Holyrood 472 / 20 September 2021

Holyrood's annual Health of the Nation special issue: System overload - after 18 months of unprecedented pressure, the NHS is in need of intensive care. Including an interview with health secretary, Humza Yousaf, and exclusive polling of MSPs on their own experiences of navigating the health service.

3 Editor’s note
Outrage has been the rocket fuel to women’s lives for all our lifetimes, giving us the momentum to simply carry us on through. To keep on fighting. To stay alive.

5 Roundup
Pictures and numbers from the past two weeks

7 Talking Point
Vaccine passports aren’t ideal but they are worth a try

8 In Context
The four-day working week

10 Political Spotlight
Nicola Sturgeon wants another referendum in 2023, but will the pandemic be over by then?

13 Cover Story: Health of the Nation
The pandemic has put the NHS under strain, but it also offers the chance to reset Scotland’s health

18 Interview: Humza Yousaf
Scotland’s cabinet secretary for health speaks to Holyrood about the big unknowns of his new brief

26 Exclusive poll: MSPs on their health
Our elected representatives reveal how they’ve fared over the pandemic

32 In conversation: Scotland and New Zealand
Two doctors from opposite sides of the world compare notes on the pandemic

34 Interview: Astronomer Royal
How did the universe begin and how will it end? Professor Catherine Heymans on answering the big questions

38 Feature: Trauma awareness
Why addressing trauma and other adverse childhood experiences could be the best way to cut Scotland’s prison population

41 Event Report
All the winners from the Holyrood Garden Party and Political Awards

44 Getting to know...
Neil Gray, the new peanut butter-loving SNP MSP for Airdrie and Shotts

46 Comment
Kenny Murray: Why can’t we just give people more money?

47 Pet
Cllr Harry Cartmill introduces Corey

48 Diary
All the latest gossip and snark from your Wholly Rude correspondents

49 Life Stories
Michelle Thomson tells us about what’s on her bookshelves

50 Last Word
Sketch: MSPs struggle to define what a nightclub is

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