Chamber and committees

In May 2020, Health Protection Scotland carried out a Rapid Review of Literature: 'Assessing the infection prevention and control measures for the prevention and management of COVID-19 in health and care settings', which identified that, currently there is no clear evidence of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

This is published on the HPS web site, https://hpspubsrepo.blob.core.windows.net/
hps-website/nss/2985/documents/1_covid-19-rapid-review-ipc-for-covid-19.pdf .

The current view of the UK experts considering such matters is that air conditioning may reduce potential risk through dilution of contaminants, rather than contribute to the spread of COVID-19. Ventilation (air conditioning) has very limited effects on short-range aerosol/droplet and contact transmission, which are believed to be the main transmission routes. No specific research is planned on the contribution of air conditioning to the spread, however, emerging literature is being monitored.

The Scottish Government does not centrally collect information or data relating to the use of Do Not Attempt Cardiovascular Resuscitation (DNACPR) forms in hospitals.

As with all other clinical treatments, decisions about CPR should be based on the individual clinical circumstances and wishes of the patient, recorded appropriately and updated when medical circumstances change. This recording is done in hard copy on a DNACPR form, the existence of which is then recorded on an individual’s Key Information Summary. Such information is only shared for the purposes of direct care and is therefore not centrally collected.

On the 10 April, the Chief Medical Officer, Chair of the Scottish General Practitioners Committee of the BMA and Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) wrote to GPs to provide advice and support on having anticipatory care planning conversations and to make clear that there is no requirement for health professionals to have a DNACPR discussion as part of this conversation, unless the patient wishes to discuss it or clinician feels strongly it is necessary to raise in conversation for the patient’s wellbeing. On the 17 April, a further joint letter from the Scottish Government’s Chief Medical Officer, BMA and RCGP was sent to GPs to reinforce the advice already provided.

There has been no change to the guidance on the use of Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary (DNACPR) forms during the Covid 19 outbreak. As such, the Scottish Government has not formally consulted with professional representational organisations on the existing DNACPR guidance during the Covid 19 outbreak.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with a wide variety of professional groups and organisations in responding to the challenges posed by the Covid 19 outbreak.

The Scottish Government has made available additional funding for frontline Boards of £333 million through the Scottish Budget, and this has now been allocated in full to support our health and care services. This funding is detailed in the table below and will be prioritised towards responding to Covid-19 and will ensure that patient safety remains the top priority.

The Scottish Government has published in its Summer Budget Revision the details of the £620 million in health and social care COVID-19 consequentials that have been received so far, and that have been allocated in full to support our frontline health and care services. In addition, we remain in close contact with the UK Government to ensure that the NHS receives whatever resources it needs, in line with the commitment made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Clinical advice on admitting people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to hospital is included in a range of clinical guidance that has been published on the Scottish Government website - https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-clinical-advice/ .

A relaxation of restrictions on home moves is anticipated in phase 2 of the recovery plan, as set out in Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis , published on 21 May. Restrictions will only be relaxed if the virus remains suppressed and the evidence allows us to do so. During phase 1, surveyors should continue to follow the Scottish Government guidance published on 31 March: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19
-guidance-moving-home/ .

We are working with a wide range of stakeholders through our Home Moves in Scotland Working Group, including the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, to develop revised guidance for phase 2.

There has been no change to the guidance on the use of Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary (DNACPR) forms during the Covid 19 outbreak. As such, the Scottish Government has not sought legal advice on the existing DNACPR guidance during the Covid 19 outbreak.

In 2016, the DNACPR policy was reviewed to reflect feedback and changes in the national good practice guidance which remains current (Decisions Relating to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - guidance from the British Medical Association, Royal College of Nursing and the Resuscitation Council ( UK) - 2016). This policy also takes into account relevant legal changes resulting from case law and therefore specialist legal advice was provided as part of the formation of the policy.

There have been 441 retired medics who have expressed an interest in returning to support the NHS as a doctor during the COVID-19 outbreak through the Accelerated Recruitment Portal.

This information is based on self-declarations and may be subject to revision as formal pre-employment checks are carried out.

This figure does not include retired medics who may have expressed their interest directly with an NHS Board, as these figures are not held centrally. This also does not include retired medics who expressed an interest in non patient clinical roles.

This information is not held centrally. The member can obtain this information by contacting the Information Services Division.