Information relating to the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Act 2026 and its implications for healthcare professionals: FOI release

Information requested

In Annex D disclosed under Scottish Government FOI reference 202600516504, officials refer to a short explainer concerning the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Act 2026 and its implications for healthcare professionals. Please provide:

1. All versions and drafts of the explainer referred to in Annex D, including any attachments, working copies and final versions.

2. All recorded internal comments, tracked changes, briefing notes, emails, messages, meeting notes or other discussions concerning the drafting, review, amendment, approval, intended use or publication of the explainer.

3. The names, job titles and teams of the officials responsible for drafting, reviewing and approving the explainer. Where personal information is withheld, please provide the relevant job titles, teams and functions.

4. All records discussing whether the explainer should be published, distributed, withheld, revised or circulated internally or externally.

5. All records showing which external organisations or individuals received, reviewed, commented on or were sent the explainer, together with any feedback or comments received.

6. Any distribution list, circulation list, publication plan or communications plan relating to the explainer.

Electronic copies are sufficient. PDF format is preferred where applicable, with emails supplied in a readable electronic format.

If any part of this request overlaps with previous correspondence or disclosure, please treat it as a fresh request for any recorded information not already disclosed and identify any material said to have been disclosed previously.

Response

In respect of Part 1 and 2 of your request, the version of the “explainer” document included at Annex D of the request 202600516504 is the current and final version of this document. Under Section 25 of FOISA I do not have to release material that is reasonably available to you.

In respect of any previous versions of this document, or relevant discussions, I have found that an exemption applies to this information under Section 30(c) of FOISA (Prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs) as disclosure would be likely to undermine the ability of officials to draft documents in an iterative and collaborative manner. This exemption applies both to any versions of the document, and any recorded discussion of the document undertaken during the drafting process. I cannot identify any record that the need for such a document had previously been discussed, or committed to in engagement externally nor that such a document has been requested in any recorded correspondence or interaction. I can also not find any reference to this document in any planning or similar document that I would otherwise release.

In respect of Part 3 policy responsibility for this work lies within Healthcare Quality and Improvement Division, Directorate for the Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland. This team was responsible for the relevant drafting, but may have engaged with wider colleagues. The names of officials are exempt under section 38(1)(b), (personal information).

In respect of part 5 of your request the answer to your question is that Healthcare Improvement Scotland were provided with a copy of this document before it was provided to GCU. Subsequently this document was also shared with the University for the West of Scotland. There is no record that any party made any comments or suggestions on the document in response.

In respect of Part 4 of your request I can confirm that the document is intended for wider publication, as indicated in the email to GCU that was released as part of Annex D to the previous request which I will repeat for ease of reference:

“We have not yet used this publicly, but we are planning to do so, feel free to circulate this within the university, and I hope it will help shape the advice you are providing to prospective students.” No records have been identified in respect of any such plan so in respect of Part 6 of your request I can confirm that no further plans to this effect have been made. Please consider this formal notice under section 17 of FOISA that such information is not held.

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.