Chamber and committees

Currently indoor sport and leisure facilities are closed. The indicative date of Monday 26 April for the reopening of indoor sport and leisure facilities have been given the indicative date to reopen. The indicative dates are dependent on continued progress in suppressing the virus and rolling out of vaccines.

We are currently working towards the reopening of Saunas and steam rooms and examining those conditions to do so with the sport and leisure sector, UK Spa Association, Health Protection Scotland and clinicians to ensure that these can be opened in a safe way to protect public health across the various levels framework.

The Scottish Government has been clear that any decisions made with regard to lifting lockdown restrictions will be informed by the best available data, and this will be published where it is available. The Strategic Framework update announced to parliament by the First Minister on 23 February outlines a cautious approach to easing lockdown restrictions given the number of uncertainties which remain about the new variant of the virus (B.1.1.7 or ‘UK variant’) and the efficacy of the vaccination programmes on transmission of the virus and wider health outcomes. On 16 March, the First Minister announced the next milestones of our exit from lockdown. This includes an indicative timetable for the easing of measures, and from the 26 April will include a national move to Level 3 measures. However, we will continue to monitor case numbers and we are ready to adjust these plans should any evidence of a rise in cases occur. When we move down from Level 4 we want to try to do that as one country, because that will allow us to lift travel restrictions. However, we will consider the data and take final decisions nearer the time.

On 16 March the First Minister outlined some indicative dates for the resumption of sport and physical activity in Scotland. From Monday, 26 April indoor facilities including leisure centres, gyms, and swimming pools can reopen. When they reopen, children and young people under 18 can return to group classes and contact sport, and adults can resume activity in line with the rules around meeting other households. From Monday 17 May, adults can resume indoor group activity including non-contact sport. Indoor contact sport for adults is expected to resume in late June.

The indicative dates above are dependent on continued progress in suppressing the virus and rolling out vaccines.

From Friday 12 March, outdoor exercise classes can take place of groups up to 15 people, so a fitness coach can lead a class of 14 others.

The Respiratory Care Action Plan will set out the priorities and commitments to support the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory conditions including bronchiectasis. We are committed to building a data set to inform the implementation of the Plan and this will also allow us to monitor progress over time.

If people receive an invitation letter from NHS Scotland by post, an information leaflet about the COVID-19 vaccine is included. The information leaflet contains details about:

• What vaccine will be given and the disease that will be prevented.
• Benefits/risks of vaccination versus risks of the disease.
• Any new information that has become available since consent to previous doses of this vaccine were given if applicable.
• Any possible vaccine reactions and how to treat these.
• Follow-up/information as to any further doses required.
• How any personal data will be stored and kept.

People are advised to contact the clinicians who manage their clinical conditions, to check that there are no reasons for them not to receive the vaccine. There is time built in to each appointment for information to be shared and questions to be asked and answered, so that the person invited for the vaccine has an opportunity to discuss any further issues or concerns with the trained vaccinator. The vaccine is only given once the person is fully satisfied that they have all the information they need before proceeding.

After vaccination, all patients are given a leaflet to take away called ‘What to expect after the COVID-19 vaccine’. This contains information on common side effects and what to do if they are mild or more severe.

Data since w/c 01-03-21

Complaint - 23

Concern - 16

Compliment - 1

Feedback – 3

The Scottish Government is providing as much support as possible to ensure that the public have access to the required support and appointments services throughout the vaccination programme. We are aware of the unprecedented volumes of correspondence and communications that both the Scottish Government and the NHS are receiving at this time and we are focussing our efforts on responding to as much of it as possible within a reasonable timeframe.

Public Health Scotland and Police Scotland have been exploring the sharing of more timely data recorded by Police Officers where they attend a possible death by suicide. The purpose of this work is to determine whether Police Scotland data on possible completed suicides can provide more timely and a valid proxy for confirmed deaths by suicide. It is now anticipated that this exploratory analysis will be completed by Summer 2021.

Police Scotland data on possible deaths by suicide may not include all deaths by suicide, as it might not always be obvious that the death is a result of completed suicide, or there might be a need to wait for toxicology reports. As such, it is unlikely to be appropriate for formal publication but rather to inform local and national approaches.

As part of the exploratory phase, the viability and timing of the implementation of this work will be confirmed.

As of 22 March 2021:

• 33,409 first dose vaccinations of all care home residents have now been completed, exceeding the initial target for all care home residents. This is a cumulative count of all residents since the vaccination programme began and may include some residents who have since died.
• 26,354 current care home residents in older adult care homes have received their first dose vaccination (96%) and 22,359 current care home residents in older adult homes have received 2 doses (82%).

There are individuals in care homes who have not received the vaccine for valid medical reasons, or where consent to receive the vaccination has not been received. Other reasons for some individuals in care homes not receiving a vaccination yet may include:

• clinical guidance sets out that where someone has tested positive, vaccination should be scheduled for four weeks later;
• If a care home has only one case of COVID-19 infection in a resident or staff member, other residents and care home staff may be offered vaccination as long as they have not been close contacts of the positive case. If a care home has more than one case in an ongoing outbreak or incident, residents who are symptomatic, positive or close contacts who are self-isolating would not be eligible for vaccination; and
• Care homes should undertake a risk assessment on whether or not the outbreak or incident cases are segregated sufficiently for other residents and care home staff to be offered vaccination. It may be safer to schedule the vaccinations once the outbreak or incident is over – this would be 14 after the last positive test or symptoms, and following a further risk assessment.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The Scottish Government is aware of the challenges and pressures faced by NHS colleagues in responding to and supporting members of the public who contact them about their Covid-19 vaccination appointment. The rollout of the vaccination programme is one of the biggest in NHS history and we do not underestimate the impact that this is having on support services. Despite this, you will see from the information provided on waiting times, that the average wait time for the vaccination booking and reservation service has been consistently low as every effort is being made to accommodate bookings and prioritise appointments for those patients who need them.