Image source, Getty Images

That's all from our live coverage of the first minister's NHS media conference.

Despite the briefing being staged to highlight the pressures facing the health service, it was the Gender Recognition Reform Bill that dominated much of the proceedings today.

We'll bring you all the news on this issue here at BBC Scotland online, with Wednesday being the deadline for the UK government to decide if they wish to block the bill.

Nicola Sturgeon was adamant that her government would defend the GRR Bill "vigorously" come what may.

Thank you for joining us.

Opposition parties have repeatedly called on Nicola Sturgeon to sack Health Secretary Humza Yousaf over his handling of the NHS.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross used FMQs last week to accuse the first minister of "patient blaming language" after she said there were unnecessary attendances at A&E departments.

His party have this week highlighted patients who are having to wait years to undergo crucial routine diagnostic tests.

Freedom of Information requests from the Tories have revealed "shocking and shameful" waits for patients in various areas across Scotland.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the crisis was not because of flu, Covid or winter pressures, but was rather "15 years in the making".

Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton called the long waits for NHS treatment "appalling".

The first minister is asked if Scotland's A&E departments would be able to respond to a major incident such as a bus crash or a train crash and what contingency measures there are for something like that.

Ms Sturgeon is adamant that hospitals would be able to handle a major incident.

She says they have "a high degree of confidence" in the NHS to respond and all health boards have contingency plans in place for every eventuality.

Image source, Getty Images

On NHS staffing levels and vacancies, Nicola Sturgeon is asked how she can make a career in the NHS attractive if the government can't even pay employees what they deserve?

Ms Sturgeon says Scotland is offering a better pay rise than elsewhere in the UK and next year's increase is about to be negotiated. She points out that Scotland remains the only part of the UK which has not seen NHS workers go on strike and says this shows that Scottish government values NHS workers.

Humza Yousaf adds that money made available in the care service allows them to pay above the national rate.

Image source, PA Media

The first minister is asked again about the Gender Recognition Reform Bill and what her options would be should the UK government block it.

Ms Sturgeon says: "We will vigorously defend the legislation."

She insists this will be with a "very, very, very high degree of confidence".

Nicola Sturgeon is now asked about delayed discharges and she says the figure reflecting admissions and discharges is similar to the 1,700 reported last week.

The first minister says she has asked all health boards to review their delayed discharge numbers and procedures.

The first minister is asked about pressure on pharmacists due to the "Pharmacy First" campaign.

It is put to her that there is an an appeal to deploy more GPs to Dumfries and Galloway after a month's worth of appointments were dealt with in a week.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf steps in to say he met with Community Pharmacy Scotland last week. He is encouraged that the Pharmacy First service is being used but says he has asked the chief pharmaceutical officer to work with the region to improve the service.

The FM adds that there is a wider importance of thinking of using the whole system and investing in services outside of GP surgeries.

James Cook
Scotland Editor, BBC News

At her news conference on NHS pressures, Nicola Sturgeon says there has been a slight easing in some areas including a fall in calls to NHS 24.

There are reports of the A&E situation stabilising but waiting times remain far higher than they should be with hospitals still “very full.”

Nicola Sturgeon says hospital occupancy may have risen slightly but remains around the same as last week (which was 95%).

BBC Scotland editor James Cook asks about the controversial Gender Recognition Reform Bill.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer believes 16-year-olds are too young to change their legally recognised gender.

The UK Labour leader voiced "concerns" about the Scottish government's reforms to the process, citing a potential impact on UK-wide equalities law.

The first minister says there are no grounds for Westminster to challenge the GRR Bill.

If it is challenged by the UK government it would be a political decision and using trans groups as a political weapon, she says.

Image source, Google

The FM says the NHS working with Golden Jubilee to make extra capacity available for operations, including at weekends.

She then updates on possible strikes in the health service and the news that industrial action has been paused while negotiations take place.

There are no quick fixespublished at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2023

11:22 GMT 16 January 2023

By Claire McAllister, BBC Scotland health reporter

This is the second time the first minister is holding a briefing on the extreme pressures the NHS is facing.

Last week, Nicola Sturgeon described this as one of the most difficult ever for the NHS and said hospitals are “almost completely full”.

This briefing comes off the back of Scottish government discussions with health unions at the end of last week that resulted in halting widespread industrial action.

However, it won’t be a whole new picture this week for the problems within the NHS and no straightforward quick fixes.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Scotland has been reporting how some families of care home residents are "terrified" that plans to use the sector to free up beds in Scotland's hospitals could lead to visiting bans.

The Care Home Relatives Scotland group said the move could increase the spread of illnesses, much like during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Scottish ministers hope the £8m plan will reduce the number of people in hospital who do not need to be there.

The social care sector has warned more staff are needed to make the plan work.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said 300 care home beds have been found for a "limited period of time" that can be used on an interim basis, in addition to the 600 interim beds that are already being used.

Mr Yousaf admitted that the care home beds would not be the first or even second choice of many patients or their families.

Read more here

The first minister refers to last week's £8m plan to reduce the number of people in hospital who do not need to be there.

She reminds the media conference that the use of interim beds is not new, as there were 600 already in use.

A total of 300 beds have been added now, she says.

Nicola Sturgeon says it is fair to say the "NHS remains under considerable strain", which reflects high levels of Covid, flu, Strep A and other respiratory infections.

The first minister hopes these are short-term pressures in addition to longer-term challenges like changing demographics make this one of the most difficult.

She goes on to highlight the need to tackle delayed discharges.

Nicola Sturgeon is joined at the St Andrew's House podiums by Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Prof Sir Gregor Smith.

Image source, Getty Images

Last week's FMQs was dominated by the unprecedented pressures on the NHS in Scotland, with all three opposition party leaders pressing the first minister on the issue.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross accused the first minister of "patient blaming language" after she said there were unnecessary attendances at A&E departments.

His party have this week highlighted patients who are having to wait years to undergo crucial routine diagnostic tests.

Freedom of Information requests from the Tories have revealed "shocking and shameful" waits for patients in various areas across Scotland.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the crisis was not because of flu, Covid or winter pressures, but was rather "15 years in the making".

Both parties have renewed calls for Health Secretary Humza Yousaf to be sacked.

Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton called the long waits for NHS treatment "appalling".

Still no certainty that a pay deal will be reachedpublished at 10:50 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2023

10:50 GMT 16 January 2023

Jamie McIvor
BBC Scotland News Correspondent

The threat of strikes in the NHS in Scotland is not over but the possibility is now greatly reduced.

It would have been difficult to reopen the 2022 pay deal. It had been accepted by other major NHS unions including Unison and Unite.

The idea is that this year's offer - which would normally apply from April - will be backdated to January.

There can be no certainty that a deal will be reached though.

If talks fail, strikes are still an option.

But the chance of strike action adding to the difficulties facing the NHS over the winter is now greatly reduced.

Image source, Getty Images

There has been some good news for the Scottish government in the midst of the health service challenges, after the threat of widespread strike action was put on hold by unions.

The GMB and Royal College of Nursing has announced it will not call strikes while negotiations take place on the 2023 pay offer, BBC Scotland understands.

Health secretary Humza Yousaf said the breakthrough was "very welcome".

Negotiations are likely to take several weeks and the unions still have a mandate to call members out on strike if they are unsuccessful.

If a deal is reached, the pay rise would be backdated to January.

The announcement follows talks with the Scottish government on Thursday, aimed at ending the long-running pay dispute affecting staff in NHS Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS).

• Read more here
• More talks in bid to avert NHS strikes in Scotland
• Nurses in Scotland to strike over NHS pay deal

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the first minister's media briefing looking at winter pressures on the NHS.

Nicola Sturgeon will be joined by Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Prof Sir Gregor Smith.

Last week the Scottish government announced an £8m plan to reduce the number of people in hospital who do not need to be there.

Opposition parties renewed their calls for the health secretary to resign at last week's FMQs.

The media briefing is due to start at 11:00.