The member is aware that, before I came into politics, I worked for 20 years as a mental health pharmacist in NHS Highland. The issue is very close to my heart, and it has been throughout my working life. Not only that, but it is important to my constituents.

Many of the issues that the member raises in the chamber today have been raised with me, and I, in turn, have raised them with NHS Highland. I am well aware of the challenges that exist right across the workforce. It is really helpful to see that the latest statistics for NHS Highland mental health nursing staff show an increase of 3.6 per cent in the latest 12 months to 30 September 2024, while the number of psychiatry staff increased by 10.5 per cent in that period. Despite that huge improvement, and in view of the on-going challenges that NHS Highland faces, my officials continue to offer enhanced monitoring and support to NHS Highland’s mental health services.

I will address what we are doing nationally to tackle those issues. The mental health and wellbeing workforce action plan is committed to the on-going work of the psychiatry recruitment and retention working group, which is considering how we can better support the recruitment and retention of psychiatrists. As I said in answer to the member’s first question, the psychiatry working group is actively exploring possible solutions to issues such as the use of locums. The group will meet in December 2024 and will report back to me in spring 2025. I look forward to seeing that report and taking forward the group’s recommendations.