Most women will have no sign of cancer, but breast screening can find cancers that are too small to see or feel.
That’s why it’s important you attend your appointment when invited.
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New research from Public Health Scotland (PHS), conducted in collaboration with Sciensano* and recently published in Public Health, the journal of the Royal Society of Public Health, projects a surge in the number of adult cases of excess weight in Scotland by 2040.
The findings highlight the scale of the challenge for both population health and future care services.
Current estimates from the Scottish Health Survey show that around two-thirds of Scottish adults are overweight, and one-third are living with obesity. These figures are disproportionately higher than other UK nations and among the highest compared to other European Union countries.
This new research analysed data from the Scottish Health Survey and found that, without urgent and sustained intervention, the number of adults who are overweight or living with obesity is set to rise significantly.
Dr Grant Wyper, Principal Epidemiologist, PHS, said: “Our findings highlight the stark challenge ahead. We estimate 3.3 million cases of adult excess weight by 2040, with more pronounced increases for obesity. Between 2025 and 2040, we estimate an additional 118,000 female and 36,000 male cases of obesity.
“Furthermore, recent increases in excess weight among adults aged 65 and above are projected to intensify towards 2040, signalling growing and more complex pressures on Scotland’s health and social care systems in the coming decades.
“These findings should be seen as a clear warning, but the projections are not inevitable. Delivering on the Population Health Framework priority to improve healthy weight is vital.
“Excess weight is linked to a wide range of health conditions, including premature death, meaning that our findings point to the risk of future adverse impacts on population health and unsustainable pressure on healthcare services.”
Claire Hislop RNutr (Public Health), Organisational Lead – Food & Physical Activity, PHS, added: “The time for incremental change is over. The evidence shows we must accelerate progress on bold, preventative measures that reshape the food environment and ensure healthier options are accessible, affordable and widely available.
“At the same time, we must strengthen comprehensive weight management and support services to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland. This approach aligns with the ambitions of the Population Health Framework.
“The framework priority for improving healthy weight needs a whole system package of prevention and treatment measures to improve levels of healthy weight, alongside ongoing policy developments to create conditions for better health and reduced inequalities.”
Read more about the Population Health Framework
Read the Scottish Public Health Systems consensus statement on improving Scotland’s diet and weight
*Sciensano is the federal research institute for public and animal health in Belgium.
If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it’s recommended you go for your screening appointment when invited. It’s an important part of your NHS diabetic care.
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WAITING TIMES STANDARD MET FOR THIRD TIME IN ROW
For the third consecutive quarter in a row, there has been continued progress on waiting times for children and young people’s mental health care.
From April to June this year, 91.8% of those referred to CAMHS were seen within 18 weeks, according to the latest statistics from Public Health Scotland. This is a slight increase from 91.6% in the previous quarter, and above the national standard of 90%.
Mental Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur said: “I welcome the continued progress in these services – staff across Scotland are working hard to ensure children and young people are getting the support they need when they need it, and I am grateful for their continued dedication.
“We have exceeded our promise to provide funding for 320 additional staff for CAMHS by 2026, and this will have contributed to the improvements we are seeing.
“However, I am aware there is still more to do to ensure standards are consistent across the country and we are supporting all NHS Boards to meet the standard and continue development in the delivery of CAMHS and all mental health services.”
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist care and education to vulnerable children and young people, is calling for parity of action and parity of spend as new figures highlight 146 children and young people have been waiting more than a year for mental health treatment in Scotland.
These figures were highlighted in the latest waiting time statistics from Public Health Scotland published today (2nd September), indicating that 146 children and young people had been waiting over a year for treatment from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in the quarter ending June 2025.1
Additionally, 271 individuals have been waiting for between nine months and a year for treatment.
The figures come out following a Freedom of Information request to NHS Boards that found that in 2024/25, a patient in NHS Highland waited 1189 days – more than three years – for treatment by CAMHS, and in NHS Tayside, a patient has been waiting 1,137 days to start treatment. 2
The Scottish Government’s target, dating back to December 2014, states that 90 per cent of children and young people should start treatment within 18 weeks of referral to CAMHS.
This comes against the background of a mental health emergency, with an increasing demand on services, exacerbated by the long shadow of the Covid lockdown and cost-of-living crisis.
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, cases of poor mental health in children and young people were at unprecedented levels, with overstretched and under-resourced services struggling to keep pace with growing demand.
However, it should be noted that despite this greatly increased demand, only 0.82 per cent of the total frontline NHS budget was spent on CAMHS in the 2023/24 financial year, amounting to £134.188 million (real terms). This equates to just 82p in every £100 of the NHS budget. 3
A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “The latest figures highlighting that 146 children and young people have been waiting over a year for mental health treatment are extremely alarming.
“While the fact that the Scottish Government is meeting its waiting time target is to be welcomed, many children and young people are still waiting years for help, which worsens their mental health and is a sure-fire way to add to their pain.
“What we need is not just parity of esteem between mental health and physical health, it’s parity of action and parity of spend.
“We are facing a mental health emergency, and many of our children and young people are at breaking point, with stress and anxiety reaching alarming levels as they battle with the long shadow of lockdown and the rising cost of living. This is also having a negative impact on classroom behaviour, affecting the young people concerned, their fellow pupils and staff.
“Each one of these statistics is an individual, and we would urge the Scottish Government to ensure the adequate resourcing of mental health services for our children and young people so that they can get the care and support they need, without lengthy waits.”
In response to today’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services figures, chief executive of Children First Mary Glasgow said: “Today’s figures show the importance of keeping the spotlight on children’s mental health.
“The reduction in waiting times is welcome, but while four months is the target, it is still too long, especially when children are suffering in severe distress.
“By urgently investing in more early help and support the Scottish Government can prevent children reaching a point of emergency.
“Every day our support line and our teams across Scotland hear from children and young people with high levels of worry and anxiety coming to us desperate for help.”
“If you are worried about your child our friendly support line team is here for you on 08000 28 22 33.”
DRUG-RELATED DEATHS IN SCOTLAND REPORTED FOR 2024
The number of deaths caused by drug misuse fell by 13% to 1,017 last year – the lowest level registered since 2017.
According to statistics published by National Records of Scotland yesterday, there were 155 fewer deaths in 2024 compared to the previous year.
The statistics showed that people in the most deprived areas were 12 times more likely to die from drugs as those in least deprived areas. This is a drop from 15 times more likely in 2023.
There was also a drop in the number of deaths among young people with 34 under-25s compared with 58 in 2023.
However, Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said there is still work to be done by the Scottish Government to deal with the harm caused by drugs.
During a visit to The Scheme Livi recovery project, which offers a variety of creative workshops to support people dealing with substance use, Ms Todd said: “My heartfelt condolences go to all those affected by the loss of a loved one through drugs.
“It is welcome that we have seen progress with the number of deaths at the lowest level since 2017, but I know there is still work to be done and we will continue to do everything we can to save and improve lives.
“This is particularly true as we face new threats from highly dangerous synthetic opioids like nitazenes, which further raise the risk of overdose and death.
“That is why we are providing record levels of funding for drugs and alcohol programmes and widening access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone. We have also supported and funded the opening of the UK’s first Safer Drug Consumption Facility and are working at pace to deliver drug-checking facilities.
“The spread of grassroots support, enhanced by our funding of more than 300 organisations and projects, has also made a difference on the ground. However, we will always want to do more and will continue to work hard to adapt to new patterns of consumption and demand to direct support where it is most needed.”
The Scheme Livi co-founder Aidan Martin said: “At The Scheme Livi, we’ve seen first-hand how grassroots projects, supported by Corra, can transform lives. Since launching full-time in March 2023, we’ve welcomed over 3,100 attendees, with 524 unique footprints, to our free creative workshops, which carry both therapeutic and creative benefits.
“These attendee numbers highlight the real need for safe, supportive spaces for people impacted by addiction, trauma, mental health challenges, social isolation, and social deprivation.”
The annual report for drug related deaths from the National Records of Scotland, published today, shows that there were 1017 drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2024; a decrease of 13% (155 deaths) compared to 2023.
The report also highlights the worrying extent of premature mortality, with 46% of deaths (467) occurring in the 35-49 age group, similar to 2023, when this age group accounted for 49% of deaths (583).
Opioids continue to be the most common drug type implicated in drug-related deaths (80%), which reflects a similar picture to 2023.
Reflecting on the publication of the figures, Dr Tara Shivaji, Consultant at Public Health Scotland (PHS), said: “We must all take a moment to pause and reflect on the stark reality of this report.
“These deaths are not just numbers; they reflect real people in our communities and families. Those who are working tirelessly within the system will feel the weight today as drug related deaths, and harm, continues to be one of the most significant public health challenges in Scotland.
“Whilst there was a slight decrease in deaths from 2023, Scotland continues to have one of the highest drug death rates in the developed world. Our most recent RADAR quarterly report showed an increase in drug harms during 2025.
“In order to tackle this, we must also address the underlying social determinants of health. Poverty, homelessness, trauma, and stigma play a key role in further entrenching the problematic drug use. We are working with health boards, local authorities and third sector organisations right across the country to reduce these inequalities.
“Scotland’s Population Health Framework 2025-2035 sets out a vision that we, collectively, need to focus on prevention and create supportive environments that promote health and wellbeing and reduce health harming activities.
“Through research and consultation, PHS is working across the system to actively engage with partners, stakeholders and people with lived and living experience.
“Our aim is to prevent substance use harm – making sure our schools, families and communities can reduce early risks and support healthier futures.”
COSLA has issued a short statement following statistics published today (2nd September 2025) on drug-related deaths in Scotland.
A COSLA Spokesperson said: “Every death from drug misuse is a tragedy. These numbers represent loved ones: parents, sons, daughters and siblings. It is a stark reminder of the challenges we still need to overcome across the public and third sectors to end deaths of this nature.
“Local Authorities continue to work in partnership with a wide range of agencies to support to people affected by addiction and drug misuse, and reduce the devastating impacts on our communities.”
A failure to deliver high-quality Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) across Scotland is contributing to a devastating increase in broken hips, say campaigners.
FLS are early diagnosis services for osteoporosis, which is one of the top drivers of disability and early death amongst older people in Scotland.
Osteoporosis causes bones to weaken and break more easily – often just from a fall from standing height, a cough or a sneeze.
Half of women aged over 50 will suffer devastating broken bones as a result of osteoporosis, as well as a fifth of men. The end result of late treatment of osteoporosis is a life-threatening hip fracture, which kills over a quarter of sufferers within a year.
The number of people aged 50 and over who suffered hip fractures rose considerably in 2024 to 8,426* cases, a new report by Public Health Scotland shows.
The Royal Osteoporosis Society is now calling on the Scottish Government to deliver a mandate requiring all health boards to have high-quality Fracture Liaison Services (FLS). The Scottish Government must also set rigorous performance standards for FLSs to ensure enough patients are being identified, treated and monitored.
A mandate like this is already in place in England and Wales, leaving Scotland trailing behind, despite Glasgow being the birthplace of the FLS model, which has been copied in 57 countries.
Without a mandate from the Scottish Government, NHS chiefs are not incentivised to provide high-quality FLS in all areas. The lack of publicly available data – because a national audit of all FLSs has been delayed – is concealing life-threatening gaps where services are not present or performing.
Fracture Liaison Services are specialist NHS clinics that diagnose and treat osteoporosis in people over 50 after the first broken bone. Early detection and treatment – with inexpensive medication that is available on the NHS – is vital in preventing further fractures such as broken hips.
Currently, many patients in Scotland are not having their osteoporosis diagnosed and treated, which is leading to a devastating cascade of further avoidable fractures.
If Scotland had quality universal FLS coverage, over a five-year period, it is estimated:
Craig Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said: “In England and Wales, the governments have promised a national roll-out of life-saving bone clinics, but the Scottish Government has, so far, declined to match that commitment, saying an audit of current services is needed first.
“The slow pace of auditing services is fuelling the rise in life-threatening hip fractures, which will lead to lost lives. Scotland invented the world standard for fracture care, so it’s hugely disappointing to see the nation fall behind England and Wales.”
Carol Mochan, Shadow Minister for Women’s Health, said: “Every one of these hip fractures represents a person whose life has been turned upside down, and too many could have been prevented.
“The Government knows what we need – a mandate for universal, high-quality Fracture Liaison Services. Wales has done it. England is doing it. There’s no reason people in Scotland should be left behind.”
Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, said: “Scotland led the world in creating Fracture Liaison Services, but that early lead has been squandered.
“Latest figures show that the number of people aged 50 and over with hip fractures has been rising, with the largest increases amongst people aged 70 to 89. This could be prevented by timely diagnosis and treatment, yet only 41.5% of patients in Scotland receive a full inpatient care package within 24 hours of admission.
“The rise in hip fractures is the inevitable result of this inaction. The promised audit remains unfinished, and without a mandate for quality services, patients will keep falling through the cracks. The Scottish Government must act now to put Scotland back at the forefront of osteoporosis care.”
The report by Public Health Scotland also shows standards of care in hospital for people following a hip fracture have plummeted. The average time patients spent in the emergency department after a hip fracture increased to 5 hours 36 minutes, compared with 5 hours 10 minutes in 2023.
Just 30% were admitted to a ward within the four-hour target in 2024, which compares with 37% in 2023. Scottish hip fracture audit – reporting on 2024 – Scottish Hip Fracture Audit – Publications – Public Health Scotland
The Welsh Government issued a mandate to deliver universal FLS, which has been achieved. Wales also published a Quality Statement for Osteoporosis and Bone Health, which committed to delivering quality standards of care for people with osteoporosis. Targets have been set to identify, treat and monitor more patients.
England has committed to rolling out universal FLS by 2030.
Extreme long waits in Emergency Departments across Scotland are a political responsibility that can no longer be ignored as more than 51,400 older patients endured stays of 12 hours or more last year – the worst on record.
New analysis from the Royal College of Emergency (RCEM) reveals in major EDs, one in every eight patients (51,423) aged 60 or over waited more than 12 hours to be transferred, admitted or discharged in 2024.
That’s 14,407 more patients than the year before (2023).
And is over 16 times more people than in 2019 when just 3,135 older people endured waits of this length.
The figures, obtained by RCEM via Freedom of Information requests to Public Health Scotland, also reveal that, concerningly, the older a patient is the longer they are likely to wait in A&E.
People aged 70-79 have a 12% chance of waiting 12 hours or more – almost 16 times higher than it was in 2019.
Meanwhile, people aged 80-89 have a 16% chance of enduring extreme waits, and the likelihood rises to 19% for those aged 90 and above.
Compare that to patients aged 18-29, whose average likelihood of experiencing a 12-hour wait last year was just 2.2%.
Older patients often arrive to the Emergency Department with more complicated or multiple health issues.
This, when combined with the inability to admit them onto a ward due to the lack of available in-patient beds, means older people can become stuck in Emergency Departments – enduring extreme long waits, often on trolleys in corridors.
And when patients do finally get admitted, they often find themselves stranded in hospital, unable to go home when they are well enough to leave, frequently due to a lack of available social care support.
Public Health Scotland recently revealed that in 2024/25, there was a record 720,119 days spent in hospital by patients whose discharge was delayed – 474,153 of which were experienced by people aged 75 or over. This accounted for two out of every three (66%) delayed discharge bed days.
Dr Fiona Hunter, Vice President of RCEM Scotland, said, “This data is both shocking and shameful, and it is abundantly clear that older people are bearing the brunt of a system in crisis.
“Hundreds of thousands of dearly loved people – great-grandparents, grandmas, grandads, parents – forced to experience extreme long stays in our Emergency Departments every year mainly because we don’t have enough in-patient beds to admit them to when they need one.
“Often enduring these waits on trolleys in areas that aren’t designed to deliver care in – corridors or even cupboards.
“It’s a failure of the system. It’s unacceptable, it’s dangerous and it’s putting lives at risk.
“Enough is enough. The government can’t ignore the ongoing crisis our Emergency Departments – the workforce and patients – continue to face day in, day out.
“We all deserve an Urgent and Emergency Care system that works as it should and not letting people, our most vulnerable, down when they need it most.”
Dr Bob Caslake, Chair of the BGS Scotland Council, said, “This report highlights the urgent attention that is needed across the health and social care system to allow older people to access the care they need at the time they need it.
“The current waiting times faced by older people in Emergency Departments are unacceptable, and reducing these delays is a matter of equity, dignity, and patient safety.”
Professor Andrew Elder, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh said, “It is disappointing that this information is not routinely collected, analysed and published and it is unacceptable to see so many older people waiting hours — sometimes days — in A&E wards for the care they need.
“These older people are often living with frailty, dementia, and multiple other health conditions. They deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion.
“Long waits for care are neither dignified nor compassionate and can also lead to serious harm. This is not the standard of care we should accept for our parents, grandparents, or neighbours.
“With the numbers of older people in Scotland in need of care expected to increase dramatically, we urgently need a system that prioritises timely treatment and supports frontline staff in delivering the respect and care our older population deserves.”
The figures come after the Royal College of Emergency Medicine published a report earlier this year looking at the care older people, aged 75 and over, receive in Emergency Departments across the UK.
Titled ‘Care of Older People 2023-24’, the research found there was insufficient screening for three common conditions which primarily affect this age group, including delirium and for general frailty.
RCEM also released analysis in February which found the number of people experiencing stays of longer than 12hrs in Scotland’s ED last year was a staggering 99 times higher than 2011 when records began.
A new project exploring the use of the Community Health Index (CHI) number in Scottish Local Government has been awarded £590,000 funding from the Scottish Government.
The ‘CHI in Local Government’ project, led by COSLA, the Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, and Public Health Scotland, seeks to improve information sharing across health, social work, and social care services.
The Community Health Index (CHI) System, which has underpinned NHS Scotland’s digital infrastructure for over 40 years, provides a unique patient number used across the health service. It supports everything from immunisation and screening programmes to primary and secondary care delivery.
The CHI In Local Government project aims to use the CHI number to improve the quality of the data services hold, allow services across health, social work, and social care to better match data, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for our citizens.
Accessing health, social work, and social care services all too often requires people to repeat their information. Using the CHI number as a common identifier across health, social work, and social care will reduce this duplication and improve integration of services. To deliver the highest standard of care, it is essential that our workforce have access to the right information at the right time.
The aims of the CHI in Local Government project align clearly with the ambitions set out in the joint COSLA and Scottish Government Digital strategy, Care in the Digital Age, and Data strategy, Greater Access, Better Insight, Improved Outcomes.
Both strategies emphasise the importance of robust information governance and seamless data sharing across health and social care.
Councillor Paul Kelly, COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson, said: “I am delighted that the CHI in Local Government project has received funding to progress to the Discovery phase.
“By using CHI more widely across our Councils we can improve data matching and, crucially, reduce the amount of times people accessing our services have to repeat their information.
“I look forward to continuing to champion this work as it progresses and ultimately delivers better outcomes for our citizens.”
Tom Arthur, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, said: “In line with the priorities recently set out in the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework, I am pleased to support this project.
“Using CHI numbers in social care means people will get a better level of service. By allowing information to be shared safely and confidentially between professionals, we can reduce duplication of work, and the time staff have to spend on administrative tasks.
“It will further embed the integration of health and social care and help in preparations for the health and social care online app, launching in Lanarkshire later this year.”
Martyn Wallace, Chief Digital Officer, Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, said: “I am thrilled with this significant investment as we continue to work closely with our public sector partners to enhance our digital services for citizens.
“By utilising the Community Health Index (CHI), we will streamline access to services, reduce the need for individuals to repeat their information, and ensure timely delivery of care.
“This initiative will also promote better integration of health and social care services, support other collaborative digital projects like the new Health & Social Care App, and ultimately improve outcomes for our citizens.”
Scott Heald, Director of Data and Digital Innovation, Public Health Scotland said: “Our vision at Public Health Scotland (PHS) is focused on ensuring communities can flourish across Scotland.
“We bring together data and intelligence to shape decisions affecting health and care. This work to adopt the Community Health Index (CHI) in Scottish Local Government will make a huge contribution towards how we can work with partners to maximise the benefits of digital and data in ways that will empower individuals and communities.
“PHS already collects and analyses data from across the domains of health and social care, much of which Is sourced directly from Local Government systems.
“The opportunity to integrate the CHI into those underlying systems will lead to faster, more efficient, and accurate production of whole-system data on health and social care services and provide insights on outcomes for individuals across Scotland.”
As measles cases continue to increase across the world, including in England where outbreaks continue, Public Health Scotland (PHS) is continuing to encourage the public to take up the offer of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Having two doses of the MMR vaccine is the best way to be fully protected against measles.
As of 9 July, there have been 27 cases of laboratory confirmed measles in Scotland in 2025.
Measles can be a very serious condition, causing pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and can affect people of any age if they have not been vaccinated.
The MMR vaccine protects against measles with the first dose offered to children between 12-13 months, and the second dose offered at 3 years 4 months. If it’s missed at these times, it can be given at any age.
Uptake of MMR has declined across all UK nations in recent years and there remains a risk of infection in those who are not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated for their age.
Health care workers should also have two doses of MMR and are advised to speak to with their employer or occupational health department if they haven’t been fully vaccinated.
Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, Head of Vaccination and Immunisation at PHS said: “Measles is highly infectious and can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications for some people.
“We’ve seen a modest decline in vaccination rates in Scotland over the last decade which is a concern as measles can spread quickly in communities where vaccination rates are low.
“That’s why we’re encouraging anyone who hasn’t had two doses of the free MMR vaccine, as well as parents and carers of children who have missed a dose, to visit the NHS Inform website and find out how to arrange an appointment in their local health board area.
“We would also encourage those who are planning to travel anytime soon to ensure that you and your children are up to date with all your vaccinations before leaving the country.”
For more information on the history of measles, read our blog Measles – a clear and continuing threat.
More information on measles, including what to do if you think someone in your family has symptoms, can be found on Measles | NHS inform.
Further information on how to check you / your child is fully protected can be found on MMR against measles | NHS inform.
Health protection teams and other health professionals can find the latest measles public health guidance here: Guidance for professionals – Measles and find the latest campaign assets here.
Updates on case numbers are published on our data and surveillance page every Thursday.
PUBLIC HEALTH SCOTLAND
Stakeholders across Scotland are invited to support the development of Public Health Scotland’s new strategy for 2025-2035.
As Scotland’s national public health body, we work to protect, improve, and sustain the health of Scotland’s people. We provide leadership for population health protection and improvement, supply trusted and evidence-informed advice, curate Scotland’s health data, and collaborate across all sectors turning policy into action.
Our vision remains simple but ambitious: a Scotland where everybody thrives. Within the next ten years, our aim is to boost average life expectancy by at least a year and reduce inequalities in life expectancy.
Scotland’s Population Health and Service Renewal Frameworks provide the ambition and direction for how Scotland will achieve this, through the core principles of preventing ill health, improving access and strengthening service quality.
Our strategy will define our role: what we will do and how we will lead and work with partners to deliver these plans for Scotland’s health.
We invite stakeholders from across Scotland to contribute their views to shape our strategy and to help us understand how we can achieve these goals in collaboration with partners.
We will proactively contact and engage with a diverse range of stakeholders based on Shaping our Strategy, however we would also like to hear from other individuals and organisations.
To support this process, several questions are provided. The closing date for submissions is Friday 29 August 2025. Feedback should be emailed to phs.strategicdevelopment@phs.scot.
These submissions will inform our strategy which we will publish later this year.
Find more information, including how to submit a consultation response, by viewing Shaping our Strategy.
Go to the Scottish Government’s Population Health and Service Renewal Frameworks
