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During the pandemic, there were times when a member of staff was the only person with someone who was dying and whose loved ones could not get in to see them—that happened during the lockdowns. That was probably quite a traumatising event for some staff. As part of the wellbeing hub, is any specific support provided for people who might have experienced those particular situations?

Good morning, minister. This issue that I want to ask about does not specifically fall within your portfolio, but it follows on from Carol Mochan’s questions. At our public health stakeholder evidence-taking session, I asked the panel members whether they felt that a universal basic income could help to tackle some of the economic inequalities that lead to poor health, and Professor Sir Harry Burns, among others, agreed that such an approach would help. I know that the Government is undertaking work on a minimum income guarantee, so what role do you see that playing in improving public health? Are you working with the minimum income guarantee steering group on this matter?

Thank you for that useful insight.

My question is probably for Dr Andrew Buist. The Scottish Government has made a commitment to recruit 800 GPs by 2027. Obviously, we have a problem with the number of GPs reducing their hours and working part time rather than full time. Should there be a headcount of 800, or should we focus on full-time equivalent?

I will pick up the pace, because members want to ask about other plans. Stephanie will ask the final question on the women’s health plan, and then we will move on to the best start plan.

I am really pleased to see work on endometriosis in the women’s health plan. Like endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition that women often struggle to be diagnosed with. PCOS is mentioned only briefly in the plan. On average, how long do women in Scotland wait for a diagnosis of PCOS? What work is being undertaken to improve the diagnosis and treatment of it?

I have a very brief supplementary question to follow up on Emma Harper’s questions. What work are you doing alongside the Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care to make sure that families and carers who have been bereaved are supported? In the past 18 months, grief has been very odd for many people. I am interested in what work has been done on that.

I am particularly concerned about regional variations in waiting times between health boards. For example, in NHS Forth Valley, which is in my region, for the week ending 24 October, only 51.8 per cent of people attending A and E were seen within four hours. That was a considerable improvement from the figure of 41 per cent for the week ending 10 October, but it was still considerably lower than the national average. NHS Forth Valley will be subject to the same acute pressures that exist elsewhere. I wonder whether Dr Thomson has an insight into why particular health boards seem to be struggling with that more than others are.

Do we have a sense of why certain health boards are struggling with the issue more than others are? Is it because of the number of consultants in particular health boards or is it, say, an issue of geography? NHS Forth Valley, which I have used as an example, is a relatively urban health board and its A and E numbers are worse than those of NHS Lanarkshire next door, which is on a higher crisis footing. Do you have any particular insights into why some health boards are struggling more than others are?

Air pollution monitoring will be key to identifying problem areas. Has the Scottish Government considered implementing a system of health alerts, which are informed by air pollution monitoring, to people with lung conditions, so that they know which areas to avoid?