Tag: report

Scotland is the most dangerous nation in the UK for accidental death

SCOTLAND HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF ACCIDENTAL DEATHS IN UK 

  • 51 people per 100,000 died in accidents in Scotland, compared to an average of 34 across the whole UK in 2023/24 
  • People in Scotland 62% more likely to die in an accident than people in England 
  • Falls are the biggest cause of accidental death in Scotland 
  • People are almost three times as likely to die of accidental poisoning in Scotland than in England 
  • Fatal accidents in the UK have risen by a rate of 8% in one year and accidents now kill over 23,000 people annually – more than the capacity of the 02 Arena 
  • Almost 900,000 people – the equivalent of the entire population of Devon – are admitted to hospital due to accidents every year 
  • Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) calls on the Government to implement a National Accidents Prevention Strategy to tackle this public health emergency 

Scotland has the highest rate of accidental deaths in the UK, reveals a new report from safety charity the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Accidents killed 51 per 100,000 people in Scotland in 2023/24, compared to a UK-wide average of 34. This makes Scotland the most dangerous UK nation for accidental deaths, ahead of Wales (44 deaths per 100,000 people), Northern Ireland (39) and England (32), and means people in Scotland are 62% more likely to die in an accident than people in England. 

There were also stark differences within Scotland itself, with those in the more deprived 50% of the population almost 28% more likely to be admitted to hospital than those in the less deprived 50%. 

Deaths from accidents are rising across the UK, and hospital admissions due to accidents are putting immense pressure on the NHS. RoSPA found that an estimated 23,000 people – more than the capacity of the 02 Arena – lose their lives to accidents every year, while almost 900,000 people were admitted to hospital, the equivalent of the population of Devon passing through the NHS. 

There was an 8% increase in the rate of all accidental deaths across the UK in 2023/24, with falls being the biggest killer across all nations. However, deaths from accidental poisoning (including drugs and alcohol) are particularly high in Scotland, with 21 people per 100,000 dying of this cause in 2023 – compared to 11 in Wales, 9 in Northern Ireland and 8 in England – meaning people in Scotland are almost three timesas likely to be killed in an accidental poisoning than in England. 

Hospital admissions also rose by a rate of 3% over one year in Great Britain, including a 17% rate of increase in admissions caused by animals and 6% by poisonings. 

Accidents have a tragic impact, not just on individuals, families and communities, but society as a whole. Immediate treatment costs to the NHS run to £6 billion annually, not including follow-up rehabilitation and other costs, and accidents account for a minimum of 5.2 million bed days, reducing capacity and driving up waiting lists across the health service. Meanwhile, the UK economy loses another £6 billion a year in output due to lost working days. 

In 2024, RoSPA urged the Government to implement a National Accident Prevention Strategy to tackle accidents as a serious public health crisis. The charity also recently launched Towards a Safer Scotland, a manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Election, which sets out key priorities for accident prevention across Scotland. 

RoSPA’s Annual Review of Accidents now shows that, without dedicated action, the crisis in accidental deaths is getting even worse. These shocking figures only strengthen the case for a coordinated, cross-sector government response, in order to reduce the suffering caused by preventable deaths and injuries, lessen the burden on the NHS and economy, and make society safer for everyone. 

Becky Hickman, CEO of RoSPA, said: “Accidents devastate lives in an instant. They are often sudden, violent, and shocking, leaving families and communities to cope with consequences that can last a lifetime. What makes this devastation even harder to bear is the knowledge that so many of these incidents are entirely preventable. 

“Our Annual Review of Accidents shows we are still not doing enough to reduce avoidable harm, life-changing injuries and personal tragedies.

“From our roads to our workplaces, the homes we live in to where we spend our leisure time, people in Britain are at increasing and unacceptable risk of suffering a serious accident. And it is those who are already vulnerable – young children, the elderly, and people in deprived communities – who are in the greatest danger.    

“By keeping a close eye on trends, learning from patterns of injury, and acting on the evidence, we can help ensure that individuals, communities, and the wider society are better protected from the consequences of accidental injury.” 

RoSPA’s Annual Review of Accidents is endorsed by Chris Boardman CBE, Olympic Gold Medal-winning cyclist and Commissioner at Active Travel England: “Serious injuries and deaths on our roads are often treated as an unfortunate but inevitable part of everyday life. They are not. In most cases, they are predictable and preventable. 

“If we want more people to choose to walk, wheel or cycle, our streets must look and feel safe. Active Travel England is working with councils across the country to design safety into our streets, creating high-quality, joined-up networks that give people, especially children, real access to affordable, green and healthy transport.” 

Dr Sally-Anne Wilson, Vice President, Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), said: “Emergency Departments see first-hand the rising impact of accidental injuries, particularly among older people.

“The patients I worry about most are those who fall from standing height, often in their own homes, and arrive in the ED with serious injuries such as hip or rib fractures. These seemingly simple accidents can have devastating consequences. 

“We know that older people are disproportionately affected by crowding in Emergency Departments, and that delays transferring them to inpatient wards are linked with longer hospital stays and increased mortality.  

“Prevention must be a priority. Anything we can do to reduce the number and severity of avoidable injuries will make a meaningful difference to patient outcomes and help relieve pressure on a stretched emergency care system.

“RCEM strongly supports RoSPA’s focus on this vital area of public health.” 

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Cancer charity concern as latest bowel screening statistics published

The latest report by Public Health Scotland (PHS) provides an annual update to key performance indicators for the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme. The report includes uptake, laboratory and clinical outcomes of screened individuals, for those invited from May 2023 to April 2025.

For the two-year period from 01 May 2023 to 30 April 2025, over 1.9 million people were invited to complete a home bowel screening test:

  • Two-thirds of people successfully returned their kit (65.2% uptake), meeting the programme minimum uptake target of 60%. Uptake was higher in females (67.7%) than males (62.7%).
Bar chart showing percentage uptake of screening program across SIMD quintiles, for males and females with a red dashed line indicating a 60% program target. Uptake is highest in least deprived quintile 5 for both sexes, exceeding the target, and decreases progressively toward most deprived quintile 1, where uptake falls below 60%.
Image captionUptake by deprivation category and sex, May 2023 to April 2025
  • There was a 22.1 percentage point gap between uptake in the most (52.3%) and least (74.4%) deprived population quintiles as measured by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Uptake for both men and women in the most deprived areas was below the programme target of 60%.
  • 34,676 people (2.8% of the tests) had a positive result and were referred for a colonoscopy – a more detailed investigation. Three-quarters received a colonoscopy, while most of the remaining quarter either chose not to proceed or had medical reasons that made it unsuitable. This was similar to last year’s report.
  • While waiting times for screening colonoscopies have improved generally, only four out of 10 (41.5%) people received their colonoscopy within four weeks of their positive referral. This was an increase of 12.7 percentage points since last year’s report. However, two out of 10 people (18.6%) waited more than eight weeks for their colonoscopy. This was a reduction of 10.0 percentage points since last year’s report.
  • Overall, 5.0% (1,295 people) of those having a colonoscopy following a positive screen were found to have bowel cancer. Three out of five cancers (63.4%) were diagnosed at the earliest two stages, when treatment is most likely to be successful.
  • In people eligible to participate, about one third of bowel cancers are identified through screening. These cancers are often at an earlier, more treatable stage which is why anyone sent a bowel screening test is encouraged to complete the test and return using the pre-paid envelope provided.
  • For further information, visit NHS Inform.

Peter Hastie, Macmillan External Affairs Manager in Scotland, comments on the latest bowel screening figures issued by the Scottish government: “This latest data continues to show an extremely worrying picture – there is a gap of 22 percentage points in the take up of bowel screening between the most and least deprived areas of Scotland. This isn’t fair, and it has to change.

“Macmillan is committed to working to address the huge gaps and the unfairness that exists in cancer care in Scotland. But we need to see more joined up action, so everyone gets the early diagnosis and support they need, whoever they are and wherever they live.

“As the election looms, we need commitments from the next Scottish Government to work with the health system, professionals, sector partners, community organisations and most importantly, people living with cancer, to fix this unfairness. We deserve nothing less.”

See Macmillan’s Holyrood election manifesto below:

macmillan-manifestoDownload

People living in Scotland aged 50 to 74 are sent a home bowel screening test every two years.

The test can be done in the privacy of your home and returned using the pre-paid envelope provided.

For more: http://nhsinform.scot/bowelscreening

#BowelScreeningScotland

#BowelCancerAwarenessMonth

2026-04-07-bowel-screening-publication-summary-finalDownload

Resolution Foundation: Improving the Universal Credit system

This month marks a true milestone for the UK benefits system: the end of the thirteen-year rollout of Universal Credit that has brought together all means-tested working-age benefits.

This moment is an opportunity to consider how the system can be improved

⤵️

http://buff.ly/TjrE4OW

resolution-foundation-UCDownload

The Poverty Alliance: Tacking the stigma of poverty

How can we reduce the prejudice and judgement that’s too-often placed on people on low incomes?

Our research team worked with SPIRU at Glasgow Caledonian University and the Wales Centre for Public Policy | Canolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru to see what the evidence says.

https://wcpp.org.uk/…/Policy-brief-What-works-to-reduce…

Policy-brief-What-works-to-reduce-poverty-stigma-February-2026Download

National Audit Office: Investigation into the Afghan resettlement schemes

Improvements needed to ensure successful completion of Afghan resettlement programme

The government must overcome ongoing challenges including a lack of available housing and poor data to ensure its programme to resettle thousands of Afghan citizens in the UK is successfully completed, according to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report.

Since 2010, the government has offered resettlement in the UK to certain groups of Afghan citizens, including people who worked with the UK government in some capacity during its military presence in Afghanistan. This work sometimes came with significant risk to those Afghan citizens and their families, who feared reprisals from the Taliban.

Although the schemes closed to new applicants in July 2025, thousands of Afghans are still being processed for resettlement.3 As at November 2025, 29,655 people were waiting to hear the results of their eligibility assessments.

Between April 2021 and December 2025, 37,950 people arrived in the UK under the schemes and, as at February 2025, the government estimated it would ultimately resettle around 9,000 more. Of those resettled, as at December 2025, 80% were living in settled accommodation.

The government anticipates that its work to resettle and integrate people will continue until 2032-33, costing a total of £5.7 billion. It spent £3.1 billion on the schemes between April 2021 and December 2025, meaning a significant proportion of the costs have not yet been incurred.

Several government departments worked at pace under complex and demanding circumstances when establishing the schemes, especially after the Taliban takeover resulted in a far greater number of people applying and becoming eligible for resettlement than had originally been envisaged.

The need to respond quickly, coupled with departments being responsible for different groups of people and resettlement stages, meant that the schemes became complex and inefficient. This is likely to have led to higher costs and worse outcomes for resettled people.

To address these challenges, in December 2024 the government merged the resettlement schemes into a combined Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), which aims to bring all eligible Afghan citizens to the UK by March 2029 and to have moved those citizens out of transitional accommodation by December 2029.

Although the creation of the ARP has led to some improvements, significant risks remain. These include poor data on the people to be resettled and their needs, and a lack of available housing, resulting in greater than anticipated levels of resettled people becoming homeless.  

To ensure the successful completion of the ARP, the NAO recommends that the UK government:

  • urgently completes the outstanding elements of effective programme management
  • undertakes scenario analysis to understand the potential barriers to completing the resettlement of all eligible people to the UK, and how these can be overcome
  • monitors the effect of the changes under the ARP, particularly the introduction of a nine-month limit for transitional accommodation
  • uses the results of pilot programmes involving local authorities and community organisations to identify innovative approaches and spread good practice
  • identifies measures of successful integration for Afghan resettled people and uses these to assess outcomes

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: “Government departments have worked together in challenging conditions to resettle thousands of Afghan citizens who were at risk of reprisals from the Taliban.

“Although progress has been made under the new Afghan Resettlement Programme, the government has more to do to successfully resettle the affected people in the UK.”

‘Deep concern’ over bullying and harrassment at Holyrood

The findings of a Dignity at Work survey conducted by the Scottish Parliament have been published.

All staff who work for MSPs, or for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB), were invited to take part in the survey under the SPCB’s ‘Inclusive Parliament’ review.

The review takes account of forthcoming changes in employment law arising from the Employment Act 2025.  

The Act will bring in stronger whistleblowing protections and a duty for all employers – including MSPs in that capacity – to take proactive, preventative steps to stop harassment, including third-party harassment.

The survey asked all staff for their views and experience of working at Holyrood and in constituency offices, including whether they had confidence in the Parliament’s current procedures for reporting inappropriate behaviour.

The findings from the survey and its accompanying report have been communicated jointly by the Parliament’s Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone MSP and Clerk / Chief Executive of the Parliament David McGill.

Writing to all MSPs and staff they said many staff work in positive, supportive environments, but they were both “deeply concerned” by new findings on bullying, harassment and sexual harassment.

The review also identified areas where the Parliament’s systems and culture must improve.

The full text of the joint message is published below along with the SPCB’s report:

Dear colleagues

Inclusive Parliament Review: Dignity at Work survey findings and report

Reason for the Review

In June 2025 we commissioned a review of our Dignity at Work policies and systems. This was to help ensure the SPCB and MSPs, as employers, were prepared for the forthcoming changes in employment law arising from the Employment Act 2025. These changes bring in stronger whistleblowing protections and a duty to take proactive, preventative steps to stop harassment, including third-party harassment.

This means not only responding when concerns are raised but creating the right conditions so that harassment is less likely to happen in the first place, helping everyone feel safe, respected and supported.

As part of the review, we asked all staff who work for MSPs and the SPCB to take part in our Dignity at Work survey. While SPCB staff are surveyed regularly, this is the first report since 2018 that has included feedback from a survey of MSP staff.

We also consulted with staff, trade unions, staff forums, external equalities groups and MSPs and undertook a benchmarking exercise looking at the approach taken in other parliaments, including the Senedd Cymru which has just completed a similar exercise.

In addition, our Independent Support and Advocacy Service invited people to give feedback on their experiences. The results from the survey and associated work have been published [here] today.

Main Findings

Many teams across Parliament demonstrate positive and supportive working cultures, and the vast majority of Members, managers and staff uphold the standards of dignity, courtesy and respect that the public rightly expect.

However, the review also identifies areas where our systems and culture must improve. Fragmented reporting routes, barriers to speaking up and low confidence in existing processes undermine our commitment to a safe and respectful workplace.

We are deeply concerned by the findings on bullying, harassment and sexual harassment. These incidents during this session only came to light through this review, making it clear that some colleagues did not previously feel safe or confident to share their experiences.

Our foremost concern is for those affected. Coming forward is never easy, and we are grateful to everyone who took part in this review. Anyone who raises concerns must be supported and assured that their concerns will be handled with independence, expertise and empathy. There can, and must, be zero tolerance of inappropriate behaviour.

It is important to stress that most Members, managers and staff will not recognise themselves in these findings. The clear majority conduct themselves in a way that reflects the standards of this Parliament and the expectations of the public. Nevertheless, the issues identified show that our systems and culture are not yet providing the safety, trust and consistency that everyone should be able to rely on. That must change.

To build an environment where people feel safe to speak up, and confident that concerns will be handled fairly and consistently, we must learn from these findings and ensure the necessary reforms are taken forward swiftly, transparently and with care.

Next Steps

The SPCB considered the report earlier today and gave its full support to the recommendations. It wished to place on record its thanks to the staff and external expert providers who took forward the review.

We will update you on the implementation of these recommendations over the weeks ahead. While some of the actions can, and will, be implemented swiftly, others will necessarily take a little more time. However, we will make the most of the momentum that this comprehensive report has provided.

Once again, we would like to thank all those who took part in this review.

Yours sincerely,

David McGill
Clerk/Chief Executive
Chair, Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP
Presiding Officer

Inclusive Parliament ReviewDownload

Families freed from school meal debt

Fund cleared historic debt in over 70,000 cases across Scotland

More than 70,000 instances of support were provided to families to clear historic school meal debt as a result of nearly £2.9 million investment, a new report shows.

The School Meal Debt Fund, launched in May 2024, was distributed to the 30 councils that applied for assistance to clear debt accrued by families up to 31 March 2024.

The fund was established in response to cost-of-living pressures and the stigma that school meal debt can place on children.

The School Meal Debt Fund Report, published today, also sets out councils’ strategies for addressing meal debt, such as flexible payment options, simplified free school meal applications and extended free meal provision.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “No child should feel the burden of school meal debt, and no family should face unnecessary stress over the cost of their child’s lunch.

“This report highlights the compassionate and innovative approaches being taken by councils to support families – from streamlining free school meal applications to offering flexible payment options and working directly with families facing hardship.

“School meal debt is still an issue. While councils are proactively identifying and supporting those who need help the most, they must ensure that all families never reach the point of debt in the first place. We will continue to work with councils to ensure that more can be done to address this.

“Over 230,000 pupils are currently benefitting from free school meals, a crucial element in our commitment to eradicate child poverty. This saves families who take up the offer every school day around £450 per child, per year.

“Our 2026-27 Budget expands free school meal provision to reach an additional 5,500 pupils, continuing our mission to give every child the best possible start in life.”

School Meal Debt Fund: report – gov.scot

New report shows disabled people and carers being failed by asylum system

Disabled people and carers in the asylum system are being denied safety, dignity and compassion because they can’t get the health care they need.

The Poverty Alliance have published new #RightsInAction research, uncovering examples of people being placed in unsafe housing, facing delays and confusion in getting health and social care, and getting little or no formal support – despite many having serious health and care needs.

One woman was sent to Scotland after being forced to leave her family and seek protection alone in the UK. In her home country she had been treated for ovarian cancer, but when she arrived in Scotland, she faced real difficulties getting in touch with her GP.

After being recognised as a refugee by the Home Office many years later, she had to move to different accommodation and to a different GP. It was only then that she was referred to hospital for investigation of pain she was feeling. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour and Multiple Sclerosis.

Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, said: “Everyone in Scotland deserves dignity, safety and compassion. People on low incomes often feel cut off from the health and social care support they need – and this research shows the problem can be even greater for people in the asylum system.

“It is wrong that disabled people and carers can be left without the most basic support they need to live their lives.”

https://www.povertyalliance.org/news-new-report-shows…

TPA_From_Rights_to_Realisation_report-24.2.26Download

Targeted action needed to ensure rural access to services, opportunities and rights, says Holyrood committee

Rural communities continue to face barriers that limit access to essential services, including healthcare, childcare, specialist support, legal advice and public transport, according to a new report from Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.

A shortage of affordable housing and adequate infrastructure, combined with a higher than average cost of living, were also found to pose significant challenges to the sustainability of rural communities.

The Committee’s report calls for targeted action to be taken to ensure that these communities are able to fully access their rights. The Committee want to see the Scottish Government recognise the distinct needs of different rural areas, consider rural populations throughout all stages of policymaking, and factor the findings of the report into a future Scottish Human Rights Bill.

While the Scottish Government acknowledged the issues raised during the Committee’s inquiry and highlighted the work it is doing, the Committee’s report says that this has yet to translate into sufficient improvements in the lives of people living in rural areas.

The report backs calls for the Government to carry out multi-year engagement with, and investment in, community-led organisations. The potential of these organisations, who are often best placed to understand local need and design effective solutions, appears to the Committee not to be currently being used to its full potential.

The report also highlights concerns over rural housing shortages. The shortage undermines workforce recruitment, drives depopulation and restricts the ability of young people to remain in their communities. It calls on the Government to provide an update on what it is doing to improve the situation.

The Committee also heard about barriers to health that were created by distance and travel costs. In its report it calls for urgent action to be taken to address the centralisation of essential health services, such as those relating to maternity in regions such as the Highlands.

Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, said: “Rural communities deserve equitable access to services, opportunities and rights and often face greater financial challenges than urban areas of Scotland.

“During this inquiry rural people clearly told us that they cannot access essential services, including healthcare, childcare, specialist support, legal advice and public transport.

“We want to see the Scottish Government build on its work to date by undertaking targeted action to deliver better access to services and combat the rural premium.”

Read the Committee’s report