Chamber and committees

Clinical and care staff across health and social care teams in Scotland have been providing care, support and treatment to people recovering from Covid-19 in line with the principles of psychological first aid, which include education about responses to trauma, provision of information on coping, and care for immediate needs. When clinically indicated, appropriate access will be provided to the range of evidence based support and care, including specialist psychological support.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to developing a trauma informed and trauma responsive workforce across Scotland that can minimise distress, overcome barriers and build trust. Since 2018, we have invested over £1.5 million in a National Trauma Training Programme to support all sectors of the workforce in trauma informed practice, as well as to embed and sustain this model of working.

The Scottish Government is investing a total of £6 million of additional funding to support the population’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. This includes £3.8 million to increase the capacity of NHS 24’s telephone and online services, and to extend the availability of digital therapies, and £1 million to roll out the Distress Brief Intervention Programme on a national basis.

There will be many people in Scotland caring for, or supporting, people with mental health problems. Some will require PPE, depending on their caring role.

Given the immense pressure that global supply chains for PPE have been put under during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Scottish Government has set up supplies of PPE from the national stock to support organisations and individual carers providing social care support.

Social care PPE Hubs were set up in local communities in March, and are now providing PPE for unpaid carers and Personal Assistants that need it, as well as supporting the wider social care sector with its PPE needs, where normal supply routes fail. Stocks at the Hubs include the key PPE items and hand sanitiser.

There is advice on the Scottish Government website for unpaid carers, Personal Assistants and social care provider organisations about how to access their local Hub.

The statistics on suspected cases of COVID-19 in hospital were developed and published at pace. NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde did not provide data for inclusion in first publication of statistics. The published statistics reference the fact that NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde figures are not included.

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde have been monitoring suspected patient numbers during the pandemic.

With the introduction of screening and testing of those aged 70 years and above on admission, the statistics on suspected cases of COVID-19 in hospital have been subject to definitional discontinuities. As such, while the statistics continue to be published, they need careful interpretation and their utility is reduced.

UK wide PPE Guidance sets out the recommended use of goggles and visors in different clinical and care settings.

Given the recognised sustained transmission of COVID-19, the guidance includes detailed advice around risk assessing use of PPE, including eye protection, in a range of different clinical and care scenarios.

Adequate stocks of goggles are held and distributed to both health boards, primary care providers and hubs based on need.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that Sports Therapists play in maintaining the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland and while progress out of the crisis has not be as quick as any of us would have wished for, we must move forward at a pace that continues to protect public health.

As we move forward in Phase 1, it is important that we follow the spirit of the route map and support the key public health message to ‘stay as home as much as possible during phase 1’.

We appreciate that Sports Therapists will be anxious to know when each phase will start. However, it is not possible to be precise with the timings of when we will move into each phase. Indeed it may be that not all parts of each phase will be introduced at the same time.

Transition from one phase to the next will very much depend on the changes we see in the spread of the disease, only moving to a less restrictive phase if it remains under control and if we can keep the ‘R’ number below 1. By adopting the phased approach to restarting services and not encouraging significant numbers of people to travel for treatments or procedures that are not essential or urgent we will help to reduce the risk of potentially raising the value of R.

Sports Therapists and privately practicing Physiotherapists will be expected to follow the guidance as set out by Health Protection Scotland and the Scottish Government in regards to returning to practice.

In our “Framework for Decision-Making”, we made a commitment to put equality and human rights at the heart of our response to COVID-19.

To support this, analytical partners across the Scottish Government, National Records of Scotland, Public Health Scotland and the NHS are working to better understand the impact of Covid-19 across a range of socio-demographic factors, including the link with poverty and deprivation, and how we can best support all vulnerable groups at this time.

In terms of action and additional investment so far, through the £350 million package of Communities Funding announced on 18 March we have allocated £102 million to Scotland’s local authorities so they can support those in need through this crisis.

This includes: £50 million in hardship funding which can be used as they see fit with no reporting requirements; £30 million from our Food Fund, supporting them to deliver a local coordinated response for those in need and helping children and young people access Free School Meal entitlements; and an initial £22 million boost to their Scottish Welfare Fund budget, allowing local authorities to reach more people in need with immediate support through Crisis Grants.

Across Scotland, a further £23 million boost to the Scottish Welfare Fund will be targeted where it is needed most – bringing total investment to £80.5 million in 2020-21 - and we have established a £50 million reserve to provide additional funding for the Council Tax Reduction scheme and Scottish social security benefits.

The Scottish Government is undertaking a variety of actions to ensure the public are aware of how COVID-19 can affect people differently. These include

• Daily First Minister Briefings
• Media and social media relations activity on a daily basis to communicate key messages
• Paid for marketing campaigns across TV, radio, newspapers and online
• Leaflet delivered to every household in Scotland during April
• Working with external organisations such as Health Boards, third sector and private sector to communicate key messages
• Writing to everyone who is potentially at greater risk from COVID-19 to shield themselves from the virus and outline the support available to them to do this
• Section on www.gov.scot that is dedicated to latest information on COVID-19

Much of the above activity will have covered the key symptoms the COVID-19. For example, when the loss of or change in sense of smell or taste was added to the list of symptoms the Scottish Government activated an advertising campaign across TV, radio and digital advertising on 19 May 2020 which highlighted all three symptoms. These adverts were active until 28 May 2020.

The Test & Protect advertising that was launched on 28 May 2020 also include details of the symptoms the public need to be aware of.

Alongside the three common symptoms we also include information to contact 111 if symptoms worsen or if symptoms are still present after seven days.

Guidance from Health Protection Scotland and the Scottish Government is clear that physical distancing measures must be followed by everyone, including those in care homes . It recommends that residents remain in their rooms as much as possible; that communal activity and the use of communal spaces are avoided especially where there is an outbreak; physical distancing measures are applied; and where there are suspected or confirmed cases there should be strict enforcement of these measures. The use of a risk assessment to determine the approach is also recommended.

The Coronavirus Act 2020 allows for temporary relaxation of local authority assessment duties in relation to needs assessments and preparation of adult carer support plans. Section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 gives local authorities a core duty to provide care and support to people in need of assistance which remains in place.

Our arrangements for monitoring implementation of the Coronavirus Act, as it relates to social work assessments, includes requesting information from local authorities who have chosen to make use of the powers under the Act about the number of full and partial assessments undertaken during the emergency period, and how this compares with the equivalent period last year. This is part of a survey that will support our reporting to the Scottish Parliament on the Coronavirus Act.