Correspondence from Scottish Ministers relating to Ninewells Hospital and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary: FOI release

Information requested

A copy of the following between September 1 2025 and January 8 2026:

1/ All correspondence involving Scottish Ministers relating to Ninewells Hospital and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the reduction of the number of level 3 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) from eight to three, per the Best Start policy.

This should include but is not limited to minutes of meetings, presentations and emails.

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information. The exemptions applied are set out below;

1. Section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, namely, name and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

2. Section 30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice) and 30(b)(ii) (the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation) recognise the need to allow Ministers some private space for discussion. These exemptions are subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.

3. Information that would be out with the scope of your request has been marked as “Out of Scope”.

I have attached copies of 30 documents which are within the scope of your request.

In addition, some of the information you have requested has been published at:

PE2099 Stop the proposed centralisation of specialist neonatal units in NHS Scotland | ScottishParliament Website
Minutes of Proceedings - 5 November 2025
Meeting of the Parliament: 05/11/2025 | Scottish Parliament Website
Framework for Practice, which sets out optimal arrangements for neonatal intensive care
Maternity and neonatal services: efficient evidence review
Best Start: A five Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care
New Model of Neonatal Care – RSM UK Consulting - Report
Review of Maternity and Neonatal Services: efficient evidence review - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Improving maternity and neonatal care - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

About FOI

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

FOI 202600500767 - Information released - Annex

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PDF

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2.5 MB