Chamber and committees

Public Health Scotland has recently started to publish weekly data on the wider impact COVID 19 is having on the healthcare system, comparing recent trends in activity with historic norms. There is a section on Hospital Admissions in their publication, which can be found at the following link.

https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/population-health/covid-19/covid-19-statistical-report/

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28536 on 5 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 .

The Scottish Government are not routinely informed of visits which members of the Royal Family make to Scotland, particularly when they are undertaken privately without a public engagement aspect.

Police Scotland have advised that they were informed of HRH The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay’s residence in Scotland was to be commenced earlier than had initially been planned.

Their residence commenced prior to both the First Minister’s direction and, the implementation of The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The reason for the variation in the level of people testing positive or self-isolating between different prisons is not immediately apparent at this stage. It is too early in the pandemic to draw any reliable comparisons.

The majority self-isolating in Addiewell prison are doing so on a precautionary basis and this is based on bespoke advice from NHS Lothian.

The Scottish Government believes that businesses and individuals should all pay a fair share of tax to support the vital services and infrastructure on which we all rely. We recognise the challenges presented by tax-motivated behaviours. We are actively investigating what actions are possible. Powers to fully address this matter should be devolved so that decisions which affect the people of Scotland can be made here.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The Scottish Prison Service publishes a daily update on the number of individuals self-isolating across our estate, as well as the current number of individuals who have tested positive. This information is published on the COVID page of our website.

As at 27 April 2020, there were 87 people self-isolating across 9 sites, 9 of whom have tested positive. This information is published on the COVID page of our website.

It is not possible to provide a breakdown by establishment levels, as in some instances, the numbers are so small that to provide this information may lead to indirect identification of individuals and their health status.

I can confirm that, as at 27 April 2020, there have been a total of 412 individuals who have required to self-isolate across all 15 of our establishments. Of this number, 27 have been confirmed to have had COVID-19. This has been across 7 establishments.

NHS dental treatment is available to those with an acute dental problem, through 56 Urgent Dental Care Centres (UDCCs) across all Health Board areas. The UDCCs have been put in place in response to the initial closure of routine dental services on 23 March and ensure that the appropriate infection control measures and protective equipment are in place to deliver urgent dental care.

Dental practices have traditionally procured their personal protective equipment (PPE) through dental suppliers and not Health Boards, these supply chains are not currently in operation. The availability of Personal Protective Equipment and how this relates to clinical advice on safe working are critical to the decision making process about how NHS dental service may be extended in the coming period.

The military are standing members of local and regional resilience partnerships, alongside health boards and as such support local planning, training and exercising. They have also been providing specific planning support to NHS Lothian and other Health Boards since late March 2020. The Scottish Government were aware of this in advance.

The Scottish Government has made additional funding available to local authorities to increase the capacity of social care support and ensure fair working conditions for our key workers. A range of actions have been taken to focus our collective response to this pandemic.

Scottish Government launched a reform of adult social care in June 2019 with a range of local and national partners. We remain absolutely committed to reform, and learning from the COVID-19 emergency will help to inform and progress many of the reform objectives. You may also be aware that the Health and Sport Committee were due to hold an inquiry into adult social care in Scotland. They have paused this in light of the crisis, but I understand their intention to hold this inquiry remains.

The Scottish Government does not routinely publish advice to Ministers of this kind.