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The Scottish Government has invested in the Detect Cancer Early programme in this area, has committed to investing in an AI Hub, and has prioritised the 25 by 25 programme for innovation investment in 2022.

This will enable AI innovation in the form of AI enabled triage, diagnostics, and treatment decision making support for Clinicians.

There is a range of projects being undertaken in Scotland to explore the use of AI in further high-demand medical areas, ranging from robotic surgery to the use of virtual reality in supporting mental wellbeing is currently being researched, evaluated, and implemented in Scotland.

The Industrial Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research in Digital Diagnostics (iCAIRD) website provides more information:

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All NHS Boards across Scotland have the option of referring patients to the NHS Centre for Integrative Care (CIC) for services not available locally.

It is for individual NHS Boards to decide what complementary and alternative medicines/therapies they make available based on the needs of their resident populations and in line with national guidance.

The CIC is a facility owned and operated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC), offering people with long term conditions a range of services, including complementary, holistic and homeopathic treatments. It is the responsibility of NHS GGC to manage access to their services.

The Scottish Government has embraced artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformational technology for public good. We were the first UK country to establish an which set out our ambition for Scotland to become a global exemplar in the ethical and innovative deployment of AI.

As part of the Recovery Plans for the NHS, social care and the economy, the Government will support innovation in health care delivery and the adoption of AI solutions into use. Accelerating the adoption of new technologies that support improved access to healthcare, such as the use of artificial intelligence, will be integral to the recovery of NHS services, and there are a range of partner organisations that are central to this work, including the new national Centre for Sustainable Delivery.

The Scottish Government recognises that Complementary and Alternative Medicines Services (CAMS), may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions.

It is for individual NHS Boards to decide what complementary and alternative medicines/therapies they make available based on the needs of their resident populations and in line with national guidance.

The NHS Centre for Integrative Care (CIC) is a facility owned, operated and funded by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC). It offers people with long term conditions a range of services, including complementary, holistic and homeopathic treatments. Most patients referred to the centre are experiencing chronic pain, chronic low energy, and/or chronic low mood or anxiety.

The Scottish Government does not provide direct funding for the NHS Centre for Integrative Care (CIC). The CIC is a facility owned, operated and funded by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC).

It is for individual NHS Boards to decide which services they make available based on national and local priorities and the needs of their resident populations.

There are no plans to introduce protected learning time at present. It is a decision for employers to allow staff time to study for additional qualifications.

To support delivery of the Community Pharmacy First Plus service, Community Pharmacist contractors receive backfill (up to £5750) to release community pharmacists to undertake their IP qualification (5 days face to face teaching + 12 days Period of Learning in Practice), clinical skills training (4 days) and also access to a maximum of 3 sessions at a CCC Teach and Treat Training Hub (backfill up to £750).

The pharmacy profession and provision of pharmaceutical care is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council, who assure and improve standards of care for people using pharmacy services. The Achieving Excellence in Pharmaceutical Care strategy, published in 2017, setting out the priorities, commitments, and actions for improving and integrating NHS pharmaceutical care in Scotland up to 2022. The strategy sets the direction for how pharmaceutical care would be delivered in Scotland and the crucial contribution of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, working together with other health and social care practitioners, to improve the health of the population and impact on health outcomes.

A clinical refresh of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer has been completed with revised guidance published in January 2019. The Guidelines support primary care clinicians in ensuring those with symptoms suspicious of cancer are put on the right pathway at the right time, including possible skin cancers.

In December 2021, the Scottish Government published a refreshed Framework for Effective Cancer Management. This Framework provides NHS Cancer Teams with the tools to effectively manage USC patients from the point of referral to first treatment to improve patient experience and cancer waiting times. Tailored support will be provided to all NHS Boards to ensure the eight key elements are embedded, where relevant, across cancer pathways and specialties, including dermatology.

The Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) is working with a number of Health Boards to implement the Digital Dermatology app, which allows patients to interact with a clinician at a time convenient to them, without having to attend hospital. This will support dermatology teams in conducting more virtual appointments. CfSD also supports a Dermatology Pathways app and website which provides clinically validated pathway information to GPs and other health professionals for many of the most common skin conditions, with the aim of supporting access for patients who most need treatment in the most appropriate care setting. As part of this, CfSD is working with the British Association of Dermatologists to increase the number of pathways covered by this approach.