Chamber and committees

The ‘extremely high risk’ group criteria was approved by all four nations Chief Medical Officers having been informed by the Royal College of Physicians. People in this group are being advised to shield themselves within their households. We recognise this is a very onerous ask, and want to therefore ensure identification takes account of individual circumstances where possible.

Given the restrictive nature of shielding, not everyone with motor neurone disease (MND) needs to shield for clinical purposes, however clinicians can use their professional judgement to identify individuals who shielding would be in their best interest where necessary. We have issued specific guidance to NHS boards, Hospital Managers, Medical and Nursing directors to support them in this process.

In Scotland, as in England, this means people with MND may be advised to shield for example where they have additional complications, including respiratory, swallowing and speech difficulties.

We have published specific information for people with neurological conditions available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-tailored-advice-for-those-who-live-with-specific-medical-conditions/ .

Additionally we have set up a helpline (0800 111 4000) for those at increased risk who don’t have a support network, such as family or existing community support and people with MND can access this. This helpline can also be used by those in the shielding group who can’t get online.

On 30 March, the Scottish Government announced a temporary pause to a number of national screening programmes. This suspension of these programmes will be reviewed after 12 weeks, or earlier if indicated by the evidence. Each screening programme has a board that is meeting virtually, on a regular basis, to continuously review when it would be appropriate and safe to restart each programme. Programmes will be restarted in a planned way to ensure everyone whose screening appointment has been cancelled is invited to be screened once the relevant programme restarts.

It continues to be important for those in between screening appointments or awaiting a rescheduled appointment to be aware of any symptoms or signs of the conditions screened for. More information on the symptoms of the conditions screened for, is available at http://www.nhsinform.scot/screening . Anyone having these symptoms should contact their GP practice.

While official data sources do not provide timely information on these types of financial payments, the Scottish Government is engaged through a wide variety of channels to keep abreast of the unprecedented challenges being faced by businesses to inform how we provide support to them. To that end we have increased our business support measures to £2.3 billion to ensure we can direct as much help as possible to those who need it most.

Health Protection Scotland have produced guidance for clinicians on managing suspected cases of COVID-19, this can be accessed here: https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19/

We are accelerating the role out of the NHS Near Me provision in GP practices and hospital-based services, allowing video consultations to take place where appropriate and reduce face to face contact between patients and medical professionals.

The Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (or “RECOVERY” trial) is a Covid-19 related Clinical Trial currently recruiting patients in NHS Scotland. It is a multi-arm adaptive study, looking at a number of potential treatments, one of which is the compound hydroxychloroquine.

In certain circumstances, seasonal workers who started work after 28 February, and were on the employer’s PAYE payroll scheme on or prior to 19 March, will be eligible for furlough.

The Scottish Government is working to ensure that people who are not eligible for support through the UK Government’s interventions, including seasonal workers who cannot access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), are aware of alternative support available to them through the welfare system. We would encourage those who have seen their income reduce as a result of COVID-19 to check whether they are eligible for benefits from the UK Government such as Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance.

As part of the Scottish Government’s response to COVID-19, we are providing an additional £45 million for the Scottish Welfare Fund, a form of locally administered financial assistance. This more than doubles the current £35.5 million Fund and will be accompanied by an increase in flexibilities and new guidance to make sure this fund is accessible to people in financial hardship.

We are also supporting people to find other employment opportunities, including seasonal labour through:

• OurSkillsForce.co.uk ;
• the SDS My World of World Job Hub ;
• the Skills Matching Service being hosted by Lantra Scotland for skilled and semi-skilled labour in the agricultural industry and animal welfare www.scotland.lantra.co.uk/skills-matching-service and
• The Scottish Tourism Alliance for tourism and hospitality sector workers: https://scottishtourismalliance.co.uk/new-job-finding-service-for-tourism-and-hospitality-workers-launched/

On 15 April, the Scottish Government announced the Second Phase of the Business Grants Funding Scheme which will commence on 5 May, and expands upon the measures announced on 18 March 2020.

The new measures are specifically aimed at ratepayers with more than one property. In addition to the 100% grant on their first eligible property, ratepayers with additional qualifying properties will be eligible to apply for a 75% grant on each additional property. This will make available Small Business Grants of £7,500 and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants of £18,750 on any additional qualifying properties that a ratepayer may have, subject to compliance with EU State Aid Rules.

We have also extended the eligibility for the £10,000 Small Business Grant to additional ratepayers not covered by the original scheme. Eligibility for this scheme has been extended to:

Ratepayers that hold one or more properties within retail, hospitality or leisure, with individual rateable values not exceeding £18,000, and a cumulative rateable value between £35,001 and £51,000 will now be eligible for the Small Business Grant Scheme on each of their retail, hospitality or leisure properties;

• Sports clubs eligible for the Small Business Bonus Scheme but in receipt of discretionary sports relief;
• Properties eligible for the Small Business Bonus Scheme but in receipt of Enterprise Areas relief; and
• Arms’ Length External Organisations where they meet the eligibility criterion

Most if not all, community pharmacies have introduced measures to reduce risks to pharmacy staff, including restricting the number of people in the premises at any one time and ensuring safe distancing guidelines are followed.

Health Protection Scotland (HPS) has published COVID-19 advice for pharmacies. This advice is available at https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/web-resources-container/covid-19-advice-for-pharmacies/ . This advice includes the guidance that staff must make every effort to ensure 2 metre social distancing rules are applied. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is recommended where 2 metre social distancing cannot be maintained. Community pharmacies will soon be receiving a supply of face masks to be worn where social distancing cannot be maintained.

We have also arranged for posters to be displayed in every community pharmacy advising members of the public to respect measures put in place in community pharmacies for their safety and to follow any instructions given.

We will continue to work with colleagues at Community Pharmacy Scotland and NHS Directors of Pharmacy to ensure we are taking the appropriate measures to support the essential work of the whole pharmacy network.

The Scottish Government provided guidance on how to prioritise available testing capacity to enable key workers in health and social care to return to work on 24 March 2020.

The guidance recommends that testing should prioritised for health and social care staff working in areas with critical staffing challenges, as identified locally.

We continue to work with NHS Boards and others to increase testing capacity.

NHS Education for Scotland has created a new Health and Social Care Covid-19 Accelerated Recruitment Portal. The Portal is accessible through the NHS Careers website at:

https://careers.nhs.scot/coronavirus-covid-19-recruitment/

The portal is the gateway to accelerated employment across health and social care. It will enable doctors and others with relevant skills and experience to come forward and support health and social care services at this time of national emergency.