Chamber and committees

We are not aware of any evidence from worldwide literature that we are aware of that suggest that air conditioning systems spread COVID-19, however we recognise that our understanding of COVID-19 continues to grow and expand and we will continue to review new evidence as it becomes available.

Air conditioning and ventilation systems in hospitals are designed and operated to reduce the spread of airborne infection of many types. The guidance followed across the NHS is published on the Health Facilities Scotland web site:

http://www.hfs.scot.nhs.uk/publications/1475762746-
SHTM%2003-01%20V2%20Part%20A.pdf.

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.

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.

In the year to 30 June 2021, there are projected to be 51,100 births in Scotland.

1. The data is sourced from the most recent national population projections published by National Records of Scotland (NRS), which use the mid-2018 population estimates as its base population. The projections are calculated using demographic assumptions (on future levels of births, deaths and migration) based on past trends.

2. The projected number of future births are not exact forecasts and so will differ to some extent from the actual number of births.

3. The latest weekly and monthly data on births, up to April 2020, is available from the NRS website at: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/general-publications/weekly-and-monthly-data-on-
births-and-deaths-registered-in-scotland

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/ .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29407 on 10 June 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 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.

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

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.