Health Secretary Neil Gray has announced new measures to ensure the continued safety and quality of maternity and neonatal services, following the publication of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s (HIS) inspection report on Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
In a statement to Parliament, Mr Gray said he was establishing a new Scottish Maternity and Neonatal taskforce to provide additional leadership.
He also confirmed that NHS Lothian maternity services will be moved to level 3 of the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework. This will ensure additional support is in place to allow the board to act immediately to implement the 26 recommendations made by HIS.
Mr Gray said: “We are taking these concerns extremely seriously and have escalated NHS Lothian Maternity Services to Level 3 of the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework. This intervention will provide enhanced support and scrutiny and I expect to see evidence of improvement before the end of the year.
“In Scotland, we are working towards our shared vision of continuous improvement in maternity services. The HIS inspection programme is giving us vital insight into what is working and what needs to change, holding services to account and ensuring lessons are learned quickly.
“To further strengthen national oversight, a new Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will be established, chaired by the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health and including voices of maternity service users and frontline staff, senior figures from across the health system, independent bodies, third sector and advocacy organisations.
“Our commitment to continuous improvement across our NHS is vital. We must empower our services and staff to ensure the safest and highest-quality maternity care in Scotland.”
The Health Secretary’s statement to Parliament is available on the Scottish Government’s website.
The HIS inspection report on Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is available on its website.
With Bonfire Night approaching, two major campaigns were launched last week across Scotland by independent charity Crimestoppers and its youth service Fearless. As the initiatives gather momentum, the charity is today urging both young people and adults to play their part in preventing the kind of fireworks-related disorder seen last year.
The charity’s dual approach aims to reach both young people and adults, following significant fireworks-related disorder in pockets of Scotland in 2024.
Emergency workers were attacked, communities disrupted, and animals harmed – including the tragic death of baby red panda Roxie at Edinburgh Zoo – on Bonfire Night last year.
Giving young people a voice
Fearless’ new campaign has been co-designed with young people themselves. It followed a major engagement event last month that brought together over 160 young people, emergency services and third sector partners.
Insights from the event showed:
Adults supplying fireworks illegally to under-18s is a major concern.
Alcohol, peer pressure and social status are strong motivators for misuse.
When they hear the impact of fireworks misuse, young people really do care.
Young people want safer, silent community alternatives and feel unfairly stigmatised for the actions of a minority.
These findings have helped shape the Fearless campaign, which will run on Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram, with content designed by and for young people. It’ll include a youth-created soundtrack, “red flag/green flag” videos and impact stories from firefighters, bus drivers, animal carers and more.
Resources have also been developed for parents, carers and youth workers, giving them the tools to start supportive conversations with young people and to understand the laws in place.
Adults must play their part
The Crimestoppers campaign, launched in parallel, is focusing on adults – calling on communities to speak up 100% anonymously about illegal firework sales, proxy purchasing and planned attacks on emergency workers.
Angela Parker, Scotland National Manager at Crimestoppers, said:‘Our charity believes everyone has the right to feel safe. We want everyone to have a safe and fun Bonfire Night, but we are here for communities and front-line crews who experience serious disorder and fire-raising attacks.
“Our guarantee of anonymity has already prevented serious attacks on crews, so we know that it’s vital that people speak up if they know who is involved.”
Lyndsay McDade, Fearless Scotland Manager, added:“The vast majority of young people already make safe, positive choices. They care about their families, their friends, and their communities. But risks increase when there’s peer pressure, lack of knowledge or when adults put them in unsafe situations by supplying fireworks illegally.
“Behind every poor decision by a young person, there’s often an adult who has placed explosives in their hands. That’s why it’s so important that if you know who is selling, buying or supplying fireworks to under-18s, you speak up before serious harm occurs.
“This campaign is about equipping young people with knowledge and confidence, while also supporting adults to have positive conversations. By listening and working with young people, we make them part of the solution – and that benefits all of us across Scotland.”
Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said:“We want everyone to enjoy Bonfire Night safely and responsibly. “Misuse of fireworks puts communities and emergency services at risk and the Crimestoppers and Fearless campaigns are a stark reminder of the harms that can be caused.
“The Scottish Government has brought in a number of measures to improve firework safety, including a ban on providing fireworks to under-18s and making attacks on emergency workers using fireworks an aggravating factor that courts can take into account when sentencing offenders.
“We have also provided local authorities with powers to designate firework control zones in local areas and a number of these are/will be in place this year.
“I would encourage anyone who has information or concerns about criminality to report it. This can be done anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting the Crimestoppers or Fearless website.”
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs from Police Scotland said:“The campaigns by Crimestoppers and Fearless are vitally important to the multi-agency commitment to tackling fireworks-related disorder over the Bonfire Night period, as they encourage the public to make positive choices when it comes to fireworks and not engage in activities that can have a detrimental impact on communities across Scotland.
“We will continue to have significant local, national, and specialist resource in place throughout the key dates between Halloween and Bonfire Night to keep communities safe and respond to any incidents that arise, but we know that intervention and prevention work is equally important as the enforcement activity we undertake.
“I am grateful for the continued support and co-operation of all key partners as we work towards a shared aim of a safe and peaceful Bonfire Night period.”
Fireworks and the Law
Age: You must be 18 or over to buy most fireworks.
Times: Normally between 6pm–11pm (midnight on Bonfire Night; 1am on New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year).
Places: Fireworks can’t be set off in the street, in parks, or in Firework Control Zones.
Offences: It’s illegal to sell, buy or supply fireworks to under-18s, to throw or set off fireworks in public areas like parks, streets or roads, or to cause unnecessary suffering to animals.
Local councils may also designate Firework Control Zones, and Police Scotland can introduce Dispersal Zones in areas where antisocial behaviour is a problem.
How to speak up – 100% anonymously
Adults: Contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Young people: Visit fearless.org to give information anonymously.
Both services are completely anonymous: no names, no phone numbers, no IP tracking.
Please note: No-one will ever know you contacted Crimestoppers. With Fearless.org and Crimestoppers-uk.org, computer IP addresses are never traced. For telephone calls to the independent charity’s UK Contact Centre, there is no caller line display and no 1471 facility.
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:
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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 byyoung people, foryoung people, encouraging safer choices and stronger communities during fireworks season.
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.
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.”
Fearless Digital Media Officer Natalia Ainsworth chats with some event attendees
