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Neil Gray: Since 2021, we have provided three permanent CT scanners to support core diagnostic imaging capacity within Boards, including a mobile CT pod which is deployed flexibly to Boards that require additional capacity. In addition, one further mobile CT and seven mobile MRI scanners are being used across multiple NHS Boards to provide additional capacity.

In the last 2 years, the Scottish Government has supported the North Imaging Alliance to:

• Test a regional mobile MRI service, hosted within one of the North region boards, with the potential to be used anywhere in the North or across Scotland.
• Provide additional capacity (over and above existing mobile MRI arrangements) to accelerate work on reducing waiting times for MRI.

During 2024-25:

• The regional mobile MRI van is anticipated to remove circa 3,700 patients from waiting lists in the North, participating boards are Grampian, Highland, Orkney, and Tayside.
• 2,408 patients have received scans to date and have been removed from waiting lists
• This has saved NHS Orkney approximately £180k and meant 313 patients were able to receive scans locally rather than having to travel further afield.

Significant additional activity is already underway following the allocation of £30 million funding to target reductions to the national backlogs that built up throughout the pandemic. This includes over 40,000 extra diagnostic procedures.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33751 on 29 January 2025. 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

The sets out the approach and actions which will be taken by NHS Scotland, with support from the Scottish Government and working in partnership with others, to respond to the climate emergency and to contribute towards the achievement of the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Strategy emphasises the importance to Health Boards of climate change adaptation, and the need to carry out climate change risk assessments and produce climate change adaptation plans. A recently published report: "" summarises the assessments that Boards have carried out and their adaptation plans. It includes Boards with rural communities.

The sets out the approach and actions to be taken by NHS Scotland, with support from the Scottish Government and working in partnership with others, to respond to the climate emergency and to contribute towards the achievement of the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It applies to all NHS Boards in Scotland, including those with rural communities.

The NHS Scotland Annual Climate Emergency & Sustainability Report reports on progress in reducing carbon emissions for all Health Boards in Scotland, including those with rural populations. The latest report was published last year, see: .

The NRAC (resource allocation formula) is an objective measure of the need for health care services across Scotland. The current formula, which was established in 2005, considers the population share of each Board adjusted for the age/sex composition of the population, the relative health needs due to morbidity and life circumstances, and the excess cost of delivering healthcare to rural and remote areas. We have committed to a review of the funding formula. This supports vital work to reduce health inequalities; ensuring that we continue to allocate funding according to the relative need for healthcare in each Board area.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving accessibility for all disabled people, including those with visual and hearing impairments.

Provisions in the Equality Act 2010 require providers of services to the public to make a reasonable adjustment so that disabled people are not placed at a substantial disabled people can access the service or facilities.

A number of actions across national partners, key public bodies and specialist agencies are already underway to enhance the accessibility of public spaces, ranging from culture through to transport.

This includes improving experiences at Visit Scotland spaces through enhanced support, resources, and advice to tourism and events organisations. Historic Environment Scotland also provide assistance through the provision of information in a range of alternative formats, such as large print site information, tactile models, audio tours, sensory tours and scented gardens.

Furthermore, Transport Scotland have taken measures to improve accessibility for pedestrians, including implementing the new dropped kerb scheme, increasing the number of dropped kerbs and tactile paving, providing enhanced support for those with visual impairments.

The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with partners and stakeholders to advance disability equality, ensuring that we effectively mitigate the barriers that affect the daily lives of disabled people

The Scottish Government is committed to tackling health inequalities including in areas of socio-economic deprivation and to supporting people to live longer and healthier lives. In 2024-25 Scottish Government has allocated £3bn to measures which tackle poverty, a fundamental driver of health inequalities, including the Scottish Child Payment; and continues to progress initiatives to support healthy lifestyles through tobacco and alcohol control and consulting on regulations to change the food environment to enable healthy weight.

The majority of health boards across Scotland have all, or some of their constituent population in a rural area. Health Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships take account of the diverse needs of their populations and plan their service provision according to that need.

Officials engage with Health Boards and HSCPs on a regular basis to review health outcomes.

The Scottish Government is investing over £2.5 million in 2024-25 to support the mental health and wellbeing of health and care staff, reaffirming its commitment to their invaluable work. These resources include confidential mental health treatment through the Workforce Specialist Service and access to psychological therapies and interventions. Prioritising these treatment and therapeutic programmes reflects our commitment to offer care and support to those staff suffering from burnout, stress, anxiety and other conditions.

To ensure wellbeing support and advice is accessible to staff across Scotland, the National Wellbeing Hub offers a range of self-care wellbeing resources and signposting to relevant mental health and support services. Further, the National Wellbeing Helpline delivered by NHS 24 provides a 24/7 compassionate listening service which is available to all health and social care staff.

Specifically for healthcare workers in rural regions, Scottish Government are supporting the delivery of a pilot of online monthly reflective groups aimed at supporting GPs working in rural communities. These groups will provide participating GPs with a facilitated, confidential environment to connect with peers, to explore and receive support on any of the challenges they face in their work as a GP. To support the sustainability of this career enhancing activity, Scottish Government is also supporting the delivery of reflective practice groups facilitator training due to start in early 2025.

The Scottish Government recognises the opportunities of digital options in health and social care, particularly in rural areas where such services can help to reduce travel and address potential inequality. The Digital Health and Care Strategy’s Delivery Plan 2024-25 sets out our priorities for implementation and references a number of examples that are already helping to address challenges.

Although these programmes are nationwide and not targeted specifically at rural communities, these examples are known to provide support:

• The online consultation service Near Me that provides flexibility and reduces the need for travel where people may face transport of financial pressures, saving an estimated 70 million travel miles to date. Now a mainstream service, it provides some 30,000 online consultations a month.
• The Connect Me self-monitoring service supports people at home, allowing them to provide information about their wellbeing through text message, an app, or online. The service has supported over 107,000 people with hypertension alone.
• Digital Mental Health services continue to offer additional support, with some 74,000 referrals in the past year.? These deliver a range of mental health therapies and increased access for those who wish to use them.

The Digital Health and Care Strategy’s Delivery Plan is monitored for progress through the year and will be updated for 2025-26.

The Scottish Government supports employers to overcome barriers for those experiencing the menopause in several ways.