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Urban Search and Rescue is a specialist activity undertaken on a national basis by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). Decisions on which fire stations are best placed to host national specialist services are an operational matter for the SFRS.

The numbers of properties receiving rates relief in each council area as at 1 June 2024 are published in Non-domestic rates relief statistics 2024. Figures as at 1 June 2025 are available in Non-domestic rates relief statistics 2025.

Outturn values of reliefs, including a breakdown by council area, are published in Non-domestic rates income statistics.

We are utilising digital technology to improve ophthalmology services across Scotland with the present roll out of the Once for Scotland Ophthalmic Electronic Patient Record (EPR). This EPR allows clinicians to access and update patient records wherever the ophthalmic care is being delivered, allowing for quicker clinical decision making and more appropriate patient care. The EPR will reduce the duplication of tests, support Boards in working regionally to deliver patient care and improve waiting lists with patients being treated at the right time. In addition, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde noted an increased capacity through the rollout of EPR, as clinical teams are able to work more efficiently.

The EPR is also accessible to community optometrists providing the community glaucoma service. They are managing lower risk patients, previously only cared for in a hospital setting, freeing up hospital capacity to see those referred in on a waiting list. In time the Ophthalmic EPR will be accessible to all community optometrists, aiding the ongoing management of patients with an ophthalmological condition, even when they are attending their community optometrist for their routine eye examination.

New ophthalmology outpatient waits continue to show a downward trend, reflecting progress in reducing delays. We are working collaboratively with Health Boards to maximise capacity and shorten waiting times for patients waiting for treatment.

We know many people are still waiting too long. This year we have allocated more than £135.5 million to health boards to help tackle the longest waits for appointments and procedures. The funding has been assigned to specialty areas where it can have the greatest impact against the longest waits, this includes more than
£12 million for Ophthalmology. Additionally, Health Boards have been allocated additional funding for the community glaucoma service and the EPR.

Scottish Government published Guidance on the Provision of Equipment and Adaptations in 2023, and key actions were identified for each section of the guidance, with the expectation that all partnerships will review these. One of these actions is that “Integration Authorities (IAs) should work with relevant partners to capture data which evidences the value, effective and efficient community equipment and adaptation provision makes to the delivery of key service goals.”

Scottish Government expects that all local authorities collect data to monitor their performance, however, which data is collected is the decision of local authorities.

Through engagement with our Equipment and Adaptations Network, we know that some local authorities collect and monitor data via their community equipment stores. Some of this data is used to report on KPIs and influence service goals and delivery, specific to the needs of the local authority.

New figures show that the number of planned and performed operations in Scotland has reached its highest level since January 2020.

Data collected and published by Public Health Scotland (PHS) is unable to be broken down into the cancellation reasons (a) staff shortages, (b) flu outbreaks and (c) bed pressures. This is due to the aggregate nature of the cancellations data collection.

PHS publish cancellation data monthly, and you can find the latest release here.

Draft rateable values for the 2026 revaluation were published on 30 November 2025 but may be subject to change. The final valuation roll will come into effect on 1 April 2026 and the Scottish Government will publish its report on changes in rateable values once final valuations are available.

There are no plans to publish any analysis of the economic benefits of a potential role expansion for firefighters.

The National Equipment and Adaptations Network is made up of representatives from territorial boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) across Scotland, as well as key stakeholders from across the sector who have direct responsibility for providing equipment, adaptations and wheelchairs. CoSLA also represent the views of local authorities.

All territorial boards and HSCPs were invited to join the Network. Current members represent the following; Aberdeenshire; Aberdeen City; Angus; Argyll and Bute; City of Edinburgh; Dumfries and Galloway; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; EquipU; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow City; Hanover Housing; Horizon Housing, Highland; Moray; North Lanarkshire; Orkney; Perth and Kinross; Renfrewshire; Royal College of Occupational Therapists; Stirling and Clackmannanshire, SMART; Scottish Borders; Scottish Federation of Housing Associations; Shetland; South Ayrshire; Western Isles; WestMarc and West Lothian.

In 2025-26 all ophthalmic procedures at National Treatment Centres (NTCs) have been cataract surgery. This will continue in to 2026-27. NTCs will not provide glaucoma treatments such as trabecular bypasses.

The National Treatment Centres for ophthalmology deliver high flow cataract surgery to those who are assessed as being clinically low risk. Where a patient has a co-morbidity, then they would not be referred to a national treatment centre.

Clinical management decisions are taken by Ophthalmology teams at NHS board level. If patients require cataract surgery and an additional procedure, surgery is likely to be undertaken in their Health Board of residence with an Ophthalmologist who specialises in the particular sub-specialty out with cataracts i.e. Glaucoma.

The Scottish Government Cancer Strategy for Scotland (2023 – 2033) is underpinned by multi-year phases of planned actions.

The initial three-year Cancer Action for Scotland Plan 2023-2026 has supported the strategy by determining actions to help us achieve our ambition to improve survival and provide excellent, equitably accessible care. The current plan runs until 2026, with work already underway on developing the actions required for the next phase. Parliament will be updated on timings for the next plan in due course.