Question reference: S5W-28612
- Asked by: Joan McAlpine, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 21 April 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 June 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it agrees with table two of the four nations personal protective equipment (PPE) guidance in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which was issued on 2 April 2020, which says that health and social care workers in the community need only wear a protective face mask if treating a person who has COVID-19 symptoms or is on the shielded list.
Answer
It is clear in my joint statement with COSLA and Trades Unions on 9 April 2020 that social and home care workers can wear a fluid resistant face mask along with other appropriate PPE where the person they are visiting or otherwise attending to is neither confirmed nor suspected of having COVID19, if they consider doing so necessary for their own and the individual's safety. They are professionals and we trust their professional judgement.
The PPE guidance that was published on 2 April 2020 recommends the safest level of PPE to protect health and social care workers and specifies the type of PPE that should be worn in the various healthcare and social care settings where patients or residents could be cared for.
The guidance contains 4 separate tables.
Given the recognised sustained transmission of COVID-19, table 4 of the guidance includes detailed advice around risk assessing use of PPE, including aprons, gowns, Fluid-Resistant Surgical Masks and eye protection, when health and social care workers are providing care and support to people who are not possible or confirmed cases of COVID-19. The guidance also asks that organisations themselves undertake risk assessments to ensure that they provide the correct PPE for the safety of their staff.
Importantly, in terms of shielding the extremely vulnerable in our society, the guidance advises that secondary, primary and community care workers should wear a surgical mask when providing care to any individuals in the extremely vulnerable group undergoing shielding; regardless if they have possible or confirmed COVID-19 or not.