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I am interested in how we might change to a more preventative model in the NHS and how we support that essential work to help people in our communities and the population generally. On reform in that direction, are the challenges in rural areas different? We talk a lot about the demographic changes in the rural population and the rural workforce. Are you looking at how we can ensure that that reform happens in remote and rural areas?

Good morning. I have been interested to hear your reflections on working in a different way and on attitudes to approaching women’s health. It is helpful to hear you talk about that.

My question is on funding. I am interested to know whether you have any reflections on how funding is used to support women’s health; whether the plan has enough funding attached to it; and whether there is anything that you think we might have to fund to get it right, such as the training and so on that you talked about.

You talked about training staff so that they approach women’s health in the right way. Do you think that there is enough finance in the system to do that, with regard to primary care, GP practices and so on?

How are you, as the women’s health champion, approaching that with the Government? Have you spoken to it about where the funding might come in, or where we might move money from?

Will the development of the national centre help with looking at that for remote and island communities?

That is lovely. Thanks very much for your time.

Thank you.

Siobhan—do you have anything to add?

I have met midwives from my region and from across the country. Their stories are consistent. They love the job and are passionate about the services, but they know that they are overworked. In my local health board, midwives are currently handling caseloads that are almost 30 per cent bigger than set out in the “Best Start” plan.

The reality is that the Scottish Government has not delivered a successful plan to support our midwives; has not implemented the safe staffing legislation that was passed in the Parliament in 2018; and has not ensured that all health boards are signed up to the equally safe at work programme. Do midwives have the right to feel badly let down by the Government?

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that stagnating workforce numbers, amongst other factors, are contributing to increased pressure on midwifery services. (S6T-01639)