Chamber and committees

The Menopause and Menstrual Health including Endometriosis Sub Group set up to take forward work in this area has met on three occasions. Endometriosis UK is represented on the sub group, and the sub group considered its submission, “Strategy for Endometriosis in Scotland” at its June meeting.

The Scottish Government Modernising Patient Pathways Programme (MPPP) is taking forward the priorities identified in the Scottish Access Collaborative Gynaecology Design Workshop report. The MPPP Gynaecology work-stream has now resumed following a pause due to the impact of COVID 19 and is initiating work on developing a Pelvic Pain pathway for Scotland. Consistent advice and effective treatment will provide benefit for women with endometriosis.

As stated in The Programme for Government 2020-21, we will continue to develop our Women's Health Plan which will underpin actions to tackle women's health inequalities by raising awareness around women's health and improving access to healthcare for women throughout life.

I informed Parliament in May that COVID-19 may adversely affect the timeline of Autumn 2020 for fully opening the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People. While we understood that there was a risk to this being achieved, we had been waiting on a confirmed project timeline before we moved away from this date.

Nonetheless positive progress has been made.

Outpatient Services at the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, including Neurophysiology and Diagnostic Radiology, moved into the new site in May as planned. The final phase of the move for the DCN took place in mid-July, this saw inpatient Neurosurgery and Neurology wards, along with Neurosurgery Theatres and Interventional Neuro-Radiology relocate to their new home. All DCN services are now fully delivered from the new site.

From July, a number of children’s outpatient services moved to the new Hospital. This phased approach saw some Children’s outpatient services, including Neurology and Orthopaedics, migrate along with a number of administrative support staff. This approach, which had been agreed with the full involvement of clinical teams and staff side representatives, not only frees up space at the existing Royal Hospital for Sick Children site, but enables NHS Lothian to continue to deliver quality paediatric clinics adhering and supporting social distancing.

We now have a confirmed timeline that work will be completed in full on 25 January 2021.

The work has continued to ensure we deliver a safe hospital and that will remain the priority of this project. We are aware this upcoming move will taking place over winter and expect NHS Lothian to fully support staff throughout this period.

The work of the Citizen’s Assembly for Scotland was suspended at the outbreak of COVID-19 in March. The Convener will announce today that the Assembly will resume its activities in an online format from 12 August and intends to complete its work by the end of this year. The Assembly has a unique contribution to make in helping inform Scotland’s strategy for renewal after the current crisis, and I look forward to receiving its report and recommendations.

Following the significant progress of the Programme Director, Project Team, contractors and the staff of NHS Lothian, we are now in a position to continue the phased moves to the new hospital.

From July, a number of children’s outpatient services will move to the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People at the same time as remaining services from the Department of Clinical Neurosciences complete their move.

This phased move will see some Children’s outpatient services, including Neurology and Orthopaedics migrate, along with a number of administrative support staff. The plan, which has been agreed with the full involvement of clinical teams and staff side representatives, will not only help to free up space at the existing Royal Hospital for Sick Children site, but will enable NHS Lothian to continue to deliver quality paediatric clinics adhering and supporting social distancing.

The final phase of the move of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences will also take place in mid-July. This will see inpatient Neurosurgery and Neurology wards, along with Neurosurgery Theatres and Interventional Neuro-Radiology relocated to their new home.

I informed Parliament in May that COVID-19 may adversely affect the timeline of the project. We now know that COVID-19 is impacting on supply chains and the pace of work, as contractors need to observe safe physical distancing, but at present the work is progressing on track and the original timeline remains.

I halted the move to the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in July 2019, on the utmost priority of patient safety. There continues to be significant positive progress which has led to NHS Lothian taking occupancy of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences in May.

I have been informed by NHS Lothian that due to complexities with the remaining work and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this has led to possible changes to the delivery of the programme of works to address the issues of patient safety in haemato – oncology. NHS Lothian is working closely with IHSL to ensure delivery of the programme as close to the timeframe of a full handover in Autumn 2020, but this timeframe is now under review. A refreshed programme is likely to be available during the second half of May and I will of course keep Parliament updated.

At the end of January this year we amended the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Scotland) Regulations 1989, to ensure that anyone seeking treatment for coronavirus in Scotland, regardless of their nationality or immigration status, is entitled to receive such treatment without charge. This is regardless of whether or not they have approached the NHS for healthcare in the past. They should follow the national guidance on accessing coronavirus treatment in exactly the same way as those who are ordinarily resident in Scotland.

The provision of healthcare in Scotland is, of course a matter for the Scottish Government and is in no way linked to immigration, which, at this time, is the responsibility of the Home Office. Anyone who requires urgent or immediate NHS treatment in Scotland will receive it, regardless of their ability to pay when charges apply. And there is no question of their details being passed to the Home Office by NHS Scotland for immigration enforcement purposes.

My officials have updated the Scottish Covid-19 guidance on the Scottish Government and NHSinform web pages to further highlight that coronavirus treatment is available to everyone without charge, and that our NHS, which is focused on saving lives and containing Covid-19, does not share patients’ details with the Home Office for immigration enforcement purposes. This information will also be relayed to third sector organisations that support migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and others who may be reluctant to seek NHS treatment for whatever reason.

The Programme Director and NHS Lothian have continued to work positively with contractors to address the actions identified in both NSS reports, which were subsequently published in 2019 following the announcement of halting the move.

This progress has resulted in NHS Lothian being able to confirm an intended draft timetable. On 9 April 2020, subject to a number of factors, NHS Lothian intend to confirm moving the Department of Clinical Neurosciences from 25 May 2020 for completion by 31 May 2020. The Programme Director and Oversight Board chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer, will continue to work with clinical staff and the Area Partnership Forum to closely monitor works completion up to that date and to mitigate any works that may be outstanding.

We continue to work to the timescale of moving the full hospital into the new site in Autumn 2020.

The Scottish Government is clear in our engagement with Boards that patients should be assessed according to their clinical need. Our expectation is that those who need immediate necessary treatment will receive that care quickly and in line with clinical guidance.

On Monday I announced that we will be taking forward a national review of eating disorder services in Scotland. The review will publish in spring next year and will provide a full picture of the current support available for those with an eating disorder. It will also make recommendations to inform further improvement work.

I am pleased to inform colleagues that the Just Transition Commission have published their interim report. I am grateful to the Commission for the work it has undertaken to date.

This is an important report and is timely given the work currently underway to set out how we will meet our new targets in the updated Climate Change Plan.

The Commission are clear in their report that securing the economic and social opportunities associated with the net-zero transition will require careful planning and partnership working between Government, industry, workers and communities in the years ahead.

Ensuring fairness will be extremely challenging as we rapidly decarbonise our economy. Given the complexity of the issues at play, the Scottish Government is taking time to carefully reflect on the report findings.

In April we will publish an update to the Climate Change Plan which will outline our plans to reduce emissions in line with our revised targets and start to demonstrate how this Government is placing a just transition at the heart of our transition to a net-zero economy.

The Just Transition Commission are due to report with their final recommendations to Ministers by January 2021. We look forward to further advice from the Commission and working with them on this vital issue in the year ahead.