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The Government continues to welcome the development of plans to replace University Hospital Monklands, which will provide modern health facilities and a range of specialist services for the benefit of patients across Lanarkshire and those living within the Monklands catchment area.

I have, however, noted the concerns raised about NHS Lanarkshire’s consultation process to establish the future location of the hospital from local people and elected representatives of all political parties. This was clearly reflected in the associated Parliamentary Debate on 24 October. In particular, concerns have been expressed about the quality of information and analysis undertaken by the Board, and about the robustness and accuracy of the information which informed the options appraisal process.

I discussed this with the Chair and Chief Executive of NHS Lanarkshire at the Health Board’s Annual Review on Friday 2 November. I was clear that it is essential that the concerns raised are carefully examined and responded to openly and transparently. I have therefore asked the Director General for Health and Social Care and Chief Executive of NHS Scotland to establish a review to provide me with an independent assessment of the process followed by NHS Lanarkshire, including whether it has been consistent with best practice and meaningfully informed by the views of stakeholders.

Further details on the review - including who will lead it, its remit and timeframe - will be announced as soon as possible.

For EU citizens currently living in Scotland this is a particularly worrying and uncertain time. The Scottish Government wants those who have made Scotland their home to be able to stay and continue their positive contributions to our society.

As outlined in this year’s Programme for Government, we will develop an advice and support service for the 235,000 EU citizens resident in Scotland. This is just one of the practical steps we are taking to ensure that they feel welcome, supported and valued. In addition, we will bring forward an Electoral Franchise Bill to give fair access to voting rights for all those who have a legal right to live in Scotland.

We value the EU citizens who are making a positive contribution to our economy, our communities and to our public service and will encourage individuals from across the EU to move to Scotland. We are therefore working with partners to develop a ‘Welcome to Scotland’ resource to ensure people who come here feel supported.

We will also continue to tackle the misconceptions on migration in Scotland and will build on the success of the ‘We are Scotland’ campaign, to promote an inclusive vision of Scottish identity.

I am aware that the member has raised concerns about the performance of the junction with Transport Scotland and that their contractor, Scottish Road Partnership (SRP), is reviewing potential alterations that may assist the movement of vehicles at this junction.

I understand that Transport Scotland recently wrote to the member to outline that once final design work and checking processes associated with undertaking amendments is complete, a programme of works will follow to implement any necessary changes at the junction of the A725 with Kirkshaws Road/ Hagmill Road.

Clinicians in Scotland have access to a wide range of UK and International Guidelines. For amyloidosis the following is available:

• Diagnosis and Intervention of AL amyloidosis, published on 14 October 2014 by the British Committee for Standards in Haematology of the British Society of Haematology
• Management of AL amyloidosis, published on 9 October 2014 by the British Committee for Standards in Haematology of the British Society of Haematology

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has a section dedicated to amyloidosis, it includes access to the above guidelines as well as a number of medical journal articles, and links to international guidelines, for example, Orphanet which is provides high quality information of rare diseases. The webpage can be viewed on this link: https://www.evidence.nhs.uk/Search?pa=1&q=Amyloidosis&sp=on

Furthermore, the National Amyloidosis Centre at University College London (UCL) provide advice to both patients and clinicians.

I will be publishing A Healthier Future: Framework on the Prevention, Early Detection and Early Intervention of Type 2 Diabetes on ‎16 July 2018.

I will be publishing ‘A More Active Scotland: Scotland’s Physical Activity Delivery Plan’ today, which sets out the wide range of actions we and our partners will deliver to support people in Scotland to be more active, more often.

The plan aligns closely to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Action Plan on Physical Activity, More Active People for a Healthier World which was published on 4 June 2018. The World Health Organization has welcomed the publication of our plan and recognizes that Scotland is one of the first countries in the world to respond to the challenges identified in their plan.

This Delivery Plan is one of five linked public health strategies and plans which are being published in 2018 and taken together they create the environment for good health whilst encouraging individuals and communities to make better choices. I see the actions set out in this plan as a strong basis for focussing our efforts on those areas which will make a real difference.

The action plan will be available at http://gov.scot/ISBN/9781787810143

I have today written to the Chief Executive of NHS Tayside to confirm my decision in relation to these major service change proposals.

Having carefully considered all the available information, I have decided to approve the Health Board’s proposals that all unscheduled admissions and emergencies in Tayside will be directed to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee to ensure that all patients have access to a dedicated Acute Surgical Receiving Unit and a staffed 24/7 theatre for unscheduled surgery. An expanded elective surgical service will be based in the Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI), providing cancer and non-cancer surgical intervention. This will include complex major surgery to fully utilise critical care facilities at PRI and I have been assured by the Board that their proposals will in no way impact the continuing provision of A&E services at the hospital. The Stracathro Treatment Centre will also be optimised to treat patients who meet the criteria for day and short stay surgery, as set out by the British Association of Day Surgery.

The Board has made a compelling and viable case for these proposals which have attracted clinical support. The proposals are consistent with national policy, modern clinical standards and best practice, including the National Clinical Strategy. The implementation of these proposals will provide the people of Tayside with a safer, higher quality surgical service, whilst also minimising the risk of cancelled procedures. As such, I am convinced that these proposals are in the best interests of the people of Tayside.

I note from the report of the Scottish Health Council (SHC) that the Board has meaningfully engaged with local stakeholders on their proposals. However, the SHC has recommended that the Board establishes a stakeholder group, which should include patients, carers, public representatives and the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), to consider any remaining concerns around patient and public transport for both scheduled and unscheduled surgery.

That is why I have been clear to NHS Tayside that my approval of these proposals is conditional on: (i) the Board reviewing and addressing any issues with the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) around their capacity to meet the proposed models; (ii) identifying how planning partners and third sector organisations could best support patients to access services; (iii) carrying out a review of the Board’s patient booking system for surgical procedure appointments to address concerns about early morning appointments for people living in rural areas; and (iv) providing regular communication on the outcomes of this work and to keep the people of Tayside informed of progress and timescales for implementation of the proposals.

I also recognise the concerns expressed during the public consultation process that the approval of these proposals could impact negatively on the Accident and Emergency Department at the Perth Royal Infirmary. As outlined above, I have sought and received assurances that A&E services will continue at the hospital.