Chamber and committees

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) publishes statistics covering passenger numbers for Glasgow Prestwick Airport. This information is available at https://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Airports/Datasets/UK-airport-data/ .

I recognise that children and young people with additional support needs, including those with complex needs such as a visual impairment, will require support to return to school. Schools and local authorities are best placed to identify how to meet the individual needs of their pupils and have been working hard to develop plans to do so as schools reopen.

Following the First Minister’s statement to Parliament on 30 July confirming the reopening of schools on 11 August, accompanying guidance to support a safe return to school for all children, young people and staff was published on the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-preparing-start-new-school-term-august-2020/ . The guidance takes full account of the scientific advice received and the advice of the Education Recovery Group and other key stakeholders.

We have also published continuity in learning guidance, which sets out the latest advice on what education authorities and schools should consider for pupils with additional support needs, including those with complex support needs. This focuses on reviewing individualised plans in discussion with parents, carers, children and young people, with support from partner services. It also recognises that some children and young people will have new needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the guidance outlines, individual provisions and interventions will require constant review to ensure they continue to meet children and young peoples’ learning and wellbeing needs as they return to school.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30555 on 30 July 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30555 on 30 July 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30555 on 30 July 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Upper respiratory tract infections may result in viral conjunctivitis and this is also the case with COVID-19. A meta-analysis published in April found the overall rate of conjunctivitis in COVID-19 reported cases was 1.1% ranging from 3% in severe cases to 0.7% in non-severe cases.

Advice from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the College of Optometrists recognise that it is unlikely that a patient would present with viral conjunctivitis secondary to COVID-19 without other symptoms as conjunctivitis seems to be a late feature where it has occurred.

It is important to note that there is no evidence to suggest that conjunctivitis can cause COVID-19 or that you are at higher risk of developing COVID-19 if you have conjunctivitis.

Regional Wheelchair and Seating Services Centres had to limit or temporarily pause some out-patient services during the lockdown period. Some staff were redeployed to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic response, and are now returning to their roles. The centres have used video-conferencing, telephone reviews and home delivery services where possible.

All other equipment stores have remained operational during the pandemic. All emergency work, including hospital discharges, care home admissions and end of life care, continued throughout the pandemic.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30767 on 11 August 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30767 on 11 August 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Throughout our response to the pandemic, where an urgent clinical need has existed Essential Musculoskeletal services, which includes first contact practitioners, have continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic using telephone, Near me and in person if required.

On 31 May we published the “Re-mobilise, Recover, Re-design: the framework for NHS Scotland” that supports Health Boards to plan the phased restoration of postponed NHS services. A Mobilisation Recovery Group, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, has been established to advise Government.

Initial plans for the period ending July 2020 have been received and a summary of services being resumed broken down by territorial Health Board was published on 19 June. This shows the safe and phased re-start of many hospital elective and primary care services (in line with the above Framework, clinical guidance and according to local circumstances).

The next iteration of plans for the period ending March 2021 have been requested and these will be analysed in early August. Any issues with plans are being addressed directly with Health Boards as part of the iterative planning process.

Most Health Boards have provided urgent orthopaedic/ rheumatology care during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and are resuming outpatient clinics utilising virtual or telephone consultations where it is clinically appropriate.

Nationally we have worked with third sector organisations such as Versus Arthritis to publish tailored advice and guidance about specific long term conditions and COVID-19, to signpost people to resources and different ways to access support to self-manage their condition.