Former Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman Dies
Jeane Freeman death February 2026 Scottish Health Secretary
Former Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has died at the age of 72, following a short but courageous battle with incurable cancer. Her partner of 25 years, Susan Stewart, confirmed in a statement on Saturday, February 7, 2026, that Freeman passed away in hospital just 25 days after receiving an unexpected diagnosis on January 13. A pivotal figure in the Scottish National Party (SNP), Freeman was most widely recognized for leading Scotland’s public health response during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, appearing as a near-daily presence alongside then-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during televised briefings. Her family expressed profound gratitude to the staff at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) for their “exceptional” care during her final weeks.+3
Born in Ayr in 1953, Freeman’s career was defined by a deep commitment to social justice and public service that spanned nursing, civil service, and high-level politics. Before joining the SNP, she served as a special adviser to Labour First Minister Jack McConnell and earned an OBE in 1996 for her work with Apex Scotland, a social enterprise she founded to support the rehabilitation of former prisoners. She was elected as the MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley in 2016 and was quickly elevated to the Cabinet, first as Minister for Social Security—where she was credited with designing Scotland’s first independent social security system—and later as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport in 2018.+1
Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum, with First Minister John Swinney describing himself as “heart sore” at the loss of a “wonderful Cabinet colleague.” Swinney praised her unrelenting focus on dignity and fairness, noting that she steered the country through its greatest modern health crisis with “honesty and selflessness.” Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also shared a moving tribute, calling Freeman one of her “best and closest” friends and a woman of immense courage. Even after retiring from Holyrood in 2021, Freeman remained active in the community, notably volunteering at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre by taking around a tea trolley for patients—a role her partner said she truly loved.+2
Freeman’s legacy is inextricably linked to her transparency and her willingness to tackle difficult systemic issues, such as her decision to order a public inquiry into the construction of major hospitals in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Her partner’s statement concluded with a simple but poignant request that reflected Freeman’s own worldview: “Be kind to each other, that is what changes the world.” As Scotland mourns one of its most dedicated public servants, her contributions to the nation’s health and social security infrastructure remain a lasting testament to her career.
