Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 26 November 2025.
Douglas Lumsden
Conservative
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on reducing audiology waiting lists at NHS Grampian. (S6O-05204)
Jenni Minto
Scottish National Party
I recognise the steps that NHS Grampian is taking to reduce audiology waiting times. The board has recruited a qualified audiologist and is appointing a new team member for Moray to support older adults with hearing loss. Increased staffing will help, although high demand means that progress will take time.
NHS Grampian has shortened some clinic appointments, prioritised adult reassessments and introduced text reminders to reduce missed appointments. Workforce pressures remain significant, with one audiologist serving around 28,000 patients, which is well above the average across other health boards.
Douglas Lumsden
Conservative
I can tell from my inbox that it is well above the average. If the Scottish Government committed to delivering a community audiology service, high street audiologists would be able to deliver the service in as little as 18 weeks and clear more than 70,000 people from audiology waiting lists. What is preventing the Minister from scoring an easy win and delivering on her party’s manifesto commitment to put community audiology services on par with the successful community eye care model?
Jenni Minto
Scottish National Party
I and the Scottish Government remain committed to our vision for integrated and community-based hearing services across Scotland. We recognise the difficulties that are faced by health boards, as highlighted by the independent review of audiology, and we wanted to check and ensure that we introduced all the recommendations in that regard. I have also asked officials to continue to have conversations with the audiology community to improve the service that we are offering people who live in Scotland.
Karen Adam
Scottish National Party
Can the Minister advise what steps the Scottish Government is taking to look at improvement and reform of audiology services, particularly in relation to engagement and collaboration with stakeholders?
Jenni Minto
Scottish National Party
As I indicated, we are continuing to engage with national health service boards, the third sector and private providers to scope out potential models for any future community hearing care services, ensuring that the voices of those with lived experience inform that work.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
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