Chamber and committees

Based on the latest range of estimates provided to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), the Scottish Government believes the R value to currently lie between 0.7 and 1.0.

The models used to produce these figures use data at a national level and therefore this figure cannot broken down by NHS board.

Number of "excess deaths" registered in Scotland, from 16 March 2020 (the week in which the first COVID-19 death in Scotland was registered) 10 May (latest available data, used in the 13 May 2020 “Deaths involving Coronavirus in Scotland” publication), inclusive (ie weeks 12 to 19, inclusive) – compared with the average number of deaths registered in the corresponding weeks of the previous five years.

The Scottish Government, along with the rest of the UK, is advised on all aspects of screening by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group. Due to a lack of evidence to support the use of the screen tests within a population screening programme, the UK NSC do not currently recommend screening for lung cancer. However, screening for lung cancer is included as part of the United Kingdom National Screening Committee’s (UK NSC) 2020-21 work plan, and they will look at the offer to screen for lung cancer using low dose computed tomography (CT) screening. The UK NSC is reviewing this condition in light of the recent publication of the NELSON trial results which used CT screening former and current smokers ( https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1911793 ).

The Scottish Government is currently exploring what further opportunities exist for Scotland to contribute to the emerging evidence base.

Chief Scientist Office recently awarded funding for: ‘How Should Scotland Respond To The Challenge Of Lung Cancer Screening? A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study’. This two year study led by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with researchers at the Universities of Dundee, Glasgow and St Andrews and NHS Lothian aims to examine how to best identify those at highest risk of lung cancer in the Scottish population, offer them a medical check on their ‘lung health’, and screening using Computed Tomography (CT) if their risk of cancer is high enough. It will also look at how acceptable people find this kind of screening, and how processes could be improved to meet the needs of the Scottish population, and include a preliminary health economic analysis. However, work on this project, like many research studies, has been paused because of the restrictions in place to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

Alongside this, the Detect Cancer Early programme is a fantastic example of the progress this Government has made already. Since the Detect Cancer Early programme began, we have seen a 38.1% increase in stage one diagnosis in the most deprived areas of Scotland. However, there is still an unmet need around Scotland’s lung cancer rates, we will this year make significant investment through our Detect Cancer Early programme to develop a new symptom awareness campaign for lung cancer.

It is important that frontline staff receive the protective equipment they require. NHS National Services Scotland, with the support of Scottish Government and other national agencies, are working hard to ensure a continued supply of the right equipment across a range of sizes.

NSS have an agreement in place with a Scottish company to manufacture FFP3 respirators across a range of face sizes, including those suitable for female employees.

A national pandemic stockpile of PPE was maintained prior to the outbreak of Covid-19. Neither gowns nor visors formed part of that.

NHS National Services Scotland has lead responsibility for the procurement of PPE on behalf of health and social care users in Scotland. NSS have ensured that there are sufficient stocks of key items, such as gowns and visors, to meet current and projected levels of demand.

In parallel, the Scottish Government is working with a range of partners to build a ‘Manufactured in Scotland’ PPE supply-chain to provide security of supply for the future. As part of this, Alpha Solway are currently producing 20,000 visors per day at their plant in Annan as part of a large-scale order for the NHS.

This information is not held centrally, but is held by individual health boards. Please contact individual health boards for the information you are looking for.

A number of additional measures have been introduced to ensure that sufficient fit testing is in place. Prior to March, there were 15 fit-test machines in place across Scotland’s health boards. An additional 22 machines have since been purchased to bolster fit testing capacity. Health Boards are being supported, through the provision of seven accredited fit test contractors and additional qualitative test kits. An expert user group has also been established to share best practice and identify issues across Health Boards.

Access to controlled drugs under the Controlled Drugs (Supervision and Management of Use) Regulations are reserved to the UK Government, and the Scottish Government has no direct powers to alter their status.

In terms of access to medicines in the community during COVID-19, nominated representatives (such as family members) can collect dispensed medication, including Controlled Drugs, with the patient’s written consent. Only the patient (not the prescriber) can authorise someone to collect on their behalf. No amendment is required to the prescription. Pharmacists are advised to receive written authorisation from the patient however, they can use their discretion as to whether to accept a phone call from the patient in exceptional circumstances. The person collecting is acting as the “patient’s agent” and it is this authorisation that allows them to legally possess a Controlled Drug that has not been prescribed to them. Collection by a nominated representative also extends to health service staff, Police etc. The pharmacist will make a record of who has collected the controlled drug on behalf of the patient.

The Scottish Government advised Parliament on 30 March that the pause to the breast, bowel and cervical screening programmes is temporary and would be reviewed after 12 weeks, or earlier if indicated by the evidence. Each screening programme has a programme board which is meeting virtually during this time to urgently commence planning for the restarting of screening.

This planning is based on consideration of:

• participant and population safety, which must be the overriding consideration;
• the clinical prioritisation of people at highest risk;
• the operation of the whole screening pathway, from screening through to diagnostics and treatment;
• clinical safety and person centred standards; and
• system capacity and the control measures that require to be in place as part of the wider management of Covid-19.

We continue to advise the public that it is important for those in between screening appointments or awaiting a rescheduled appointment to be aware of any symptoms or signs of the conditions screened for. More information is available at http://www.nhsinform.scot/screening . Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their GP practice immediately.

The Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is the primary business support scheme available to self-employed people. It is a UK Government scheme, and therefore the Scottish Government have no power to discount periods of maternity leave for the purpose of calculating support. The only scheme administered by the Scottish Government offering specific self-employed business support is the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund (NSEHF) launched on 30 April, which is intended to provide support for people who have recently become self-employed and are experiencing hardship. The NSEHF is not based on profits as it pays out a flat-rate grant. Therefore someone who had lower profits due to maternity leave would not be disadvantaged.

We recognise that the schemes and supports currently in place do not fully cover the circumstances of all workers and all businesses and we continue to work to identify gaps, to engage with the UK Government appropriately where these exist and to use what powers we do have to meet unmet needs. Maternity benefits (Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance) however, remain a reserved matter for the UK Government. For as long as employment law remains reserved, we will continue to press the UK Government for the devolution of full employment powers.