Former Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman dies aged 72

In a statement, Ms Freeman’s partner Susan Stewart said she was given an "unexpected diagnosis" of incurable cancer on January 13.

Ms Stewart said: "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."

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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 said he was "shocked and saddened" Ms Freeman's death in an emotional tribute in which he revealed she devoted her life to serving the public.

He added: “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.”