Michael Matheson

Criticism of the Scottish Government’s stewardship of NHS Scotland, or indeed any area of devolution, is often met with whataboutery from ministers who assure the Scottish public things are just as bad south of the border.

Analysis: Scottish Government can no longer indulge in whataboutery on NHS

First Minister Humza Yousaf during a visit to Castlebrae Community Campus in Edinburgh. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Scottish Government misses huge target pledged by Yousaf as waiting times rise

First Minister Humza Yousaf tours the recently completed Clarice Pears building during a to visit to the University of Glasgow. Picture: Robert Perry/PA Wire

Labour blasts Humza Yousaf as more than 2,200 Scots wait two years for surgery

Scotland's junior doctors have threatened strike action similar to that seen south of the border unless its pay restoration demands are met. Picture: Carl Court/Getty Images

NHS medics keep strike threat despite 14.5% pay offer

Health secretary Michael Matheson. Picture: Getty Images

Analysis: Health secretary asks junior doctors to meet him halfway with offer

Junior doctors have been presented with a new pay offer. Picture: Getty Images

Junior doctors offered 14.5% pay rise over two years

Junior doctors take part in a rally in Trafalgar Square during a nationwide strike on April 11, 2023 in London. Junior doctors in England held a 96-hour walkout hoping to achieve full pay restoration after seeing their pay cut by more than a quarter since 2008. Picture: Carl Court/Getty Images

Analysis: Why staffing crisis is in fact 'all about pay', Mr Health Secretary

The numbers of full-time-equivalent doctors working in GP surgeries looks likely to decline further, says Dr Andrew Buist (Picture: Hugh Hastings/Getty Images)

GP shortage is now beyond a crisis. Health Secretary must act – Dr Andrew Buist

Ambulances sit at the accident and emergency at the Glasgow Royal Hospital. Picture: Getty Images

Proposed National Care Service will help fix ailing NHS, says new health chief

More than 75,000 NHS staff have taken absence with mental health issues in the last five years, according to new figures - with the number of absences doubling since 2018.

NHS Scotland: Tens of thousands of staff take sick leave due to mental health

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary Health and Social Care

NHS on alert for strikes as minister claims staffing issues 'not all about pay'

Torness is the last nuclear power station still operating in Scotland (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Why Yousaf must ditch Sturgeon's opposition to nuclear energy – Gregor Poynton

First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf spoke at the All Energy conference in Glasgow on Wednesday.

Yousaf hints at move away from presumption against new North Sea oil and gas

Michael Matheson said the demands from junior doctors were "simply unaffordable"

Health secretary to do 'everything possible' to avoid strike action

Picture: HANNAH MCKAY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Junior doctors in Scotland 'could be on strike by end of the month'

Junior doctors in Scotland have voted to strike. Picture: PA

Junior doctors vote overwhelmingly to strike in first national walkout

NHS Scotland’s emergency care is “not functioning as it should”, a top medic has claimed

Thousands wait more than 12 hours for emergency care in Scotland

Health Secretary Michael Matheson needs to tackle the hospital bed blocking problem with considerable urgency (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

New Health Secretary must act urgently over A&E delays – Scotsman comment

Waiting times in Scotland’s emergency departments have worsened, with less than two-thirds of patients seen in the four-hour target, new figures show.

Less than two-thirds of A&E patients seen in four hours as waiting times worsen

Specialist doctors in Scotland have carried out a record number of heart transplants in the past year, the Scottish Government has said.

Record number of heart transplants carried out in Scotland last year

Major North Sea oil and gas producers are among those firms to have lobbied ministers more than 200 times since 2018. Picture: Carina Johansen/NTB Scanpix/AFP/Getty

Humza Yousaf urged to end 'open door' policy to oil and gas firms

Figures revealed 38,535 patients were released from hospital after 10pm

Nearly 40,000 patients discharged from hospital at unsociable hours

Medics are calling for air monitors to be installed in Scottish schools to examine pollution risk to children

Medics are calling for air monitors to be installed in Scottish schools

A demonstrator holds up a placard during a protest by junior doctors. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

Scottish Government and union agree to formal pay negotiations

A demonstrator holds a placard during a protest by junior doctors (Picture: Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images)

Avoiding junior doctors’ strike could be new Health Secretary’s first big win

NHS services are still coming under “significant pressure”, the Health Secretary said, as the latest figures showed more than a third of patients in accident and emergency are having to wait longer than the target time for help.

More than a third of patients waited over four hours in A&E – figures

A nurse puts on PPE in a ward

Nursing union demands action on NHS Scotland vacancy crisis

Does new Health Secretary Michael Matheson have what it takes to fix the NHS? (Picture: Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail via PA)

SNP still doesn't seem to understand how important the NHS is – Scotsman comment

Cancer treatment waiting times have fallen to their worst showing on record, new figures indicate.

Cancer treatment waiting times fall to their worst performance on record

Scottish Labour has pointed the finger at the SNP over NHS 'workforce crisis'

Labour says more than £26m spent on agency staff amid NHS 'workforce crisis'

Michael Matheson, Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, front right, with the Cabinet on the steps of Bute House

Scotland on Sunday leader comment: NHS recovery minister has work cut out

Net Zero and Just Transition Secretary Mairi McAllan arriving for her first Cabinet meeting at Bute House in Edinburgh on Wednesday (Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

Yousaf knows the importance of transport despite Cabinet snub – Alastair Dalton

Michael Matheson becomes the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

Scotland's new health secretary: Who is Michael Matheson?

First Minister Humza Yousaf arrives at Bute House. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Who is in Humza Yousaf's new Cabinet?

Humza Yousaf with Shona Robison after being voted in as the new First Minister (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

New Health Secretary has an unenviable task – and a real opportunity

The winners of what is said to be the world’s first round of leasing projects designed to enable offshore wind energy to directly supply oil and gas platforms have been announced by Crown Estate Scotland.

First leases enabling offshore wind to supply oil platforms announced

The reservoir at Coire Glas would contain 26 billion litres of water

Hydro scheme to double the UK's ability to store energy gets £100m boost

SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf on the campaign trail in Lanark. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Humza Yousaf pledges to empower Scotland's rural communities as First Minister

Angus Robertson. Picture: Lesley Martin

Angus Robertson becomes fourth SNP Cabinet minister to back Humza Yousaf

Prof John McCall speaking at the NSC launch

National Subsea Centre is aiming to make waves - ProfJohn McCall

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's government has faced repeated questions on when it first knew a favoured wind energy statistic was inaccurate.

Analysis: How the Scottish Government has obstructed over inaccurate wind figure

Michael Matheson has been asked to correct the record by SNP MP, Pete Wishart

SNP minister urged to 'set the record straight' on wind statistic

ScotRail peak fares are due to be suspended for six months at some point in 2023-24. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA

ScotRail peak fares U turn: Suspension will cover all routes for whole trial

Liam Kerr, left, and Edward Mountain, right, both made points of order at the end of First Minister's Questions.

Ministers accused being 'uneconomical with the truth' to parliament

The single-carriageway section around Dunkeld is expected to be among the last to be dualled. Picture: John Devlin

Ex-SNP cabinet secretary demands ministers ‘come clean’ over A9 delays

Michael Matheson MSP Net Zero and Energy Secretary appeared in front of MPs in Westminster

SNP minister lets slip he knew wind energy statistic was inaccurate

The six-month peak fares suspension is due to take place sometime during the year from April. Picture: John Devlin

ScotRail peak fares suspension will only cover some routes – Michael Matheson

The Scottish Government published its long-awaited draft energy strategy on Tuesday

Expert commission appointed by SNP raised deep concerns about energy plans

The UK Government has been urged not to allow the Rosebank field in the North Sea to go ahead. Photo: Getty Images

UK Government defends Scottish oil and gas

Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to PNDC in Wardpark North, Cumbernauld

Plan for presumption against new oil and gas exploration in North Sea

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to Kype Muir windfarm near Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, to mark the grid connection of the UK's tallest wind turbine.

Redaction of minister's name sparks 'cover-up' claims on debunked wind statistic

The number of calls to an energy advice hotline in Scotland has more than quadrupled as more and more bill payers struggle with rising prices.

Calls to energy hotline more than quadruple, advice service reveals

Chris Gibb joined Scottish Rail Holdings in 2020. Picture: Duncan Phillips/Network Rail

Political interference claims over departure of Scottish rail chief

Former energy minister Fergus Ewing is among the MSPs accusing Scottish ministers of a “lack of overall ambition” for solar power in Scotland

Fergus Ewing challenges Scottish ministers over solar power ‘lack of ambition’

Michelle Thomson was one of the SNP MSPs who didn't follow the whip on the gender recognition Bill. Pic: Fraser Bremner

Falkirk East MSP is one of gender recognition rebels

SNP Energy Secretary Michael Matheson

Hydrogen could be bedrock of independent Scotland, says energy minister

The Scotsman Top Stories

A computer generated image issued by Transport Scotland of the proposed debris flow shelter

£470m road shelter planned to shield A83 Rest and Be Thankful from landslides

Scottish Labour are predicting 20,000 Scots will die in 2023 while waiting for NHS Treatment.

More than 18,000 Scots died while waiting on NHS treatment, amid private surge

Criticism of the Scottish Government’s stewardship of NHS Scotland, or indeed any area of devolution, is often met with whataboutery from ministers who assure the Scottish public things are just as bad south of the border.

Analysis: Scottish Government can no longer indulge in whataboutery on NHS