Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02795 on 21 September 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

The Scottish Government are making paper copies of the consultation paper available on request. We have a dedicated mailbox: [email protected] for any individual/organisation who wants a copy posted to them. We also have a dedicated telephone number for people without digital access to call to request a paper copy. The National Care Service Consultation automated telephone number is 0300 244 2425.

The Scottish Government has provided funding for International Development work by Police Scotland in Malawi and Zambia since 2016. The funding provided in 2019-20 was £449,831 and the funding for 2020/21 was £162,000. The current funding supports Police Scotland’s work on a “Rights & Equalities for Marginalised Groups” programme, which helps tackle local issues in Malawi and Zambia, working with a wide range of marginalised groups such as women, children, those with disabilities, LGBTI and people with albinism. The ability to deliver the programme has been impacted by Coronavirus but Police Scotland hope to re-commence in-country training next year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02795 on 21 September 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

On 3 September 2021 we introduced QR codes to vaccination status records. People can either download or request a paper copy of their vaccination status from NHS Inform or call the Freephone Helpline 0808 196 8565.

In Scotland, it is estimated that over 9 in 10 adults, or 93.6% of the adult community population (95% credible interval: 92.3% to 94.7%) would have tested positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 from a blood sample in the week beginning 9 August 2021, suggesting that they had the infection in the past or have been vaccinated. Those who have tested positive for antibodies may have obtained them from prior infection before vaccination.

Antibody data from the ONS COVID-19 infection survey was published by the Scottish Government on 1 September 2021 at: Coronavirus (COVID-19): ONS Infection Survey – antibody data – 1 September 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

Information on how many people have received a dementia diagnosis in each year since 2007, broken down by NHS board, is not collected or held centrally.

Scottish Ambulance Service staffing is up 63.5% under this Government, by 2,346.1 WTE between Sept 2006 and June 2021, and now stands at 6,040.4 WTE.

In terms of specific numbers of paramedics in post since 2017, this is detailed in the following table:

Scottish Government were advised of Mr Alexander’s death by NHS Ayrshire & Arran on 16 February 2021. At that time, the Board also confirmed that a review was ongoing to determine Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations (RIDDOR) reportable status. They further advised that the Health and Safety Executive had been advised by telephone of the death of a member of staff and that NHS Ayrshire & Arran would submit a RIDDOR notification if the internal review indicated this requirement.

Scottish Government has since been advised that in accordance with Health and Safety Executive COVID-19 RIDDOR guidance, Mr Alexander’s death was not, and has not, been formally reported to the Health and Safety Executive as it did not meet the requirements for reporting under RIDDOR.

The following table shows the number of people screened for diabetic retinopathy in each month between January 2019 and July 2021. The Diabetic Eye Screening (DES) programme was paused between 30 March 2020 and 6 July 2020. When screening resumed, those at high risk of developing diabetic retinopathy were prioritised and invited first.

It is important to note that the following data is management information and has not been subject to the necessary quality checks carried out for an official publication.