Our Path Ahead: Chief Medical Officer for Scotland Annual Report 2025–2026
This report frames the journey ahead for Scotland’s health and care system: how our systems can support careful, kind care in the face of rising need, how we respond to disruption and how we create the conditions for health. Progress must be guided by innovation, trust, shared decision making and a
Acknowledgements
Editorial Lead
Dr Alexandra Peterson
Scottish Clinical Leadership Fellow 2025-26
Editorial Team
Craig Bell
Head of Realistic Medicine Policy Team, Scottish Government
Professor Graham Ellis
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Government
Contributors
Cover art:
Janice Gallagher, ‘Untitled,’ Aquarelle on paper, 2024
Art in Hospital | Working with artists Steven Anderson, Maria Doyle and Daisy Richardson, Renal Dialysis, New Victoria Hospital, Glasgow
Case studies:
Dr Stephen Fenning and Dr Joanna Bowden, NHS Fife
Dr Olivia Swann, University of Edinburgh
Alan Connor, Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre
Professor Camille Huser and Dr Lynn Wilson, University of Glasgow
Jo Duffy, NHS Lanarkshire
Salus Occupational Health, Safety and Return to Work Services, NHS Lanarkshire
Anchor Institution Programme, NHS Lothian
Food for Life Scotland, Soil Association Scotland
Arts Culture Health & Wellbeing Scotland
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Playlist for Life
Amma Birth Companions
Poems:
Dr Charlotte Squires, Specialist Registrar, Geriatric and General Internal Medicine
Jane Oldham, Transfusion Practitioner
Report:
Manira Ahmad, Dr Julie Arnot, Dr Emma Baird, Dr Frederike Garbe, Catriona Haddow, Claire Hislop, Emma Kennedy, Caroline King, Dr Rachel McAdams, Sandra Robb, Public Health Scotland
Professor Simon Edgar, NHS Lothian
Professor Lindsey Pope, University of Glasgow
Dr Mark Wong, University of Glasgow
Dr Gary Gillespie, Chief Economist, Scottish Government
Health Information Integrity Team, Scottish Government, and Dr Euan Fisher, Specialty Registrar in Public Health Medicine
Professor Marion Bain, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Government
Health and Social Care Analysis Team, Scottish Government
Strategic Reform Unit, Scottish Government
Directorate for Population Health, Scottish Government
Dr Carey Lunan, Senior Medical Advisor, Scottish Government
Digital Health and Care Policy and Strategy Unit, Scottish Government
Innovation Team, Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government
National Cyber Security and Resilience, Scottish Government
Racialised Health Inequalities and Health Equity Team, Scottish Government
Dr Lisa Adams, Mark Burgess, Dr Catherine Labinjoh, Dr Stephen Martin, Renzo Pedreschi, Anne Thomson, Dr Iain Wilson, Realistic Medicine Policy Unit, Scottish Government
Use of artificial intelligence:
AI tools were used to assist with language editing and infographic refinement in the preparation of this report. All content, analysis and conclusions were developed and reviewed by the editors.
Contact
Email: RealisticMedicine@gov.scot