£4.5 million a year to address long-term health effects
New year-on-year investment in specialist services will help address long-term effects caused by COVID-19 and other similar health conditions.
The Scottish Government is allocating £4.5 million to health boards this year and in future years on a recurring basis, to recruit skilled staff and develop sustainable services. Patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and similar conditions will also be eligible for referral.
Services could include managing fatigue or breathlessness, physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
During a visit to services at the Astley Ainslie Hospital in Edinburgh, Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “I recognise the significant impact which the symptoms of long COVID and ME/CFS can have on those most severely affected. I want to ensure these patients are listened to and receive appropriate assessments and referrals.
“Being able to meet professionals involved in Astley Ainslie Hospital’s existing long COVID service, I am heartened to hear first-hand how our funding so far has allowed people living with the condition to be given advice and support to improve their quality of life.
“Recurring funding will enable health boards to develop new support on a sustainable basis and help the retention and recruitment of the skilled members of staff required for the delivery of these services.”
Director of Allied Health Professions at NHS Lothian, Dr Heather Cameron, welcomed the recurring funding and added: “In Lothian, we are taking a holistic approach to supporting people with long-term health conditions such as ME, CFS and Long Covid.
“Our clinical teams work collaboratively across a range of services, including medical, psychology, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy, to provide care and support people to better manage their condition and improve their quality of life.
“This funding is vitally important, and it means that we are able to further develop our services in the longer term to ensure that established care pathways are available when people need it most.”
Scottish Conservative MSP Sue Webber is highlighting National Eye Health Week by visiting local opticians, ClearVue Opticians, on Lanark Road West.
She is backing the awareness week’s key message that going for regular eye examinations, which are free for everyone in Scotland, remains as important as ever in protecting your sight.
Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, says: “I’m proud to support National Eye Health Week and highlight just how important regular eye examinations are.
“In Scotland, these checks are free for everyone and play a vital role in spotting eye conditions early, as well as identifying wider health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure.
“I would urge people to book an appointment with their local optometrist at least every two years, or more frequently if recommended.”
National sight loss charity RNIB Scotland, and Optometry Scotland, the representative body for optometrists and dispensing opticians in Scotland are promoting this year’s National Eye Health Week which takes place from 22 to 28 September 2025 to highlight the importance of good eye health and the need for regular eye tests for all.
RNIB Scotland Director, James Adams, says: “Regular eye tests are vital, not just for protecting sight but also for detecting a range of wider health conditions at an early stage. We’re encouraged to see more people coming forward for eye examinations, but it’s important that everyone feels confident and comfortable accessing them.
“At RNIB Scotland, we’re here to support anyone who is experiencing changes in their vision and may be worried about what this means. Together with other charities, we can offer advice and guidance to help people make informed choices about their health. No one should face an eye condition diagnosis without the right support.”
Optometry Scotland, says: “During National Eye Health Week we are pleased to collaborate with RNIB to raise awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations.
“As part of our commitment to public health in Scotland, we want to remind everyone that NHS-funded eye exams are available and accessible to all.
“Eye examinations not only check vision, but also play a crucial role in detecting eye and general health conditions early to support overall wellbeing. We’re also proud to work with RNIB in facilitating MSP visits across the country which help to spotlight the value of eye health at both local and national levels.
“Together, we can ensure more people understand the importance of these services and take proactive steps to protect their sight.”
MyCare.scot, Scotland’s new health and social care online app, will be made available to everyone across Scotland from April 2026, following an initial launch in Lanarkshire in December.
The new online service will transform how people access and interact with health and social care services. Users will be provided with a secure digital identity, access to some personal information and the national service finder from NHS inform.
The initial launch in Lanarkshire will be targeted at dermatology outpatients. It will be evaluated thoroughly, with the app’s development reflecting user feedback and experience before being rolled out progressively across Scotland from April.
Following initial roll-out, MyCare will be expanded to hospital-based services, before including other areas of the health and social care system, including GP practices, pharmacy, social work and social care.
Today’s announcement coincides with the final day of Scotland’s National Innovation Week. Once the rollout is complete, MyCare will be the most wide-ranging app offered to patients anywhere in the UK.
Today we’re announcing the new online app for health and social care in Scotland giving you access to your records and appointments in the palm of your hand.
MyCare will be live across the country from April 2026 and a pilot in Lanarkshire this December.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “MyCare.scot is the single biggest digital innovation in Scotland’s health and social care system and will revolutionise how people manage and receive their healthcare.
“The introduction of this app will be a landmark moment for Scotland and aligns with the commitments this Government has made to bringing down waiting lists, and making care more personal and closer to home.
“Our initial launch in NHS Lanarkshire will help us ensure the MyCare app is robust, safe, secure, and meets peoples’ needs. I am delighted we will then see a population-wide rollout from April and we have today published a high-level summary rollout plan setting out our approach.
“We have worked closely with NHS Education for Scotland and key stakeholders to develop MyCare.scot, and I want to thank everyone who has worked hard to help us reach this stage and to ensure we deliver rollout of the app across the country from April.”
More than 500 schools across the UK set to receive free fruit & veg
Scheme will give thousands of young people fruit and vegetables every day at school
Last academic year (24/25), around 140,000 children were supported with over 10 million portions of fruit & veg
Tesco has announced that its Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, developed in partnership with the British Nutrition Foundation, is to be expanded for another year to reach even more schools across the UK.
For the whole of the next academic year (2025/2026), free fruit and veg from local Tesco stores will give children in more than 500 schools a nutritious boost that they might not ordinarily get.
The Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools programme launched in September 2024 as part of the supermarket’s Stronger Starts funding and community support for children.
The second year of funding will continue to be specifically targeted in areas where the proportion of pupils receiving free school meals is above 50%. The focus on areas with higher free school meal participation is particularly important because data shows that families on lower incomes struggle to afford a healthy diet.
Only 12% of children aged between 11 and 18 are meeting the five-a-day recommendation and for children taking part in the scheme, Tesco expects to see their overall fruit and veg intake increase by 23%, based on the average five-a-day intakes in school-aged children.
The schools taking part in the scheme will be able to shop for the fruit and veg the school needs in stores local to their school.
Most popular fruits in year one, were:
1. Apples (225,585kg)
2. Bananas (108,602kg)
3. Oranges (92,597kg)
4. Grapes (39,771kg)
5. Strawberries (37,735kg)
Ashwin Prasad, Tesco UK CEO, commented:“Schools have told us what a positive impact the Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has made on their children, so we are delighted we are able to support even more schools in year two.
“The first year of our programme has been a huge success and by expanding it we can ensure that even more young people in some of the most challenged communities in the UK get access to more fruit and veg.”
Astral Blanchard, Head Teacher at Twerton Infant School in Bath, said: “The Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has given our children the opportunity to try so many new fruit and vegetables, while also helping us build healthy eating into a valuable part of our daily routine.
“Snack time is now a calm and enjoyable moment where we read stories, talk about flavours and explore new tastes together in ways we hadn’t before.
“Children are helping to prepare the fruit, trying things they’ve never eaten, and even asking for fruit and vegetables at home. It has been a joy to see their curiosity grow and their enthusiasm for healthy eating thrive.”
Elaine Hindal, Chief Executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: “Tesco’s Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has helped to improve the diets of our young people by helping them get more of their five a day, try new varieties and develop healthy habits that we hope will stay with them through life.
“We’re delighted to see the programme expanded to provide daily fruit and vegetables to even more children who might not normally be able to access them.”
Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South, has called on the City of Edinburgh Council in a formal open letter today to take urgent steps to secure the future of Edinburgh South Community Football Club (ESCFC), one of Scotland’s biggest and most successful community clubs.
ESCFC, has over 1,000 players across 75 teams and more than 200 volunteers, collectively contributing over 40,000 hours of unpaid time, is facing severe challenges due to a shortage of pitches and lack of long-term security over its facilities. Every week, 5–10 children are being turned away, while six full teams, around 120 young people, risk having nowhere to train from September.
Despite more than seven years of talks with the Council, the club still does not have the land security or access to facilities it needs. Edinburgh Leisure has not responded since March regarding long-term Astro pitch availability, and without action the club has missed out on major investment opportunities, such as the £8.6m Scottish FA Pitching In fund.
The club’s impact stretches far beyond football, with initiatives including:
Free after school club and holiday camps (averaging 600 free places weekly across the year)
Free mental health counselling and physiotherapy
Racism and disability awareness training
Free use of club facilities for local schools
Fee waivers and discounts for families in need
Completely free Soccer School every Saturday for up to 120 children aged 5-8
ESCFC is a Platinum-level accredited club, the highest recognition awarded by the SFA, and has been nominated for National Community Club of the Year.
Ian Murray MP said: ““Edinburgh South CFC is a shining example of everything that is good about grassroots football. The scale of the club’s impact from free school holiday places to counselling, mentoring, and a boot exchange programme is extraordinary.
“But that success is now under threat. It is simply unsustainable for children to be turned away week after week because of a lack of facilities and security, and miss out on repeated funding rounds.
“This has gone on far too long. The Council must now step up, work with the club, and deliver the long-term security and pitches it desperately needs.”
Joe Sneddon, Chair of Edinburgh South CFC, said: “Our ethos has always been simple: if you want to play, you play.Thanks to our incredible volunteers we’ve been able to make that a reality for decades, but the lack of facilities and long-term backing is now putting that at risk. We don’t want to turn children away, yet that’s exactly what is happening.
“The Council cannot allow a club of this standing, delivering this scale of community benefit, to be held back by lack of facilities and short-term agreements. The time for warm words is over, we need action to allow us to continue delivering for our communities.”
Ian Murray has written formally to the Council setting out a series of practical steps, including a new Astroturf pitch at Inch Park, guaranteed access to the new Liberton High School Astro, and long-term leases at key facilities across South Edinburgh.
Sudden loss, lasting legacy: Whitburn woman urges Scots to discuss organ donation
Louise Johnstone (46) from West Lothian is calling on Scots to register their decision on organ and tissue donation following the sudden death of her husband.
Loving grandpa and postman, Jed Johnstone (53), was treated at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in 2023 after suffering from a brain aneurysm and subsequent stroke but tragically passed away.
Speaking out for Organ and Tissue Donation Week, Louise said:“My husband Jed was full of fun – he was an amazing person. We’d met later in life and married just over a year before he died and we’d been looking forward to our future together.”
When medics confirmed Jed wouldn’t be able to recover, specialist nurses informed Louise that Jed had registered as an organ donor and supported her as transplant teams identified four patients in urgent need of a transplant.
Louise said: “We’d talked about life after death so I knew that organ donation was what he wanted and I respected his wishes.
“I was asked if I wanted to turn the machine off to let his heart stop. I couldn’t do it because I knew that then there was a chance that it couldn’t be used and what a waste of a good heart because Jed had the most beautiful heart.
“He’s left a hero’s legacy – Jed’s wishes provided four other families with a chance at life. For me, that is something really special. Two years later, I’ve got this amazing feeling that Jed’s heart is living on.”
A short video of Louise’s story is available to download at: https://vimeo.com/1119753689/1b19e60b3f
People in Scotland aged 16 or over have the choice to be an organ and tissue donor, or to opt out. If you do nothing, it is assumed you agree to be a donor if you die in circumstances where donation is possible.
In Lothian, over 610,000 people have registered their decision already, which is 67.4% of the population.
Louise is urging others to register their decision on organ donation and make their wishes known to friends and family.
Professor John Casey, Clinical Director and Transplant Surgeon at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian said: “Jed’s decision to join the Organ Donor Register is a powerful reminder of the positive impact one person can have, and how important it is to discuss organ donation with loved ones.
“Although we have an opt-out policy, it is still important for individuals to make their wishes clear and have those conversations with their families.”
For details about organ donation and to register your decision, visit:
Specsavers at Shandwick Place in Edinburgh is celebrating it’s over two decade long commitment to promoting better eye health in the local community this National Eye Health Week (22nd – 28th September).
As a locally owned and run store, Specsavers Shandwick Place is dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of people in the area. The high street retailer is keen to raise awareness about the importance of regular eye checks this National Eye Health Week, which runs from 22nd – 28th September 2025.
With figures from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) revealing that one in five people will experience sight loss in their lifetime*, Specsavers Shandwick Place is urging locals to prioritise their eye health.
Store director, Aly Uka says: ‘Many people don’t realise that sight loss can often be prevented or treated if a condition is caught early.
“Regular eye tests are essential for everyone, even if you think your vision is fine. Eye tests are not just about glasses, they can detect serious conditions like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and even high blood pressure or risk of stroke.’
National Eye Health Week highlights how preventative care and early diagnosis are crucial in reducing unnecessary sight loss.
According to RNIB, 250 people in the UK begin to lose their sight every day, and this number is expected to rise as the population ages*.
Eye health can also be affected by screen fatigue, especially as more people spend time on devices. Specsavers recommends following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away to help reduce strain and preserve vision.
As a long-standing part of the Shandwick Place community, Specsavers is focused on highlighting that essential health services must be accessible and visible to everyone.
For more information on Specsavers Shandwick Place or to book an appointment, call the store on 0131 240 8860 or visit:
Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity, is calling for investment in a national rollout of a ‘life-saving’ approach to improve children’s mental health. The call comes following the publication of an independent evaluation showing that the charity’s family wellbeing model has reduced repeat child mental health visits to GPs by more than 86%.
The evaluation of the Children First family wellbeing service, by Iconic Consulting, found that it has made a “significant difference for children, families and the overall support system” and strongly supports its replication across Scotland. The call has been backed by young people, their families and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH).
Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive of Children First, said: “Despite good intentions and a continued spotlight on children’s mental health, many children and young people in Scotland are still suffering for far too long before help is available.
“Not every child referred to CAMHS has a clinical condition, many are overwhelmed by the pressures of growing up today. The challenges they face have never been higher and the expectations on them are greater than ever.
“The evaluation of the Children First family wellbeing service shows that supporting children and their families to understand and tackle what’s causing their distress rather than just treating their symptoms can save lives.”
Between June 2019 and September 2024, 723 families were referred to the family wellbeing service in East Renfrewshire. It was developed with funding from the Robertson Trust, which aimed to support charities and the public sector to innovate and put more resources towards prevention.
Key findings from the independent evaluation of the service include:
Improved mental health for children, young people and their parents.
Strengthened family relationships and communication.
Better support for neurodivergent children and young people.
Increased engagement by children with education.
Reduced pressure on GP services and CAMHS.
While CAMHS waiting times remain lengthy, 90% of children referred to the family wellbeing service began getting support within two weeks over a three-year funding period.
Eighteen-year-old Lily started getting support from the Children First family wellbeing service three years ago. She said: “When I met Children First I couldn’t go to school. My anxiety was constant. I saw danger everywhere and reason to fear to everything. I couldn’t cross the road because I thought I’d be hit by a car. I couldn’t even answer the door.
“Now I’ve started my dream course at my dream university – I couldn’t have done it without Children First.
“Children First’s family wellbeing service has given me a second chance and set me up for the future. Every child who needs it should be able to get support from the family wellbeing service. It is absolutely, genuinely life changing.”
Helen, a parent, interviewed for the evaluation said: “If it wasn’t for Children First I don’t think me or my son would be here. He was feeling suicidal. It is a lot better now.”
Despite its success and the best efforts of partners, funding for the Children First family wellbeing service in East Renfrewshire is precarious.
The Scotland-wide pressure on public finances has resulted in a reduction in funding from £670,000 annually to just £320,000 in 2024/25.
Staff have had to be reduced, resulting in a drop in referrals from between 12 and 14 to less than three per month.
Mary Glasgow said: ““Children urgently need this model to be rolled out, with long-term, sustainable funding across Scotland direct to the third sector. The family wellbeing service is a clear example of how Scotland can deliver on its promise to prevent problems before they escalate.
“With public finances contracting, we need to make sure that CAMHS is available quickly for children with acute mental health needs and that other children who would benefit from an alternative, such as the Children First family wellbeing service, get rapid support to avoid more serious and costly interventions later.
“It eases pressure on the NHS and most importantly, it helps children recover and thrive.”
The call has been backed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). Dr Mairi Stark, RCPCH officer for Scotland said: “Every child deserves the highest standard of physical and mental health. That means ensuring they receive the right support, at the right time.
“Scotland is facing a mental health crisis, with childhood mental health problems becoming increasingly common. There is a real need for greater investment in community services to tackle the unmet need and prioritise the wellbeing of our children and young people.
“RCPCH Scotland has long called for the expansion and sustained investment in community-based mental health services, and I welcome this pilot service developed by Children First.
“The Scottish Government must not only act on the evidence of the independent evaluation, but it must also listen to the voices of children and families who have benefited from Children First’s Family Wellbeing Service.
“Their experiences are compelling evidence of what works and should help shape the future of mental health support for children and young people in Scotland.”
Children First unveiled its manifesto for the 2026 Holyrood elections earlier this week, urging the next Scottish Government to take action to tackle the national childhood emergency, protect children and safeguard childhood.
New service expected to free up 20,000 hospital appointments a year
A new eye care service is expected to reduce hospital admissions with approved Independent Prescribing (IP) optometrists receiving funding to treat more conditions in the community.
The new Anterior Eye Service, part of the Scottish Government’s record £139 million investment in eye care this year, will support approved IP optometrists to treat nine complex eye conditions which normally require a hospital visit.
The service will free up an estimated 20,000 hospital appointments a year, with patients being treated closer to home, offering greater appointment flexibility and continuity of care.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “This new service will mean people can get treatment for more eye conditions in the community, without the need to travel for a hospital appointment. It will get people the treatment they need faster, improving outcomes while also freeing up vital hospital capacity for more serious cases.
“This is an excellent example of the Scottish Government’s approach to shifting the balance of care towards the community, and is part of our record £139 million investment in community eyecare this year.
“I am very grateful to our community optometry profession, including Optometry Scotland, for taking part in this programme, which we estimate will save around 20,000 hospital admissions a year.
“Scotland remains the only part of UK to provide free universal NHS-funded eye examinations. This National Eye Health Week I would remind people of the importance of having free regular examinations with a community optometrist, even if they don’t think there is a problem with their vision.
“An eye examination helps with early detection of a range of sight and non-sight threatening conditions and community optometrists should always be people’s first port of call for all eye-related issues.”
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