Information regarding cervical screening: FOI release

Information requested

1. Copies of all documents relating to the contact in which the Scottish Government were first notified of the Serious Adverse Event regarding cervical screening, shared with parliament on 24 June 2021. To include detail such as dates and times, and include information such as phone calls, emails, reports, briefings and meeting preparations surrounding this initial contact and any follow up.

2. All dates on which Scottish Government ministers met in person or virtually to discuss this issue after this initial notification to date. To include which individuals were involved, and copies of all briefing notes prepared.

Response

Some of the information you have requested is available from the Scottish Government website through a previously published Freedom of Information request. This includes:

• Copies of some documents (which may include redactions for reasons explained in our published response) relating to the contact in which the Scottish Government were first notified of the Serious Adverse Event regarding cervical screening, shared with parliament on 24 June 2021.
• All ministerial briefings (which may include redactions for reasons explained in our published response).

Some of the information you have requested was also requested in the previously published Freedom of Information Request, however, it was not published for reasons explained within the published response. This includes:

• Copies of some documents relating to the contact in which the Scottish Government were first notified of the Serious Adverse Event regarding cervical screening, shared with parliament on 24 June 2021.

The response and information released in relation to the previous Freedom of Information request can be accessed at: Cervical Cancer Screening Programme: FOI release https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202100218011

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.

On 9 March 2020, from 09:00-09:15, Scottish Government officials also had a call with representatives from NSS National Services Division. At this meeting, Scottish Government were verbally notified of the incident for the first time. No documents were prepared in relation to this meeting.

You asked for details regarding the dates on which Scottish Government ministers met in person or virtually to discuss the cervical screening Serious Adverse Event after the initial notification in March to date.

A meeting took place on 22 June 2021, between 15:45 and 16:30, which the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Mr Humza Yousaf MSP, and the Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport, Ms Maree Todd MSP both attended. This meeting was also attended by members of the Scottish Government. Your request for briefings for this meeting is covered above in the previously published FOI request.

About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.