Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-41075

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care last met with (a) Alzheimer Scotland, (b) Cancer Research UK, (c) Marie Curie, (d) Prostate Cancer UK, (e) Age Scotland, (f) MacMillan Cancer Support, (g) Parkinson’s UK, (h) Royal College of Psychiatrists, (i) British Heart Foundation, (j) National Autistic Society, (k) MND Scotland, (l) Scottish Action for Mental Health, (m) Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, (n) Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and (o) Versus Arthritis.

Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly engage with third sector organisations to support our commitment to person-centred, effective, and safe care for people living with long-term conditions. We remain committed to ongoing dialogue with these organisations and greatly value their insight and expertise. Their contributions play a vital role in shaping policy and improving services across Scotland.

Details of the last meeting held between myself or the relevant portfolio Minister and these organisations are set out in the following table:

Organisation	Minister	Date
(a) Alzheimer Scotland	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	25-09-2025
(b) Cancer Research UK	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	25-02-2025
(c)Marie Curie	Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health	19-03-2025
(d) Prostate Cancer UK	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	08-08-2025
(e) Age Scotland	Minister for Equalities	24-09-2025
(f) MacMillan Cancer Support	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	04-06-2025
(g) Parkinson’s UK	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	26-09-2024
(h) Royal College of Psychiatrists	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	27-06-2025
(i) British Heart Foundation	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	15-01-2025
(j) National Autistic Society	Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Social Care and Sport	12-12-2024
(k) MND Scotland	Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing	05-08-2025
(l) Scottish Action for Mental Health	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	15-05-2025
(m) Children’s Hospices Across Scotland	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	14-08-2024
(n) Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	12-06-2025
(o) Versus Arthritis	Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health	25-09-2025

Question reference: S6W-41466

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 24 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated annual operating cost will be for the 15 proposed walk-in GP clinics.

As set out in answer S6W-41307 on 13 October 2025, improving access to primary care is a key priority for this Government. We recognise the vital role that GPs, community nurses, pharmacists, dentists and other members of the primary care team play as the foundation of healthcare in our communities.

We are committed to strengthening the whole primary care system, building on our ongoing commitment through the Service Renewal Framework to shift more care into community settings and make services more accessible for patients.

As part of this, we will develop options for new and innovative ways to improve access to primary care, including local walk-in models which will provide more flexibility for patients. It is our intention to develop proposals for a model would see these services open Monday-Sunday. We will develop these proposals first as a pilot model which will complement current core general practice and provide a range of same-day assessment and small-scale diagnostics. To do this we will work in collaboration with NHS Boards and primary care delivery partners to ensure they strengthen, rather than duplicate, existing primary care services.

The Scottish Government will set out further details as these plans develop.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-41467

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 24 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government where (a) each and (b) the first of the 15 proposed walk-in GP clinics will be located.

As set out in answer S6W-41307 on 13 October 2025, improving access to primary care is a key priority for this Government. We recognise the vital role that GPs, community nurses, pharmacists, dentists and other members of the primary care team play as the foundation of healthcare in our communities.

We are committed to strengthening the whole primary care system, building on our ongoing commitment through the Service Renewal Framework to shift more care into community settings and make services more accessible for patients.

As part of this, we will develop options for new and innovative ways to improve access to primary care, including local walk-in models which will provide more flexibility for patients. It is our intention to develop proposals for a model would see these services open Monday-Sunday. We will develop these proposals first as a pilot model which will complement current core general practice and provide a range of same-day assessment and small-scale diagnostics. To do this we will work in collaboration with NHS Boards and primary care delivery partners to ensure they strengthen, rather than duplicate, existing primary care services.

The Scottish Government will set out further details as these plans develop.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-41463

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 24 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects the proposed network of walk-in GP clinics to deliver the recently announced one million additional GP and nurse appointments.

As set out in answer S6W-41307 on 13 October 2025, improving access to primary care is a key priority for this Government. We recognise the vital role that GPs, community nurses, pharmacists, dentists and other members of the primary care team play as the foundation of healthcare in our communities.

We are committed to strengthening the whole primary care system, building on our ongoing commitment through the Service Renewal Framework to shift more care into community settings and make services more accessible for patients.

As part of this, we will develop options for new and innovative ways to improve access to primary care, including local walk-in models which will provide more flexibility for patients. It is our intention to develop proposals for a model would see these services open Monday-Sunday. We will develop these proposals first as a pilot model which will complement current core general practice and provide a range of same-day assessment and small-scale diagnostics. To do this we will work in collaboration with NHS Boards and primary care delivery partners to ensure they strengthen, rather than duplicate, existing primary care services.

The Scottish Government will set out further details as these plans develop.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-41465

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 24 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects all 15 of the proposed walk-in GP clinics to be fully operational.

As set out in answer S6W-41307 on 13 October 2025, improving access to primary care is a key priority for this Government. We recognise the vital role that GPs, community nurses, pharmacists, dentists and other members of the primary care team play as the foundation of healthcare in our communities.

We are committed to strengthening the whole primary care system, building on our ongoing commitment through the Service Renewal Framework to shift more care into community settings and make services more accessible for patients.

As part of this, we will develop options for new and innovative ways to improve access to primary care, including local walk-in models which will provide more flexibility for patients. It is our intention to develop proposals for a model would see these services open Monday-Sunday. We will develop these proposals first as a pilot model which will complement current core general practice and provide a range of same-day assessment and small-scale diagnostics. To do this we will work in collaboration with NHS Boards and primary care delivery partners to ensure they strengthen, rather than duplicate, existing primary care services.

The Scottish Government will set out further details as these plans develop.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-41464

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 24 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs will be required to staff the 15 proposed walk-in GP clinics, and what plans it has in place to recruit and retain the necessary workforce to staff these clinics.

As set out in answer S6W-41307 on 13 October 2025, improving access to primary care is a key priority for this Government. We recognise the vital role that GPs, community nurses, pharmacists, dentists and other members of the primary care team play as the foundation of healthcare in our communities.

We are committed to strengthening the whole primary care system, building on our ongoing commitment through the Service Renewal Framework to shift more care into community settings and make services more accessible for patients.

As part of this, we will develop options for new and innovative ways to improve access to primary care, including local walk-in models which will provide more flexibility for patients. It is our intention to develop proposals for a model would see these services open Monday-Sunday. We will develop these proposals first as a pilot model which will complement current core general practice and provide a range of same-day assessment and small-scale diagnostics. To do this we will work in collaboration with NHS Boards and primary care delivery partners to ensure they strengthen, rather than duplicate, existing primary care services.

The Scottish Government will set out further details as these plans develop.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6O-05071

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of setting its forthcoming Budget, whether it will commit to allocating 10% of the total NHS budget to primary care, in light of reported concerns regarding a 6% real-terms reduction in spending on primary care since 2021-22 and under-investment being a key driver of GP practice closures, recruitment challenges and increased pressure on hospitals.

Question reference: S6W-41079

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 14 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce "Jess’s Rule" in Scotland for patients who present three times with the same symptoms or concerns.

The Scottish Government does not know at this juncture, what the rolling out of Jess’s Rule will require in terms of implementation either by GPs or NHS England. We will be in a position to consider the benefits of the rule when we know more.

However, the Scottish Government understands that the RCGP learning resource which supports “Jess’s Rule” is available to GPs who are members in Scotland as well as in England. We would encourage GPs to make use of this resource.

Question reference: S6W-41078

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 14 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will mirror changes to the GP contract that are equivalent to those being applied in England from 1 October 2025 that will require GP practices to keep their online consultation tool open throughout core hours for non-urgent requests and queries.

The Scottish Government are listening carefully to the views of Scotland’s GPs. Negotiations are ongoing with the BMA around further investment to support general practice.

This investment will build on the new £15 million investment this financial year to support workforce retention and recruitment, build service capacity and support the day to day running of GP services.

GP services should be delivered – equitably, sensitively, reasonably and appropriately, making the most effective use of resources and systems currently available.

Question reference: S6O-04950

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport regarding the extension of the current operating hours of the Glasgow Subway beyond 6.12 pm on Sundays.

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