National Centre for Sustainable Delivery Spring Newsletter
Welcome to the Spring 2026 Newsletter for the Centre for Sustainable Delivery.
Our teams have been continuing to make a real difference for NHS Scotland staff and patients.
Some of our highlights include:
- A new national digital programme is supporting Type 2 diabetes remission across Scotland.
- Green Healthcare Scotland is expanding its carbon‑ and waste‑reduction work into renal and endoscopy services.
- A national cancer prehabilitation approach is helping patients feel stronger and recover faster before treatment.
- Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services are giving patients with non‑specific symptoms faster answers and earlier diagnoses.
- NHS Highland’s Raigmore Hospital has become the first acute endoscopy unit in Scotland to achieve JAG accreditation.
- Scotland’s Digital Dermatology Pathway is improving access to specialist advice and speeding up clinical decision‑making.
New digital programme offers hope for type 2 diabetes remission across Scotland
We recently launched a new national digital programme to support people with Type 2 diabetes to achieve remission. Delivered through our ANIA programme, the service provides a structured 12‑month plan using digital tools and behaviour change coaching to support significant weight loss, improve health outcomes and reduce long term complications.
The programme is being rolled out across Health Boards in a phased approach, with 3,000 patients expected to access it over the next 3 years.
Type 2 diabetes accounts for around 88% of cases in Scotland, with more than 310,000 people currently living with the condition. By offering a digital remission pathway, the programme aims to reduce reliance on medication, lower future healthcare costs and ease pressure on key services. Early evidence suggests that 35–45% of participants who complete the programme may achieve remission.
For the full story, visit this link.
NHS Scotland launches green healthcare programme to expand carbon and waste reductions
Our Green Healthcare Scotland programme is expanding following strong results from work in operating theatres. The programme is now extending into renal and endoscopy services — 2 of the most resource‑intensive areas of care. Early work has already identified potential savings of more than 12,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, alongside significant financial benefits.
The programme builds on the success of our National Green Theatres Programme and Scotland’s world‑leading reduction of high‑impact anaesthetic gases. New work in renal and endoscopy will focus on reducing waste, energy use and single‑use plastics, supported by clinically‑led improvement projects such as Lean Surgical Trays. This approach aims to embed sustainability in everyday clinical decision‑making while maintaining the highest standards of patient care.
For the full story, visit this link.
National approach to help Scottish patients with cancer feel stronger and recover faster
A national prehabilitation approach is helping people with cancer across Scotland feel stronger, recover faster and improve long‑term health. Supported by our Modernising Patient Pathways Programme, Macmillan Cancer Support and the Scottish Government, the programme provides personalised support before and during treatment, focusing on physical activity, nutrition and mental wellbeing.
By screening patients early and offering flexible support at home, in the community, digitally or through healthcare professionals, it helps people prepare for treatment, reduce complications and improve quality of life.
Evidence shows benefits can appear within 2 weeks, including shorter hospital stays, faster recovery and better overall wellbeing. Delivered through collaboration between NHS services, community partners and the third sector, the aim is to ensure everyone diagnosed with cancer can access the right level of support at the right time.
For the full story, visit this link.
Rapid Cancer Diagnostics Services helps thousands of patients get earlier diagnosis
Scotland’s Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services are helping people with non‑specific symptoms get faster answers. Public Health Scotland’s first annual report shows that more than 3,400 people were referred in 2024, with almost 1 in 10 diagnosed with cancer. Those who were diagnosed received answers in an average of 15 days, while most others had an outcome within 25 days.
RCDSs give GPs a single fast‑track route for patients whose symptoms do not point to one cancer type, supporting earlier diagnosis and reducing delays. Led by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery and commissioned by the Detect Cancer Earlier Programme, six services are now operating across Scotland, with patients reporting clear communication, reassurance and coordinated care.
For the full story, visit this link.
JAG Accreditation for NHS Highland
Our National Endoscopy team recently visited NHS Highland’s Endoscopy Unit at Raigmore Hospital to celebrate their achievement of JAG accreditation, the first acute endoscopy unit in Scotland to receive this national recognition.
The team were delighted to meet colleagues in Inverness, hear about their improvement journey and discuss how this learning can support services across Scotland through the Endoscopy Specialty Delivery Group.
JAG accreditation is a UK‑wide standard that promotes high‑quality, patient‑focused endoscopy services through continuous improvement. NHS Highland’s success reflects strong teamwork, commitment to quality and a clear focus on delivering safe, effective care for patients.
Find out more about our national endoscopy work on the CfSD website.
Digital Dermatology Pathway
Scottish Business News has highlighted the impact of Scotland’s Digital Dermatology Pathway, one year on from national rollout. The pathway is helping clinicians make faster, more informed decisions by enabling secure image capture and sharing, improving access to specialist advice and supporting patients to receive the right care sooner.
This nationally adopted approach shows how digital innovation, clinical leadership and collaboration across NHS Scotland are enhancing patient outcomes and improving efficiency across services.
For the full story, visit this link.
For more information on how our programmes are supporting NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government has published its latest report, A Year of Progress: Driving Improvement and Building a Stronger NHS: 2025-2026.
The report highlights progress through the NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan and provides a final summary of achievements from the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026.
