Former Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has died at the age of 72 from cancer, her family have announced in a statement.
Ms Freeman began as a nurse, justice campaigner and civil servant, before entering politics and rising to the rank of 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, her 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 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,” the heratfelt statement read.
Ms Freeman served as cabinet secretary for health and sport from 2018 to 2021
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Scottish First Minister John Swinney issued his own tribute, writing: “I am heart sore this morning at the death of Jeane Freeman, a wonderful Cabinet colleague.
“Jeane gave selfless service to Scotland especially as health secretary during Covid. In designing Scotland’s social security system, she put dignity and respect at its heart.
“Jeane brought deep values of fairness and justice to all that she did. She made a huge contribution to our cause and our team. I express my deepest sympathies to Susan and her loved ones.”
Ms Freeman became a regular presence at the daily media briefings held by the Scottish government during the Covid pandemic.
The SNP politician was said to have shown ‘enormous courage, care for others’ in her final days
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Before politics, she led the social enterprise Apex Scotland for 12 years, working closely with employers and former prisoners, and was awarded an OBE in 1996 for her services to offender rehabilitation.
After that, she went on to chair the board of the Golden Jubilee Foundation and served as a member of both the Parole Board for Scotland and the Judicial Appointments Board.
She entered politics as a special advisor to Labour First Minister Jack McConnell before joining the SNP and standing for the Scottish Parliament.
She was elected as the MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley in 2016, holding the Ayrshire seat until 2021, and served as Scotland’s health secretary from 2018 to 2021.
During her tenure, she commissioned a public inquiry into the design, construction, commissioning and maintenance of Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the new Royal Hospital for Children in Edinburgh.
After standing down from Holyrood in 2021, she later gave evidence to both the UK Covid Inquiry and the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.