office, part of Scottish Government, is believed to be the first to give voice to ambulance staff on the challenges of dealing with emergency callouts linked to alcohol consumption.

Researchers interviewed 27 frontline ambulance clinicians across Scotland, including paramedics and paramedic technicians, as well as four senior Scottish Ambulance Service staff.

Interviewees reported unpredictable behaviour from intoxicated patients, with callouts taking place in difficult environments – bars, clubs and streets – where ambulance staff regularly experienced violence and harassment from patients and bystanders.

One male paramedic technician who took part in the study said: “The only times I’ve been physically threatened, if not assaulted, have always been drunk patients.

“I’ve been punched, I’ve been kicked, I’ve been bit(ten). I’ve been chased with knives due to drunk people.”

Sexual harassment was more commonly reported by female staff. One female paramedic technician said: “The thing is that you don’t know how [intoxicated patients] are going to turn, ‘cause one minute they can be nice and the next minute they can be…It’s almost like the flick of a switch and they can just turn so nasty.”

The frequency and repetitive nature of callouts – with the same patient often needing to be attended to multiple times – were seen as having a huge impact on the ambulance service, adding significantly to an already very heavy workload. This was the case all year round but exacerbated by certain events.

One female paramedic technician said: “I think when we are stretched to the limit, resources-wise, we are getting these calls through.

“We feel that they are having a massive impact on our staffing, our resources…sometimes we can go to two and three and four alcohol-related call-outs in a row. It gets to the stage where you’re thinking, oh no, not another one.”

She added: “We kind of dread the football matches and we think, oh no, where are they playing? Are they playing at home this day?

“Or we dread New Year, or we dread the Christmas season, where we’re having the office parties and you’re thinking, oh, here we go.”

Calls to patients with alcohol dependence were particularly time-consuming due to the complexities of these patients’ needs, commonly including mental ill-health – with ambulance staff reporting that they take a lot longer than other jobs.

One male paramedic explained: “You go to someone who’s got chest pain and is an alcoholic [sic] that could potentially go up to two hours, two and a half hours because it’s really hard to do the assessment, it just slows everything down.

“And you’ve got the ones that don’t want to travel, and they have to travel or they’re being awkward, or you end up with the police there as well.”

Dr Isabelle Uny, Research Fellow at the University of Stirling’s Institute for Social Marketing and Health (ISMH) and lead author of the paper, said: “Our findings show the extent to which alcohol consumption, both on social occasions and by people with alcohol dependence, adds to the pressure on ambulance services and staff.

“We found that ambulance staff displayed a deep duty of care to these patients, despite the frustrations, challenges and aggression, and often treated experience of violence or harassment as routine.”

One in six ambulance callouts in Scotland are alcohol-related, according to previous research by the University of Stirling.

The findings come as the Scottish Government considers further action to restrict alcohol marketing, which, if implemented, is likely to be helpful over time.

The UK government is currently seeking evidence on reforms to the alcohol licensing system in England and Wales that Stirling researchers say would have the opposite effect – further increasing the numbers of premises selling alcohol from an already record high and making it harder for local authorities to regulate late-night sales.

Professor Niamh Fitzgerald, the principal investigator on the study, and Director of ISMH, said “The latest UK government proposals to further liberalise the alcohol licensing system are likely to increase pressure on ambulance services in England and Wales – making alcohol even more easily available twenty-four seven, including from shops and via rapid delivery.

“These findings remind us that this would be bad news for efforts to reduce ambulance waiting times.

“We already know what measures work to reduce the harmful impacts of alcohol – restricting availability, increasing price, and reducing marketing – it is up to both local and national governments to decide to take those measures.”

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, said: “This research provides a stark reminder of the profound impact alcohol has on our emergency services – placing an avoidable strain on hospitals, paramedics, and other frontline staff, and diverting vital resources away from patients with other urgent medical needs.

“Current UK Government plans to make alcohol even more accessible are deeply concerning. These proposals risk exacerbating the pressures on emergency services and making it harder for frontline workers to do their jobs and protect the public.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We recognise the impact of alcohol-related harm and addiction in Scotland, and we strongly condemn violence and aggression against our staff. It is not acceptable.

“These incidents can have a significant and lasting impact on our people, sometimes even leading them to leave the ambulance service.

“They have the right to carry out their work helping patients and saving lives without fear of assault or abuse, and we will work with Police Scotland to take action against perpetrators.”

St Columba’s launch Light up a Life 2025 Winter Appeal

We are excited to launch our 2025 ‘Light up a Life’ winter appeal. This year, we invite the Hospice community to dedicate a light to a loved one who has died, and join us to watch one of our Trees of Remembrance light up in their memory.

Supporters can expect our Autumn/Winter newsletter in the post over the next week, which shares the heartfelt story of Cammy and his mum, Gillian, who died in the Hospice earlier this year.

To find out more and dedicate a light in memory of your loved one, visit:

https://stcolumbashospice.org.uk/sup…/light-up-a-life-2025

Light up a Life is proudly sponsored by the Farmer family.

RoSPA: Hidden horrors of Halloween

Over 80% of children’s costumes fail safety tests

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging families to take extra care this Halloween after new government testing revealed widespread safety failures in children’s costumes.

The warning follows findings from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) in 2024, which showed that more than 80 per cent of costumes tested failed basic safety checks.

Tests carried out by OPSS on 128 costumes—mostly purchased from online marketplaces—found serious issues including flammability risks and strangulation hazards. RoSPA is advising parents to only buy costumes from trusted retailers and to check for the UKCA or CE mark to ensure products meet UK safety standards.

The OPSS investigation found that 28 costumes failed flammability tests, while 59 featured cords or drawstrings that posed a strangulation risk. In addition, 98 costumes lacked essential safety labelling, making it harder for parents to assess risk.

Adrian Simpson, Head of Policy at RoSPA, said: “These results are deeply concerning. Parents need to be vigilant and check for safety markings before buying. A UKCA or CE mark means the costume has passed critical safety tests, including for fire resistance.”

Graham Russell, Chief Executive at the Office for Product Safety and Standards, said: “Fancy dress can be an enjoyable part of Halloween, but our tests showed many costumes for sale, particularly those online, pose serious risks to young children. Please take extra care before you buy.”

RoSPA is also reminding families to follow basic safety precautions during Halloween celebrations:

Avoid open flames such as candles and fireplaces.
Ensure children are supervised while trick-or-treating.
Make costumes visible with reflective strips or torches.
Avoid homemade costumes, which may not meet fire safety standards.
Check the OPSS website for product recalls before use.

RoSPA continues to work with government and industry to improve product safety and raise awareness among consumers.

New morning show – Radio Scotland Breakfast – to replace Good Morning Scotland

The new flagship show, which begins on Friday 24 November, will be presented by Martin Geissler and Laura Maciver

BBC Scotland is launching a new weekday morning news programme, Radio Scotland Breakfast, which will replace the long-running Good Morning Scotland.

The new flagship show, which begins on Friday 24 November, will be presented by Martin Geissler, host of Scotcast, and Laura Maciver, a senior presenter on Reporting Scotland: News at Seven. BBC Radio Scotland’s Phil Goodlad will present the sports news.

Current Good Morning Scotland presenters Gary Robertson and Laura Maxwell are taking up other high-profile presenting roles with the broadcaster. Gary will replace Martin as the presenter of The Sunday Show on BBC One Scotland and BBC Radio Scotland and Laura Maxwell moves to BBC Radio Scotland’s early evening news show, Drivetime, sharing the single presenting duties with Fiona Stalker across the week. She will also present editions of Lunchtime Live.

Martin will continue to be the host of Scotcast, BBC Scotland’s current affairs podcast which runs on BBC Sounds, TV and radio and BBC iPlayer.

The new breakfast show will be pacy, informal, and informative and will always focus on the stories that matter to the audience across every part of Scotland.

Breakfast will retain the high standard of trusted journalism set by Good Morning Scotland, with the big interviews that shape the agenda, breaking news, expert analysis of Scottish, UK and world news and events, as well as comprehensive coverage of sport, the economy, weather, and entertainment. It will run from 6am to 9am Monday to Friday.

Howard Simpson, Head of News and Current Affairs at BBC Scotland, said: “The launch of Breakfast marks a new chapter in the history of BBC Radio Scotland’s morning news service for audiences.

“BBC Scotland News is more important than ever now in the disinformation age and the programme will have the journalistic rigour and depth our listeners have come to expect, with Martin and Laura bringing their distinctive energy, insight, and warmth.

They will be there to help audiences make sense of the main issues facing Scotland and ask the questions that need answered.

“I’m confident that’s a combination that will make Breakfast a must-listen for people who want the latest news, sport, weather and entertainment from a Scottish perspective.

“I also want to thank Gary and Laura, whose work on Good Morning Scotland has been outstanding, and I’m delighted they’ll be bringing their talent to other roles in our news and current affairs output.’

Gary Robertson, who has successfully presented Good Morning Scotland for the last 19 years, said: ‘It’s been a privilege to be part of Good Morning Scotland, waking the nation up, for such a significant period.

“I’m excited to take on The Sunday Show full-time, where I’ll continue to ask the searching questions and explore the stories that matter most to our audiences.’

Laura Maxwell added: “I’ve loved waking up Scotland with the news every morning and now I’m looking forward to joining listeners later in the day.”

Martin Geissler said: “I can’t wait to get started. Having spent 35 years in television, I’ve only come to radio relatively recently, and I love it!

“I really enjoy the intimacy of radio, the relationship you have with an audience and the space you get to really drill down into interviews. I want to bring all of that to our new show.”

Laura Maciver added: “It’s a thrill to be part of this new chapter.

“We want to bring clarity, pace, and personality to the new show, with hopefully a few smiles along the way too.”

Celebrate Bonfire Night safely

Council Leader Jane Meagher discusses plans in place for Bonfire Night and encourages residents to celebrate safely:

Bonfire Night is a much-loved tradition and a highlight of the year for so many across the city. It’s a time to come together with friends, family, and neighbours to enjoy fireworks and have fun.

As we look forward to celebrating, we’re asking everyone to do so safely and responsibly. Wherever possible, we’d encourage residents to attend one of the many organised displays taking place across the city. These events are not only the best way to enjoy fireworks, they’re also the safest.

Sadly, in previous years, we’ve seen a small minority misuse fireworks in ways that put others at risk. Emergency services workers, local businesses, essential bus services, and members of the public have all been affected by dangerous and anti-social behaviour. This is unacceptable and it doesn’t reflect the vast majority who simply want to enjoy the night peacefully.

That’s why we’re taking proactive steps again this year, working closely with our partners to put robust plans in place. One important measure is the continued use of Firework Control Zones (FCZs), which were introduced in response to community concerns. Based on data and evidence, FCZs are about making sure celebrations happen in the right way and in the right place and they’ve already proven to be effective in previous years.

Aligning these with Dispersal Zones ensures there is a comprehensive framework in place to deter reckless and antisocial behaviour.

They’re not a catch-all solution, but they’re part of our broader approach that includes enforcement, prevention and engagement.

Our teams, alongside Police Scotland, have been visiting firework retailers across Edinburgh and I’m delighted that all but 2 have made the decision not to sell fireworks this year. This is a huge step forward that will make the celebrations safer for everyone.

We’re also prioritising direct engagement with young people, giving them a voice in how we shape our approach to firework safety. Just recently, Police Scotland and Fearless hosted a youth summit, offering young people a meaningful platform to share their perspectives and help develop the Fearless social media campaign which will reach thousands of our young people in the run-up.

We’re backing this up with funding for alternative activities and youth engagement programmes aimed at providing positive choices and discouraging anti-social behaviour.

In the lead up to Bonfire Night, you’ll also notice Council teams and community volunteers working together to clear hazardous materials, tackling fly-tipping, and offering free bulky waste collections to reduce the risk of deliberate fires.

Together, we can all play a part in making Bonfire Night a safe and enjoyable time for everyone by following safety guidance, being considerate of others, and reporting any concerns.

Manifesto for a Wellbeing Economy

WELLBEING ECONOMY ALLIANCE

We’re delighted to share with you our Manifesto for a #WellbeingEconomy co-created with our members.

Our manifesto highlights how we can change the rules of our economy, using bold, achievable and transformative policies that put people and planet first.

Manifesto for the economy 2025 Download

https://weallscotland.org/_files/ugd/e2bd6b_cbd7d8e69b8e4f5ba75cd77cbe1d9f5b.pdf

Fearless promotes firework safety at Edinburgh event

Hundreds of young people across Edinburgh united at the Corn Exchange last month for Igniting Change – an event placing young voices at the heart of shaping Scotland’s approach to fireworks safety.

Hosted by Fearless, Crimestoppers’ youth service, in partnership with Police Scotland and supported by key organisations, the initiative gave pupils a unique opportunity to share their views directly, deepen their understanding of fireworks risks, and help create resources for their peers in the run-up to the fireworks season.

Fearless Digital Media Officer Natalia Ainsworth chats with some event attendees

The insights, experiences, and creative ideas gathered on the day will form the foundation of a new Fearless social media campaign, launched on 27th October across Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, reaching hundreds of thousands of young people across Scotland in the run-up to Bonfire Night.

From fire safety and animal welfare to learning about the medical realities of fireworks injuries with the Scottish Ambulance Service and Medics Against Violence, some serious issues were tackled – but the young people also helped create a campaign soundtrack alongside a professional DJ, shared ideas on a digital graffiti wall, and engaged in a live Q&A panel with officials and experts.

We’re looking forward to the campaign delivering engaging, relatable content designed by young people, for young people, encouraging safer choices and stronger communities during fireworks season.

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited fined £176,000 for six days of flaring ‘that sounded like a jet engine’

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited was fined £176,000 at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday (28th October 2025) after pleading guilty to breaching its environmental permit during six days of continuous flaring at its Cowdenbeath site in April 2019.

The conviction follows an extensive regulatory investigation by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) involving specialist regulatory, technical, scientific and enforcement staff, which resulted in referral to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in July 2020.

The flaring caused significant disruption to the local community, with SEPA receiving more than 900 complaints, the highest number ever for a single environmental event in Scotland. Residents described the noise as “like a jet engine” or a “blowtorch”, which left them unable to sleep. People were reluctant to go outside due to the noise and many referenced anxiety and the fear that something more serious, like an explosion, could happen.

A loss of steam on 21st April 2019 forced ExxonMobil Chemical Limited to shut down operations at its Fife Ethylene Plant and flare around the clock for almost a week.

SEPA’s investigation found that:

Smoke from the elevated flare stack exceeded legal limits, with emissions darker than Ringlemann Shade 2 for 110 minutes – more than seven times the 15 minutes permitted.

Significant noise pollution was caused, based on monitoring in the community and statements from residents.

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited had processes and contingency plans that should have prevented the incident, but they were not followed to a high enough standard.

Poor maintenance scheduling, a lack of understanding of the site’s steam balance, and failure to update risk analyses left the plant vulnerable, resulting in the shutdown and prolonged flaring.

Ross Haggart, SEPA’s Chief Operating Officer for Regulation, Business and Environment, said: “For nearly a week, communities around ExxonMobil Chemical Limited’s site were impacted by unacceptable and preventable flaring, causing noise and disruption on a scale that was simply intolerable.

“The scale of complaints, the highest number ever received by SEPA for a single environmental event, illustrates how many people were impacted by the noise, described as “like a jet-engine”, that disturbed sleep and caused fear and anxiety.

“Our investigation found that ExxonMobil had processes in place that could have prevented this incident, but they were not followed to a high enough standard. Today’s result holds the company to account for these failures, and the serious impacts communities experienced.

“While flaring is an important safety mechanism at facilities like this, it must be the exception rather than routine. Significant investment in new flaring infrastructure and operational improvements has been driven by SEPA’s programme of enforcement, and we will continue to keep a firm focus on compliance going forward.”

SEPA’s twin-track approach

SEPA have maintained a firm twin-track approach to compliance, ensuring the company is held to account while securing the technical improvements needed to address the root causes of unacceptable flaring.

Through SEPA’s regulatory requirements, ExxonMobil Chemical Limited has made major investments including the installation of low-noise elevated flare tips and multi-million-pound upgrades to improve steam management, reduce risk and minimise the frequency and duration of flaring events.

This approach demonstrates SEPA’s commitment to delivering accountability and long-term compliance, delivering tangible improvements for the community.

£531 million investment in Scotland’s General Practice

Funding will improve access to services and support recruitment

General Practice will receive additional funding of more than half a billion pounds over the next three years to support recruitment – the largest investment in core GP services to date in Scotland.

The announcement, subject to Parliament agreeing future budgets, comes following agreement with the British Medical Association (BMA) over new additional funding which builds to a recurring £249 million in three years’ time. The funding will help boost staff numbers and capacity, support day-to-day operations and make it easier for people to access GP services.

This newly agreed additional funding takes additional new investment for General Practice to £531 million.

Subject to future budget processes, an initial investment of £98 million will be made available in 2026-27, with £183 million being invested in 2027-28 and £249 million following in 2028-29. This builds on our current annual investment into General Practice of over £1.3 billion, including more than an additional £100m over the last two years.

The new investment will also help deliver digital prescribing, which aims to improve efficiency within Primary Care settings and enhance the patient experience.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “We have been listening carefully to the views of Scotland’s GPs and I am pleased the BMA has accepted the Scottish Government’s offer to increase funding by £249 million, which takes total investment in General Practice to more than half a billion pounds over the next three years.

“This is the largest investment in core GP services to date in Scotland and will significantly boost recruitment from next year, helping to deliver the capacity needed to improve services for patients.

“This funding will help us as we shift the focus of care from acute to community. We remain focused on reducing waiting times and new figures show we are making progress – waits of more than a year have reduced for the fourth month in a row and the total waiting list size has also reduced.

“This is not a pay deal — it’s about stabilising practices and getting more staff into general practice. GPs and practice staff received a £46 million uplift for pay and expenses earlier this year, and practices are receiving an additional £15 million in 2025-26 to support immediate recruitment needs.

“I thank the BMA for their constructive discussions and look forward to working with the sector to ensure patients have the best possible care available, as close to home as possible.”

Dr Iain Morrison, Chair of BMA Scotland’s GP Committee said: “For some time, we have been clear that the only way to put General Practice in Scotland on a sustainable footing for the future and to improve access for patients was direct investment into practices to recruit and retain GPs.

“Today’s announcement, secured after a robust but constructive set of negotiations is welcome recognition of that fact and reflects the level of funding needed to stabilise and rebuild General Practice across Scotland in both urban and rural areas.

“It is a significant step in the right direction, and importantly is a vote of confidence in the long-term future of the independent contractor model of general practice that has served local communities across Scotland so well.

“This investment should finally enable the profession to feel optimistic about the future and provides the opportunity to make working in General Practice in Scotland the rewarding, safe and sustainable career it should be once again.”