Chamber and committees

The mesh fund is being administered by NHS National Services Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. The following table illustrates, as at 26 July 2021, the number of applications approved, declined and pending:

The Scottish Government recognises that clinical trials for vaccinations are critical for responding to COVID-19 and we would like to thank all those who have volunteered to take part in these trial, you are providing a great benefit for our society and indeed the rest of the world.

On 11 June 2021 the Deputy Chief Medical Officer wrote an open letter to UK residents who have volunteered to take part in COVID-19 vaccine studies outlining that those participating in such trials should not be disadvantaged in terms of any future domestic vaccine certification, if introduced, compared to anyone else who has had their vaccines under the standard NHS programme.

Those involved in clinical trials will shortly receive a letter confirming their involvement in the trials. This letter can be used for domestic purposes as proof of trial status. We are also working on a technical solution that will enable them to access their record on NHS Inform.

There are voluntary agreements in some parts of Scotland around the use of jet skis, including duration of use and timings. We are not aware of a specific agreement covering Wardie Bay. These agreements are not a statutory requirement.

Our natural geography brings the benefit of increased opportunity to access both freshwater and our unique coastline and we will continue to promote and ensure the safe enjoyment of Scotland’s diverse landscape.

The Scottish Government works closely with Water Safety Scotland (WSS) and other partners, including local councils, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire & Rescue Service to implement and support initiatives that can help raise awareness, this includes providing grant funding to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Scottish Community Safety Network to help promote a co-ordinated and preventative approach to water safety across the country.

WSS has produced a guide on Water Safety Policy in Scotland which is available online.

It is vital for the current COVID-19 vaccination programme to reach everyone and that no one is left behind, both for individual health and our collective community wellbeing.

In order to achieve this, we have embedded inclusion as a key aspect of our national programme, working alongside Health Boards and other partners to encourage uptake, remove barriers and respond to evidence of low uptake in certain communities, including those from more deprived areas.

We have worked with Health Boards to map the locations of our vaccination clinics, ensuring that they are accessible for those in more deprived areas, and local partnerships with transport providers has supported people with free travel to appointments, if required.

Health Boards have also adapted their delivery models to ensure they are reaching communities with lower uptake. For example, mobile outreach units have been provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) and some Health Boards have partnered with local transport providers to use their vehicles to take out into community settings. Pop-up and drop-in clinics are now being used across the country for those who are unable or unwilling to access the mass vaccination clinics. Health Boards plan the locations of these to suit the needs of their populations, and respond to evidence of lower uptake in certain areas.

The Coronavirus (COVID-19): vaccine deployment plan provides further information on our approach to delivering the vaccine to everyone in our society.

The Scottish Government has issued guidance emphasising the need to ensure good ventilation across all indoor settings.

Our Covid-19 ventilation guidance includes reference to the possibility of monitoring carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) levels in buildings, with a link to the more detailed information on CO 2 monitors provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

We are currently considering what further steps we can take to support good practice in ventilation across all settings and this includes consideration of the role of CO 2 monitors and standards.

Wastage data is not currently published by Public Health Scotland. However we can confirm for NHS board operated vaccination clinics, wastage is well below our planning assumption of 5%, which is a precautionary approach for worst case scenario planning.

The Scottish Government held a meeting with key stakeholders, including Scottish Swimming, on 11 August to discuss water safety.

Discussions included the provision of lessons and also water safety education.

More discussions on how to move forward are scheduled for the coming weeks.

The Scottish Government currently only allows travellers returning from green and amber list countries to use NHS Covid-19 tests.

These home PCR kits are sold at a fixed price and can be booked through CTM, the UK Government’s booking portal for international travel.

Wales currently also only allow use of NHS Covid-19 tests, booked through CTM and have the same fixed pricing structure as offered in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has committed to the removal of all NHS dental charges in the lifetime of this Parliament.

All dental charges were suspended in the initial period of lockdown through to 31 October 2020. Pregnant women and nursing mothers who required urgent or emergency dental care would still be seen during this period.

By the end of July, all Health Boards had completed the audit of cases where individuals have been excluded from the cervical screening programme despite their records indicating they may have had subtotal hysterectomies before 1997. Further work was then carried out to collate and analyse the findings. By Wednesday 18 August, around 174 letters were issued by Boards to all those who have been identified as requiring to be re-instated in the programme, or to be offered a gynaecological appointment either because it is not clear from their records if the exclusion is appropriate, or because their age means they are no longer eligible for cervical screening.

In total, 484 records were reviewed. Of these:

• 204 individuals were found to have been correctly excluded and no further action is necessary.
• 39 individuals have been wrongly excluded and are still in the eligible age range for screening. These patients will be re-instated to the programme and asked to contact their GP practice to make an appointment for screening.
• 46 individuals have been wrongly excluded but are now no longer eligible for screening due to their age. These patients will be offered an appointment at a gynaecology clinic.
• 89 individuals’ records did not allow a determination to be made on the appropriateness of their exclusion. These patients will also be offered an appointment at a gynaecology clinic.
• A small number of individuals are no longer resident in Scotland. Efforts will be made to trace them, and they will be re-instated in the screening programme so that they will be invited again for screening should they return to Scotland.
• 100 individuals are now deceased. As noted in the statement given to Parliament on 24 June, a review is being carried out into the deaths of anyone who may have been excluded in error from the programme to verify whether cervical cancer was a main or contributory cause of death.

The care pathways in place for anyone written to in August are the same as for all those written to at the end of June. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust also continue to offer support through their helpline services. The helpline can be reached by calling 0808 802 8000 or emailing [email protected]. If anyone believes they have had a subtotal hysterectomy and therefore thinks they should have received a letter, Jo’s Trust will also be able to redirect them to a Health Board contact.

We recognise the anxiety anyone receiving a letter will almost certainly feel, and we are sorry for that. It is important to stress that the risk of developing cervical cancer is extremely low – less than 1 in 100 women will develop it in their lifetimes.

As we have stressed throughout this incident, anyone who is experiencing symptoms of cervical cancer – that is anyone experiencing unusual discharge, or bleeding after sex, between periods or after the menopause – should make an appointment with their GP practice. More information on symptoms is available on NHS Inform.

I will provide a more detailed update to Parliament on this issue after recess.