Chamber and committees

I have a question on what the cabinet secretary said about cancer pathways and the modernising patient pathways approach. The diagnostic centre in Dumfries and Galloway is one of the first such centres and I believe that it is doing really well in fast-tracking people who do not have concrete symptoms of cancer. That is something that has been introduced that is working quite well, I understand.

I am interested in whether the modernising patient pathways programme is looking at cancer pathways in general. As an example, I note that people in Stranraer and Wigtownshire go to Edinburgh for their radiotherapy, which involves longer journey and travel times than if they were going to the Beatson west of Scotland cancer centre, which they basically drive past. Is the programme looking at shorter journeys and travel times and a different overall approach to the cancer pathway programme?

I remain a registered nurse and am a member of NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s vaccination team. I will continue to be available as and if required to support further Covid vaccinations in the upcoming months, and I will update my entry in the register of interests as necessary to declare any income that is derived when that occurs.

I nominate Gillian Martin.

Gillian Martin was chosen as convener.