Chamber and committees

Health boards have been routinely testing healthcare workers in key areas (oncology, long stay elderly care and mental health wards where the length of stay is over three months) since 8 July.

The Scottish Government has been working closely with Health Boards to develop key data on the testing of NHS staff. This data is collected by the Scottish Government at board level only and includes all eligible staff across these three key areas. It is not collected by hospital or role.

This data was published for the first time by Public Health Scotland (PHS) on Wednesday 18 November and included the number of eligible staff, staff tested, positive results and positivity rates. Subsequent weekly publications, starting from Wednesday 25 November, will include this data and also the number of staff who have declined, or not tested (for operational reasons or with no reason given).

Data published on 18 November shows 6,791 healthcare workers were tested.

Data published on 25 November shows 6,495 healthcare workers were tested and 161 actively declined.

Data published on 2 December shows 6,731 healthcare workers were tested and 151 actively declined.

Data published on 9 December shows 6,564 healthcare workers were tested and 190 actively declined.

Data is available from PHS COVID-19 Statistical Report - Management Information Statistics at: COVID-19 statistical report 9 December 2020 - Data & intelligence from PHS (isdscotland.org)

Unlike previous funds which have been targeted towards specific groups or sectors impacted by COVID-19, this fund seeks to empower local authorities to direct additional financial support to specific groups or sectors within the business community where this is required. As such councils will have their own distinct application processes which will open at different times and so I am unable to provide a specific date when the discretionary fund will open.

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance has announced an additional £185 million package of support for businesses which included £19 million in funding specifically for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers. This fund will be available in January.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33864 on 17 December 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The management of asbestos in buildings is a reserved matter for the UK Government rather than the Scottish Government. It is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Further enquiries can be made by contacting Archie Mitchell, Head of Asbestos Licensing Unit at HSE.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33864 on 17 December 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

I refer to my previous answer in S5W-32799 and reiterate that an evidence paper is currently being prepared and will be published as soon as possible.

Under our Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland’s Strategic Framework ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/covid-19-scotlands-strategic-framework/ ) an area is considered for Level 4 when it broadly meets one of the following conditions:

1. More than 300 cases of covid-19 over 7 days per 100,000 people for the local authority.

2. Over 10% positive tests over 7 days for the local authority – twice the rate for national concern given by the World Health Organisation.

3. Probability over 75% of 500 cases over 7 days per 100,000 forecast for the local authority in two weeks’ time.

4. The projection of hospital bed use in the health board in three weeks’ time is greater than the health board’s estimated capacity.

5. The projection of ICU bed use in the health board in two weeks’ time is greater than twice its normal capacity.

This data is also considered alongside other local, regional and national factors, including an assessment of the Four Harms, which include wider health, societal and economic impacts, as well as consideration of rates in neighbouring areas.

That data, together with the view of the National IMT and the recommendations of our Senior Clinical Advisers and considered by the Government who reach an evaluative judgement on the necessary steps to be taken for all local authority areas.

The evidence behind each review is provided on the Scottish Government’s website, with that for the review on which Ministers made the decision to put Local Authorities into Level 4 at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-allocation-of-levels-to-local-authorities-17-november-2020/ .

On 29 September, the Scottish Government confirmed additional funding of £1.1 billion across NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships to help them meet COVID-19 related costs and remobilisation of services.

We are working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Royal College of GPs in developing a clinical guideline on the persistent effects of COVID-19. This guideline, which will be published shortly, will support GPs and clinicians in identifying ongoing symptoms and provide a definition of best practice investigation and treatment options to support individuals suffering.

The guideline work and our deepening understanding of the symptoms and impact of long COVID-19 will help us continue to tailor the holistic diagnosis and the treatment which patients need. Work is underway in discussion with RCGP and others and led by our Deputy National Clinical Director to establish a clear diagnostic and clinical pathway, drawing together relevant specialists but with the general practice as the key interface, with the patient and secondary care.

The knowledge and expertise within our NHS in Scotland is already delivering care tailored to the individual needs of people who are unfortunately experiencing longer term symptoms of Covid-19 infection. This care is across a wide range of specialisms as appropriate.

We have now committed £570 million to support businesses between October 2020 and March 2021 which includes the £185 million announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance on 9 December. This is comprised of the strategic framework business fund, local business support packages, the newly self-employed hardship fund and local authority discretionary business funding.

Our Strategic Framework Business Fund has been specifically designed to respond to the differing restrictions that are placed on businesses in accordance with the Protection Levels as set out in the Strategic Framework. As such businesses are eligible for a higher level of financial support (up to £3,000 every four weeks) if they are required to close due to COVID-19 regulations compared to what they receive if their operations are restricted by regulation (up to £2,100 every four weeks). As Protection Level 4 mandates the closure of non-essential retail, these businesses will automatically receive financial support in order to assist them with the costs that they incur while closed.

In discussion with CoSLA we have also ring-fenced £5 million of the £30 million Local Authority Discretionary Fund specifically for allocation to local authorities in subject to Tier 4 restrictions between 20 November and 11 December in recognition of the additional challenges they are experiencing as a result of being subject tighter restrictions. Unlike previous funds which have been targeted towards specific groups or sectors impacted by COVID-19, the Discretionary Fund seeks to empower local authorities to direct additional financial support to specific groups or sectors within the business community where this is required. This recognises the insight that councils have on the business community in their area and where funding would be most effectively deployed in supporting local economies.

We recognise that we cannot make up for all of the losses experienced by businesses due to COVID-19 restrictions within the funding we have available, we hope that the support provided through the funds set out above as well as the additional £185 million announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance on 8 December will support businesses to weather the challenging months that lie ahead.

We aim to be in a position to announce the funding decisions by late December 2020.