Elections to the Scottish Parliament took place on 7 May 2026 with the Scottish National Party (SNP) winning the most seats (58), followed jointly by Reform UK Scotland (17) and Scottish Labour (17). At a vote by new MSPs in the Scottish Parliament this week, John Swinney was appointed as the new First Minister.
Ed Hughes, CEO, Council of Deans of Health, has said:
“On behalf of the Council of Deans of Health, I would like to extend our congratulations to the SNP and to John Swinney on his appointment. I also warmly welcome both new and returning MSPs. The Council and our member institutions across Scotland stand ready to work with and support the First Minister and his ministerial team as well as all parties represented at Holyrood. We look forward to collaborating to build a sustainable, innovative health system that delivers for Scotland’s people.”
Before the election was called, the Council wrote to all the major political parties setting out key priorities for the new government in Scotland, including to:
- Secure financial stability and the viability of our institutions to deliver healthcare programmes essential to the NHS.
- Reverse declining student recruitment.
- Ensure a sustainable academic workforce.
- Drive research and innovation.
We also undertook analysis of the party manifestos and recorded a podcast with Professor Susan Dawkes and Dr Elizabeth Mason, the convenors of CoDH Scotland and CoDH Wales, respectively.
The Council will seek early discussions with ministers in Scotland to ensure our members perspectives are represented and to encourage the close co-operation across the health and education systems needed to deliver the future healthcare workforce for Scotland, strengthen Scotland’s research base and provide opportunities for all learners.
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