Chamber and committees

Decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown were guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making. Proposals are technically assessed using the best available evidence and analysis of their potential benefits and harms to health, the economy, and broader society to minimise overall harm and ensure transmission of the virus continues to be suppressed.

Public health and wellbeing remains a key priority and we must all continue to play our part in supressing the spread of the virus. Everyone should continue to adhere to the guidance to ensure the transition back to sport is as safe, swift and effective as possible.

The Phase 3 route map, published on 30 July, notes that certain restrictions on sports coaches may be relaxed from 3 August once relevant guidance is agreed and implemented. sport scotland is working closely with the sporting sector and will provide coaches with the necessary guidance to enable a return to outdoor fitness classes, once the parameters and guidance documents are approved by Ministers.

We are continuing to work with sport scotland and our sporting governing bodies to enable all sports to return when it is safe to do so. Should the virus continue to be controlled, inter-club matches should be permitted to take place.

sport scotland will continue to liaise with Cricket Scotland, who will continue to provide clubs with updated guidance.

The supply and pricing of medicines is reserved to the UK Government. The UK Department of Health and Social Care Medicines Shortages Team have been working closely with all suppliers of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) medicines to maintain overall supply to patients. Although some HRT products are affected by supply issues, supplies of several other alternative HRT products remain available.

The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer wrote to all healthcare professionals across Scotland on 23 July 2020 setting out the latest position on availability for all HRT products marketed in the UK.

Each NHS Board is responsible under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and its subsequent regulations, to provide appropriate rest facilities for their staff. They are best placed locally to determine the particular requirements for sleeping pods in hospitals to allow staff to have a rest on their breaks.

The Scottish Partnership Forum (SPF) had been considering the evidence base for the use of sleep-pods, but due to the focus on managing the COVID-19 pandemic, this issue has not been progressed.

Information for the requested time periods is not held by the Scottish Government. The most recently available information on the number of residents and admissions to care homes in Scotland is published by Public Health Scotland; https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Care-Homes/Census/ .

Healthcare in Scotland is following the clear Scottish Government guidelines to protect all members of the public from the Covid-19 virus.

People who are shielding need to receive the care they need in the safest way possible and clinicians will assess their needs as part of any GP or hospital care and undertake a risk assessment and decide where, when and how they are seen. This could be over the telephone or via Near Me (a video calling service used by the NHS) or a face to face consultation or appointment may happen at the person’s home. Equally, after assessment of infection risk and clinical need, the shielded person may need to go to a practice, health centre or hospital.

We have ensured that they have the most up to date and relevant information available to support decisions in requiring treatment.

As the restrictions on the shielded community are lifted there is ongoing advice provided through a variety of websites operated by NHS inform, Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Government. In order to ensure the shielded community know the latest details of the routemap those registered on the shielding list have been issued with letters updating them at the various phases.

We announced recently because the infection rate in Scotland is low enough, we were able to pause shielding from 1 August. I should note that the changes to the shielding advice will not apply to people in care homes who are shielding.

We have written to people who are shielding to inform them of these changes and have stressed that their needs, care and treatment remain a priority for the Scottish Government and the NHS in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is actively engaged with public health partners in planning for the 2020-21 flu vaccination programme that will begin in October. As part of this, we are considering carefully the impact of COVID-19 and how to encourage increased uptake of the flu vaccine amongst all eligible groups.

We will soon set out how we will expand free eligibility for the 2020-2021 seasonal flu vaccine. These options will be driven by the best clinical evidence available.

The seasonal flu vaccination programme, will be critically important in terms of protecting the most vulnerable, and alleviating pressure on the NHS. This is more vital than ever in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are actively engaged with public health partners to plan the programme effectively and ensure optimal vaccination uptake and this will include an extensive public health marketing campaign.

The Scottish Government is actively engaged with public health partners in planning for the 2020-21 flu vaccination programme that will begin in October. As part of this, we are considering, with partners, how pharmacies could be further utilised in delivery of the programme.

All children and young people should learn in the environment which best meets their needs, whether that be a mainstream or special school setting.

It is for education authorities to determine the most appropriate provision for children and young people with additional support needs, in their area, taking account of their legislative responsibilities and the individual circumstances and wishes of children, young people and their families.