Tag: Health and wellbeing

Improving health through prevention

Funding digital type 2 diabetes programmes

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.

Type 2 diabetes | NHS inform

Health Information Integrity Strategy

Focus on using trusted and accurate sources

People should use trustworthy sources of information to make the best possible decisions about health, Health Secretary Neil Gray has said.

In response to the growing volume of false information, and a recommendation from the pandemic advisory group, the Standing Committee on Pandemic Preparedness, the Scottish Government has launched a Scottish Health Information Integrity Strategy.

Mr Gray said it would help the NHS counter false and misleading health information by giving healthcare professionals the tools to enable people to make the best possible choices about their own health.

He said: “There is lot of health information at our fingertips, but often it is not in line with the science and evidence produced by international experts. Some of it is misleading, inaccurate, and sometimes just plain false. This strategy will help the Scottish Government and our health partners respond to the growing threat from such poor-quality information.

“For all of us, understanding our health and options is vital, as the wrong information can lead us to make the wrong choices that can harm us or our loved ones. The Scottish Health Information Integrity Strategy will guide our response to these challenges and help retain public trust in the NHS.

“For any health questions, in the first instance, people should go to Scotland’s national health information service NHS Inform, which provides evidence-based and accurate health information.”

University of Edinburgh Chair in Public Health, and Scottish Government Chief Social Policy Adviser Professor Linda Bauld said: “People are seeking information about their health in new ways, and often from platforms which are not accurate.

“This strategy marks the beginning of the Scottish healthcare system’s response. It describes potential first steps to help NHS Scotland and others build and maintain trust and find the best ways of providing people with information.”

The strategy makes a number of recommendations on developing leadership and co-ordination, and rapidly responding and building resilience to false health information. These include:

  • providing dedicated resources
  • participating in UK and international networks
  • supporting staff to have evidence-based conversations with patients
  • supporting embedding media, digital and health literacy into the Curriculum for Excellence
  • engaging with community partners and third-sector organisations on public health messaging.

Scottish Health Information Strategy

Reduction in Scotland’s NHS waiting lists

New figures show NHS waiting lists in Scotland have fallen and waits of more than a year have reduced for the fourth month in a row.

When compared with August 2025, September saw a 7.3% decrease in new outpatient waits longer than a year – this number has now fallen for four consecutive months. The total waiting list for outpatients has decreased by 2.0% on the same month last year, and the inpatient and daycase waiting list has fallen by 0.2% over the same period.

Treatment Time Guarantee waits of over a year have decreased by 5.9% when compared to last month. These waits have been dropping since February 2025 and are now lower than at the same point last year. Reductions are seen under both 2012 and 2023 waiting times guidance.

The latest figures show that activity has increased, with the number of new outpatient attendances for September increasing by 10,136 (9.5%) to 116,776 attendances when compared with August. There has also been an increase of more than 31,000 appointments and procedures from April to September compared to same period in 2024.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “These new figures show our plan is working and delivering for the people of Scotland – we have provided more than £110 million of additional targeted funding this year to tackle the longest waits and we are now seeing the tangible impact of our significant investment.

“We are not only seeing the total list size and longest waits come down, but we are also treating more people with activity increasing significantly compared to last month and last year. My thanks to all teams across the country who are working so hard to drive these improvements.

“Despite this progress, we know that many people are still facing unacceptable waits and we are determined to build on these improvements and ensure people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible.”

RIE Maternity staff ‘Overwhelmed, unsupported and not listened to’

Healthcare Improvement Scotland: Inspection report Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian

Healthcare Improvement Scotland today (Wednesday 29 October) published a report relating to a Maternity Services Safe Delivery of Care inspection visit to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian. 

We carried out the unannounced inspection of maternity services at the hospital on 23-24 June 2025.   

Speaking of the report, Donna Maclean, Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: “During our inspection of the maternity services we saw staff working hard to provide compassionate and responsive care in very challenging circumstances.  All interactions observed during inspection between women, babies and families were positive and respectful.

“We saw good teamwork and innovation within the maternity triage department involving extended members of the multidisciplinary team including obstetricians, midwives and the healthcare support team.

“However, during the course of this inspection, we escalated serious concerns within NHS Lothian to senior staff and Scottish Government. These concerns related to culture, oversight of patient safety and staff wellbeing within Edinburgh Royal Infirmary maternity services.

“Some staff were complimentary and described their line manager as supportive. However, the majority of the multidisciplinary team we spoke with were frustrated at staffing levels and told us this presented a safety risk, which they’d raised on multiple occasions with managers.

“They shared their concerns and feelings of being overwhelmed, unsupported and not listened to. They said this has impacted staff confidence to escalate staffing concerns.

“During the inspection we observed delays to the induction of labour process of up to 29 hours and other delays to women who required ongoing care within the labour ward due to lack of staff availability, capacity and the complexities of patient conditions.

“Staff described suboptimal skill mix and challenges in providing and maintaining one to one care for women within the labour ward, as well as delays to observations or escalation of clinical concerns.

“Our inspection has highlighted gaps in incident reporting and a reluctance to submit incident reports, with staff describing a culture of mistrust. These are concerning issues that may have significant impact on the learning from adverse events in the system and reduce opportunities to improve safety.

“Women told us of mixed experiences within the hospital, whilst some were complimentary of their care, they also informed inspectors of poor communication that left them feeling uninformed and with no ‘voice’ in their care.”

Other areas for improvement identified included fire safety requirements, safe storage of cleaning products and improvements to the environment.

Speaking of our expansion of Safe Delivery of Care inspections into maternity services, Eddie Docherty, Director of Quality Assurance and Regulation, said: “In response to Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Neonatal Mortality Review in 2024, we made a commitment to expanding our Safe Delivery of Care inspection approach to include inpatient maternity services.

“The maternity inspections will provide women, and families with an assessment of the quality of care provided by their local maternity service and an independent review of any required improvements.

“Our organisation is also producing a set of standards for maternity services, which will in time support our inspection process for maternity services.”

The maternity services inspection at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh resulted in five areas of good practice, two recommendations and 26 requirements.

An improvement action plan has been developed by NHS Lothian to meet the requirements for maternity services.

The full Lothian maternity inspection report is available to view at:

https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/publications/edinburgh-royal-infirmary-safe-delivery-of-care-inspection-october-2025

Pre-empting the report, NHS Lothian issued a statement yesterday:

KEY MESSAGES FOR PATIENTS

You are likely to read or hear some stories in the media this week about maternity services in NHS Lothian.

A new BBC documentary will air on Tuesday and will explore challenges in maternity services across Scotland. It is looking at situations and cases in the bigger units of Glasgow and Edinburgh and is following up on the improvement work that is already underway in NHS Lothian.

Then on Wednesday, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) will publish a report into Women’s Services following two unannounced visits in June.

You might understandably have some questions or concerns about what is going on. It is also to be expected that you may feel more anxious than normal.

We can reassure you that your health, and that of your baby, is our main priority.

If you have any questions at all, please raise them. If your expert midwife can’t answer them, they will be able to find someone else who can help.

A phoneline has also been established to help answer any questions or concerns. It will be manned by our Patient Experience Team with a local contact in Women’s Services for any specific issues.

You can make contact on: Tel 0131 536 3370 (open Mon-Fri, 9am to 2pm) and on email: LOTH.Feedback@nhs.scot

Many of the things to note are:

  • We know these reports will be concerning and we apologise to women, people who use the service, and their families and can reassure them that these issues are being taken extremely seriously. 
  • A major improvement programme began last year and is already underway across women’s services in NHS Lothian.
  • Many of the points we expect to be mentioned in the BBC documentary and many of the findings in the HIS report actually reinforce the work that is already underway and serve to strengthen the improvement plan.
  • The issues are being taken extremely seriously, and we have always been clear that wider ranging matters, such as staffing, recruitment and working culture within the department, will take time to resolve.
  • Significant investment and improvements have already been made, and many new posts have been filled, but there is still more to do to ensure our staff feel supported at work, safe to raise concerns and able to thrive.
  • We are working to enhance patient safety, quality of care and improve working conditions for our teams.
  • The first and ongoing phase of improvement work focussed on patient care. The second phase is focussed on staff working culture, training and environment.
  • As part of the programme, we have improved triage and escalation increased staffing, boosted training, altered placement rotation and created robust patient pathways.
  • The report highlighted some areas of good practice, particularly our maternity triage system which is one of areas already targeted by the ongoing improvement programme.

Wes Streeting hails use of private sector in England’s NHS

STREETING: “WEALTH SHOUDN’T DETERMINE HEALTH”

FASTER CARE FOR THOUSANDS THROUGH NHS USE OF INDEPENDENT SECTOR

  • A total of 6.15 million appointments, tests and operations were delivered by independent providers for NHS patients this year.
  • The almost 500,000 increase on last year is helping to cut waiting times, free up NHS capacity and deliver national renewal through the government’s Plan for Change
  • Patients able to cut waiting times by up to five months by switching to nearby hospital with shorter queues.

Hundreds of thousands of people are receiving faster care thanks to the Labour government’s partnership with the private sector, which is helping provide the treatment they need to get back on their feet – free at the point of use.

More than 6 million tests and operations for NHS patients were delivered by independent healthcare providers over the past year – almost 500,000 more than last year.

Independent healthcare providers delivered an average of 19,000 surgical procedures and 100,000 outpatient appointments every week this financial year – helping to treat more than 1.1 million people

This is all part of the drive to use every resource available to stop patients suffering on the unacceptably long waiting lists this government inherited – which have now fallen by 206,000 over the past year.

Using spare capacity in the private sector is central to the government’s goal that 92% of patients in England should wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment – which is fundamental to delivering the renewal this country needs.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “I’ll do everything I can to get NHS patients treated faster, free at the point of use.

“This is a principled, progressive position, not just a pragmatic one. We’re not prepared to continue two-tier healthcare, when those who can afford it get treated on time, and those who can’t are left behind. Wealth shouldn’t determine health.

“This is just one reform which has helped deliver 5 million more appointments, grown NHS productivity, and cut waiting lists by 200,000.

“We are also investing in growing the NHS capacity, opening up CDCs and operating theatres at evenings and weekends, and bringing in modern technology like robotic surgery. Through investment and relentless reform, we will make sure every patient is treated on time, not just those who can afford to pay.”

The partnership with the private sector comes alongside the other UK government measures to cut waiting times and expand NHS capacity in England, including:

  • Opening more Community Diagnostic Centres seven days a week, 12 hours a day. They have delivered over 8.7 million diagnostic tests since July 2024, closer to where people live, freeing up hospitals.
  • Opening new 22 new surgical hubs and expanding a further 12.
  • Introducing a national programme of weekend High-Intensity Theatre (HIT) lists once a month in 50 hospitals to get through a week’s worth of planned operations in a day
  • Setting up NHS Online, which will deliver up to 8.5 million appointments in its first three years and allow patients to digitally connect to expert clinicians anywhere in England.

The partnership with the independent sector strengthens the commitment set out in the 10 Year Health Plan to boost patients right to choose where they are treated, with new research showing patients are cutting their wait for an NHS operation by up to five months by switching to a nearby hospital with shorter queues.

Sir Jim Mackey, NHS Chief Executive, said: “The independent sector is playing a vital role in supporting our efforts to bring down waiting lists and ensure patients can get the NHS care they need faster.

“Thanks to the ambition and hard work of NHS teams, we are seeing early signs of progress with waiting lists falling for the first time in years – but we are determined to go further and faster to improve patients’ experiences and this data shows clearly that maximising use of this capacity is an approach that is working for patients.”

Research from the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), alongside the Patients Association and Arthritis UK, found patients need to travel on average just under 13 miles – typically under 30 minutes by car – to cut over two and a half months off their waiting time for treatment.

For particular treatments, patients can cut their wait even further. For example, in the South East, patients requiring general surgery such as a hernia operation could cut their wait from an average of 27 weeks to just 6 weeks – a reduction of almost five months – by travelling from the areas with the longest waiting times to shortest.

David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said: “These latest figures demonstrate just how important the independent sector is in providing much-needed NHS treatment – delivering around 10% of all NHS elective activity, and a record amount of appointments, tests and scans – all free at the point of use to patients.  

“In committing to better commissioning, patient choice and clear incentives, the recent NHS & Independent Sector Partnership is having real benefits to patients and by sticking to these principles, the Government and the independent sector can continue to drive down NHS waiting lists long into the future.”

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Arthritis UK said: “Thousands of people with arthritis in need of life changing hip and knee replacements are waiting in unnecessary pain.

“We know that the longer people wait, the more impact this has on their lives and causes a further deterioration in their joints which results in more complicated and expensive surgery and too often worse health outcomes.

“Promoting patient choice, including being able to be treated by independent providers, is therefore an important tool which may ensure that people can get faster access to the treatment they so desperately need.”

Sarah Tilsed, Head of Partnerships and Involvement, The Patients Association: “It’s encouraging to see more patients receiving the care they need sooner, with over six million NHS appointments, tests, and operations delivered through the independent sector in the past year.

£Every patient who has their treatment brought forward no longer has their life on pause and is able to take the next step in their care journey.

“As the NHS continues working to reduce the backlog, it’s vital that patients are supported with clear information and real choice about their options. Using all available capacity to deliver care sooner is essential, as long as patients are well informed of their right to choose and feel in control of their care journey.”

  • All figures above relate to the period September 2024 to August 2025
  • Independent healthcare providers deliver NHS care free at the point of use under contract to the NHS
  • 7.6 MILLION people were on NHS England waiting lists last month

Report on Melville Unit highlights need to strengthen safety and wellbeing of young people

The first in a series of visits to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Inpatient units has found a mix of concerns for the safety and wellbeing of young people, alongside committed staff and positive initiatives at the Melville Unit in Edinburgh.

The joint unannounced visit was carried out in May 2025 by the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland together with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, following a commitment from the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport to address national concerns about the care of young people in mental health units.

The Commission listened to the experiences of the young people in the unit during the visit. While young people reported feeling listened to by staff and staff were praised for their clear commitment and passion, the visit identified several critical areas requiring immediate action.

Key findings on safety and wellbeing of young people

The report presents a mixed picture of the care provided at Melville. On one hand, the Commission observed positive interactions between staff and young people, who reported feeling listened to by dedicated and passionate staff.

However, there were concerns for the safety and wellbeing of young people. A significant issue was the use of restraint. The report calls for urgent improvement when this highly restrictive response is used, noting a lack of detailed care plans and incomplete records.

Of particular concern is the practice of nasogastric tube feeding under restraint, which requires immediate review to ensure it follows best practice and respects young people’s involvement in decisions about their care.

The unit has also yet to ensure all care is lawful under the Mental Health Act, as our previous recommendations have yet to be fully acted on and embedded. The quality of care planning and communication with parents also requires improvement.

Young people and their families reported a lack of activities, especially in the evenings and on weekends. Some young people said this meant they spent “too much time thinking their own thoughts,” which directly impacts their recovery.

The physical environment was also noted as requiring attention to ensure the safety of both staff and patients.

Julie Paterson, Chief Executive of the Mental Welfare Commission and Robbie Pearson, Chief Executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland said: “Inpatient care provides intensive support for children and young people experiencing acute mental health crises and it is crucial such care meets both legal requirements and standards for the safe delivery of care.

“This report has identified areas for improvement as well as good practice.  It is important the NHS Lothian addresses the recommendations and requirements with appropriate urgency.”

Claire Lamza, Executive Director (Nursing) of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, said: ““The safety and wellbeing of vulnerable young people in specialist inpatient mental health units is a key priority for the Mental Welfare Commission. Several findings from our visit to Melville were concerning as they did not provide the quality of lawful care and treatment every young person has a right to.

“We recognize the dedication of staff at Melville who genuinely advocate for young people. However, decisive action from NHS Lothian is needed to address the issues identified in this joint report and in previous Commission visit reports. This must include honest reflection on why previous action plans and intentions have yet to deliver meaningful change for young people and their families.”

Nicola Killean, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, said: “I’m deeply concerned about the findings from the Mental Welfare Commission into the care of children at Melville Unit, which highlight potential rights breaches including the safe and lawful use of restraint.

“This is further worrying evidence about the use of restraint on children living in some of the most vulnerable situations. Alongside partners I have been raising my concerns with the Scottish Government about the use of restraint on children in mental health provision for over two years.  

“Following my recent letter before action, I am pleased that the Scottish Government has now confirmed that it will revise the statutory code of practice to include human rights-based guidance and put in place mandatory recording and reporting of restraint and seclusion.

“I have also been given assurances that it will designate the Mental Welfare Commission as the appropriate monitoring body. These steps must be taken urgently to protect children from harm.”

NHS Lothian says it is working to improve services for young people at the Melville Inpatient Unit after it accepted a joint report published today (Thursday 23 October) by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC).

A robust action plan is already well underway to address the report recommendations and improve care in the specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) unit which supports up to 12 young people with complex needs.

CAMHS has made significant progress in recruiting and retaining more skilled staff and developing new care pathways, with the report also highlighting positive staff interactions and their commitment and passion for working with young people.

However, Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive for NHS Lothian, said that wider improvements were continuing across the unit. He added: “We want to reassure young people and families that we are committed to delivering safe, high-quality and effective care and we take the findings of the report extremely seriously.

“The safety and care of young people and staff is always our top priority.  Restraint is only ever used in the unit as a last resort to prevent harm for young people or to staff or other patients.

“We introduced an initiative to reduce the use of restraint further, which was observed by HIS during the inspection, and has shown positive results. Systems are also in place to improve the recording, monitoring and auditing of restraints.

“We continue to prioritise this work by training and educating staff in safe restraint, wider care planning, managing distress, responding to violence and aggression and supporting young people in their future care, including those who require essential nasogastric tube feeding.

“We want to thank staff for their ongoing dedication and HIS and MWC for their expertise and guidance in shaping improvements to the mental health care of young people. We will welcome any forthcoming national guidance or best practice from these essential reviews.”

The action plan also includes work underway to improve multidisciplinary team dynamics through enhanced meeting structures, communication, collaboration and decision making to work more effectively with young people.

Since May 2025, a system has been in place to monitor legal authority for treating young people under the Mental Health Act, with enhanced managerial oversight and daily checks by registered nurses to ensure documentation is in place before administrating care.

Work also continues to expand meaningful evening and weekend activities for young people with regular reviews planned. Nurses will also receive refresher training to strengthen their therapeutic skills in individual and group settings.

A review of the physical environment of the Melville Unit, including looking at options for how best to provide care safely while meeting the needs of young people, is also well underway.

A copy of the report is available from Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

NHS Lothian: Look out for your breast screening letter

Routine screening doesn’t stop you getting breast cancer, but it’s the best way to spot cancers at an early stage when they’re easier to treat.

That’s why it’s important you attend your appointment when invited.

Find out more at http://nhsinform.scot/breastscreening

#BreastScreeningScot

Glasgow woman’s mission to tell others: ‘Never miss your breast screening appointment

A retired member of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde staff, Liz Thomas (71) from Pollock, has been photographed as part of an exhibition to celebrate the resilience, beauty, and strength of women affected by breast cancer.

Liz and three other women chosen for the photoshoot have recently had or are undergoing treatment for breast cancer. They were chosen to be part of Pink Ribbon Foundation’s BOLD Scotland Exhibition.

This extraordinary project, captured by award-winning photographer Caroline Sikkenk, is currently displayed in Glasgow’s Princes Square by M as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In addition to taking part in this project, Liz is also using this month to share an important message. She said: “Go for your breast screening when you’re invited.”

In November 2024, Liz attended her routine breast screening appointment at NHSGGC’s Breast Clinic in Nelson Mandela Place. Within a week, she was recalled and asked to bring someone with her.

“I wasn’t expecting good news,” Liz said. “They told me two lumps had been found. I had a biopsy and scans there and then. It turned out I had two Stage 3 tumours.”

Within four weeks, Liz underwent a mastectomy at Gartnavel Hospital, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy in early 2025.

“The treatment was tough, physically and mentally, but I met wonderful people along the way. The staff were incredible. We even managed to laugh during chemo. One time, the nurses joked they had to separate me from the other ladies because we were giggling so much. Laughter got us through.”

Liz credits her daughter Jourdana, also an NHSGGC staff member, as her rock throughout the journey. “I have a good life and a great life ahead. Who knows if I’d have that if I hadn’t gone for screening?”

Now, Liz is on a mission. She said: “I tell everyone, my daughter, my friends, even the girl who does my nails, never miss your breast screening appointment. And if you’re over 70, you won’t automatically get a letter. You need to contact the breast screening centre yourself.”

Women aged between 50 and 70 will be invited for breast screening every three years. Those eligible, will be invited by NHSGGC via letter to the address registered with their GP, and people are advised to ensure this is up to date.

Anyone over the age of 70, can make an appointment for breast screening directly via the breast screening service.

For more information visit:
Breast cancer | Get Checked Early
Breast screening in Scotland | NHS inform

Exhibition Details

The BOLD Scotland exhibition is on display at Princes Square by M. Entry is free, giving everyone the opportunity to witness this inspiring and empowering project.

Half of adults now have at least one long-term condition, the Scottish Health Survey shows

The Scottish Health Survey 2024 results, published yesterday, provide information on the health, and factors relating to health, of adults and children in Scotland.

Half of all adults now have at least one long-term condition, continuing the upward trend.  Almost two in five adults (39%) reporting having a long-term condition that limits their activities.

Eight percent of adults report having doctor-diagnosed diabetes, the highest level recorded.

There has been a decrease in the proportion of adults eating five or more portions of fruit or vegetables per day, with only 11% meeting this guideline compared to 20% in 2021 when the questions were last included.

Food insecurity reduced with 8% of adults reporting being worried about running out of food due to a lack of money or other resources in the last 12 months, a decrease from 14% in 2023 which was the highest level recorded.

New questions on menopause and perimenopause showed that 76% of those who had experienced symptoms had utilised one or more ways of managing them. The largest proportions had utilised physical activity (40%), Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) (38%) and/or vitamins, minerals or supplements (35%).

New questions indicated that prevalence of possible eating disorders among adults, based on self-reported eating behaviours and feelings towards food, was 13%. This was highest among those aged 16-24 (26%).

Other key findings show that in 2024:

  • The proportion of adults who reported having felt lonely ‘most’ or ‘all of the time’ decreased from 10% in 2023 to 7% in 2024, similar to the proportion recorded in 2021 (8%).
  • Prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma amongst adults reached 18%, the highest proportion recorded.
  • Prevalence of any CVD (excluding diabetes or high blood pressure) remained in line with recent years at 16% of adults. 
  • In 2023/2024 combined, 15% of adults reported being unpaid carers.
  • The proportion of adults with a GHQ-12 score of 4 or more, indicative of a possible psychiatric disorder, was 22%, similar to levels in 2021 and 2023 (22% and 21%) and lower than the peak in 2022 (27%). 
  • In 2023/2024 combined, the prevalence of adults with two or more symptoms of depression was 10%, a decrease from 13% in 2021/2022 combined.
  • Seven per cent of adults reported currently having long COVID, consistent with 2023 (8%) and remaining higher than in 2021 (5%).
  • Around six in ten adults met the guidelines for moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (62%), a similar proportion as recorded in 2023 (63%).
  • The prevalence of hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption remained at 20% of adults, the same proportion as in 2023 and a decrease from 34% in 2003.
  • Almost a third of adults (31%) were living with obesity, a similar proportion to 2023 (32%), with a significantly higher proportion of females (35%) living with obesity compared with males (27%).
  • Fourteen per cent of adults were current smokers the same level as in 2023, maintaining the overall downward trend in prevalence recorded since 2003 (28%).
  • Current use of e-cigarettes or vaping devices (10%) remained in the range seen since 2022 (10%-12%).
  • Thirteen per cent of adults met the Scottish Dietary Goal for saturated fat of no more than 10% of energy excluding ethanol.
  • Less than a quarter (22%) of adults met the Scottish Dietary Goal of free sugars accounting for no more than 5% of energy excluding ethanol.

ASH Scotland calls for smoking cessation service funding transparency as survey shows stagnation of adult smoking rates

ASH Scotland is calling for the Scottish Government and NHS regional health boards to demonstrate increased transparency regarding funding being invested in smoking cessation services, which can help people to give up tobacco and reduce their risks of non-communicable diseases such as cancers, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and respiratory conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

ASH Scotland’s call comes as the Scottish Health Survey 2024 findings published today (Tuesday 21 October 2025) by the Scottish Governent show that fourteen per cent of adults were current smokers, which is the same level as in 2023.

The charity is raising concern that the Scottish Government has not provided details of its annual funding to health boards specifically for smoking cessation services in 2025/26. The last publicly available figure regarding government annual funding to NHS health boards to deliver specifically smoking cessation services was £7,852,085 invested in 2021/22, a significant reduction from the £9,110,000 allocated in 2016/17.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “With tobacco continuing to be the biggest preventable killer in Scotland causing nearly 9,000 premature deaths each year, it is concerning that there is stagnation in the nation’s overall smoking rate, although we welcome the decrease from 26% down to 23% in our most deprived communities.

“The vast majority of people in Scotland who successfully give up smoking don’t use anything to aid their quit attempts, but it is vital that those who need behavioural support can benefit from NHS Scotland’s free person-centred specialist Quit Your Way services delivered by qualified health professionals which improves the chances of success by three to four times to reach a tobacco-free life and reduce the risk of cancers, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

“As the Scottish Government’s funding for smoking cessation services showed a downward trend between 2016/17 and 2021/22, and no details have been provided for 2025/26, ASH Scotland is calling for increased transparency by the government and regional health boards regarding funding for Quit Your Way services, which are needed to drive progress towards Scotland becoming a tobacco-free nation in 2034.”

The Scottish Health Survey 2024 main report, including a summary of key results, is available on the Scottish Health Survey website. 

NHS 24: Online Mental Health Courses

Visit NHS inform to find out more about the free online resources available to improve your mental wellbeing:

☁️SilverCloud – a website with courses that help you learn new ways to deal with the challenges you’re facing.

☀️Daylight – a digital programme to improve anxiety based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

💤Sleepio – a digital sleep improvement programme based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Find out more: https://nhs24.info/mental_wellbeing