Former Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman dies aged 72

Former Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman has died at the age of 72 from cancer, her family said.

Ms Freeman served as cabinet secretary for health and sport from 2018 to 2021.

She was also the Scottish National Party’s MSP for the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency from 2016 to 2021.

In a statement to the Press Association, Ms Freeman’s partner Susan Stewart said: “Jeane was given an unexpected diagnosis of incurable cancer on the 13th of January and we only had 25 days thereafter.

“Days which she faced with enormous courage, care for others and love for me.

“I wish to thank all the staff in the QEUH (Queen Elizabeth University Hospital) whose professional skill, care and sensitivity were exceptional.

“We were both very grateful and also for the outpouring of love and concern from so many, across politics and beyond. Be kind to each other, that is what changes the world.

“Jeane and I were partners for over 25 years and I admired and supported her professional and public life. I am immensely proud of her, not least her latter volunteering at the Beatson Centre taking round the tea trolley, a job she loved.

“But it is the private Jeane – my soul mate and companion – who I will be forever grateful to have had in my life. She was my biggest supporter – constantly encouraging – and also fun, feisty and argumentative! My life has been the better for her love. And I will miss her terribly.”

With the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive in 1999, Ms Freeman was appointed as a senior civil servant and in 2001 she became a special adviser to then-first minister Jack McConnell.

After taking a leading role in the campaign group Women for Independence during the 2014 referendum, she joined the SNP and was elected as MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley from 2016 to 2021.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon then appointed her as a Scottish government minister, where as minister for social security she established the creation of a new social security service for Scotland.

In 2018 she became cabinet secretary for health and sport and led on Scotland’s health response to the Covid pandemic until her retirement in 2021.

First Minister John Swinney paid tribute to Ms Freeman, he said: “Jeane devoted her life to serving the public, and I am shocked and saddened at her death.

“In her long and varied career, Jeane always had people at her heart and had an unrelenting aim to improve people’s lives. Working alongside her as a Minister, I was always struck by her strong belief in the power of compassion and a desire for people to be treated always with dignity fairness, and respect – values she put at the heart of Scotland’s first social security system.

“As Health Secretary during the Covid pandemic, she faced up to the biggest public health crisis Scotland has ever seen and steered a course through an immensely difficult time for our country and our health service, working tirelessly and acting throughout with honesty and selflessness.

“I will miss her greatly, and my thoughts and deep condolences are with her partner Susan and wider family, and her many friends.”