Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28817 on 1 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 Scottish Government set a target to have the daily lab capacity for 3500 tests by the end of April 2020. Maximum NHS testing capacity as of 1 May was 4,350 tests a day and has increased since that date.

 The Scottish Government does not routinely publish advice to Ministers of this kind. The remit, membership and minutes of the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group, which considers the scientific and technical concepts and processes that are key to understanding the evolving COVID-19 situation and potential impacts in Scotland, can be found at the following link.

https://www.gov.scot/groups/scottish-government-covid-19-advisory-group/

The operation of the statutory framework for lobbying is a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Government proactively publishes details of all Ministerial meetings. This information can be found at the following link https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/ .

The Scottish Government's focus is currently on tackling the disease, its impact on our society and how we might safely ease the country's lockdown restrictions. This will continue to be our priority. It is right that a process of scrutiny should takes place once it is possible to determine the scope and scale of such a process. Scottish Ministers will carefully consider the most appropriate options for doing so in the fullness of time so that lessons can be learned.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28658 on 18 May 2020 ; advice and guidance on moving into lockdown in response to the Covid-19 outbreak was received through SAGE, COBR, and the Scottish CMO and all decisions were made on the scientific and medical advice.

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

It is important that we acknowledge the role and sacrifice made by key workers and others during the COVID-19 pandemic. The First Minister stresses this in her daily briefings and also notes the personal loss that is experienced by friends and family to those who have tragically lost their lives.

The Scottish Government’s focus is currently on tackling the disease, its impact on our society and how we might safely ease the country’s current lockdown restrictions. In the fullness of time, we will consider what would be an appropriate and meaningful way for the nation to pay its respects.

Reducing delayed discharge is a long standing objective given the clinical benefit to patients. Following the Covid-19 outbreak the Scottish Government commenced the collection of daily delayed discharge management information from Health and Social Care Partnerships. Since recording began on 4 March over 1,000 patients whose discharge was delayed were discharged from hospital to a community setting, a 63% reduction (as at 30 April 2020).

This information does not include destination on discharge. However, based on data collected by Public Health Scotland for the February Delayed Discharge census returns suggests that around 71% of delayed discharges return to their own home, and 29% are admitted to a care home. Local information from Health and Social Care Partnerships suggests this trend has continued through the current crisis, albeit there may be some people who move temporarily to care homes before returning home.

Figures for calendar month February 2020 are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Number of discharges following a period of delay where the delay reason was awaiting completion of care arrangements or place availability 1 ; Calendar month February 2020

The hospital is currently undergoing construction work to address the issues identified in both NSS reports I published in 2019.

Please find attached links to both National Service Scotland Reports:

Phase 1 – https://www.gov.scot/publications/nhs-national-services-scotland-review-water-ventilation-drainage-plumbing-systems-nhs-lothian-royal-hospital-children-young-people-department-clinical-neurosciences/

Phase 2 – https://www.gov.scot/publications/nhs-lothian-royal-hospital-children-young-people-department-clinical-neurosciences-review-fire-systems-electrical-systems-medical-gas-installations/