Public Health Scotland

Austerity policies linked to increased rates of low birthweight babies

Antidepressant use has soared in Scotland over the past four years. Picture: Getty Images

Exclusive 'Shocking' antidepressant use rise as Scotland 'getting it wrong'

New figures have shown a 12-fold increase in patients suffering the longest waits in accident and emergency

A&E warning as hospital corridors 'look like scenes from Crimean War'

SNP ministers have been told to get a grip of the crisis

'Devastating' report reveals drugs deaths crisis has hit 600 children

The NHS is supposed to be recovering from its extraordinary efforts during the Covid pandemic (Picture: Neil Hall)

12-hour A&E waits should shame SNP. Their response should shame us all Scotsman comment

The NHS is 'teetering on the brink' as worrying figures for August have been recorded. Picture: PA

'Terrifying' winter ahead as A&E departments record worst August ever

Libraries have been closed due to council budget cuts

'Awful' budget cuts as more Scottish public toilets and libraries axed

The Prime Minister says he wants to ban smoking in beer gardens.

Explainer Will a smoking ban in beer gardens come to Scotland?

A group of 20 experts will analyse data from CT and MRI scans using AI

Experts analyse brain scans in bid to develop tool to predict dementia risk

Planned strike action by waste and cleansing workers has been suspended as unions put a new pay offer to members for a vote. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Bin strike averted as the public purse strains Scotsman comment

The largest cause of absence at PHS is psychiatric illness, costing the taxpayer £422,000 in 2023, up from £114,000 in 2020.

Exclusive 'Deeply concerning' sickness levels quadruple at NHS watchdog

Scenes of rubbish piled up in the streets during a bin strike in Edinburgh in August 2022

The 'awful' plea over bin strikes issued to Edinburgh tourists

Plebeians in Ancient Rome would desert the city, leaving the patricians to look after themselves as part of the secessio plebis - or withdrawal of the commoners.

Why Scotland's bin strikers will win, as Ancient Rome showed us

A close-up view of a Covid variant

Why the recent Covid-19 spike in Scotland may have 'peaked'

A baby has died in Scotland after contracting whooping cough

Baby dies from whooping cough in Scotland

Vaccines provide an effective defence against many diseases, including whooping cough (Picture: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

A child's death from whooping cough is a scandal. Vaccination is vital Professor Hugh Pennington

The number of confirmed cases of whooping cough in Scotland has hit 5,000

Why 5000 whooping cough cases have been recorded this year in Scotland

The amount of the Covid-19 virus circulating in Scotland has been increasing in wastewater detections for several weeks, increasing by ten times since April. (Photo by Hannah McKay - Pool/Getty Images)

Why everyone is so sick right now, as Covid-19 weekly figures return

A woman taking 'at-home' abortion medication. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) said the cost of living crisis is impacting the rates of abortion in Scotland.

Why are abortion numbers rising in Scotland?

Explainer Why is whooping cough spreading through Scotland?

Lothian Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour expressed concerns over the proposed abortion buffer zone law

Tory fears buffer zone law could see him banned from silent prayer at bus stop

Cases of whooping cough in England have soared as five infant deaths from the infection were confirmed.

Whooping cough on the rise as five babies die in England

A consumption room, which policy leaders hope will help address the issue of drug deaths. Picture: John Devlin

Suspected drug deaths in Scotland rise again amid fresh 'crisis' warning

Only a third of health and social care professionals were vaccinated against Covid over the winter, new figures show, leading to calls for a “targeted campaign” to tackle “popular myths”. Picture: Getty

Only a third of healthcare workers were vaccinated this winter, report finds

Scottish Lib Dem leader and Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Screenings for potentially fatal aneurysms fall dramatically

From March 2023 to February 2024, 24,802 of the 280,298 planned operations in Scotland were cancelled on the day of the surgery, or the day before

Thousands of operations cancelled at last minute due to capacity and staffing

Health Secretary Neil Gray

One in 20 wait over 12 hours in A&E, new figures show

Police seized illegal tobacco and vapes worth £15k in Lancaster and Morecambe raids.

Scottish health chiefs call for minimum pricing on e-cigarettes on tobacco

People in Scotland die younger than in any other Western European country

Scotland’s worsening health needs ‘concerted focus’ on obesity and poverty

Exclusive Burned-out GPs warn public to "expect more practice closures"

Public Health Scotland data published showed there were 31,206 hospitalisations last year due to alcohol.

Causes of drop in hospitalisations "unclear" amid spiralling drink deaths

Despite England having ten times the population of Scotland, it had 13,164 patients who had been waiting 18 months or more for elective care – with the total in Scotland 35% higher than south of the border.

More NHS patients are facing 18 month waits in Scotland than in England

The number of Scots waiting for a cardiology appointment has increased again, breaking the highest number on record for a second time in a row.

Number of patients waiting to see a cardiologist breaks record for second time

Proposals include restricting multi-buys, unlimited refills or selling at locations such as at checkouts and front of store

Scottish Government proposes ban on promotion of unhealthy foods

Just over 10,000 children from the most deprived fifth of Scottish households engaged with Scottish dentistry last year, compared to 12,645 for children from the most wealthy.

Patients resorting to "barbaric" DIY dentistry as examinations fall by 25%

Case is not made for increase in minimum unit price for alcohol Murdo Fraser

Health secretary Neil Gray said the Scottish Government “recognises that the system remains under sustained pressure”. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Neil Gray says NHS Scotland is stabilising amid 'pressure easing' forecast

Jeane Freeman, former Scottish health secretary, departs the UK Covid inquiry at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Jeane Freeman says she will regret care home deaths for the rest of her life

Scottish Government Daily Covid Briefing
New St. Andrews House - Edinburgh
Chief clinical Officer - Prof Jason Leitch
First Minister - Nicola Sturgeon

Leitch: 'There was swearing' in Sturgeon chat on postponing Christmas parties

Scientists chalk up fresh victory in battle against diseases and anti-vaxxers Scotsman comment

Professor Dana Dawson who led a team of researchers who found patients with so-called broken heart syndrome are more likely to die than the general population. Picture: PA Wire

Broken-heart syndrome patients 'more likely to die' than the general population

Health Secretary Michael Matheson's talk about the NHS's recovery is not being backed up by actual results (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Voters must not allow SNP to turn NHS crisis into the ‘new normal’
As the latest tranche of NHS figures reveals more bad news, we should be outraged

Just 60.8 per cent of people who attended A&E in the week to December 31 were seen within the target time

NHS Scotland winter crisis: Scotland's A&E performance has dropped dramatically

The latest cancer waiting time figures do not make for good reading for the Scottish Government

Quarter of cancer patients wait more than two months in 'terrifying' figures

World Aids Day is marked on December 1 (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

HIV is now a manageable condition like diabetes, yet stigma and ignorance remain

NHS Scotland funding crisis: Healthcare service facing £395m deficit

Research from Public Health Scotland shows that between March 31 2013 and March 31 2023, there was a 19 per cent drop in the number of care homes for adults.

One in five homes have closed in past decade amid 'not prepared' warning

There is now increased availability for vaccinations.

Don’t Let Your Protection Fade – It’s not too late

Old wounds are being opened by the Scottish Covid Inquiry, but it is a necessary process in order to heal, writes health correspondent Joseph Anderson.

Brave, tearful Covid inquiry testimony reminds us of those lost

Two of Scotland’s worst performing A&E health boards say they are continuing to experience “extreme pressures”

How long patients have to wait at your local A&E

Scots in some regions of the country are facing average waits of nearly a year for dental surgery.

The health boards with the biggest dentistry waiting times in Scotland

Why does the row about the Scottish Government's Covid WhatsApp matter?

A blood test for diabetes. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

The growing cost of diabetes in Scotland as cases continue to rise

A graphic that will be used in the Terrence Higgins Trust's anti-stigma campaign, an HIV awareness TV campaign.

The changing face of HIV in Scotland, as told by TV advertisements

Humza Yousaf addressed the SNP conference for the first time as party leader, where he pledged an extra £300 million for the NHS to cut waiting lists. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)

Yousaf warned NHS pledge 'not worth the paper its written on' without workforce

The number of Scots set to be diagnosed with cancer is set to rise by nearly a quarter

Scotland faces 'ticking timebomb' as cancer rates set to explode

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries