HOLYROOD’s Health Social Care and Sport Committee has said it is disappointed by an ongoing lack of transparency in data gathering and analysis, which makes it very difficult to assess the effectiveness, or otherwise, of the Scottish Government’s approach to mental health spending.
The findings are part of the Committee’s Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2026-27, which this year focused on mental health spending. Spending on mental health services now stands at around £1.5 billion and has risen in recent years.
The Committee acknowledge there is general support for the priorities set out in the Scottish Government’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and accompanying Delivery Plan, but regrets that it remains very difficult to identify links between those priorities and how mental health budgets are spent.
It calls on the Scottish Government to provide additional data to illustrate how and to what extent mental health budgets can be linked back to the priorities identified.
The Committee is calling on the Scottish Government to provide data on actual spend on mental health services to allow for better evaluation and to help inform spending decisions.
While acknowledging the current landscape is complicated, even more so as a result of the integration of health and social care, the Committee say the Government must do more to provide detailed analysis of current spending to inform current and future policy.
Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said: “Our pre-budget scrutiny this year has been focused on the Scottish Government’s spending on mental health but what we have found is that issues of transparency, data availability and analysis has limited our ability to effectively scrutinise policy and funding.
“More importantly, this limits the Government’s ability to understand the effectiveness of funding for mental health services and where spending could be better targeted to improve outcomes.
“We’re calling for more transparency, and better data and analysis to improve evaluation and to better inform spending priorities.
“Better data capture and analysis could also help inform preventative approaches to mental health funding and highlight areas where ring-fenced funding could be effective. We look forward to the Scottish Government responding to our report.”
The reported negative impact of a lack of long or even medium-term certainty around budgets is also highlighted and the Committee is seeking reassurance from the Scottish Government that the Spending Review can provide a degree of long-term certainty for services and the third sector.
Health and social care is the largest portfolio area in the Scottish Government’s budget, accounting for over £21 billion of spend, equivalent to around a third of the entire Scottish budget. Within this total, spending on mental health services now stands at around £1.5 billion and has risen in recent years.
Magic is in the air at Vue as Wicked: For Good, the follow-up to last year’s global big screen sensation, returns to venues on 21 November.
Fans wanting to catch Wicked: For Good before anyone else – spreading a little magic in the process – can attend a special MediCinema screening at 11am on Thursday 20 November. All proceeds from this special screening will go directly to MediCinema, which offers therapeutic cinema sessions across NHS hospital in the UK.
There’s also a chance for filmgoers to see a special double-feature screening of both titles later the same day, allowing audiences to experience the epic saga in one sitting.
The excitement doesn’t start there, with Vue’s in Scotland hosting special Magic Seat Screenings for two consecutive weekends (22 and 28 November), which will see two lucky fans from each screening being chosen at random to win a magical treat – all depending on which seats they’re in.
Prizes up for grabs include Ozian-themed LUSH body sprays, signed and framed Wicked posters, Wicked-themed LEGO sets and a Westfield shopping experience for two, including one night in a four-star hotel plus £500 to spend at the mall.
And for those wanting to bring home a piece of the magic, limited-edition merchandise will also be on offer – including emerald green and blush pink reusable cups, topped with either mini Glinda or Elphaba figurines, as well as a light-up popcorn bucket in the shape of a hot air balloon.
Rob Lea, Head of Screen Content of Vue UK and Ireland, said: “After the spellbinding success of last year’s Wicked, we have high expectations for this star-studded conclusion.
“To mark the occasion, we’re treating audiences to an extra special experience at Vue with our exclusive merch, double bill feature and extra special Magic Seat Screenings.
“We welcome fans to enjoy every musical note and magical moment of this highly anticipated release, the way it was meant to be seen – on the big screen”.
Tickets for Wicked: For Good, including Vue’s exclusive Magic Seat Screenings, are on sale now. To book your tickets, visit www.myvue.com
The Edinburgh Poverty Commission has published a report and action plan for tackling poverty over the next five years.
Five years on from their original report, they have joined forces with the End Poverty Edinburgh citizens’ group, to evaluate what has changed in the city since 2020, what has worked best to prevent people being trapped in a cycle of poverty, and to set out a practical pathway for the next five years.
Unveiled at a conference in the Southside yesterday (Friday 31 October), A Just Capital: 2025 Call to Action acknowledges positive progress has been made to support residents across the city – but reveals poverty rates remain largely unchanged and that the next five years need to be a period of accelerated delivery.
Responding to the findings, City of Edinburgh Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Since the Commission’s initial report, we’ve declared a housing emergency and experienced an unprecedented cost of living crisis. Withfood prices now 57% higher and electricity costs up 48%,ithas become even more difficult to tackle poverty, but we are making progress.
“The Commission’s calls to action in 2020 have enabled us to focus as a city and to work better together. Our collective efforts have prevented thousands more people from entering poverty and homelessness and have helped many more into secure work. This is alongside putting millions of pounds worth of previously unclaimed benefits into people’s pockets and helping to establish a dedicated poverty prevention fund.
“And yet, poverty rates remain unchanged, and the figures are stark. Nearly a quarter of a million children are experiencing poverty in Scotland, and more than 80,000 Edinburgh residents are struggling to make ends meet, often being forced to choose between heating or eating.
“We cannot address this alone and I welcome the Commission’s latest report, which calls on all levels of government to respond.
“Over the next five years we will focus our efforts on prevention – establishing new neighbourhood prevention partnerships meaning people can get all the help they need in one place. We also need to increase the affordable and social rented housing Edinburgh so desperately needs. We’re determined to take every local action possible to make life fairer for everyone who calls Edinburgh home.
Linda Craik, Co-Chair of the Edinburgh Poverty Commission said: “During this review we’ve heard some quite distressing stories of the impacts and effects of poverty on families and we’ve heard the frustrations of those agencies and individuals who are trying to help them. But we’ve also seen some fantastic examples of collaborative working which is starting to make an impact on the poverty landscape.
“It can be so easy to look at the poverty, housing, health, employment statistics and feel deflated and disheartened, but we, as a city, made a commitment and we are moving forward.
“Just keep listening to the people you are trying to help – they after all just might have some of the answers and the simple solutions that sometimes aren’t as obvious as you’d think they might be.
“End Poverty Edinburgh are such people and we’re more than happy to work with anyone who wants to be part of movement to eradicate poverty in our city.”
Jim McCormick, Co-Chair of the Edinburgh Poverty Commission, said:“We are five years on since the Edinburgh Poverty Commission set out calls to action for the city in A Just Capital. Published between two Covid lockdowns, Commission members could not have anticipated the long shadow of the pandemic on people’s lives, or the impact of the cost-of-living crisis that followed.
“We cannot say things have got better city-wide. Some things have become tougher. Overall, Edinburgh is not on track to solve poverty. Poverty levels appear to have flat-lined.
“At the same time, it is also true that we have seen signs of positive change. Powerful collaborative work is being done at neighbourhood level, while early but decisive steps are being taken to prevent homelessness.
“That this review has taken place at all is a mark of the city’s commitment. For things to improve, this needs to go further. We have found enough determination in the city to believe that the original calls to action can still be achieved by 2030.
“Longer-term and flexible funding, true collaboration between sectors and new forms of accountability are required for these examples to achieve their real impact.
“This is a time for renewed commitment from those we elect at local, Scottish and UK levels, via investment in social housing, education, fair work, social security, equity in education, health and social care and a just transition. There is no sustainable route to ending poverty otherwise.”
AN EVENING OF REVELRY AND CELEBRATION ON CALTON HILL
Last night, revellers of 4700 gathered at Holyrood Park to take part in the annual Samhuinn Fire Festival, produced by Beltane Fire Society.
The festival brought to life the struggle between Summer and Winter in a night filled with drumming, dance, fire theatre, and a host of otherworldly characters.
At the heart of the celebration stood the Cailleach, the divine Crone, guiding audiences through reflection and transformation.
Copyright Bleu Hope for Beltane Fire Society, all rights reserved.
Her presence, alongside the deer and the battling Summer and Winter Courts, embodied this year’s theme of radical connection: the courage to face darkness, the strength found in community, and the wisdom of perspective.
Despite an initial spattering of rain, the wet weather staved off, and brought on an evening of fire, celebration and passion for the start of the darker season.
Jenny Bloom, Chair of Beltane Fire Society, said: “Another incredible Samhuinn! As the Cailleach ushers in winter, we carry her wisdom and strength into the dark months ahead.
“Thank you to our amazing volunteers and witnesses for an unforgettable night. See you at Beltane!”
The modern Samhuinn Fire Festival has been running since 1988 and is the autumn and winter counterpart to Beltane Fire Festival, which is held at Calton Hill on 30th April.
The events are immersive experiences, which involve modern re-imaginings of ancient Celtic festivals to mark the turning seasons, and the turning of the wheel.
The Beltane Fire Society is a charity run by volunteers, dedicated to marking the fire festivals of the ancient Celtic calendar and keeping traditional Scottish skills of street theatre, music and pageantry alive.
PICTURES:
Bleu Hope, Cass Senior, Ana Fridrichova, Zhi Kang Chua, James Armandary and Nicholas Feathers.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
LAST CHANCE Monkeys: Our Primate Family Until 30 Nov 10:00-17:00 Ticketed
See some of the rarest and most endangered primates on Earth in Monkeys: Our Primate Family at the National Museum of Scotland. This exhibition explores the remarkable lives of our primate relatives and demonstrates how they have adapted to survive in different habitats. The exhibition brings together more than 50 species of monkeys, apes, lemurs and lorises.
Cold War Scotland Until 4 Jan 2026 10:00 – 17:00 Free
Scotland’s unique geography and topography provided a useful base for Allied military preparations and research during the Cold War, a 40-year nuclear stand-off between the USA and the Soviet Union following the end of the Second World War.
Cold War Scotland is an output of Materialising the Cold War, a collaborative research project between National Museums Scotland and the University of Stirling.
The project explores how the Cold War heritage is represented and how museums can adapt to tell this story in future. The exhibition will explore both the visible and invisible legacies of the war in Scotland.
Giants showcases the colossal prehistoric creatures that lived after the extinction of the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago. Discover life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, and fossils in this immersive, family friendly exhibition.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Relaxed Morning: Monkeys: Our Primate Family 2 Nov 10:00 – 12:00 (Quiet space open until 12:30) Special Exhibition Gallery 1 Tickets from £13
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the exhibition. During this time some ambient sounds will be turned down and visitor numbers will be reduced.
A sensory backpack will also be available from the front desk to support your visit.
Relaxed Morning 2 Nov & 7 Dec 10:00-12:00 (quiet space open until 12:30) Free admission, drop-in
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum.
This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with autistic children; autistic young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore some areas of the museum without noisy interactives and videos to give a more relaxed environment.
Annual Open Evening 20 Nov 18:00-19:30 Auditorium, Level 1 Free, booking required
Join us for the Annual Open Evening to find out more about our collections and the work that we do across all our museums. The event will be hosted by Ian Russell, our Chair, and Dr Chris Breward, our Director. Dr Matthew Knight, Senior Curator of Prehistory will also present on Scotland’s First Warriors, a new exhibition opening at the National Museum of Scotland in 2026.
Monkeys After Dark: Adults 21 Nov 17:30-19:30 Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 & Auditorium, Level 1 £18 adult, £15 Members and conc.
This adults-only event features the opportunity to discover current research exploring the sex lives of our closest animal relatives and experience Monkeys: Our Primate Family exhibition afterhours.
See our primate handling collection with our museum experts including Principal Curator, Dr Andrew Kitchener. Explore 3D printed models and new digital software with our guest speakers to learn more about primate anatomy.
The Sunday Sketch 21-23 Nov 14:00-16:00 Ages 18+ Tickets from £13
Learn how to sketch, taking inspiration from the incredible collections on display in our museum galleries. Join artist Sheena Russell to take a new look at our collections and be guided through a range of drawing activities within the museum’s galleries.
Ash Rise Afternoon 7 Dec 14:00-16:30 Auditoirum, Level 1 £5, £4 Members & conc.
Join us for a special film screening and panel discussion to hear about the Ash Rise project. Learn more about Scotland’s native ash tree, the challenges of ash die-back and how the material is celebrated in contemporary furniture making.
Drawn Together at the Museum 27 – 30 Dec 10:30-16:00 Grand Gallery, Level 1 Free, drop-in
Join us in the National Museum of Scotland this festive period and be inspired to sketch some of the fascinating objects in our collection. Whether it’s an old favourite or something new to you, there will be plenty to catch your eye in our galleries.
Shimmy, sparkle, and sing your way into the New Year as Sprogmanay returns for 2026. Enjoy an afternoon of fun for all ages with live music and performances. The full programme will be announced in December.
National Museum of Rural Life Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Adult Workshop: Festive Willow Weaving 29 & 30 Nov Learning Centre £40, £35 Members and conc.
Led by artist and forager Max Johnson, choose from one or more workshops to make a willow wreath, willow star or willow reindeer and tree to take home. All workshops are suitable for beginners, with all materials and equipment provided.
Festive Weekend 6 & & Dec 11:00-16:00 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Bring the family for a weekend of festive activities, and storytelling at the National Museum of Rural Life.
Get hands on with nature-inspired crafts in the Learning Centre, make some eco-friendly reindeer food to take home, then follow our festive trail around the museum galleries. Sign up on the day for panto-style storytelling in the theatre with the team from Macastory.
Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life Last Tuesday of every month 14:30-17:00 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Afternoon for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum.
This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with neurodivergent children; neurodivergent young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Tractor Tots Jan & Feb 2026 Learning Centre £25 per child for block of 3, £20 per Member child for block of 3
Running in blocks of three sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to rural life through interactive creative play. Each session will feature handling objects from our learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside
National Museum of Flight East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF Open Weekends only, 10:00–16:00
Science Sunday 2 Nov 11:00-15:00 Free with museum admission.
Celebrate maths at the National Museum of Flight. Use objects from the collection to practice ‘subitizing’ – the ability to see the number of objects without counting. Find out about the museum collection with our Cryptography Challenges and explore the museum with our new maths trail.
Conservation Hangar Talks Until 29 Mar 2026 14:00-15:00 Free and available as an add-on to your general admission ticket. Booking required.
Join a member of our Visitor Experience team for a behind-the-scenes look in our Conservation hangar on a free daily talk at 14:00. Find out about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display and have the chance to see conservators at work.
Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight Every second Sunday of the month, 10:00-12:00 Free with museum admission
Join us for a Relaxed Morning at the National Museum of Flight, for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore the museum without noisy interactives and videos to give a more relaxed environment.
Library services across Scotland have been rewarded for their outstanding contribution to their communities in the 2025 Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) Awards.
The annual awards, judged by an independent panel led by SLIC Chair Alan Clarke, alongside education journalist Garrett Baylor Stell, and Scottish author and presenter Helen Cross, celebrate library teams and projects that have enhanced learning, wellbeing and community engagement through pioneering staff-driven initiatives.
This year’s winners, announced at the SLIC Showcase and AGM yesterday (Friday 31 October), reflect the creativity, inclusivity and social impact of our library services. From innovative literacy projects to inclusive community hubs, this year’s winners showcase how libraries are evolving to meet local needs, spark creativity and improve wellbeing.
copyright photo by Paul Chappells 07774730898 www.paulphoto.co.uk
Aberdeenshire’s HMP Grampian Prison Library team were named Library Team of the Year, receiving the top award for their progressive Foreign Language Prison Phrase Book project.
Working collaboratively with prison staff and inmates, the team created a practical resource to break down language barriers, improve understanding, enhance safety and promote inclusion across the prison community. Inmates were directly involved in the phrase book’s development, fostering ownership, cultural awareness and mutual respect.
Through effective communication, feedback and iterative testing, the team refined the resource to ensure accessibility and real-world impact. The phrase book has reduced misunderstandings, strengthened relationships and improved day to day interactions within the prison environment. Setting a new benchmark for inclusive, user-led service design, the project’s success has led to adoption across the Scottish Prison Service, demonstrating the project’s scalability and sector-wide value.
Judge Helen Cross commented: “A unique and inspiring project delivered to make a difference to everyone, with inclusivity at its heart, demonstrating that open communication can break down barriers and help bring about and progress positive change.”
copyright photo by Paul Chappells 07774730898 www.paulphoto.co.uk
The East Lothian Libraries team were highly commended in the category, recognised for their integrated approach across 12 public libraries and seven secondary schools.
Despite budget pressures, the team maintained high quality services and delivered a range of community initiatives, from dementia-friendly groups and digital inclusion sessions to gardening clubs and family learning cafés.
Their literacy strategies, Reading Schools accreditation and bespoke school library policies have positioned the libraries as trusted hubs for learning, wellbeing and resilience.
In the Library Project Excellence category, South Ayrshire Libraries took home the title for the Girvan Library Lend + Mend project, recognised for the outstanding delivery of a new permanent community hub for borrowing, repairing and upcycling resources, alongside a major library relocation.
The project balanced the challenge of moving premises while maintaining services and community engagement, with staff leading a seamless transition that expanded opportunities for learning, encouraged sustainable practices and increased social connection through free classes, volunteer-led workshops and intergenerational activities.
Expanding the service, the new Lending Collection also allows users to borrow high-cost DIY resources, such as power tools and wallpaper strippers at no cost, helping households save money, build practical skills and see the library as far more than a place for books.
Since reopening, Girvan Library has seen significant increases in footfall, the formation of new community groups and a lasting impact on wellbeing and inclusion, positioning it as a model of innovation, sustainability and resilience in library service delivery.
Judge Garrett Baylor Stell praised the project, saying: “Innovative and clear in its initial goal, the project showed the service’s ability and willingness to continue to add and expand to what is on offer.
“Keeping a similar approach and philosophy, the lending of tools meets a similar need but greatly expands the service.”
Glasgow Women’s Library were highly commended in the category for its Opening the Door: Celebrating Literacy, Celebrating Literature project which highlighted adult literacy and numeracy (ALN) learners, integrating the Keys to My Mind exhibition and film with creative workshops.
The project celebrated learners’ achievements, boosted confidence and wellbeing, and broadened participation in the Open the Door Festival, while partnerships with writers, artists and learners helped create an inclusive, nationally recognised model of library practice.
SLIC Chair Alan Clarke added: “The SLIC Awards celebrate the remarkable work of library teams and projects across Scotland.This year’s winners and highly commended entries demonstrate innovation, inclusivity and lasting social impact.
“Libraries continue to evolve, responding directly to the needs of their communities, and it’s inspiring to see the difference they make in learning, wellbeing and community connection.”
The SLIC Awards are open to all SLIC members, including public, further education, higher education and specialist libraries across Scotland.
The winners received a trophy and cash prize in recognition of their outstanding achievements in library service delivery and project innovation.
LifeCare Edinburgh’s Sweet Partnership Afternoon Tea with Lannan proved a resounding success, raising nearly £3,000 to support LifeCare’s lifeline community services for older people across the city.
Hosted in LifeCare’s welcoming Hub on Cheyne Street, the sold-out event treated guests to a truly memorable afternoon of exquisite Lannan cakes, community connection, and live piano music – all in aid of LifeCare’s mission to deliver care, connection, and companionship to older people across Edinburgh.
Following the success of this first collaboration, LifeCare and Lannan are delighted to announce that their Sweet Partnership will continue, with two Afternoon Teas planned for 2026.
To make the festive season even sweeter, Lannan will also be donating their beautifully made traditional trifles for LifeCare’s Community Christmas Lunches – a delicious gesture that’s sure to spread joy across Edinburgh this December.
Darcie Maher of Lannan, said:“It’s been such a pleasure to partner with LifeCare. This was our first event of its kind, and we couldn’t have chosen a better partner.
“We’ve had the privilege of seeing and hearing about the incredible work they do firsthand, and we’re so pleased to have been able to contribute. We look forward to building on this success and continuing to make a difference, one slice at a time!”
Claire Montgomery, LifeCare’s Fundraising Manager, added:“We’re over the moon with the success of this first Sweet Partnership Afternoon Tea with Lannan.
“The generosity of everyone involved – from our guests and volunteers to the wonderful team at Lannan – has helped raise essential funds and awareness for our work. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back next year for not one, but two, tasty events – and book now for those Christmas trifles!”
Tickets for LifeCare’s upcoming Community Christmas Lunches on the 9th, 10th, 18th and 19th of December are now available – but spaces are limited, so book early while you still can!
£18 pp including a donation towards spreading Christmas Cheer.
Councils Leaders have issued a stark warning about the growing crisis in social care, urging the need for social care funding to be a clear and focused national priority.
Following a meeting of Council Leaders, COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson Councillor Paul Kelly said: ‘Social care underpins everything we value most within our communities – from dignity in later life, supporting people in their unpaid caring roles, to enabling people to live independently and participate fully in society.
“Local Government has consistently prioritised social care, protecting budgets where possible and working tirelessly to maintain services despite severe and well-evidenced financial pressures.
“But Local Government cannot do this alone. Demand is increasing, costs are rising, and the workforce is under immense strain. Without fair and sustainable funding, we risk the viability of services that people rely on every single day.
“Local Government is doing everything possible to sustain vital care and support services, but without urgent investment from Scottish Government to enable us to commission and deliver more care, the system is at breaking point. That is why as part of COSLA’s manifesto we are calling on the next Scottish Government to invest £750m into social care services.
“We urge a national focus on addressing the workforce and financial crisis social care is experiencing, to ensure those who need support are not left without the help they need to live fulfilling lives.”
COSLA, Scottish Government, care providers, and system leaders had been meeting in the first half of 2025 as part of the jointly convened Financial Viability Response Group to address risks and impacts of funding challenges across the health and social care sector.
Cllr Kelly continued: ‘It is crucial that we reconvene the social care Financial Viability Response Group immediately.
“We urge the Scottish Government to engage with us and our valued partners in the third and independent sector through the work of the Group to address the financial and workforce crisis in social care.”
COSLA’s 2026 Manifesto calls for sustainable finance for local services, including calling for an additional investment of £750m for social care:
A new Scottish Government programme is expected to prevent up to 4,000 people from developing type 2 diabetes.
The £4.8 million investment will offer education and virtual, app-based, individual consultations with nutritionists, dietitians and health coaches via the Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) initiative to fast track proven healthcare innovations.
By focusing on prevention, this will reduce future health complications for patients, improve quality of life and ease long-term pressures on the NHS.
Health professionals in primary or secondary care will refer suitable patients soon after diagnosis of pre-diabetes or history of gestational diabetes – increasing equity of access to NHS services across Scotland – and self-referral will also be available.
Meeting frontline staff and patients at Pennywell All Care Centre in Edinburgh, Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “We want to improve access to treatment in the community, enhance preventative services and maximise the opportunities of digital innovation through our Service Renewal and Population Health Frameworks. This will deliver a sustainable and high quality health and social care system for the future.
“This digital programme reduces the need to travel to in-person appointments and helps patients make sustainable changes to their diet and lifestyle and prevent progress towards type 2 diabetes. It enables rural and urban communities to easily access services which can have a life-changing impact.
“It is a prime example of transformative innovation that benefits frontline staff and patients alike and supports our health and care service to meet the challenges it faces.”
The three-year programme will enable up to 15,000 people at risk of type 2 diabetes to access nine months of digital diet and lifestyle change advice through ANIA – with up to 4,000 of those expected to avoid the condition.
Director of Innovation and Transformation at NHS Lothian Jenny Long said: “Over the past five years, NHS Lothian’s dietetic service has successfully delivered both the diabetes remission and award-winning prevention programmes, supported by permanent Scottish Government funding.
!Their success has led to further investment in digital innovation via the Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) pathway.
“New digital services will improve patient access and outcomes across the region, enabling direct referrals from primary care and reducing waiting times.”
The ANIA Pathway, funded by the Chief Scientist Office and led by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery, is designed to fast-track proven innovations into frontline healthcare across Scotland. By identifying, assessing, and implementing new health technologies with strong evidence and impact, ANIA ensures patients across Scotland benefit from the latest advances in care.
Head of Innovation at the Centre for Sustainable Delivery Jason White said: “This programme represents a major step forward in the delivery of preventative healthcare across Scotland.
“It will empower people with pre-diabetes via easily accessible technology to make meaningful lifestyle changes that will significantly reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
“The Centre for Sustainable Delivery is proud to support this initiative through the ANIA programme. It’s a scalable, evidence-based solution that will support people to improve their own health and wellbeing over nine months.
“It will improve patient outcomes and reduce demand on NHS services through reducing the growth of type 2 diabetes across Scotland.”
There are 310,000 people living with type 2 diabetes in Scotland, representing more than 5% of the population. In 2023, more than 25,000 new cases were diagnosed and the number is predicted to reach 420,000 by 2044.
