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Removing the stigma attached to problem drug use and harmful drinking in Scotland is a key part of our alcohol and drug strategy.

In January 2023, we published the Stigma Action Plan as part of the cross-government response to the Drug Deaths Taskforce final report, aimed at tackling the stigma of substance use. The Action Plan has multiple strands of work to tackle public stigma and the institutional barriers that people face in accessing services and support, including in entering education and employment and in being able to achieve the best level of health and wellbeing.

We will shortly begin a co-design phase on the details of the actions outlined in the plan and will be engaging with partners and stakeholders in the drug and alcohol sectors.

We are supporting the development of the forthcoming UK-wide alcohol treatment guidelines, led by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. The guidance will look to introduce new approaches to treatment, including non-stigmatising service delivery.

Scottish Government has not undertaken any recent assessment of the impact of health inequalities in relation to liver disease patients. However Public Health Scotland (PHS) published a report in November 2022 that examined average mortality rates from liver disease in Scotland, including analysis by deprivation levels.

The risk of liver cancer and liver disease is increased by the impacts of harmful behaviours such as alcohol use. The Scottish Government is determined to do all that we can to reduce alcohol-related harm, which continues to be one of the most pressing public health challenges that we face in Scotland.

The PHS evaluation of Minimum Unit Price published on 27 June 2023 shows around 150 alcohol attributable deaths and 400 alcohol attributable hospital admissions each year have been averted since the policy was introduced. The policy also contributes to reducing health inequalities, with the study showing that the largest reductions in deaths and hospital admissions wholly attributable to alcohol consumption were seen in men and those living in the 40% most deprived areas.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19355 on 4 July 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19355 on‎ 29 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19355 on 29 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government is grateful to Professor Britton and her team for undertaking this review and we are pleased to receive her final report. It is important that we now take the time to consider Professor Britton's findings and the recommendations she has made. The recommendations will be discussed at the next meeting of Health Boards’ Transvaginal Mesh Accountable Officers, which is expected to take place in August. The accountable officers are a network of senior clinicians from Health Boards who have responsibility for mesh-related issues within their own Board and for ensuring that their colleagues are informed on matters accordingly.

Steps have already been that do address a number of the recommendations. These include making a mesh learning package available to GPs to offer them additional support to help them understand and address concerns women may raise with them following transvaginal mesh surgery. Steps are also being taken to enhance the information available to patients through the improvement of the Complex Mesh Surgical Service webpages and the development of a patient information leaflet.

The Government will continue to add to help for those whose lives have been impacted by mesh complications and to ensure they get the right treatment for them. We will continue to work closely with colleagues within the NHS to ensure that women can access the care that they need, are fully supported by their GP and other clinicians, and have the information they need to make informed decisions about their care.

Health Board colleagues will also continue to engage with women as they access the Glasgow specialist service and will use the feedback they receive to further develop and refine the care that is available. We want to ensure that satisfaction levels of women attending the NHS specialist service in Glasgow continue to grow and waiting times continue to fall.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with partners including Higher Education Institutions, Health Boards, Skills Development Scotland, and the Scottish Funding Council on skills development, employability and widening access to NHS Scotland careers, including the development of progressive career opportunities for existing staff and the development of apprenticeship models to provide an ‘earn and learn’ pathway.

1. I refer the member to the recently published recommendations from the Scottish Government’s AHP Education & Workforce Policy Review, which made reference to developing sustainable "earn and learn" routes for the AHP professions in Scotland. This work is being taken forward by the Skills for Health and Social Care Group who are overseeing the development of a suite of progressive career development opportunities for new and existing staff through learn as you earn models. AHPs are represented on this group via the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer and several Scottish Government AHP policy officials.

2. The Scottish Government has protected free tuition for Scottish-domiciled students undertaking under-graduate courses. There is a range of mechanisms to become an AHP at both under-graduate and post-graduate levels. At this moment in time there are no plans to extend bursaries to a wider group of AHPs.

From the cohort of ScotGEM students who graduated in academic year 2021-22, 10 accepted a Foundation Priority Place post within NHS Dumfries and Galloway. Of those expected to graduate later this summer one ScotGEM student, subject to qualification, has so far accepted a Foundation Priority Place post in NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Academic year 2021-22 represented the first graduating year of the ScotGEM course with 52 students qualifying at this time. The second cohort of students will graduate later this summer.

Academic year (AY) 2021/22 represented the first graduating year for ScotGEM, of those who graduated there were four students who took up a bursary but did not take up a place within Scotland for foundation training. Of these four students:

• One is on a repayment plan.
• One has paid their bursary back in full.
• Two are delaying their payment until the beginning of speciality training which starts in August 2024, as they may return to Scotland which will change the amount due to be repaid.

For those graduating in AY 2022-23 confirmation of where the students will be taking up a place after graduating has only recently been received. There are five students who have taken up the bursary and who do not now intend to remain in Scotland for foundation training and discussions have begun regarding repayment.