Jenni Minto
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“I would like to reflect on Willie Rennie’s comments. Bute welcomed families from Syria, who are now an integral part of the island. In Lochgilphead, Ukrainian families have settled and helped to revitalise the town’s main street with two new businesses.”
“Mòran taing, Oifigear Riaghlaidh. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I want to start with the words of one of my constituents: “I am not a politician, nor do I ever wish to become one. I am a leatherworker, a father and a business owner.”
“Ben Macpherson: There are many initiatives and policies in this space to encourage and support our young people to ensure that they can fulfil their potential, including the free tuition that the Government has provided for students.”
“Yesterday, I met pupils at Sunnyside primary school in Glasgow, and we talked about climate change, the Celtic and Amazonian rainforests and the fact that Scotland is the proud host of a rainforest. In my constituency, Dunoon grammar school won the world’s best school prize for community collaboration.”
“If any of the Reform members had taken part in my colleague Maggie Chapman’s debate on university education, they would have heard me talk about the Scottish Association for Marine Science, which is in Oban, in my constituency.”
“He spoke about the impact that Brexit had had on his business and how, because of that vote, his order book collapsed. He had to find new ways of marketing and promoting his business to ensure that he and his family survived. He spoke about the support that he had received from the SNP to expand his business.”
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“She recently paid almost £300 to get booster jabs for herself and her son, and for her husband, who is an unpaid carer. I am sure that the Scottish Government will agree that it is unacceptable to expect vulnerable families across Scotland to pay hundreds of pounds at a time to protect themselves from Covid. Will the Scottish Government therefore consider applying a discount for type 1 diabetics who are under 75? Jenni Minto: I understand that the groups who are no longer eligible for Covid vaccination— namely, those aged 65 to 74, those in wider clinical at-risk groups and front-line health and social care workers—might be feeling anxious. To them, I say that the overall threat of Covid has thankfully diminished over time as a result of high levels of vaccine-based immunity and naturally acquired immunity from the infection.”
“Eligibility for the Covid-19 vaccine is based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and is identical across the four United Kingdom nations this winter. JCVI advice is based on its standard cost-effectiveness analysis, which shows that the oldest in the population and individuals who are immunosuppressed are at the highest risk of serious Covid-19-related disease, hospitalisation and death. The recent Public Health Scotland “Viral Respiratory Diseases in Scotland Surveillance Report”, covering the period from 10 November to 16 November, shows that “COVID-19 activity decreased or remained stable overall”, with 73 hospital admissions that week—a decrease from 81 in the previous week. Foysol Choudhury: One of my constituents is a type 1 diabetic, and so is her son.”
“I recognise that there are waiting time issues in that area, and my team and the chief dental officer are having in-depth conversations with health boards to try to relieve the waiting time pressure. I hope Ms McCall will also recognise that the Scottish Government has invested more than £135 million in reducing waiting times. She might say that that is not enough, but it is noticeable investment to reduce waiting times.”
“I have a freedom of information request reply that shows that almost 3,000 children in NHS Tayside have been admitted to hospital because of tooth decay during the past five years, while more than 3,000 have had a tooth extracted in hospital. That is on top of the percentage of primary 7 pupils with tooth decay increasing this year for the first time since 2005. That is unacceptable. What does the minister say to families in my region who are dealing with the consequences of the dentistry crisis, and what urgent action is the Government going to take to fix this? Jenni Minto: I am sure that Ms McCall will recognise that tooth extractions done under general anaesthetic fall under secondary care.”
“We continue to invest in our flagship Childsmile programme, which provides universal oral health interventions for all children and additional targeted measures for children from vulnerable backgrounds. The programme has supported significant improvements in child oral health, with the latest national dental inspection programme results showing that 81.5 per cent of primary 7 children have no obvious tooth decay, compared with 52.9 per cent in 2005. We have also made significant improvements to children’s dental care as part of our payment reforms, which were introduced in 2023, with dentists now able to undertake a much wider range of preventative treatments for all children. Roz McCall: Whatever the minister says, and whatever the Government is doing, it is not enough.”
“Jenni Minto: I, too, recognise the important work that Prostate Cancer UK has been doing. The Scottish Government invests in early detection work, with the “Be the Early Bird” campaign specifically focusing on more deprived areas. I will check with the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans about making a statement to Parliament after the working group has finished its work. The Scottish Government continues to invest in reducing cancer waiting times. I, too, recognise the importance of early detection, early diagnosis and then treatment.”
“Rachael Hamilton: I appreciate the minister’s response and welcome the good work that is already being done alongside charities such as Prostate Cancer UK and Prostate Scotland, but there is still a long way to go, not only on early detection but on cancer waiting times, for which the Scottish National Party’s target of 62 days has not been met for more than a decade. It is suggested that early detection can help more than 80 per cent of men to survive prostate cancer, which is why it is important to improve awareness and encourage those who are at higher risk to get tested. Once the short-life working group on prostate cancer has published its findings, will the minister commit to making a statement to Parliament to outline the suggested actions? Will she provide a clear answer on how she aims to meet the 62-day target?”
“A clinically reviewed refresh of our Scottish referral guidelines for suspected cancer was published in August 2025. For the first time, those guidelines now incorporate advice on key groups that should consider speaking to their GP about PSA testing from the age of 45. Those groups include men with a family history of prostate cancer; black men, who are around three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men; and those who have a genetic predisposition to the condition, such as men who have BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.”
“Although the screening trial is a positive step, the initial results will not be available for two years, which means that thousands of men in Scotland will continue to go undiagnosed. Will the minister outline what the Scottish Government is doing to improve awareness of prostate cancer and encourage men who are at higher risk to get tested? Jenni Minto: I recognise absolutely everything that Rachael Hamilton said. Sir Chris Hoy’s sharing of his story—along with those shared by others, such as Kenny Logan—has made prostate cancer much more known in our male population. To add to that, there was a very good phone-in on the topic yesterday morning on BBC Radio Scotland. As I said in my first answer, the Scottish Government will continue to be guided by the advice of the UK National Screening Committee on population-based screening.”
“We are monitoring the on-going review carefully. Rachael Hamilton: In Scotland alone, every year more than 4,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and, sadly, 1,000 men die from it. They are fathers, brothers, uncles and friends. It is the most common cancer in the UK among men. In July, I met a constituent who had just had the all-clear from prostate cancer following months of diagnostic care and treatment. My constituent told me that his cancer was detected purely because of Sir Chris Hoy’s personal campaign and the support of a very good local general practitioner. Like Sir Chris Hoy and other well-known figures such as David Cameron and Stephen Fry, my constituent wanted to use his experience to raise awareness of the condition.”
“The Scottish Government desires a screening test that can improve outcomes for men with prostate cancer and for which the benefits clearly outweigh the harms. TRANSFORM is a vital step forward in making that a reality. It will test the efficacy of different screening methods, such as rapid MRI and DNA testing, in addition to the standard prostate- specific antigen—PSA—blood test. The trial is recruiting participants and is expected to provide its first results in about two years. Crucially, Prostate Cancer UK designed the trial in collaboration with the United Kingdom National Screening Committee, which will ensure that its findings inform that committee’s review of prostate cancer screening. In Scotland, as in all nations of the UK, screening policy is underpinned by the UK NSC’s recommendations.”
“I look forward to seeing flashes of purple in support of pancreatic cancer awareness month, which will include lighting up the Scottish Government buildings St Andrew’s house and Victoria Quay tomorrow. I thank everyone for their contributions and I especially thank the charities that are in the Parliament today. I hope that we can move to improve outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate. 13:32 Meeting suspended. 14:00 On resuming— Portfolio Question Time Climate Action and Energy, and Transport”
“Last year, we committed more than £620,000 to fund two research projects at the University of Glasgow. The first project is looking at cells in pre- cancerous lesions that are at high risk of progressing to pancreatic cancer, and the second is looking at how cancer cells and immune cells interact in a way that can affect responses to initial chemotherapy. Our chief scientist office will continue to work with the University of Glasgow as the research progresses. I want to make clear the Scottish Government’s enduring commitment to improving pancreatic cancer outcomes and supporting the importance of raising awareness. In doing so, we can improve early diagnosis rates as well as patient experience and overall outcomes.”
“I, too, would like to reflect on the positive news that Finlay Carson mentioned about the Maggie’s centre in Dumfries and Galloway, which makes a profound difference to those living with cancer and their families. We are working to strengthen bereavement support, where required, and to ensure that spiritual care is not just available but truly embedded in everyday practice. Investment in our understanding of pancreatic cancer is key to the ability to prevent, identify and treat it. Our strategy makes clear the importance of research to our strategic aim of improving cancer survivability and providing excellent equitably accessible care to patients in Scotland. The Scottish Government’s chief scientist office directly funds research projects and fellowships.”
“That partnership is worth £27 million and is the first of its kind in the UK. From April 2024 to March 2025, more than 6,000 people across Scotland were supported through the programme by a specialist key worker, who signposted them to emotional, financial and practical support. That includes considering what local community assets and support services are available. I recognise Carol Mochan’s points about inequalities, and I believe that this service goes some way towards alleviating those. We have taken important steps to improve care for people at every stage of their journey. This autumn, we published the “Palliative Care Matters for All” strategy, alongside refreshed national guidelines and new training resources to support those who deliver care.”
“The Scottish Government continues to support and invest in our single-point-of-contact pilots. Those aim to ensure that all patients have a point of contact to support them in navigating their cancer care, thereby improving shared decision making between the individual and their clinical teams and access to timely reporting of results. It has been found that the single-point-of-contact pilots have had more than 30,000 patient interactions, freeing up more than 3,970 hours of clinical nurse specialist time and improving experiences. We are actively considering how we best scale up that approach in order to benefit all patients with cancer in Scotland. Through the transforming cancer care programme, the Scottish Government is working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to improve the service that we offer patients with cancer.”
“The SHPBN has started to develop the clinical management pathway for those cancers, which will promote equitable routes to cancer care across Scotland, with patients at the centre. The network has also provided its clinical consensus on what optimal diagnosis for patients should look like to the centre for sustainable delivery, for use in its delivery of the upper gastrointestinal optimal diagnostic pathway, which will include HPB cancers. Those pieces of work will both be delivered in 2026. As members have said, a pancreatic cancer diagnosis is devastating for those who are diagnosed and for their loved ones. I cannot stress enough the importance of person-centred care, to ensure that all patients get access to support throughout their cancer journey and that their voices and needs are heard.”
“An independent evaluation by the University of Strathclyde found that hepato-pancreato-bili—it is my turn to get it wrong; I will just say HPB— cancers made up 17 per cent of the cancers that were found. I note the valuable work of all those involved in pilot projects to speed up the time from referral to diagnosis and treatment for patients with HPB cancers. Those involved have a key role in making it clear that we must do more for patients with pancreatic cancer across the whole cancer care pathway, not just part of it. As Carol Mochan noted, collaboration is important. That is why we commissioned the Scottish HPB network to take forward the consensus and develop national recommended pathways for HPB cancers.”
“Our earlier cancer diagnosis vision underpins our investment in a range of programmes that are aimed at supporting early diagnosis, which will help us to improve survival rates. It includes publishing the refreshed Scottish referral guidelines for suspected cancer, which support primary care clinicians in recognising the symptoms that may indicate cancer, including pancreatic cancer. The guidelines include, for the first time, criteria for non-specific symptoms; that is especially important for pancreatic cancer, as its early signs can be subtle and easily missed. As Jamie Hepburn noted, we launched Scotland’s sixth rapid cancer diagnostic service this year. Those services are diagnosing cancer faster for those with non-specific symptoms.”
“I thank them for their courage in sharing their stories, with the heartfelt aim of improving knowledge and awareness. Pancreatic cancer awareness month comes as a stark reminder to us all of the dreadful impact that a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can have. The outcomes are typically poor, and we must significantly improve that situation at pace. I thank Marie McNair and Finlay Carson for describing the symptoms so clearly in their contributions. Willie Coffey and Finlay Carson are both absolutely right that we, as MSPs, are privileged to be able to help raise awareness. The Scottish Government’s ambitious 10-year “Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-2033”, which was published in 2023, makes clear our determination to improve cancer survival rates.”
“I thank my colleague Clare Adamson for bringing the motion to the chamber today and reminding us of the impact that pancreatic cancer can have. I took part in debates on the subject as a back bencher, because I recognise the importance of raising awareness. I also thank Pancreatic Cancer Action, Pancreatic Cancer UK and others for their continued efforts in raising awareness of pancreatic cancer and supporting people and their loved ones who are facing that diagnosis. I, too, welcome those organisations to the Scottish Parliament today. I thank my colleagues in the chamber for sharing such valuable contributions to the debate. Like Jamie Hepburn and other members, I have been contacted by constituents, in Argyll and Bute, and I have heard from families who are grieving the loss of a loved one through pancreatic cancer.”
“Over the past year, the constituent has experienced two miscarriages, recurring pelvic infections and severe pelvic pain that has significantly impacted her quality of life. I have raised the issue directly with NHS Fife, but I would be grateful if the minister would look at the details of the case, which I will pass to her. It is all very well to talk about 52 weeks, but, in the case of this constituent, that is not acceptable. Jenni Minto: Alex Rowley is absolutely right that that length of wait is not sustainable and is not good for women’s health. That is why we have invested the funding. I am very happy to follow up with him afterwards. Future Farming Investment Scheme (Ineligible Applications) 8.”
“This year, we have allocated an additional £135.5 million to health boards to tackle the longest waits. That includes an allocation of more than £1.1 million to NHS Fife for gynaecology to support extra full-day theatre lists and new full-day out-patient clinics. I understand from NHS Fife that it is on track to have no patient waiting for more than 52 weeks by our 31 March 2026 target. Beyond that, we are working with the centre for sustainable delivery to ensure that all boards deliver a sustainable solution for the future. Alex Rowley: I have been contacted by a constituent, a 23-year-old woman, who has been advised that she might face a wait of more than a year for keyhole surgery that is needed to diagnose the source of on-going severe pelvic pain.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate. Meeting closed at 18:19. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit. Published in Edinburgh by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP All documents are available on the Scottish Parliament website at: www.parliament.scot Information on non-endorsed print suppliers is available here: www.parliament.scot/documents For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Public Information on: Telephone: 0131 348 5000 Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: sp.info@parliament.scot”
“In our cancer action plan, we committed to improving data collection for metastatic cancers, starting with metastatic breast cancer, and my officials are working closely with Public Health Scotland on a thorough review of our options in relation to the collection of data on secondary breast cancer. That review will consider the clinical time that is required to do that work and how it can improve services and outcomes for patients as a priority. We will agree the best method of data collection by the end of the current cancer action plan period in 2026. I finish by thanking Emma Harper and her colleagues for their contributions, as well as Breast Cancer Now, Make 2nds Count and other organisations that provide vital support and empowerment to people living with secondary breast cancer in Scotland.”
“Clare Adamson recognised the importance of genomics. The Scottish Government is improving the diagnosis and targeted treatment of disease through continued investment in genomics, and we recognise the importance of genomic testing. I will make a final point on data collection. I, too, recognise the importance of data, and I know that it is an important issue for Breast Cancer Now and Make 2nds Count, as well as for patients, including those whom I had the pleasure of meeting earlier today. I appreciated the open and honest discussion that was recently held in Parliament, and I have heard clearly the requests from members across the chamber.”
“There has been a lot of comment on access to medicines and, as I said earlier, I met campaigners today, who shared their concerns about the Scottish Medicines Consortium’s decision not to recommend the drug elacestrant on the NHS in Scotland. The SMC operates independently of Government and must base its decisions on the best possible evidence. I know that it continues to keep access to new and emerging medicines under review, and the Scottish Government continues to work with the NHS and the SMC on improving access to new medicines. I assure members and those to whom I spoke earlier that doctors can still request to use elacestrant on a case-by-case basis, if they consider that it meets a person’s clinical needs, and I also state that the Scottish Government would encourage the pharmaceutical company to make a resubmission to the SMC.”
“We will continue to work with Macmillan, other third sector partners and health boards to determine any new actions that are required to further improve the experience of people who are diagnosed with cancer. I noted Pam Duncan-Glancy’s comments about support for people living with disabilities, and I am happy to look at the points that she has raised with the screening team. With regard to Alexander Stewart’s comments on palliative care, I agree that such care is very important. I was pleased to launch the “Palliative Care Matters for All” framework earlier this year, and I was also pleased that a palliative care doctor won doctor of the year award at the NHS Scotland health awards last week.”
“That joint partnership, which is worth £27 million, is the first of its kind in the UK, and it ensures that people who are affected by cancer in Scotland have access to a specialist key support worker who can provide, and signpost them to, emotional, financial and practical support. As Pam Duncan-Glancy mentioned, that financial support is very important, and we are already seeing the positive impact of that work. However, we do understand that there are still areas in which we can improve—indeed, I heard as much earlier—and that is why we are continuing to invest in initiatives that support earlier and faster diagnosis and drive person- centred holistic care.”
“Moreover, we are committed to ensuring that those who are diagnosed with secondary breast cancer receive the best possible treatment and support to live well. Our strategy has a range of measures that are aimed at benefiting all those who live with cancer, including the implementation of a single point of contact to support patients throughout their journey and after discharge. That approach ensures that people who are recently diagnosed with cancer have person-centred support and can discuss their specific circumstances. We are working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to improve the service that we offer patients with cancer through the transforming cancer care programme.”
“Miles Briggs was right to talk about men living with breast cancer and secondary breast cancer. We know that early diagnosis is vital, and we continue to fund our detect cancer earlier campaign “Be the Early Bird”. Urgent suspicion of cancer referrals continue to be prioritised, and we are treating more patients with cancer on time within both standards compared with the same quarter six years ago. We have specifically invested in driving up productivity and tackling waiting lists, with support from the national centre for sustainable delivery. Together, our actions will further enable NHS Scotland to maximise capacity, build greater resilience and deliver year- on-year reductions in the number of patients who have waited too long for treatment.”
“I thank them for their time, and I acknowledge the variety of experiences that they shared with me. I assure them that my officials meet health boards’ cancer management teams monthly to identify challenges, explore solutions and share best practice. I have specifically asked that they reflect on the conversation that I had with those who I met earlier today. I am aware that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care is due to meet Breast Cancer Now and the campaigners Jen Hardy and Alison Tait in January 2026 to further discuss how we can support women living with secondary breast cancer. We know that one in nine women living in Scotland will develop breast cancer at some stage in their life. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in Scotland and the most common cancer detected in females.”
“I was pleased to note that we continue to be aligned on our priorities for cancer in the coming years and that its three key themes of earlier diagnosis, care and support, and new treatment echo the ambitions of our 10-year cancer strategy for Scotland, which we published in 2023. I will touch on what Miles Briggs commented on. It is right to say that we are hugely privileged when we meet those living with cancer. They explain to us the way in which we can try to improve people’s lives not only in Edinburgh but more widely across Scotland. I feel very strongly about that. At lunch time today, I was pleased to meet charities that support those with secondary breast cancer and campaigners who are living with the condition. I, too, very much welcome them all to our Parliament today.”
“I, too, associate myself with the motion’s commendation of the work of the charities Make 2nds Count and Breast Cancer Now. Thankfully, both charities are active members of the Scottish Cancer Coalition, and I gratefully appreciate their contribution to the national conversation on breast cancer issues. I value their vital work to support women living with secondary breast cancer in Scotland. I have met both charities on several occasions since I became Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health and look forward to continuing that important collaboration. Breast Cancer Now published its five-year strategy at the end of September.”
“I begin by expressing my sincere thanks not only to Emma Harper for bringing this important motion to the Parliament today but to my other fellow MSPs, who have all provided meaningful and thought-provoking contributions to our discussion. I also thank Emma Harper, Clare Adamson, Emma Roddick, Marie McNair and Christine Grahame for all bringing the name of Christina McKelvie back to the chamber. Her passion for and focus on ensuring that breast cancer and secondary breast cancer were kept at the forefront of people’s minds were such a great representation of how an MSP and minister can be. I thank them all for bringing a smile to my face, because when Christina is mentioned, that is what I do—I smile. She also gave me so much support.”
“I, too, thank Jackie Baillie for bringing the debate to the chamber, and I am hugely grateful for the thoughtful and heartfelt contributions from members across the chamber. This subject goes above party politics. Please allow me to echo the cabinet secretary’s opening remarks. I do not underestimate how difficult today’s debate will have been for the families in attendance who have been affected by the issues. I thank them, too, for so powerfully sharing their experiences in the “Disclosure” documentary in order to enable change. I extend my deepest condolences to you personally and to anyone affected by those issues. There is no doubt that we all agree that delivering safe, high-quality maternity care for all mothers, babies and families in Scotland must be a priority.”
“There will be a brief pause before we move on to the next item of business in order to allow front- bench teams to change positions. Maternity Services”
“I recently attended a round table in the Parliament led by the baby loss charity Held In Our Hearts. It was attended by those who had experienced baby loss, by researchers and, importantly, by health boards. It was a very powerful event. To enable the best support for those families, a combination of all those stakeholders, working together, is needed. Earlier this year, I was pleased to announce the delivery framework for miscarriage care in Scotland, which is supported by £1.5 million in funding. The framework sets the expectation that NHS boards ensure that all staff receive training in providing compassionate, culturally competent care after miscarriage and other early pregnancy complications. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes portfolio questions on health and social care.”
“Many of the difficulties that she faced arose from miscommunication or, in some respects, a total lack of communication. She was not made aware of much of the support that is available to her. Although I recognise the extensive work that the minister mentioned to improve miscarriage care standards, in partnership with those who know exactly what it means when we get that wrong, it is troubling to hear of instances in which those standards have not been put into practice. What further steps can be taken to ensure that health boards have the necessary resources to provide comprehensive training for staff who work in dedicated early pregnancy units, so that those who experience baby loss, wherever they are, receive the support and compassion that they deserve? Jenni Minto: I thank Emma Roddick for raising the issue in the chamber.”
“The loss of a baby, no matter at what stage of pregnancy, has a profound and lasting impact on women and their families, so I offer my deepest sympathy to anyone who has experienced baby loss. Care and support should be tailored to individual circumstances. For most people, that will come via health boards or third sector organisations, but a small number of people might require specialist mental health services via maternity and neonatal psychological intervention services. Our continued investment since 2019 has resulted in a substantial increase in the number of services that are available. In addition, national health service boards are implementing the national bereavement care pathway for pregnancy and baby loss. Emma Roddick: I have been supporting a constituent who experienced a very traumatic miscarriage.”
“Published in Edinburgh by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP All documents are available on the Scottish Parliament website at: www.parliament.scot Information on non-endorsed print suppliers is available here: www.parliament.scot/documents For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Public Information on: Telephone: 0131 348 5000 Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: sp.info@parliament.scot”
“I extend my thanks to all the third sector organisations, including AMMF, for supporting patients and families who are affected by cholangiocarcinoma, and to members for their contributions tonight. I look forward to working with them all to improve awareness, earlier diagnosis and outcomes for those who face less survivable cancers such as cholangiocarcinoma and to give those people hope. Meeting closed at 17:45. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit.”
“I take this opportunity to recognise the significant investment that AMMF has made in both international and UK research institutions to fund research teams that are working to uncover the causes of cholangiocarcinoma, improve early diagnosis and develop more effective treatments. That includes nearly £150,000 that has been invested in Scottish institutions to fund cholangiocarcinoma-specific research, such as the trial in Glasgow that many of us have heard about today. I am pleased to learn that some patients have benefited from that trial, and it further reinforces our commitment to expanding genomic testing across Scotland, as I mentioned earlier.”
“Although I understand the impact of any further delay, I assure members that we are doing all that we can to bring that testing to the people who need it as quickly as possible. I sincerely thank those who provide valuable information, help and support to anyone who is affected by cholangiocarcinoma or liver cancer. The Scottish Government and our NHS continue to work closely with third sector, community partners and social care partners to deliver our ambitious cancer strategy. We know that research is key to advancing how we prevent, diagnose and treat all forms of cancer and that it is of particular importance to cholangiocarcinoma.”
“Members will be aware that a wider programme of laboratory transformation and investment planning is under way to support a sustainable expansion of genomic testing. That is part of our long-term approach to deliver bold and ambitious action to reform and renew Scotland’s health and care systems. However, recognising the importance of that test to cholangiocarcinoma patients and their families, I have asked the NHS National Services Scotland, as the commissioner of genomic testing, to bring that testing into service ahead of the wider reform programme. Implementation planning within the service is now progressing rapidly and I will be able to provide members with an update before the end of this year.”
“That work has been carried out in collaboration with the Scottish cancer network, the national centre for sustainable delivery and third sector partners, and includes reviewing existing clinical guidelines, identifying gaps and aligning best practice across Scotland. Tumour subtypes, such as bile duct cancers, will be included. That work is progressing at pace, and we expect the HPB network to work with the centre for sustainable delivery, which will separately be delivering the optimal diagnostic pathway for upper gastrointestinal cancers, including HPB, in 2026. I understand the importance of expanded genomic testing for people with cholangiocarcinoma and the direct impact that that has on their care and their access to life-saving precision medicines. That was made very clear to me at the event in Parliament earlier this year.”
“The Scottish Government has provided more than £14 million of funds in 2025-26 to reduce cancer waiting times across NHS Scotland, directing that work towards the most challenged pathways. We have also committed to additional funding for chemotherapy services that will reach up to £10 million a year by 2027, with £6.6 million being provided in 2025-26. By continuing to invest in cancer services and by reducing waiting times, we will detect cancer earlier and faster so that we can improve outcomes for people. We have commissioned the Scottish HepatoPancreatoBiliary Network to lead the development of standardised pathways for HPB cancers.”
“That update is especially important for rare or lesser- known cancers such as cholangiocarcinoma, where early signs, such as unexplained nausea or weight loss, can be subtle and easily missed. They are, as Elena Whitham described them, symptoms hiding in plain sight. This year, we also launched Scotland’s sixth rapid cancer diagnosis service. Those services rule cancer in or out more quickly for those with non-specific symptoms. Additionally, a primary care cancer education platform called GatewayC was launched across NHS Scotland in April 2024. It provides innovative and tailored information to support earlier cancer diagnosis efforts and enable effective decision making. That free online platform is accessible to all primary care clinicians and includes information about liver cancers.”
“Our detect cancer earlier programme “be the early bird” continues, and the latest campaign, which was launched last month, encourages individuals aged 40 and over, particularly those in more deprived communities, to feel confident in seeking help with possible cancer symptoms. As Carol Mochan stated, we must ensure that we consider all groups in our society so that we avoid inequalities. In August, we published the refreshed Scottish referral guidelines for suspected cancer, which are designed to support primary care clinicians in recognising symptoms that may indicate cancer and to ensure that people are on the right pathway at the right time. For the first time, those guidelines include criteria for non-specific symptoms.”
“I also thank Jeremy Balfour for sharing his constituent’s experience and I ask Mr Balfour to pass on my thoughts to his constituent, as I am sure that everybody else in the chamber would wish to do. Cholangiocarcinoma is a lesser-known and rarer cancer, so taking the opportunity in the chamber today to raise awareness of its common symptoms is vital to improving outcomes. I am thankful to my colleagues who have done that so eloquently. We all know that the sooner cancer is detected and diagnosed, the better the outcome for the individual. Our earlier cancer diagnosis vision underpins our investment in a range of programmes aimed at supporting earlier diagnosis and ensuring that people receive timely and effective care.”