Section

Health

Health, NHS, hospitals, medical research and public health stories.

Scotland

First Minister under fire over ‘dangerously long’ A&E waits

It came as the latest weekly figures showed waiting times performance worsened.

By Katrine Bussey, Press Association Scotland Political Editor · 19 May 2026 · 3 min read

Two women stand and wait to cross a busy road

Scotland

‘Urgent action’ demanded as report lays out ‘system’ inequalities in healthcare

The report from Voluntary Health Scotland found there is ‘clear evidence of systemic misogyny in our healthcare system’.

By Katrine Bussey, Press Association Scotland political editor · 19 May 2026 · 4 min read

Scotland

Smoking death rate almost five times higher in Scotland’s poorest areas

While the estimated number of deaths from smoking has fallen, the rate of deaths is 4.7 times higher in the poorest areas than it is the richest.

By Katrine Bussey, Press Association Scotland political editor · 19 May 2026 · 2 min read

A chair being wheeled down a hospital corridor

Scotland

New government urged to act on nursing as union warns of ‘high risk of harm’

The Royal College of Nursing Scotland wants ministers to ‘prioritise investment which acknowledges and values the vital contribution of nursing’.

By Katrine Bussey, Press Association Scotland Political Editor · 18 May 2026 · 5 min read

People on a coach wearing protective suits and facemasks

Scotland

Very unlikely hantavirus outbreak will be akin to Covid pandemic, expert says

Professor Emma Thomson heads the MRC Centre for Virus Research in Glasgow, which is examining the outbreak.

By Katrine Bussey, Press Association Scotland Political Editor · 15 May 2026 · 3 min read

Ayley Crawford in a hospital gown taking a selfie

Scotland

Student nurse, 21, says life changed in ‘blink of an eye’ after cancer diagnosis

Ayley Crawford was just 19 when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia.

By Ryan McDougall, Press Association Scotland · 12 May 2026 · 4 min read

Scotland

A&E figures must be ‘wake-up call’ to SNP say Tories as improvement stalls

The latest figures from Public Health Scotland for the first week of May show no improvement.

By Rachel Keenan, Press Association Scotland Politics Reporter · 12 May 2026 · 3 min read

Stephen Allan poses for a photograph while on holiday

Scotland

Wearable medication device can help heart failure patients, study finds

The device and drug combination was trialled at 20 hospitals around the UK.

By Lucinda Cameron, Press Association Scotland · 11 May 2026 · 4 min read

A distressed looking young person in an alleyway

Scotland

Most Scots adopt bad habits to cope with mental health issues, poll finds

The most common of these included spending more time alone or ‘bed rotting’.

By Neil Pooran, Press Association Scotland News Editor · 11 May 2026 · 2 min read

Scotland

Sixteen people unwell after visiting petting farm

NHS Lothian is investigating the cases of cryptosporidium traced to Craigies Farm, South Queensferry.

By Lucinda Cameron, Press Association Scotland · 7 May 2026 · 3 min read

Scotland

Anas Sarwar urges Scots to back him for first minister to ‘save the NHS’

The Scottish Labour leader made the plea two days before voters go to the polls in the Holyrood election.

By Katrine Bussey, Press Association Scotland Political Editor · 5 May 2026 · 3 min read

Anas Sarwar holding up his right hand and smiling

Scotland

Sarwar vows to give NHS waiting lists ‘the chop’ as he visits karate dojo

The Scottish Labour leader said the NHS ‘is not safe with John Swinney and the SNP’.

By Craig Meighan, Press Association Scotland political reporter · 2 May 2026 · 4 min read