This year’s session covered a wide range of topics from patient safety and service developments to equality, facilities, and access to specialist care.
We value every question raised and have provided answers to some of the key themes discussed below.
Questions asked at the session in person:
Q: What is NHS Fife doing in response to the Women's Rights Network report on sexual assaults in Scottish hospitals, including those recorded in Fife?
A: NHS Fife acknowledges the seriousness of the concerns raised in the Women's Rights Network report. The report has been passed to the Director of Nursing and will be considered as part of our cycle of committee meetings starting from November.
NHS Fife recognises that patient safety is paramount, especially when individuals are at their most vulnerable. A formal review and discussion will be undertaken to ensure that appropriate actions are taken and that the concerns raised are addressed transparently and constructively.
Q: What is being done to improve patient experience and standards of care in wards, particularly in light of recent complaints and observations?
A: NHS Fife takes patient experience and standards of care very seriously. In response to concerns, the board has launched the Quality Review Framework, a national initiative linked to safe delivery of care standards set out by Healthcare Improvement Scotla. This includes peer and senior leadership reviews of clinical environments and care delivery. Feedback from patients and visitors is welcomed and used to inform improvements. The organisation is committed to listening, learning, and acting on concerns to ensure safe, compassionate, and high-quality care across all services.
Q: What are the remaining barriers to offering pre-operative assessments/reviews at St Andrews Community Hospital?
A: We understand the challenges some patients can face when travelling for pre-operative assessments. NHS Fife is working to align services more closely with patient geography and reviewing referral pathways. At present, pre-operative assessments are centralised at our larger acute sites because they require specialist staff, diagnostic equipment, and clinical support services that are not always available at smaller community hospitals such as St Andrews.
NHS Fife offers a range of support for patients who face challenges attending appointments, including access to community transport services and non-emergency patient transport for those with medical or mobility needs. Patients may also be eligible for financial assistance.
Q: Why is there no Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner in Fife and are there plans to install one?
A: Currently, NHS Fife does not have a PET scanner, and patients requiring this service are referred to regional centres. While the benefits of having a local PET scanner are acknowledged, there are no immediate plans to install one due to infrastructure and funding constraints. NHS Fife continues to work with neighbouring boards to ensure equitable access to diagnostic services and supports national planning efforts to address this need. Any future developments would require significant investment and national support.
Q: Is NHS Fife committed to impartial, evidence-based care rather than ideological approaches?
A: NHS Fife is firmly committed to delivering care that is impartial, evidence-based, and aligned with national clinical guidelines. All new treatments and service changes are reviewed through the Clinical Governance Committee, which ensures decisions are supported by robust evidence. The board follows guidance from the Scottish Medicines Consortium, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the Scottish Government, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. NHS Fife also collaborates with academic partners, including the University of St Andrews, to strengthen its research and development strategy.
Q: How does NHS Fife measure and respond to patient feedback to ensure quality care?
A: NHS Fife gathers patient feedback through multiple channels, including surveys, patient stories, Care Opinion and volunteer-supported interviews. This feedback is reviewed by the Clinical Governance Committee and used to inform service improvements.
Nationally new tools to measure person-centred care are being developed and the board is committed to implementing thewse and i to using patient experiences, both positive and critical,to drive change. Ensuring patients feel safe and heard is a priority, and systemic issues identified through feedback are escalated for action.
Q: What is the status of the Lochgelly Health and Wellbeing Centre project?
A: NHS Fife has identified the Lochgelly Health and Wellbeing Centre as a priority for capital investment, alongside developments in Kincardine and mental health services. The board is currently reviewing funding routes under the Scottish Government’s whole-system infrastructure plan and expects to confirm its top priorities by the end of the financial year. While awaiting further guidance, NHS Fife remains committed to supporting the Lochgelly project and is exploring short-term solutions to maintain service delivery in existing facilities.
Questions submitted online in advance of the session:
Q: Why does the trust still want the vulnerable person to report staff issues and not take a colleagues or member of family complaint? Is it to avoid the trust getting into serious trouble since the vulnerable person cannot always complain thus the trust can hide behind the rules rather than help the vulnerable person?
A: NHS Fife is committed to ensuring that vulnerable people are supported when raising concerns. While we encourage direct reporting to ensure their voice is central, we also have clear pathways for carers, relatives, or colleagues to raise issues on their behalf. One of these is through Patient Advice and Support Service, which can help navigate the complaints process and ensure the person’s rights and wellbeing are protected. Where consent isn’t possible, we still act sensitively and responsibly, especially in safeguarding situations, always aiming to protect and support the individual.
Q: What are you doing as an organisation to support unpaid carers within NHS Fife and recognise the essential role they play during their loved one’s admission?
A: Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting loved ones and we offer a wide range of services to recognise and support them. Extensive work has been carried out to further enhance the scale and scope of support on offer for unpaid carers of all ages. From hospital-based carer support and community services to carer-led initiatives and targeted help for young carers, NHS Fife and Fife Health and Social Care Partnership are committed to listening to carers and ensuring they have the necessary resources and support.
Q: My practice is in Dunfermline. Scotland's NHS dentist shortage is profound with seven practices in Fife closing due to recruitment problems since Covid. Will NHS Fife help reduce the demand side, by asking government to work towards primary legislation to fluoridate our water?
A: We continue to support active discussions on water fluoridation and, in the meantime, are focused on delivering local oral health improvement programmes across Fife, targeting resources based on local data. The Scottish Government currently has no plans for universal fluoridation, and any future consideration would require significant public engagement and support. NHS Fife remains committed to evidence-based approaches that improve oral health and reduce inequalities.
Q: Due to the introduction of the orthopaedic unit that reduced parking, the introduction of chemo treatment, and the closure of A&E at Dunfermline, there is now an acute shortage of parking at the vic. My wife has had chemo for 2 years now but even though she has a blue badge, cannot find parking and gets extremely stressed. The car park is getting used as a park and ride for the bus stance. Fifers hate it. What are the board doing about it?
A: We understand the stress that can be caused by parking challenges, especially for patients with mobility needs. Victoria Hospital currently has over 1,000 publicly available parking spaces, including a sizeable number of Blue Badge bays. In fact, NHS Fife has exceeded the number of Blue Badge spaces required under planning regulations. Enforcement of these spaces is managed by Fife Council under a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), and misuse can result in a Penalty Charge Notice. In 2021, we expanded Car Park L, adding 139 spaces. However, further expansion is currently not feasible due to constraints related to planning permissions, financial considerations, and land availability.
Q: As a former nurse I know the importance of building patients trust around data protection etc. How are the present board addressing rebuilding patient confidence after a high-profile confidentiality breach which has left the patients of Fife feeling exposed?
A: NHS Fife’s compliance team has a robust reporting mechanism and adheres to the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) guidelines, including notifying the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware of any breach.
Each incident is reported through various groups and committees; however, our compliance team operates independently and has full autonomy in managing breach investigations, ensuring that every incident is handled without internal or external influence.
Beyond compliance, the organisation is focused on prevention: all staff undergo mandatory data protection training, which is regularly refreshed throughout their careers, and bespoke training is also provided by the compliance team to address specific needs.
Q:Why have diabetic checks been moved to yearly instead of 6 months?
A: Annual diabetic checks are in line with national guidance and service capacity; however, frequency may be increased depending on individual patient needs. We understand the importance of regular monitoring and encourage patients to contact the service if they experience any changes or concerns between appointments, so urgent needs can be prioritised.
Q: Will primary practitioners be doing more training on Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) as many feel dismissed or misunderstood by GPs, A&E staff and paramedics?
A: NHS Fife is working to improve understanding of FND across healthcare settings through education and training. Resources from professional bodies are actively shared with primary care teams, and emergency departments have incorporated FND into teaching. This ongoing effort aims to ensure patients feel heard, understood, and supported.
Q: Given the Scottish Government’s requirement for Health Boards to submit three priority projects as part of the Whole System Infrastructure Plan - and taking into account both the current condition of Lochgelly Health Centre, which is already having a negative impact on staffing and recruitment, and the significant housing developments planned for Lochgelly and the surrounding area, which will inevitably lead to increased population and pressure on local services — can NHS Fife confirm: 1. Whether the development of a new Health Centre for Lochgelly is currently being considered a priority for submission within this process, to ensure local infrastructure keeps pace with projected growth? 2. If so, where does Lochgelly rank in NHS Fife’s list of three proposed submissions — is it listed as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd?
A: NHS Fife has not yet formally submitted its list of three priority capital projects to the Scottish Government, as the submission process is scheduled for the 2026/27 financial year. While no formal ranking has been confirmed at this stage, the proposed development in Lochgelly is recognised as a significant strategic priority. The prioritisation process will consider a range of factors, including strategic fit, service need, and deliverability.
The funding required to progress to construction is subject to decisions made by the Scottish Government. Although a confirmed timescale for funding availability has not yet been provided, NHS Fife is actively progressing the Lochgelly project internally to ensure we are in the strongest possible position to proceed once funding is secured.
Additionally, the Scottish Government has advised that a separate national primary care investment programme may be more appropriate for projects of this kind. breach investigations, ensuring that every incident is handled without internal or external influence.
Q: What are the remaining barriers to offering pre-operative assessments/reviews at St Andrews Community Hospital? At present patients, for such assessments, must travel to Kirkcaldy or Dunfermline at personal costs (time, stress, financial). Traveling by public transport (alone or with a companion) takes the whole day resulting in additional need for care of families left at home as well as physically and psychological stress. With no direct bus, even driving takes an hour plus to allow for parking. East Neuk people could access St Andrews quicker. Why are patients from Cupar referred to Ninewells? There used to be a direct bus from Cupar to the Victoria Hospital. If you do not have access to the internet to plan your journey or to a car it can take three hours for a simple review appointment (10-20 minutes). Buses are expensive if you do not have a bus pass. No wonder appointments are missed.
A: We understand the challenges some patients can face when travelling for pre-operative assessments. NHS Fife is working to align services more closely with patient geography and reviewing referral pathways. At present, pre-operative assessments are centralised at our larger acute sites because they require specialist staff, diagnostic equipment, and clinical support services that are not always available at smaller community hospitals such as St Andrews. NHS Fife offers a range of support for patients who face challenges attending appointments, including access to community transport services and non-emergency patient transport for those with medical or mobility needs. Patients may also be eligible for financial assistance.
We are grateful to everyone who attended this year’s Annual Review and contributed to the discussion.
Your questions and feedback are vital in helping us improve the quality, safety and experience of care across Fife. NHS Fife remains committed to working openly with our communities to deliver services that are safe, equitable, and person-centred.