Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Public Health Scotland publishes weekly statistical information on the Test and Protect system every Wednesday. The most recent publication is available at:

https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/population-health/covid-19/covid-19-statistical-report/ .

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that those living with respiratory conditions can access clinically appropriate, safe and effective person-centred healthcare treatment and support.

The draft Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland contains a set of commitments to drive improvement in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnoea, bronchiectasis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

As we continue to develop our understanding of the impact that Covid-19 has had on the health of the people of Scotland, including those that have developed long-term respiratory problems as a result of contracting Covid-19, the final Respiratory Care Action Plan will play a key role in responding to the implications and consequences for many aspects of respiratory care going forward.

It is not possible to definitively quantify the current CT scanning capacity as it is not a fixed number but is dependent on the daily availability of equipment and staff which has been affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, diagnostic services have been running at reduced capacity levels, as Health Boards take account of Covid-19 related physical distancing and additional health and hygiene measures for staff and patients as they provide these services.

During the pandemic, Diagnostic Imaging services have continued to be provided for urgent referrals, and all those who have an urgent suspicion of cancer.

To support the recovery of diagnostic services additional mobile CT and MRI capacity has been secured to support the existing services which are operating at reduced levels due to the requirements of PPE and physical distancing. This capacity will be available for six months and will provide an additional 15,000 CT and 11,000 MRI scans.

We will continually review the advice for people shielding, and we will make further changes, if , and when, it is safe to do so. We will provide further advice on how long people will be advised to shield before the end of July, as set out in the document, “Shielding: a way forward for Scotland”, published on 8 June 2020.

The Scottish Government has no role in individuals’ power of attorney arrangements.

Where an individual has concerns about handling of a power of attorney, these are dealt with via local authorities’ and NHS complaints procedures, and through the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman if necessary.

Where a local authority or Health Board has concerns about the decision of an attorney with relevant powers, they can apply for directions from the Sheriff under section 3 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. If concerns persist, the local authority can apply to the Sheriff to appoint the Chief Social Work Officer as welfare guardian to replace the attorney.

The Scottish Arthroplasty Project https://www.arthro.scot.nhs.uk/ will publish their annual report providing information on the numbers of hip and knee replacement surgeries taking place during 2019 in September 2020. As there is less than 12 weeks before publication data release of this information is currently embargoed.

The investigation into the safety and operation of the A702/A703/Old Pentland Road junction has identified a number of options to reduce vehicular conflict at this location. As the A703 and Old Pentland Road are the responsibility of Midlothian Council, Transport Scotland is collaborating with them to ensure effects on the trunk and local road networks from potential interventions are fully considered.

The site constraints at this location are extremely challenging, with topography and the presence of adjacent housing making it difficult to develop a solution that would meet current design standards. Improvements are therefore likely to be complex and further investigation will be required to understand their feasibility and buildability. Improvements may also require public consultation, with any objections to proposals having potential to delay or curtail alterations to the junctions.

Once a preferred option has been confirmed by Transport Scotland, following engagement with Midlothian Council, delivery will then be subject to prioritisation with other road safety schemes in the South East trunk road area, and the availability of sufficient funding for a scheme of this scale.

The information that is available is given in the following table, which was supplied by National Records of Scotland (NRS). The figures were produced from NRS’s records of the deaths that were registered in Scotland in each year. The latest year for which NRS’s statistical data on causes of death have been finalised, and a definitive breakdown of the numbers of deaths by cause can be provided, is 2018.

In this answer, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been taken to refer to thrombosis of the deep veins of the leg. Deaths from DVT frequently occur from complications of the DVT, principally pulmonary embolism, so deaths from pulmonary embolism have been included in these figures.

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) system, which is used in the UK to classify deaths, does not allow deep venous thrombosis to be separated from phlebitis (inflammation of a vein), so these figures may include a small number of deaths due to phlebitis.

Deaths attributed to deep vein thrombosis (DVT)* registered in Scotland, 2014 to 2018

I refer the member to the answer to question number S5W-29356 on 10 July 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.

The Scottish Charity Register is maintained by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and charities registered are required to submit their accounts to OSCR. OSCR operates independently of the Scottish Government and Scottish Ministers are not accountable for OSCR’s operations. The Member is invited to refer the question to OSCR.