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In accordance with current guidance, the Scottish Government’s position is that the assessment process for new pedestrian crossings should address the three main objectives of safety, convenience and accessibility for the most at-risk users. The PV2 assessment process, which identifies suitable crossing facilities based on pedestrian and vehicle numbers at a location, was superseded in 1995. Decisions on suitable pedestrian crossing facilities require a more qualitative approach addressing a variety of site-specific factors. Data relating to pedestrian and vehicle numbers will have relevance to these considerations, but must be viewed in the wider context and should not be used as the sole basis for decisions.

Education authorities and other agencies have duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils, which includes those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A formal diagnosis of ADHD is not required before appropriate support is provided in an early learning or school setting.

Education authorities can ask other agencies (including social work services, health boards and Skills Development Scotland) for help in carrying out their duties under the Act.

As well as providing funding for neurodevelopmental support services, in partnership with COSLA we have undertaken a review of the implementation of the National Neurodevelopmental Specification. This will inform improvements to support health boards and local authorities to deliver the Specification.

GPs do not require “extended resources” to provide NHS prescriptions following a private diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. GPs are contracted and resourced to provide appropriate ongoing treatment and care to all their patients taking account of their specific needs.

GPs should use their own judgement about what treatment is appropriate for patients who have a private diagnosis of any condition.

I refer the member to the answer to questions S6W-30034 on 3 October 2024 and S6W-32189 on 23 December 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.

Established in 2014, the National Eyecare Workstream was set up to influence and embed change in the way that eyecare services are delivered in Scotland. The workstream focuses on using capacity and capabilities differently within and across Primary and Secondary Care, drawing together the different strands of work that contribute to building a sustainable service.

Throughout its duration, the National Eyecare Workstream has supported extensive data collection and analysis of hospital eyecare services, including future capacity and demand for cataract surgery. In 2018, taking into account population growth and demographic change, demand for cataract surgery was forecast to grow by up to 47% to 2035.

More recently the Royal College of Ophthalmologists has projected an increase in demand of 25% in the next 10 years and 50% over the next 20 years.

The National Eyecare Workstream has been working with Health Boards to streamline each stage in the cataract pathway to ensure maximisation of all available resources across the country.

In May 2021, the National Eyecare Workstream commissioned the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) to deliver a Short Life Working Group (SLWG) to focus on improving efficiency and productivity within cataract only theatre sessions in line with the latest guidance from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. This SLWG has supported several new and innovative pathway developments, including high volume cataract surgery in ring-fenced sessions and delivering one cataract every 30 mins. In parallel with this, the National Eyecare Workstream is undertaking clinically-led peer reviews which supports new and efficient ways of working and shares best practices across the country across a number of ocular sub-specialties, including cataracts.

A number of ophthalmic surgeons are now undertaking immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery to prevent patients having to travel twice for surgical intervention enabling both cataract surgeries to be performed on the same day, one after the other. In a number of Health Board areas, non-medical staff have been upskilled to pre-assess and list patients for cataract surgery freeing-up ophthalmologists’ time to undertake duties only they are qualified to do e.g. perform cataract surgery.

The National Eyecare Workstream has also undertaken a workforce review across the entirety of NHS eye care services in Scotland. This was required to support workforce and service planning, and to ensure ongoing workforce sustainability. The final report, published in 2023, is available here: https://www.nhscfsd.co.uk/media/pjwntap4/national-ophthalmic-workforce-review-may-2023.pdf

In addition, our National Treatment Centres (NTC) programme provides additional protected elective capacity and infrastructure to meet the needs of the aging population, which is projected to grow by 25-30% between 2015 - 2035. We have allocated an additional £2.6 million to National Treatment Centre (NTC) Highland to deliver thousands of additional orthopaedic and ophthalmic operations every year, with approximately 61% of the additional funding intended to support ophthalmic procedures.

This is part of our wider investment of £110 million to address long waits for planned care, which includes over £12 million funding for ophthalmology services.

A number of Health Boards also have additional cataract slots at Golden Jubilee National Hospital.

Cataract surgery remains one of the most frequently performed surgical interventions across NHS Scotland. However, our health service has experienced unprecedented pressures over the past few years including the long-term impacts of the pandemic, seasonal and staffing pressures and unprecedented levels of inflation across the public sector. This has inevitably disrupted the NHS’s ability to carry out routine procedures, meaning longer waits for many patients.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering reductions in waiting times, and has this year allocated an additional £12 million funding to NHS Boards for ophthalmology services.

The Scottish Government has confirmed that the replacement of the Edinburgh eye pavilion is a strategic priority, and the 2025-26 Budget provides the necessary funding to allow the development of the business case.

NHS Lothian has been asked to progress the business case and development of the design and timeline will form part of this work, which will take time. During an update to stakeholders in March, NHS Lothian advised an estimated timeline of 6 years.

It is usual for the business case process, construction and commissioning to take a number of years and there will be greater clarity on timeline once the business case process is complete.

The Minister for Public Health last met with Royal College of Ophthalmologists in July last year.

Scottish Government officials meet the College of Optometrists both bilaterally and as part of other groups/forums as and when required for policy development and implementation purposes. The next scheduled bilateral meeting with the College of Optometrists is on Friday 3 October 2025.

The number of ophthalmology trainees recorded as of July 28, 2025, and from 2015 has been provided in the following table.

I have met with all NHS Boards to discuss long waits across all planned care specialities including ophthalmology.