Seòmar agus comataidhean

I thank Elena Whitham for raising the concerns of her constituents in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley. Although NHS boards are responsible for local service configuration, the Scottish Government is supporting improvements in the recognition, diagnosis and management of PoTS. Alongside the increased investment in reducing waiting times, we have provided £4.5 million in recurring funding to strengthen services for long Covid and ME or chronic fatigue syndrome, which are conditions that are often linked with PoTS.

We also work closely with NHS Education for Scotland to enhance clinical knowledge of autonomic dysfunction, fatigue and related conditions, providing training and resources to support earlier identification and better management of conditions such as PoTS. That is complemented by accessible NHS Inform guidance for both clinicians and patients.

I thank Elena Whitham for raising the concerns of her constituents in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley. Although NHS boards are responsible for local service configuration, the Scottish Government is supporting improvements in the recognition, diagnosis and management of PoTS. Alongside the increased investment in reducing waiting times, we have provided £4.5 million in recurring funding to strengthen services for long Covid and ME or chronic fatigue syndrome, which are conditions that are often linked with PoTS.

We also work closely with NHS Education for Scotland to enhance clinical knowledge of autonomic dysfunction, fatigue and related conditions, providing training and resources to support earlier identification and better management of conditions such as PoTS. That is complemented by accessible NHS Inform guidance for both clinicians and patients.

The Scottish Government extends its deepest sympathies to all families affected by DVT and PE, and we recognise the importance of strengthening early identification.

National health service boards are responsible for developing and maintaining local clinical pathways to support safe and effective assessment of patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Clinical guidance is being kept under review, and SIGN 122 is currently on the programme for review. We remain committed to supporting best practice and improving awareness so that tragic experiences such as those that Fulton MacGregor has described are avoided in future.

Primary care teams play a key role in recognising and assessing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Those teams have access to Healthcare Improvement Scotland tools that support evidence-based care for patients at risk, and the Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network—SIGN—provides guidance on preventing and managing venous thromboembolism, which primary care and other clinicians can use.

Members of the public can find information on NHS Inform, and the Scottish Government has endorsed Thrombosis UK’s leaflets online. Those resources support awareness and timely assessment. Anyone with symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism should seek clinical advice promptly.

We expect national health service boards to provide safe, person-centred care for people with postural tachycardia syndrome.

Although responsibility for specific clinical pathways lies with NHS boards, we have allocated more than £137 million to boards this year to help tackle the longest waits for appointments and procedures. That sum includes more than £500,000 for cardiology and £500,000 for neurology, which are the specialties most likely to support people with postural tachycardia syndrome.

I have every sympathy with postural tachycardia syndrome patients and the challenges that they face, and we want patients to receive all the support which they are entitled to.

We expect national health service boards to provide safe, person-centred care for people with postural tachycardia syndrome.

Although responsibility for specific clinical pathways lies with NHS boards, we have allocated more than £137 million to boards this year to help tackle the longest waits for appointments and procedures. That sum includes more than £500,000 for cardiology and £500,000 for neurology, which are the specialties most likely to support people with postural tachycardia syndrome.

I have every sympathy with postural tachycardia syndrome patients and the challenges that they face, and we want patients to receive all the support which they are entitled to.

I thank Elena Whitham for raising the concerns of her constituents in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley. Although NHS boards are responsible for local service configuration, the Scottish Government is supporting improvements in the recognition, diagnosis and management of PoTS. Alongside the increased investment in reducing waiting times, we have provided £4.5 million in recurring funding to strengthen services for long Covid and ME or chronic fatigue syndrome, which are conditions that are often linked with PoTS.

We also work closely with NHS Education for Scotland to enhance clinical knowledge of autonomic dysfunction, fatigue and related conditions, providing training and resources to support earlier identification and better management of conditions such as PoTS. That is complemented by accessible NHS Inform guidance for both clinicians and patients.

The Scottish Government extends its deepest sympathies to all families affected by DVT and PE, and we recognise the importance of strengthening early identification.

National health service boards are responsible for developing and maintaining local clinical pathways to support safe and effective assessment of patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Clinical guidance is being kept under review, and SIGN 122 is currently on the programme for review. We remain committed to supporting best practice and improving awareness so that tragic experiences such as those that Fulton MacGregor has described are avoided in future.

Primary care teams play a key role in recognising and assessing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Those teams have access to Healthcare Improvement Scotland tools that support evidence-based care for patients at risk, and the Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network—SIGN—provides guidance on preventing and managing venous thromboembolism, which primary care and other clinicians can use.

Members of the public can find information on NHS Inform, and the Scottish Government has endorsed Thrombosis UK’s leaflets online. Those resources support awareness and timely assessment. Anyone with symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism should seek clinical advice promptly.

The Scottish Government extends its deepest sympathies to all families affected by DVT and PE, and we recognise the importance of strengthening early identification.

National health service boards are responsible for developing and maintaining local clinical pathways to support safe and effective assessment of patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Clinical guidance is being kept under review, and SIGN 122 is currently on the programme for review. We remain committed to supporting best practice and improving awareness so that tragic experiences such as those that Fulton MacGregor has described are avoided in future.