Colleagues,

I want to thank you for everything that you do for the people of Scotland.

Our NHS is one of our country's greatest achievements and most precious assets. Every day, across our hospitals, health centres, care settings and communities, you provide compassionate, skilled and professional care to people at the moments when they need it most. Whether supporting people at the beginning of life, helping them recover from illness, or caring for them through the most difficult of circumstances, your contribution is invaluable.

I know personally how much our health service means to individuals, families and communities. More importantly, I know that it is you, our workforce, who make that service what it is.

As Cabinet Secretary, I am committed to working hand in hand with staff, trade union partners, employers and leaders across NHS Scotland. Together, we must continue to protect, renew and reform our health service while ensuring that those who deliver care are supported, respected and valued.

The principles of Staff Governance and partnership working remain fundamental to that commitment. They are not simply frameworks or processes; they reflect our shared belief that staff should be treated fairly, consistently and with dignity and respect. They also provide the foundation upon which we build safe, effective and person-centred services.

I recognise the considerable work undertaken over recent years to develop the NHS Scotland Workforce policies and I want to thank everyone who has contributed. Bringing together employers, trade unions and the Scottish Government has created workforce policies that reflect best employment practice and support our NHS values.

These workforce policies help ensure that all NHS Scotland staff, regardless of where they work, can expect the same high standards of fairness, consistency and support. Their successful implementation depends on leadership at every level of our organisation.

I therefore ask all managers, leaders, Employee Directors and Partnership Forums to continue championing these policies and the values that underpin them. By doing so, we strengthen our culture of respect, inclusion and collaboration and help create workplaces where people can thrive.

The challenges facing health and care are significant, but so too are the opportunities before us. I am optimistic about what we can achieve together. Scotland is fortunate to have an exceptional health and care workforce, and I have every confidence that, by working collectively and in partnership, we can continue to improve services and deliver the high-quality care that the people of Scotland rightly expect.

It is a privilege to serve in this role and to work alongside those who dedicate their careers to caring for others.

I look forward to working with you as we continue to build a stronger, fairer and more sustainable NHS Scotland for the future.

Angela Constance

Angela Constance

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care

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