Professor Dominiczak to take up role in July. World-leading cardiovascular scientist and clinical academic, Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, has been appointed as new Chief Scientist (Health) for the Scottish Government. Taking up post on July 1, the new Chief Scientist (Health) will play a key role in ensuring Scotland remains an internationally recognised home of [...]

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. About Carers Week The [...]

More than £50 million to support new approach to reduce A&E waiting times. People needing urgent and unplanned hospital care will benefit from a new national improvement programme aimed at reducing waiting times. The Urgent and Unscheduled Care Collaborative will see health boards adopt a number of measures to reduce A&E waiting times and improve [...]

A major international study, led by researchers we fund, has revealed the “global collateral damage” caused by the disruption to cardiac services from the C-19 pandemic. The research warns that across the world problems with heart health will “continue to accrue unless mitigation strategies are speedily implemented”. Early in the pandemic, data from hospitals across [...]

Policy to be shaped by people living with dementia. People living with dementia are being invited to join a new panel to help shape policy and delivery. The national, independent group will also be open to unpaid carers to be sure that Scottish Government is fully considering the impact of policy and funding decisions on [...]

Review finds positive outcomes associated with the treatment. Residential rehabilitation can reduce substance misuse and improve health and quality of life according to a new review. The Scottish Government report, which examines existing literature on the subject, follows a recommendation by the Residential Rehabilitation Working Group to better understand the treatment models on offer. The [...]

Monkeypox is a viral infection usually associated with travel to West Africa. This is the first time that there has been suspected community transmission in the UK without known links to countries where it is endemic, so the current situation is unusual. Monkeypox is usually a mild illness that does not spread easily between people [...]

A major review of Scotland’s breast screening programme which makes 17 recommendations to strengthen and improve it has been published The report recommends ways to make the breast screening programme more accessible, resilient and sustainable, to drive improvements and build upon successful delivery of services. These include developing a single programme-wide workforce plan that focuses [...]

Health boards are to share £2 million to deliver annual health checks for all people with learning disabilities. The new service will help to address health inequalities and ensure that people in this group are able to have any health issues identified and treated as quickly as possible. Health checks will be delivered in the local community. [...]