Before becoming first minister Humza Yousaf was dubbed by opponents as the “worst health secretary since devolution”.
During his election campaign he was heavily criticised for his track record as health chief and faced multiple calls to resign for his handling of the NHS.
That criticism was most notably from his own party colleague, Kate Forbes, who ran against him.
Mr Yousaf took up the job in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic and has faced one of the worst winters the NHS has ever experienced.
In general, A&E waiting times, access to mental health and bed blocking have worsened under his watch. But there are some positive signs to be found.
As he takes on the top job, we take a look back at how the NHS has fared in Tayside and Fife while Mr Yousaf was health secretary.
Consistent problems in the NHS
Mr Yousaf was appointed health secretary in May 2021, Up until this point NHS Tayside was consistently meeting the target for 95% of patients to be seen within four hours at A&E.
It fell to a record low of 79.5% in December 2022.
The same thing has happened at NHS Fife.
Bed blocking has been a consistent problem in Tayside and Fife over the past two years.
Bed blocking, officially known as delayed discharge, is when a patient who is “clinically ready for discharge” is unable to leave hospital because the “necessary care, support or accommodation” is not available for them.
This was a big problem when Mr Yousaf became health secretary, but it has skyrocketed in the two years since at NHS Tayside.
At the same time it has actually improved at NHS Fife – but there were still 3,254 delayed discharges at the start of 2023.
And as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll on the nation, a huge number of people are waiting for mental health treatment.
For adults the government target is for 90% to be seen within 18 weeks of referral.
There have been some small improvements here in the past two years, but neither NHS Tayside or NHS Fife is anywhere close to meeting this target.
Some improvements in Tayside and Fife
It hasn’t been all bad when it comes to health in Tayside and Fife for Mr Yousaf.
There have been slight improvements in child mental health waiting times and for those looking to get help with drug and alcohol addictions.
The Scottish Government says improving waiting times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is a high priority.
Their target is for 90% of children to be seen within 18 weeks.
Both Tayside and Fife health boards are now meeting this target.
At NHS Fife, when Mr Yousaf became health secretary, only 55% of children were seen on time – now that figure is over 92%.
The majority of patients at both health boards receive treatment for cancer within 31 days – the government target is 95%.
And under his watch it has become easier for people to access drug and alcohol treatment.
However, there is still a significant number of patients not being seen within the government’s three week target.
‘Record of failure’
Speaking immediately before Mr Yousaf was elected first minister, Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie said he leaves behind an abysmal record.
Criticism from the opposition is expected.
But in the leadership campaign, his SNP leadership rival Ms Forbes told him: “When you were transport minister the trains were never on time, when you were justice secretary the police were strained to breaking point, and now as health minister we’ve got record high waiting times.”
Winning the SNP leadership election on March 27, Mr Yousaf pledged: “My immediate priority will be to continue to protect every Scot as far as we can from the harm inflicted by the Cost of Living Crisis, to recover and reform our NHS and other vital public services, to support our wellbeing economy and to improve the life chances of people across our country.”
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