Chamber and committees

Decisions on care pathways, referral arrangements and access to specialist input are operational matters for NHS Boards and NHS Scotland services. These decisions must take account of local population needs, clinical demand, workforce capacity and available resources.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of improving awareness and understanding of Postural Tachycardia Syndrome PoTS among healthcare professionals to reduce delays in diagnosis and variation in the advice and support that patients receive.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland has completed a rapid evidence review on PoTS, and an interim signposting document has been developed to guide clinicians to current evidence-based resources for the management of PoTS in adults with Long Covid and post-viral syndromes. While PoTS is not limited to these contexts, this resource may be helpful where it is clinically relevant. The document is available on the NHS Scotland Long Covid Network website at: https://www.nn.nhs.scot/longcovid/for-professionals/.

The Lead Clinician for NHS Scotland’s Strategic Network for Long Covid has been working collaboratively with the British Society of Cardiovascular Medicine, PoTS UK and other stakeholders to support the development of UK consensus guidelines for PoTS, which are expected to be published in December 2026.

Once published, the Scottish Government will consider their relevance for NHS Scotland, including how they may support clinicians and services in providing consistent, evidence-informed care for people with PoTS.

The Scottish Government wants everyone to receive the best possible care and treatment from our health and care services and expects NHS Boards, including NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside to provide safe, effective and person-centred care for people with PoTS. To support this, the interim signposting document produced by Healthcare Improvement Scotland to guide clinicians to current evidence-based resources for the management of PoTS in adults with Long Covid and post-viral syndromes is available on the NHS Scotland Long Covid Network website at: https://www.nn.nhs.scot/longcovid/for-professionals/.

The development and implementation of clinical pathways is led by NHS under established clinical governance arrangements and informed by clinical evidence and service needs.

Where proposals are put forward for pathway development, these are considered through established, clinically led processes by NHS and relevant national delivery partners.

Officials are aware that NHS Wales and Ehlers-Danlos Support UK have been working to develop a national pathway for hypermobility in Wales. Once published, the pathway may provide useful evidence and learning that could help inform future approaches in Scotland.

There are currently no NICE or British Society for Rheumatology clinical guidelines specific to hEDS/HSD, reflecting the current limitations in the evidence base to support their development at this stage.

In Scotland, clinicians can access national decision support resources through Healthcare Improvement Scotland's Right Decision Service, including guidance relating to the assessment and referral of people presenting with hypermobility, suspected hEDS and related HSD. This supports a more consistent approach to decision making, alongside local clinical pathways and governance arrangements.

The development of national evidence-based clinical guidance in Scotland is led by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), within Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to questions S7W-02745 and S7W-02746 on 15 September 2026.

The commercial decision announced in July of a sale of BP’s North Sea assets has caused great uncertainty for their workforce and the wider energy workforce in Scotland.

The Scottish Government closely monitors and considers a range of evidence in relation to the energy transition. The First Minister and I met with energy leaders in the North East in the days after this announcement, and I continue to engage with BP and other relevant partners including the trade unions to understand the potential impacts of the sale.

Regulation of the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas infrastructure is a reserved matter. Any assessment of potential impacts on decommissioning from bp’s sale of assets would be a matter for the UK Government.

The Scottish Government supports decommissioning activity happening in a way that facilitates an orderly, managed and just transition to net-zero and maximises the benefits for Scotland’s businesses and communities.

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.

Through Scotland’s Rare Disease Action Plan, we are taking forward actions to improve support for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD). This includes work to improve healthcare professionals’ education and awareness. The Rare Disease Action Plan Progress Report, published on 27 February 2026, provides an update on progress to date.

Through Scotland’s Rare Disease Action Plan, we are taking forward actions to improve support for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and related conditions, including hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). This includes work to support earlier diagnosis, increase awareness among healthcare professionals, and improve coordination of care and access to services. The Rare Disease Action Plan Progress Report, published on 27 February 2026, provides an update on progress to date.

While the Scottish Government sets the strategic policy direction for the NHS in Scotland, the delivery of healthcare services is the responsibility of local NHS Health Boards, in line with national guidance and population needs.

The commercial decision announced in July of a sale of BPs North Sea assets has caused great uncertainty for their workforce and the wider energy workforce in Scotland.

The Scottish Government closely monitors and considers a range of evidence in relation to the energy transition. The First Minister and I met with energy leaders in the North East in the days after this announcement, and I continue to engage with BP and other relevant partners including the trade unions to understand the potential impacts of the sale.

Our immediate concern is for workers directly affected and the thousands more across the supply chain, and the UK Government – which has responsibility for these matters - needs to take urgent action to protect jobs and investment in our energy sector.

Scotland’s energy security and economic future depend on a fair transition, where North Sea oil and gas production is managed alongside increasing use of renewables. That future is built on the world-class workers of the North East, and their skills and expertise.