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-32271

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 PPE is available to staff on mental health wards to protect them from COVID-19, (a) in light of concerns that some patients might not have a full understanding of social distancing and (b) to assist them if they have to carry out restraint procedures, and what risk assessment it has carried out of the effectiveness of this equipment.

1 .All staff on mental health wards should follow the UK IPC remobilisation guidance for all health and care settings, published on 21 August. This guidance is based on the latest scientific and epidemiological evidence. All staff engaged in direct patient care should wear a Fluid Resistant (Type IIR) Surgical Mask throughout their shift.

2. Fluid Resistant (Type IIR) Surgical Masks act as a two way barrier – protecting both the wearer and the patient or individual they are caring for. Where the person is suspected or positive for COVID-19 or any other infection, the staff are required to wear single-use gloves and aprons where they deem a risk of contact with blood or body fluids and a visor where there is a risk of splashing into the eyes.

3. Clinical Guidance for NHS Scotland: Using Physical Restraint for Patients with Confirmed or Suspected COVID- 19 was published on the Scottish Government website on 20 April. The guidance states that The Step Wise Management Plan for COVID-19 positive/symptomatic patients based on principles of least restrictive care should be implemented. It is vital that essential IPC precautions are reinforced including hand hygiene, social distancing where possible and wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Question reference: S5W-32275

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 information it has regarding the World Health Organization's position on the use of surgical type two face masks when dealing with COVID-19.

1 The evidence to date indicates the route of transmission for COVID-19 to be droplet and contact and both the UK and WHO guidance recommends droplet and contact precautions. In the UK, this includes the use of a fluid resistant surgical face mask (FRSM). This aligns with the WHO guidance.

2 Where Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs) are carried out, both the UK and WHO guidance recommends airborne precautions. This is because during AGPs, aerosols as well as droplets can be produced. Airborne precautions include the use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE), including an FFP respirator, full face shield/eye protection, a gown, apron and disposable gloves to protect against aerosols and excess splash/spraying of body fluids. Airborne precautions would also apply in any other setting COVID or non-COVID if an AGP was being undertaken.

3 A scientific brief published by the WHO on 9th July 2020 recommends continuous use of a medical mask by health workers and caregivers working in all clinical areas, during all routine activities throughout the entire shift. Scottish Government guidance on the extended use of face masks in healthcare settings and elderly care homes, published on 23 June, and updated on 18 September to include primary, community, care at home and adult care home settings, recommends FRSM Type IIR, as opposed to Type II facemasks, as they offer protection for the wearer, as well as source control.

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-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-32268

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 health workers who have been wearing government-approved PPE while treating people who have been (a) suspected as having and (b) diagnosed with COVID-19 in each week since 23 March 2020.

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 government approved PPE or not.

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-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-32264

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, in light of surgical type two face masks not being sealed respirator masks, on what basis these have been directed to be distributed as PPE for nurses to wear when treating diagnosed or suspected COVID-19 patients in isolated rooms.

COVID-19 is predominantly spread by the droplet and contact route. Fluid Resistant (Type IIR) Surgical Mask (FRSM) offer the correct level of respiratory protection for staff when caring for a patient who is suspected or confirmed COVID-19 positive.

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.

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.

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.