Health

Volunteers and staff at Empty Kitchens Full Hearts, a charity set up during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, prepare meals for delivery to people in need around Edinburgh. Picture: Scott Barron

We are what we eat: How our broken food system is wrecking lives

Dentists are having to make “difficult decisions” about whether to continue with NHS work. Pic: Alamy/PA.

Fears NHS dentistry may disappear in Scotland, as more practices go private

Despite advances in obstetric medicine, pregnancy and childbirth remain significant health risks to women (Picture: David Jones/PA)

Surrogacy is morally wrong, reducing poor women to incubators for the rich

Kevin Dorren, CEO at Parsley Box: 'The NHS is at crisis point, and we need to take a joined-up approach when considering how to free up hospital beds and get people safely back to the comfort of their own homes.' Picture: John Need

Meal delivery firm Parsley Box hopes 'wellness packs' will cut bed-blocking

You’ll be amazed at the location of this luxury rehabilitation clinic – and at the affordable prices

Ad Feature Luxury rehab in South Africa: ideal for those in UK needing treatment

State-of-the-art techniques and equipment could change the way failing eyesight is treated

Ad Feature Edinburgh clinic has ‘life changing’ cataract appointments

Scientists are on the case to help Scots suffering from nerve hearing loss

Ad Feature Nerve hearing loss: Edinburgh expert studies latest scientific research

Boris Johnson broke his own Covid lockdown rules, then lied about it (Picture: Alberto Pezzali/pool/Getty Images)

Covid lawbreakers Ferrier and Johnson should both face recall elections

Glasgow City Chambers in George Square in central Glasgow. Photo by Lewis McKenzie/PA Wire.

Council provides 'one of the worst Freedom of Information responses in history'

The SSTA teaching union has issued a warning over the return of Scottish assessments. Picture: David Jones/PA Wire

Teaching union' ready to boycott' Scottish assessments

The First Minister met with patients at the state of the art facility at Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital

Nicola Sturgeon opens National Treatment Centre in Fife

Edinburgh Sheriff Court

No court-ordered drug treatments handed down for nearly a year

Healthy eating campaigns and other similar measures can dramatically increase life expectancy (Picture: Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images)

Step change in life expectancy is possible if politicians put their minds to it

Gary Ferguson Pic: Carlo Paloni

Former Royal Navy diver launches Combat Journal to help build mental resilience

Finlay Wilson, the Kilted Yogi

Yoga Scotland: top teachers share their favourite poses and practice tips

Junior doctors in Scotland could walk out for three days over pay

Junior doctors threaten 72-hour strike in pay dispute

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf's NHS Scotland recovery plan has been criticised in an Audit Scotland report

Improving NHS Scotland is proving “extremely difficult"

A wreath sits at Scotland's Covid Memorial in Glasgow to mark third anniversary of Covid-19 pandemic as part of the National Day of Reflection. Picture date: Thursday March 23, 2023.

Silence marks pandemic lockdown anniversary on ‘poignant day’

These 13 eerie photos show Edinburgh’s empty streets during the early days of the first lockdown in 2020

13 photos of Edinburgh’s empty streets during first lockdown

Scotland's streets were eerily quiet in the wake of the Prime Minister's coronavirus lockdown.

29 photos of Scotland's empty streets from the start of lockdown

There will be a minutes silence at midday today to mark lives lost during the pandemic on the third anniversary of the first lockdown.

Minute's silence planned to mark pandemic lockdown anniversary

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf doesn't seem to be taking junior doctors seriously (Picture: Fraser Bremner/pool/Getty Images)

A junior doctors strike in Scotland is now very likely – Dr Chris Smith

Recovering addict Peter Krykant famously operated an unofficial mobile safe consumption room in Glasgow, saving several lives. Campaigners now want official sites to be authorised in the city.

Evidence for safe drug consumption rooms is 'irrefutable', says minister

Conservationist Bindi Irwin has spoken about her struggle to be diagnosed with endometriosis (Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Endometriosis treatment in Scotland is not good enough – Laura Waddell

Edinburgh during recent snowy weather (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)

NHS Scotland: A&E waiting times and Covid-19 surged during cold snap

Nicola Sturgeon will be told to provide evidence to the inquiry looking into the response to the coronavirus pandemic

UK Covid-19 inquiry to request that Nicola Sturgeon should give evidence

Scotland's outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon chairs her final Cabinet meeting at Bute House. She has described the minimum unit pricing scheme as one of her proudest achievements while in office. Picture: Andy Buchanan - Pool/Getty Images

Sturgeon hails minimum unit pricing as one of her proudest achievements

Minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol has been linked to a 13% drop in deaths from alcohol consumption, according to a study. Jane Barlow/PA Wire.

MUP led to 150 fewer alcohol deaths a year, researchers claim

Scotland’s new first minister must show a “greater commitment to actually delivering” for GPs, a leading doctor said, as he warned that the country is “sleepwalking towards a two-tier health service”.

Leading doctor warns of ‘dire’ situation facing Scotland’s GPs

Netballer Towera Vinkhumbo, who plays for the Strathclyde Sirens, says she has not been able to contact family and friends in Malawi since the cyclone hit.

Scottish netball star tells of trouble contacting family after Malawi cyclone

Some over-the-counter cough medicines are being recalled over safety concerns.

Common cough medicines recalled over safety fears

People gather in Kyiv next to candles that are put in order to depict the word 'Children' during a memorial event on the anniversary of the Mariupol Theater Airstrike. Picture: Roman Pilipey/Getty Images

Seven-year-old girl flown to Kyiv from Aberdeenshire for NHS treatment

Whatever happens in the SNP leadership contest, Humza Yousaf seems unlikely to continue as Health Secretary (Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images)

Who would want the 'poison chalice' of Health Secretary? – Joseph Anderson

Prof Zosia Miedzybrodzka

Breast cancer gene linked to Orkney islands in groundbreaking study

John Macaulay, a Face volunteer who received an MBE in recognition of his charitable work, with Michelle Brown, who established Love Your Business.

Edinburgh networking club marks fifth anniversary with cancer charity tie-up

Signs of spring amid the snow flurries are a welcome sight (Picture: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa/AFP via Getty Images)

A room with a view can be as mentally soothing as meditation – Laura Waddell

The entrance to the Supreme Courts and Court of Session in Parliament Square, Edinburgh. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Doctor who falsely diagnosed children with cancer loses autism appeal

A man leaves a cross for his brother as part of a remembrance event for victims of drug deaths in Scotland (Picture: John Devlin)

New drug-death figures are a fitting epitaph for Sturgeon's time in office

Research by the British Dental Association shows that 59% of dentists questioned had reduced the amount of work they carry out on the NHS. Pic: Rui Vieira/PA Wire

Scottish dentists moving towards private practice as NHS dentistry dwindles

The care home has closed, forcing families to potentially travel more than two hours to visit relatives. Picture: John Devlin

Families could have to travel over two hours due to Highland care home closure

Simple food prep rules can cut the risk to you and your loved ones

Ad Feature New kitchen food prep campaign launched in Scotland

Mock-up picture of cocaine.

Scottish medics issue warning after rise in nose jobs linked to cocaine use

Vaping may be less harmful than smoking tobacco, but it can still cause serious health problems (Picture: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Vaping can lead to cardiovascular disease and damage the adolescent brain

A snap survey of BMA Scotland junior doctors revealed nearly half (44 per cent) have actively researched leaving the NHS in the last 12 months. Picture by Getty

NHS Scotland: Health service facing 'mass exodus' of doctors

According to the latest Public Health Scotland data, just 65.3 per cent of the 97,659 patient attendances at Scottish emergency departments in January were seen within the Scottish Government’s target of four hours.

Estimated 64 patients die each month due to 'dangerously long waiting times'

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, 32, has been on maternity leave since the birth of her daughter Naomi in August, so the contest is not ideal timing for her. But she was named by Nicola Sturgeon as a potential future leader and is seen as one of the frontrunners.
MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch since 2016, she was thrown in at the deep end as Finance Secretary, being appointed just hours before the 2020 budget after her predecessor Derek Mackay was forced to resign over a sex scandal. She put in a confident performance and is seen as extremely capable.
Some have suggested her conservative views on issues such as abortion and gender reform, stemming from her religious convictions, could be a problem.

National Care Service - how much will it cost and why is it so controversial?

A hair dryer can remove condensation from a window quickly but this is only a temporary fix and won't resolve the issue indefinitely.

How to stop condensation on windows: What causes it? How to get rid of it?

Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock will both face questions from the Covid inquiry (Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

What can we expect from the UK and Scottish Covid inquiries?

Inside a 19th Century Edinburgh tavern. Scotland's fondness of drinking has been curbed by authorities for more than 600 years but attempt to limit consumption have often created more harmful environments PIC: Creative Commons.

Scotland's long love of the pub - and a 600-year mission to control our drinking

Hydro-power schemes and whisky distilleries are among the Scottish industries and amenities at risk from climate change, according to University of Dundee academic Dr Sarah Halliday, who is hosting a series of talks focusing on water and the environmental crisis

Whisky firms on why alcohol consultation could make or break the industry

Whisky firms on why alcohol consultation could make or break the industry

Scotland has long had a difficult relationship with alcohol (Picture: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images)

Polarisation of political debate interfering with creation of good policies

According to some, the UK Government told people to 'stay home' for political reasons during the Covid pandemic (Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Covid inquiry's slow pace has created an information vacuum

Recent figures found that 10.1% of S4 students, who are about 15 years old, and 4.3% of S2 students, who are about 13 years old, reported using e-cigarettes regularly

Calls for ‘robust’ health measures as one in 10 15-year-olds now vape

Chelsey Smith whose life was saved through pioneering surgery

Girl thanks medics after life-saving surgery saw part of skull stored in stomach

England followed Scotland in introducing face masks in schools

Scottish Government defends schools mask policy after leaked Hancock messages

The Scottish Government plans to ban alcohol advertising, but the policy has divided opinion. Picture: TSPL

'I don't drink because of adverts, I do it because there's **** all else to do'

Leah Hazard Pic: Marilena Vlachopoulou

Glasgow midwife writes Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began

SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Kate Forbes pledges to raise minimum pay for care workers to £15 an hour

Despite the potential dangers of rugby, many people want to play it (Picture: David Neilson/Getty Images)

Medical advice should not automatically become 'nannying' government policy

Each GP surgery has had an average of 153 extra patients since 2019/20, further impacting the severe pressure being experienced across NHS Scotland

GP patient list sizes grow as number of surgeries dwindles

Former UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock enters Downing Street alongside Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty (right)

Hancock disputes ‘distorted’ WhatsApp leak over care home testing

The Scotsman Top Stories

Humza Yousaf speaking at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, after it was announced that he is the new Scottish National Party leader, and would become the next First Minister of Scotland. Picture date: Monday March 27, 2023.

SNP set to lose 18 seats to Labour at next election in worrying poll for Yousaf

Brace yourselves, the next two years could make or break the political careers of both Humza Yousaf and Anas Sarwar.

Squeaky bum time already for Humza Yousaf as poll demonstrates challenge ahead

Boxer Ken Buchanan, who is widely considered as Scotland's greatest fighter, has died aged 77. He is pictured here in 1965.

Scottish boxing legend and 'gentleman' Ken Buchanan dies at 77