Seòmar agus comataidhean

Yes. I am interested in the best start plan and I know that we have problems with maternity services on my patch.

The bill was laid on 7 October and will be scrutinised by the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee. However, given that nutritious diet and access to healthy food are integral to our public health agenda, this committee is interested in it, too. How will the Government work to ensure that public health priorities are integral to the bill?

I know that the bill is a framework bill and is, therefore, not as prescriptive as other types of legislation. How will the Government work with local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that the bill has the ability to guide everyone to take the good food nation plan forward?

Research is under way on cervical cancer screening by self-sampling. I know that in NHS Dumfries and Galloway, 25 per cent of the 6,000 women who previously defaulted on screening appointments have taken that up. That means that 1,500 women are now self-screening. Can you give a short response on where we are with that research?

You have outlined a lot of what is being presented by the Scottish Government such as the child support payments and so on. I am interested in how the best start plan is working in rural and remote areas. As the convener said, she represents a rural area, as do you and I. How are we supporting the people who live in rural and remote areas?

I will be quick, because I am conscious of time. I am interested in an update on the respiratory care action plan and how that will address air quality issues. I ask because I am the co-convener of the cross-party group on lung health.

Let us go first to Annie Gunner Logan.

This evidence session is looking at planning for winter and how we can improve outcomes. I am the co-convener of a few cross-party groups on healthcare, including the one on health inequalities, and we know that we need to improve the outcomes for many people. Earlier, we heard from the minister, Maree Todd, about the women’s health plan. Do any of you have specific proposals for improving outcomes, not just for the winter but in the future?

I have a quick final supplementary question. Our notes have a question about food banks. I read the statistic that we have more than 91 independent food banks in Scotland, and we know that food-bank use has increased due to Covid. It is worrying that the issue persists. Will the bill have a strategy to end the need for food banks?

On NHS 24 referrals to the out-of-hours service and the impact on winter planning and capacity, is there a role for the Government, doctors and the bodies representing wider multidisciplinary teams in helping make the public aware of the solutions that need to be put in place to deal with capacity issues? Do we need to manage the public’s expectations better, especially with regard to all the different ways of referring people to services, whether they be GP out-of-hours services or emergency services? Perhaps Dr Buist can respond first of all.