Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-32270

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is issued to NHS boards regarding carrying out risk assessments for staff (a) working in close proximity with and (b) treating people who (i) are suspected as having and (ii) have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

1. On 21 August, new UK Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) remobilisation guidance for health and care settings was published. The guidance outlines key COVID-19 IPC measures such as the appropriate use of PPE, extended use of face masks and coverings, physical distancing, and outbreak management, as well as risk assessed patient care pathway scenarios to help guide the implementation of measures for safe and effective care.

2 Patients in medium or high risk pathways need to wear Fluid Resistant (Type IIR) Surgical Mask if this can be tolerated and does not compromise their care.

3 As part of remobilisation, Health Facilities Scotland have provided diagrammatic guidance to support health and social care to ensure physical distancing of 2m can be maintained in terms of bed, chair and desk spacing. This guidance uses a risk-based approach in terms of reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to staff, patients and visitors using the hierarchy of risk control as legislated by the HSE.

4 More generally, NHS Boards have access to a risk assessment and guidance tool which helps both the employer and individual understand the workplace and individual risks.

5 We are aware that there is emerging evidence that people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background may be disproportionately affected by COVID19. The COVID-19 Occupational Risk Assessment Guidance, published on the Scottish Government website on 4 September, uses multiple personal characteristics including age, sex, ethnicity, BMI and underlying health conditions, to give an overall assessment of the the vulnerability of a member of staff. This will support managers to have supportive discussions with their staff members around their individual risk from COVID-19 in an occupational context.

Question reference: S5F-04478

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 October 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-32277

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many PPE items have had their expiry date changed since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, broken down by the (a) type of product and (b) (i) original and (ii) revised expiry date.

Details are as follows:

Product	Manufacturer	Original expiry date	Revised expiry date	Approx. Quantity
FFP3 respirators	3M	2016	March 2021	1,772,189
FFP3 respirators	Alpha Solway	2012	March 2021	106,776

Source: NHS NSS

Two groups of FFP3 respirators have been tested and revalidated as part of UK-wide laboratory testing, organised by the Department for Health and Social Care. In March 2020, tests show the FFP3 respirators in question still complied with the EN149 standard, which is endorsed by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties Scotland.

Revalidating stock and thereby extending the shelf-life of masks is standard practice to ensure supply of critical equipment to front line staff during crises. All revalidated PPE is required to meet the same standards and subjected to the same tests as equipment that is being tested for the first time.

Question reference: S5W-32260

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what concerns have been raised with Ministers by (a) health professionals and (b) trade unions regarding the surgical type two face masks being used by staff, and what action it has taken to rectify any problems.

1. In Scotland, we use Fluid Resistant Surgical Masks (FRSM), also known as Type IIR masks, which are different from Type II in that they provide protection for the staff member as well as 98% source control.

2. Staff are protected should they be caring for someone who is infectious but not wearing a mask and they are also protecting the person they are looking for if they themselves are isolating either pre or asymptomatically.

3. We are the only nation in the UK who have taken the approach in using FRSMs as part of the extended facemask use guidance for health and social care staff.

4. The Scottish Government holds a regular forum with a range of stakeholders including staff side representation which provides an opportunity for any issues with regard to PPE to be raised. In addition we also respond directly to correspondence received from both individuals and organisations.

Question reference: S5W-32281

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the absence rate has been for NHS staff who have been wearing (a) a surgical type two, (b) an FFP2 and (c) FFP3 face mask when treating people with COVID-19.

The Scottish Government has collected, monitored and published data on NHS staff absences since the outbreak of this pandemic. Data is continually collated from Health Boards on overall absences in the NHS workforce, as well as on the number and rate of absences associated with Covid-19. Covid-19-related absences are recorded on staff displaying symptoms, self-isolating, confirmed to have Covid-19, Covid-19-related caring responsibilities and those contacted by tracers and told to isolate for 14 days.

For the week 30 September – 6 October 2020, a daily average of 1.0% of the workforce were recorded absent for reasons related to Covid-19. The rate of Covid-19 related absence has been steady and decreasing in recent months, with a rate below 2% since late July and below 4% since early May. We will continue to pay close attention to staff absence data in the coming months.

This data does not include whether NHS staff have been wearing (a) a surgical type two, (b) FFP2 and (c) FFP3 face masks when treating people with Covid-19.

Question reference: S5W-32261

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether surgical type two face masks protect the wearer from exposure to the COVID-19 virus and, if so, how.

1. The evidence is that COVID-19 is mainly spread via droplets and contact with contaminated hands or environment. The Fluid Resistant (Type IIR) Surgical Mask (FRSM) confers 98% source control against droplet transmission.

2. The principle measures to control the spread of COVID-19 remain as hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene - including extended face mask use - and physical distancing.

3. The FRSM should always be worn when health and social care workers are in close contact with their patients/clients/residents and the fluid resistant nature of the fabric means that the droplet cannot penetrate. It’s imperative that they are applied appropriately, fitted around the nose, under the chin and either tied at the back of the head or kept in place with ear loops.

Question reference: S5W-32266

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a cough, by definition, produces an aerosol.

1. Both the UK Government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) and Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have given careful consideration to the available evidence and, during the course of the pandemic, have reviewed what should be considered an AGP.

2. Coughing has been reviewed by NERVTAG and is not considered an aerosol generating procedure (AGP).

3. A new UK AGP Panel Chaired by Professor Jacqui Reilly has been convened. Its purpose is to provide practical and scientific advice to the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on specific high risk AGPs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, by assessing the evidence on aerosol generating procedures, taking into account the potential route of transmission, for complex and unclear cases where there are differing views, and recommend the appropriate classification. This panel will replace the current NERVTAG group.

Question reference: S5W-32279

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is of (a) a surgical type two, (b) an FFP2 and (c) FFP3 face mask, and whether this is a factor in determining whether to distribute this type of equipment to NHS staff.

Decisions on which type of PPE to use in different settings are based on clinical guidance, and as an employer the NHS is, under health and safety law, responsible for the protection of its staff. No price has never ever been used as a factor in deciding what product is to be issued.

The cost of PPE varies according to the negotiated cost of purchase on the market. The current cost of a single map of each type is as follows:

a)Type IIR mask: £0.16 (July 2020 onwards) – £0.70 (March/April 2020)

b)FFP2 mask (these are not used per guidance, and no longer purchased): £0.98 - £3.00 (March 2020)

c)FFP3 respirator masks: £1.85 - £6.00 (March 2020 to July 2020, prices are now near £2.00)

Question reference: S5W-32265

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what type of face masks are provided for healthcare workers who are testing patients for COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-32262

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether a surgical type two face mask protects the wearer from breathing in infected droplets/aerosols or pathogens in the air.

1. In Scotland, all health and social care staff involved in direct patient/client care are required to wear a Fluid Resistant (Type IIR) Surgical Mask (FRSM) throughout their shift. This includes both care homes and care at home.

2. COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through droplets and only aerosolised during certain procedures called aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). When staff are dealing with patients who are either suspected, positive or where their status is not known (person not tested) staff engaged in AGPs must wear a single-use fluid filtering face piece (FFP3) mask, long-sleeved gown, gloves and a visor in line with the UK IPC Remobilisation Guidance.