Since the launch of the Young Patients Family Fund in July 2021, Health Boards have reported the following number of claims were made.

From 2022 Local services have been directed to implement the Medication Assisted Treatment standards. MAT Standard 1 has an aim to ensure individuals get into treatment and have access to workers on the same day they ask for it.

The Scottish Government also provide additional funding to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships to ensure this is achievable.

We continue to monitor the impact and effectiveness of the Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) and keep this under review.

I recognise that domestic abuse can have significant physical, social, and emotional impacts on children. While one child experiencing domestic abuse is one too many, it is positive that children are reaching out to Childline to seek support. I welcome the NSPCC Christmas campaign to highlight to children and young people that there is a dedicated service, Childline, to provide support over the festive period and beyond.

Through the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention & Adult Learning and Empowering Communities third sector funds, the Scottish Government provides £726,600 in funding, across 5 organisations to deliver outcomes supporting child protection. This includes £312,900 in funding to the NSPCC, allocating £207,900 specifically to its Childline services.

We are also investing £19 million a year in specialist services and projects through the Delivering Equally Safe (DES) Fund to support 83 projects to undertake work with children and young people who have experienced violence and abuse.

Our National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021, updated 2023, includes detailed advice on domestic abuse considerations in safety planning.

Through our Equally Safe Delivery Plan, we are also progressing work to strengthen the links between domestic abuse and Child Protection systems, and to ensure that staff are trained and confident to identify and deal sensitively with the issue.

Pilots of a non-statutory support scheme began in spring 2023, with funding provided for distribution by local services to remove the barrier of transport costs for people with substance dependency, when accessing treatment. These Pathfinders, also covering people with multiple and complex needs, are taking place in 11 locations, with full implementation to support a national practice model expected to be complete in Summer 2025.

As part of their work to support implementation of the MAT standards, the 2023 National Benchmarking Report published by Public Health Scotland (PHS), detailed assessments of how areas are trying to overcome the challenges of rurality. Approaches include: high use of self-referral and telephone, ‘tele-health’ technology such as NEAR ME; wide use of bus passes, taxis, and third sector to take people to appointments. Also offering a choice of venues to be seen at, such as a GP practice, home and community hubs, as well as settings to deliver care when weather disrupts usual access.

A strength in many areas is the utilisation of informal local networks and relationships to respond to urgent presentations, even when no formal arrangements are in place. Many areas now also have formal arrangements with other Health Boards to utilise and share expertise.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to re-evaluate the amount that an applicant can claim under the Young Patients Family Fund.

The Drug Deaths Taskforce was set up in 2019 to provide evidence-based expert advice on tackling the misuse of drugs. Toxicology results tell us that opiates/opioids were, and still are the main substances implicated in drug deaths in Scotland, with polydrug use being a significant factor.

After January 2021 when the National Mission was launched, the Scottish Government published the MAT standards, and through their continuing implementation, transformational change has taken place in drug treatment services throughout Scotland.

Methadone remains the primary form of medication assisted treatment, as an internationally accepted and evidence-based form of opioid antagonist. In the 12-month period ending 31 March 2024, Opioid Substitution Therapy was prescribed to a minimum of 29,817 people for the treatment of opioid dependence.

The Scottish Government agreed with the recommendations of the Drug Deaths Taskforce in that more choice should be available on the types of Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) offered to individuals where appropriate.

The Scottish Government has directed NHS Boards to move forward with detailed implementation planning led at a regional level, with a designated lead Chief Executive Officer to deliver this programme from planning to full implementation.

Accommodation is a key part of the model of neonatal care described in Best Start and we expect all Boards to provide emergency overnight accommodation on the unit for parents who need it, with other accommodation for neonatal parents nearby.

Initial plans were submitted to the Scottish Government in September 2024 for consideration. Feedback has been provided to the Regional Chief Executives and NHS Boards will continue to refine and develop plans as implementation proceeds.

We are working to improve outcomes for people receiving drug treatment by recognising family members can play an important role in a loved one’s recovery. MAT Standard 2 ‘Choice’ and MAT Standard 8 ‘Independent Advocacy’ states individuals should be entitled to choice of treatment and who accompanies them.

We also recognise that families affected by substance use must be supported in their own right, as well as being involved in their loved one’s treatment and recovery.

We have provided ADPs with £3.5 million per year over the life of the Parliament for local implementation of our framework Drug and alcohol services - improving holistic family support - gov.scot (www.gov.scot), to improve holistic support for families affected by drugs and alcohol by taking a whole family approach and using family inclusive practice.

We are providing £138,876 over three years (2023-2026) to Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs to develop, test and deliver a national Family Inclusive Practice Development Programme. This programme will focus on supporting practice implementation of Family Inclusive Practice through continued work with existing areas and expansion into other localities.