Contact tracing pledge has not been met, Health Secretary admits
Scotland has just 874 contact tracers available despite a pledge 2,000 would be in place by June, the Health Secretary has revealed.
Jeane Freeman
Scots warned to expect additional lockdown measures by Wednesday
Additional lockdown restrictions will “almost certainly” be put in place in Scotland in the next couple of days, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Six months is ‘more realistic position’ for new Covid-19 restrictions
Six months is a “more realistic” time frame for any new Covid-19 restrictions to be in place, Scotland’s Health Secretary has said.
Health Secretary attacks Boris Johnson’s £10,000 self-isolation fines and warns of imminent tightening of restrictions
Jeane Freeman has signalled Scotland will not adopt Boris Johnson’s £10,000 self-isolating fines warning the hefty penalties would harm poorer people.
Lockdown restrictions decision to be made very shortly – Jeane Freeman
A decision on greater lockdown restrictions being imposed in Scotland will be made in the early part of this week, the Health Secretary has said.
‘Petty and dangerous’: Douglas Ross accused of ‘deliberately misleading’ committee
Douglas Ross has been accused of "deliberately misleading" a House of Commons committee during an evidence session on the coronavirus pandemic.
Nursing director named new NHS Grampian chief executive
The executive nurse director at NHS Grampian has been appointed the health board’s new chief executive.
NHS Scotland to remain on emergency footing until at least the end of March
NHS Scotland will remain on an emergency footing until at least the end of March next year, the Health Secretary has said.
Jeane Freeman ‘not informed’ of care home coronavirus concerns, NHS boss reveals
Jeane Freeman was "not aware" of the major issues facing care homes in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, MPs have heard.
Covid testing problems suffered by Grantown care home to be investigated by Health Secretary
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman is to investigate a series of Covid testing problems experienced by a Grantown-on-Spey care home.
Surgeon’s offer to help women injured after mesh surgery ‘permanently withdrawn’
A Missouri-based surgeon has withdrawn an offer to help Scottish women left suffering after vaginal mesh surgery for a “second and final time” after becoming “exasperated” by the Scottish Government.
Cannabis-based epilepsy medicine approved for use on NHS
A cannabidiol (CBD) medicine has been approved for use on the NHS to treat two rare forms of epilepsy.
Highland hotelier’s plea to Jeane Freeman for Covid testing of the hospitality workforce
A Highland hotelier has urged Jeane Freeman to provide more Covid-19 testing for hospitality staff working in rural and remote areas.
Scottish Government pays £900K for NHS to buy coronavirus-hit care home on Skye
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman refused to say if the owners of a care home hit by a Covid-19 outbreak in which 10 elderly residents died would make a profit, after the Scottish Government funded a £900,000 buyout by the NHS.
Delayed children’s hospital will not be completed till next year, MSPs told
Work on Edinburgh’s delayed children’s hospital will be completed in full in January, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has said.
More than 112,000 A&E attendances in July
There were more than 112,000 attendances at Scottish accident and emergency wards in July, the highest monthly figure since before the coronavirus lockdown.
Kezia Dugdale says online abuse ‘single biggest factor’ putting women off standing for elected office
Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale believes women with all the skills for elected office are put off standing to avoid the "toxic online culture" that exists.
North-east MSP ‘disappointed’ after Scottish Government rules out badges for vulnerable people
A north-east MSP has said he is "extremely disappointed" after the Scottish Government said it would not be implementing social distancing badges for vulnerable people.
Scottish Government has no record of how many people have brought coronavirus into Scotland
The Scottish Government has no record of how many people have brought coronavirus into Scotland since quarantine restrictions were first introduced, it has been revealed.
Three quarters of Scottish care home staff have Covid-19 tests each week
More than three quarters of care home staff are now having weekly coronavirus tests, Scotland’s Health Secretary has revealed.
Freeman says discharge target was not pressuring hospitals
Jeane Freeman has rejected accusations the Scottish Government pressured hospitals to discharge patients into care homes and has denied there was a “secret target” to do so.
Nearly 100,000 patients waiting for key tests at end of June
Nearly 100,000 patients were waiting for key diagnostic tests at the end of June, a figure 11% higher than before the lockdown.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to step down at next election
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has announced that she will not stand for re-election in May.
‘Jaw-dropping’ correspondence heaps more pressure on Nicola Sturgeon and Jeane Freeman over transfer of hospital patients into care homes
NHS Scotland warned health chiefs that discharging elderly hospital patients would put pressure on care homes but told them to go ahead with the controversial policy anyway, newly released documents reveal.
Health Secretary challenged over Covid-19 quarantine checks and care home staff testing
Jeane Freeman has been challenged over quarantine contact tracing and care home staff testing, amid claims targets are not being met.
Virus control to have significant impact on surgery wait times, warns minister
There will be a “significant impact” on waiting times for operations in the coming months, the Health Secretary has warned.
‘Constructive’ talks praised as Health Secretary meets NHS pay rise campaigners
Talks between the Scottish Government Health Secretary and a union campaigning for NHS workers to receive a pay rise have been hailed as “constructive”.
Number of coronavirus-positive patients sent to care homes to be revealed
Public Health Scotland has been ordered to reveal how many patients were transferred from hospitals to care homes after testing positive for coronavirus.
Health Secretary to meet NHS staff campaigning for pay rise
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman will meet trade union representatives who are campaigning for NHS pay talks to be reopened.
Calls for answers amid reports coronavirus-positive patients were knowingly discharged into Scottish care homes
Nicola Sturgeon and her health secretary Jeane Freeman have been asked to urgently address MSPs amid reports coronavirus-positive hospital patients were knowingly discharged into Scottish care homes.