Chamber and committees

Scottish sites are actively enrolling patients into trials of drugs to treat COVID-19, principally through the RECOVERY (Randomised Evaluation of COVID Therapy) Trial. As part of international efforts to co-ordinate and accelerate COVID-19 research, data between international studies will be combined.

Officials are in regular contact with all Scottish airports and sea-ports throughout COVID-19 outbreak.

I can confirm that at the time this question was issued (16 March) all airports were displaying the latest posters as agreed with Public Health England and Health Protection Scotland.

Guidance at that time related to international points of entry only, so UK passenger sea-ports such as Stranraer-Larne or Scottish Island services were not required to exhibit guidance.

We will continue to work with ports and airports to ensure the latest advice is displayed for the safety of all passengers and staff.

In order to make best use of available testing capacity we have identified three priorities for testing, these are: to direct our testing capacity effectively to save lives and protect the vulnerable; to ensure that critical staff can return to work as soon as possible and to monitor and report on the spread and prevalence of the virus in the population and the impact of public health measures. Testing is therefore prioritised in hospitals and to enable essential workers in health and social care to return to work.

The Scottish Ambulance Service respond to and prioritise all calls based on patients condition, state of vulnerability and perceived level of risk. The maximum response time in the West Dumbartonshire area for the most serious calls in the last quarter was 11 minutes 1 second.

Between 1 January and 31 March 2019

(a) 1 care home was issued with an improvement notice.

(b) No care homes had conditions applied.

(c) No care homes had their registration cancelled.

Between 1 January and 31 March 2020

(a) No care homes were issued with an improvement notice.

(b) No care homes had conditions applied.

(c) No care homes had their registration cancelled.

In April 2019

(a) 1 care home was issued with an improvement notice.

(b) No care homes had conditions applied.

(c) No care homes had their registration cancelled.

Data for April 2020 is not yet published by the Care Inspectorate.

The Scottish Government is working closely with all NHS Boards, including Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) to respond to the additional demands arising from the current unprecedented emergency. This includes provision of additional funding from the Scottish Government to support agreed local plans, and SAS will be supported by this. We will continue our regular engagement with Boards, with local plans being updated and reviewed on a weekly basis. In addition, the Scottish Government is managing centrally funded initiatives, including provision of personal protective equipment and support to GPs.

The Scottish Government has taken urgent action to provide significant financial and practical support across NHS Scotland due to Covid-19. The circumstances demand a coordinated UK response and we are continuing to work closely with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations on funding requirements and arrangements.

SAS has used this funding to support a number of key areas, including enhancing its air transfer capacity through procurement of additional aircrafts from Loganair, and procurement of Epishuttle isolation pods for safe air transfer of patients.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28392 on 13 May 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 safety of our health and social care workforce is an absolute priority, and we are continuously looking to improve the distribution of the protective equipment that is so vital in the fight against COVID-19. All care home owners have a responsibility to meet the requirements of their Care Inspectorate Registration. This includes providing the relevant PPE and training to their staff members.

In the context of COVID-19, whilst care homes have their own supply routes we took early steps to ensure PPE requirements could be met should these "normal business" routes fail.

We know have two national routes to support normal procurement of PPE by Health and Social Care Partnerships and providers for social care – a dedicated PPE triage helpline, and deliveries of PPE to local cluster points for onward distribution or collection by social care providers. Care Inspectorate registered service providers are required to call the triage helpline if they are working with COVID-19 suspected or confirmed cases and cannot get PPE through their normal routes.

We have also ensured a direct delivery of PPE to care homes across Scotland where needed, to help meet the increased demand caused by this pandemic. These direct deliveries of PPE started on Sunday 19 April and prioritised those care homes with known outbreaks of the virus. This will be reviewed on information supplied by care homes on their own supply of PPE stock. Stock will also continue to be provided to the local hubs which supply PPE to the social care workforce.

We continue to closely monitor the supply and distribution of PPE to those working in social care and will take action where necessary to ensure safety and well being of the social care workforce.

For any infection, the percentage of the population required to achieve herd immunity is generally very high and often well above 90%. However, we do not yet know enough about the new Coronavirus infection to be able to estimate accurately what percentage would be necessary to achieve and to sustain herd immunity in the long term. Herd immunity is likely to occur as more people are infected with the disease or are vaccinated against it. As there is no current vaccine for covid-19, herd immunity is not part of our strategy for combatting the disease.

We have no record of invitations to any COBR meetings in 2019.

The Scottish Government can only comment on COBR meetings we are made aware of by the UK Government.

In 2020, as of 30 April, Scottish Government ministers have been invited to take part in 16 ministerial COBR meetings. The First Minister attended ten of these – from 2 March, and has attended every meeting held since 4 March. On other occasions, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and the Minister for Mental Health attended to represent the Scottish Government. I have also attended some of the meetings set out below.

COBR meetings we are aware of took place on

Friday 24 January

Wednesday 29 January

Wednesday 5 February

Tuesday 18 February

Wednesday 26 February

Monday 2 March

Wednesday 4 March

Monday 9 March

Wednesday 11 march

Thursday 12 March

Monday 16 March

Wednesday 18 March

Friday 20 March

Monday 23 March

Thursday 9 April

Thursday 16 April