VHS Policy News

December 2025

Dear Colleague,

Season’s Greetings to you all in our last Policy News of 2025! As we wind down for the festive break, I’ve been reflecting on recent developments and looking ahead to the opportunities 2026 will bring. I hope you all have some well earned rest in the coming weeks and I’ll see you next year.

Sarah Latto, Policy and Public Affairs Lead

Get Involved!

Gender and Health Social Research Project

There is still time to get involved in our exciting VHS social research project exploring the relationship between gender and health. The research will include how gendered experiences of health intersect with other forms of identity, including sexuality, race, ethnicity, age, income and caring status.

There are several ways to get involved, including consultation events, a survey and the option to request a 1-1 chat.

Find out more here

Healthy Weight Implementation Plan

We have been invited to feed into the development of the Healthy Weight Implementation Plan, supporting the key initial priority of ‘Improving Healthy Weight’ in the Population Health Framework. We’re keen to ensure that the evidence and insights of our members on this topic are reflected in our inputs to this important plan.

If you have any insights or evidence you would like to share on this, please get in touch by the 23^rd January.

Jeremy Balfour MSP Engagement Request

I met with Jeremy Balfour MSP last month to discuss our Manifesto for Health Creation. He is standing for election as an independent candidate at next year’s election and is keen to hear the views of VHS members in Edinburgh and Lothians regarding his health pledges. Further details can be found on his social media channels, but these pledges are:

Establish a 5-day GP appointment guarantee, including opening practices for two evenings a week.
Connected digital care, including a shared electronic patient record and improved digital access for patients.
Cut NHS waste to fund frontline care.

If you operate in Edinburgh or the Lothians and would like to share your views with Mr Balfour, please get in touch with him directly.

Audit Scotland NHS Report: VHS Reflections

VHS provided some reflections on the annual Audit Scotland report into NHS Scotland finance and performance. This report found that the NHS is financially unsustainable and that many Government commitments have not been met. It further stated that promoting good health and pivoting to community-based services are vital for future sustainability.

Read our reflections here

Covid-19 Inquiry Response

The latest report from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, published on the 20th November, acknowledged that some Government pandemic responses contributed to health inequalities in Scotland. It also found that much of this stemmed from a lack of equalities data to inform rapid decision-making.

Read our response to the report here

Consultation Response: NHS Delivery

We responded to the Scottish Government consultation on a new NHS Delivery Organisation which closed on the 30th November. This consultation invited views on the proposed merger of NHS Education Scotland (NES) and NHS National Services Scotland (NSS).

Read our response

Consultation Response: Quality Prescribing for Chronic Pain

In our response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on Quality Prescribing for Chronic Pain guidance, we welcome the recognition of social prescribing as an effective non-pharmacological approach for treating chronic pain. However, we also advise caution in referring to social prescribing models in clinical guidance without recognising the considerable challenges many social prescribing services are facing at present.

Read our response

Cross Party Group (CPG) on Health Inequalities

VHS provide the secretariat for the CPG on Health Inequalities, and the next meeting will take place on the 26^th January, 10-11.30am with a theme of Gender and Health. To find out more about the CPG, including how to become a member and attend this meeting, please get in touch.

Wider Policy Developments and Publications

The following is a summary of relevant policy developments, but it is not an exhaustive list. Please contact me if you want to speak about something not listed here.

Member and Stakeholder Manifestos

Many of our members will be publishing manifestos ahead of the Scottish Parliament election in May next year. If you would like your manifesto to be shared in this bulletin, please send it to me.

Below is a selection of the manifestos we have been sent.

Policy News and Publications

UK Budget implications for Scotland

In the UK Budget, published on the 26^th November, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an additional £820m for the Scottish Government through Barnett consequentials. The Chancellor also announced that the two-child limit regarding the child element in Universal Credit would be removed from April 2026. The Scottish Government had already committed to effectively scrap the impact of the two-child limit from March 2026. This decision from the UK Government is therefore expected to give the Scottish Government extra money to play with in the Scottish Budget on Tuesday 13th January.

Life Expectancy in Scotland

Figures published by National Records of Scotland on the 10th December show that life expectancy at birth in Scotland was 81.06 years for females and 77.12 years for males in 2022-2024. This marks a return to pre-pandemic levels.

Winter Preparedness Plan

The National Planning Priorities and Principles for Surge and Winter Preparedness in Health and Social Care were published by the Government on the 13^th November, with plans to prioritise those in most need, utilise prevention strategies, and maximise capacity.

Breastfeeding Targets

The Scottish Government has shared their target to further increase the number of babies who are breastfed at six to eight weeks old. NHS Scotland will now aim to reduce the number of mothers who stop breastfeeding by a further 10% by 2031.

Evidence of Racialised Inequalities in Cancer Services

The Scottish Government has published a report which summarises the findings of an evidence review into ethnic and racialised inequalities in cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, care and experience.

Labour Pledge for Emergency Mental Health Service

Anas Sarwar MSP, Leader of Scottish Labour, has announced that a Scottish Labour government would create a new emergency service to ensure people in mental health crisis get urgent and specialist care.

Assisted Dying Bill Completes Stage 2 Consideration

The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill completed Stage 2 consideration on 25^th November following review of an extensive list of amendments.

RCN State of the Profession Report 2025

The State of the Profession report is based on findings from the RCN 2025 Employment Survey which received nearly 1,900 responses from registered nurses and nursing support workers. It found that 37% of respondents were actively planning on, or thinking about, leaving the profession, 60% report that they are too busy to provide the level of care they would like, and 68% feel that their pay is either ‘inappropriate’ or ‘very inappropriate’ given their role and responsibilities.

Prostate Cancer Screening Recommendation

The UK National Screening Committee has published draft recommendations regarding prostate cancer screening, including recommending against a national screening programme. These recommendations are now open for consultation until the 20^th February.

SHRC State of the Nation

The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has published its second comprehensive annual assessment of how human rights are being realised across Scotland, with the State of the Nation 2025 report warning that healthcare in Scotland is not always available when people need it.

Relevant Consultations

UK National Screening Committee is consulting on prostate cancer screening recommendations – Closing 20^th February 2026

That's all for this month, and this year! If you have any questions in the meantime, or suggestions for future editions of this bulletin, please get in touch.