Correspondence involving Scottish Ministers relating to the reduction of the number of NICU from the Best Start policy: FOI release

Information requested

A copy of the following between September 16 2025 and Monday May 25 2026:

1/ All external correspondence involving Scottish Ministers relating to the reduction of the number of neonatal intensive care units (NICU) from eight to three as per the Best Start policy

2/ All Internal correspondence involving Scottish Ministers relating to the reduction of the number of neonatal intensive care units (NICU) from eight to three, per the Best Start policy

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

I have attached copies of 39 documents which are within the scope of your request.

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

Correspondence from Scottish Ministers relating to Ninewells Hospital and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary: FOI release - gov.scot

PE2099 Stop the proposed centralisation of specialist neonatal units in NHS Scotland | Scottish Parliament Website

Minutes of Proceedings - 5 November 2025

Meeting of the Parliament: 05/11/2025 | Scottish Parliament Website

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee Meeting date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Scottish Government written submission, 11 December 2025

Letter from Convener to Minister for Public Health and Women's Health 27 February 2026

Letter from the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health, 6 March 2026 to Convenor

Written question and answer: S6O-05666 | Scottish Parliament Website

Written question and answer: S6O-05279 | Scottish Parliament Website

Written question and answer: S6W-42693 | Scottish Parliament Website

Written question and answer: S6W-42695 | Scottish Parliament Website

Written question and answer: S6W-42696 | Scottish Parliament Website

Written question and answer: S6W-42697 | Scottish Parliament Website

Written question and answer: S6W-42698 | Scottish Parliament Website

Written question and answer: S6W-42700 | Scottish Parliament Website

Written question and answer: S6W-38530 | Scottish Parliament Website

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 202600518111 - Information released - Document 1 - Document 28

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