Chamber and committees

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). Within that overall context there will always be a number of posts which do not fill. Thoracic Surgery ST4 is a small specialty with only 1 post advertised in 2023, therefore, as this post has not filled, the fill rate appears as 0%. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). Within that overall context there will always be a number of posts which do not fill. Medical Ophthalmology ST3 is a small specialty with only 1 post advertised in 2023, therefore, as this post has not filled, the fill rate appears as 0%. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). 81.25% is still a high fill rate for Paediatrics ST1in rounds 1 and 2 of 2023 recruitment. Within that context there will always be a small number of posts that will not fill. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

There is no minimum required number of medically-trained NHS 24 call handlers, as call handlers are classed as healthcare support workers and are not medically trained.

Call handlers operate under clinical supervision at all times with a minimum level of one clinical supervisor for every five call handlers. Each call has clinical supervision input at an appropriate level, depending on acuity and outcome.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). Within that overall context there will always be a number of posts which do not fill. Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgery ST3 is a small specialty with only 2 posts advertised in 2023, therefore, as only 1 post has filled, the fill rate appears as 50%. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Overall more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record, (data correct as at 25 July 2023). Within that overall context there will always be a number of posts which do not fill. Paediatric and Perinatal Pathology ST3 is a small specialty with only 1 post advertised in 2023, therefore, as this post has not filled, the fill rate appears as 0%. We continue to work closely with our partners in NHS Education for Scotland and Health Boards, to consider ways of improving fill rates across all specialities.

Overall, more trainee doctor posts have filled in 2023 than any other year on record. 8 posts were advertised in Palliative Medicine at ST4 level and 4 (or 50%) filled successfully. These figures are accurate as of 25 July and pertain only to the initial recruitment rounds of 2023; NHS England will publish full recruitment data for all UK nations in January (date TBC).

Palliative Medicine recently became what is known as a group 2 specialty (formerly group 1), meaning that trainees must complete 3 years of Internal Medicine Training (IMT) rather than 2. We are working with NES to determine what impact this is having on the attractiveness of the programme. We are also funding uplifts in IMT with 22 posts set to be created in 2024. IMT is a pre-requisite for Palliative Medicine (among several other specialties) and increasing front-end supply should therefore improve the sustainability of services in the longer term.

In addition to expanding numbers, the mandatory education programme in the first year of IMT now includes aspects of Palliative Medicine training which should increase the visibility of the specialty for trainees who are considering their future career options. Various careers events have also been showcasing opportunities in Palliative Medicine.

The increase in operational budgets of overseas offices in 2024-25 predominantly reflects how running costs for Scotland House London are attributed from a budgeting perspective as well as a minor amendment to IFRS 16 adjustments, and does not reflect an increase in the costs of its activities. Aside from these, there are adjustments across all offices to reflect a smaller increase in staff costs for the pay award announced by the Scottish Government in June 2023.

I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-24197 on 19 January 2024. 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

Since 2011, Transport Scotland has invested over £65 million, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, to support the installation of over 2700 public EV charge point installations across Scotland as part of the ChargePlace Scotland EV charging network. As a direct result, Scotland has the best provision of public charge points per head of population of anywhere in the UK, outside of London and the most rapid charge points per head of population of any region.

Last year, the Scottish Government published a Vision for Scotland’s future public EV charging network, highlighting the need for a transition towards a public charging network that is largely financed and delivered by the private sector. Through the £60m EV Infrastructure Fund, we are supporting local authorities across Scotland to work with the private sector to lever in the private investment needed to continue to grow provision of EV charging in Scotland at pace and scale.

The following table shows the total number of electric vehicle charge points commissioned on to the Scottish Government funded ChargePlace Scotland network for 2023 across the Highland and Islands Scottish Parliament Electoral Region, broken down by Local Authority Area.

We do not hold information relating to any other electric vehicle charging networks.