Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29040 on 8 June 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

Our guidance states that patients discharged to a care homes must have two negative tests before discharge. The discharging hospital should liaise with the care home to ensure a risk assessment is undertaken prior to discharge and that the home is able to provide the care required. Where testing is not possible (e.g. patient doesn’t consent or it would cause distress) and if discharged to care home within the 14-day isolation period then there must be an agreed care plan for the remaining period of isolation up to 14 days. For example there should be a suitable physical space and staff available for the delivery of care and support to a resident who is isolated for a period of time to support their safety and wellbeing.

The Scottish Ambulance Service has received additional funding of £9.8 million so far to support prioritisation of the Board’s response to Covid-19 and to meet initial costs incurred.

The Scottish Government will continue its close engagement with all NHS Boards to ensure that they have the resources needed throughout this pandemic and to ensure that patient safety remains the top priority.

(a) 10 care homes were issued with improvement notices under section 62 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 in 2019.

(b) No care homes had conditions applied to their registration in 2019.

(c) 1 service had its registration cancelled by means of a section 65 (Emergency cancellation) notice in 2019.

The use of contact tracing in a pandemic situation is addressed in the UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy 2011:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/
system/uploads/attachment_data/file/213717/dh_131040.pdf

We are using existing clauses within the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services contracts to support CalMac in the current circumstances.

These emergency measures have been taken to provide support to CalMac to allow them to cover costs whilst having lower revenues as a result of Covid-19 travel restrictions.

At the time of writing, up to £24.7m of emergency support has been approved for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services as part of the Accountable Officer (AO) Submissions process.

We maintain regular contact with CalMac on the financial impacts on them and to ensure we provide appropriate support. The exact figures for financial support will not be known until we know what levels of demand are likely to use the services as we emerge from lockdown and how well capacity can cope with demand. The financial outturn will also be impacted upon by any constraints on capacity arising out of the need to maintain physical distancing on passenger vessels to protect the health of passengers and crew. Therefore, it is likely that further reconciliations will take place at appropriate points in the contract.

Clinical advice and available scientific evidence suggests that it is too early to draw conclusions on what the long-term physical and mental health impacts of the Coronavirus outbreak will be. However, the Scottish Government is undertaking research and acting on the available evidence to provide support for those whose mental health may have suffered as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak or the necessary restrictions. This includes risks to health and wellbeing from problematic use of alcohol or other drugs.

In anticipation of potential negative impact on the mental health of the Scottish population, the Scottish Government has launched its Clear Your Head campaign and invested heavily in services to provide advice and support. Since the outbreak, over £6million has gone to initiatives such as expanding the NHS24’s Mental Health Hub to a 24/7 service and enhancing its Breathing Space helpline and web support services; rolling out the Distress Brief Intervention nation-wide; and extending digital therapies through computerised and internet-enabled Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The Scottish Government has also provided an additional £20 million for alcohol and drug services in 2020-21 to support people experiencing harm from alcohol and other drugs and has provided additional funding for alcohol and drugs webchat helplines.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28973 on 19 May 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

This is also the position for deaths in care homes.

The Principal Accountable Officer for the Scottish Administration (the Permanent Secretary) and Accountable Officers designated by them for parts of the Scottish Administration are under a statutory duty to obtain written authority from the relevant Minister where they consider that any action they are required to take would be inconsistent with their responsibilities. These responsibilities include ensuring financial propriety and regularity and ensuring that relevant resources are used economically, efficiently and effectively (i.e. value for money).   There has only been one occasion when a written authority has been requested by an Accountable Officer of the Scottish Government since the beginning of 2007. Since devolution there have only been five occasions overall where Accountable Officers for parts of the Scottish Administration have sought such written authority. All were sought in relation to value for money, two were in regards to the same issue. The table below details each instance since 1 July 1999 and the reason for each instruction being made.

The letter issued by the Chief Medical Officer, advising people to shield, provided advice on what people could do to keep mentally active, to look after their mental well-being while they are shielding.

It also signposted people to additional advice and support from the NHS Inform advice, and the Breathing Space websites.

On 28 March the Scottish Government announced a further £3.8 million to begin to increase the capacity of NHS 24’s telephone and online services to cope with further demand from callers experiencing mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Scottish Government’s Our ‘Clear Your Head’ campaign https://clearyourhead.scot/ highlights the practical things people can do to help them feel better whilst continuing to stay at home, acknowledging these are worrying and uncertain times for many. Along with a range of tips on how to stay positive, the campaign website signposts sources of help and advice including NHS Inform, and helplines including NHS24, Breathing Space, SAMH and the Samaritans.