Chamber and committees

In the 50 days between 1 March and 19 April 2020, 43 death were registered where the deceased died at home or in a non-institutional setting and cardiac arrest was mentioned on the death certificate either as the underlying cause or as a contributory cause of death. The equivalent figure for the previous 50 days (11 January to 29 February 2020) was 26.

Footnotes

Based on ICD-10 code I46

Figures based on date of registration rather than date of death.

Figures are provisional and may change before final publication in June 2021.

Scottish Government launched the ‘ NHS is Open’ campaign on Friday 23 April. This campaign encourages people to promptly seek help for urgent non-coronavirus health concerns, possible cancer signs and to attend immunisation appointments. It reinforces that GP surgeries and hospitals are still open, and patients or anyone in need should continue to contact their GP surgery or call 111 out of hours and 999 in an emergency. The campaign is initially running on TV, radio, newsprint, and digital and social media from 23 April – 14 May.

Patient safety remains an absolute priority for the Scottish Government, and COVID-19 is a very significant new risk in relation to cancer treatment. Because of this risk, many patients – in discussion with their clinical team – will be offered alternative or delayed treatment plans.

Vital cancer treatments will continue where clinically agreed. We are working hard to ensure vital and urgent care remains, including the use of private hospitals to treat these NHS patients. Alongside this, our national COVID-19 cancer treatment response group continues to meet weekly to provide ongoing advice and support around cancer treatments.

Any cancer patient worried about symptoms should call their cancer treatment helpline or the national Cancer Treatment Helpline on 0800 917 7711.

It has always been made clear that the figure of 97,000 vulnerable children is an estimate, based on the number of children who are believed to have multi-agency plans. We do not have an exact number, because local partnerships have not maintained central data bases of all children with child's plans.

Those plans co-ordinated by a lead professional in education are recorded in SEEMIS, and we know this accounts for around 6% of the school-aged population. Given the number of looked after children, children on child protection registers and other children with social work led plans, we estimate this at a further 2% of the child population. Health and 3rd sector led plans are estimated at around the same level. These various figures lead to the overall estimate of 97,000 children.

We are clear that fly tipping is illegal, dangerous and unnecessary. Responsibility for responding to such behaviour rests with local councils as part of their wider role in the management of local waste services. We are committed to working with councils to support the resilience of those services and to monitor the impact that any temporary, necessary, disruption is having on illegal activity.

We recognise the importance of communicating with the public about how best to manage and dispose of waste at this time and, on 27 April, we launched a waste management marketing campaign and web resource that sets out how the public can manage waste at this difficult time, including messages on fly tipping prevention. Local authorities continue to play an important role in providing advice on changes to services at a local level.

The incident referred to was a minor spill which occurred during routine maintenance works. It was resolved immediately at the time and SEPA, as environmental regulator, was notified.

Given the relatively small volumes involved and the fact that the spillage was cleared up, it is safe for the public to use the amenity and surrounding footpaths. SEPA has confirmed that this incident does not represent a risk to the environment.

A national review of the Sustainable Housing on Release for Everyone (SHORE) standards has been paused as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic so that Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and partners can focus on the public health emergency. That in no way detracts from the implementation of the standards. SPS, local authorities and their local partners are working together tirelessly to ensure individuals have suitable accommodation to go to on the day they are liberated from prison and this has been a focus of the early prisoner release planning.

The implementation of the SHORE standards has continued since its publication in December 2017. Scottish Government has engaged regularly with local authorities, SPS, COSLA, ALACHO, SOLACE, Community Justice Scotland and other partners to understand what impact the standards are having on individuals’ reintegration into communities, not just through meeting housing needs, but also by improving access to other public services and supporting them to avoid reoffending.

Latest data from the 2018 Scottish Healthy Survey shows that the prevalence of childhood obesity has remained relatively stable at 16%.

Our Diet & Healthy Weight Delivery Plan recognises that halving childhood obesity is a major challenge and sets out over 60 actions to make it easier for children and their families to eat well and have a healthy weight. To date we have made good progress on a number of fronts, including significant additional funding for Health Boards to support improvements in type 2 diabetes prevention and new national standards and investment in child and adult weight management services. The next phase of work will include strengthening support for children and families in the early years, a critical time for establishing good nutrition and healthy eating habits.

Although our response to contain Covid-19 is now the top priority, we are working closely with Boards, Public Health Scotland, Food Standards Scotland and others to ensure we maintain momentum in our efforts to tackle obesity during these very challenging times.

We welcome the Taskforce’s recommendations and we are now working with them, and partners, to implement as many of these as possible as a matter of urgency.

I met with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Taskforce on 21 April to discuss the recommendations and the work that needs to be undertaken to progress them. Additionally, I have issued a joint letter (16 April) with the interim Chief Medical Officer, to Health Boards and Integration Joint Boards emphasising the need to maintain provision of essential alcohol and drug services.

Work is already underway on a number of the other recommendations. We recognise the need for prompt action at this challenging time, as well as clear guidance and direction, and we are already in contact with a range of colleagues across Government, key stakeholders and other relevant bodies to discuss the best way to progress work on these recommendations.

The annual gas safety regulations are reserved to the UK Government and the Scottish Government cannot change them.

Whilst the Scottish Government recognises the importance of the annual safety checks, during the current health emergency, the Scottish Government would like to see the postponement of the annual gas safety check to ensure the spread of the Covid-19 virus is reduced, unless work is essential for the safety and security of occupiers, or for homes to be fit for human habitation.

I have written twice to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Health and Safety Executive with my views and urged them to take a pragmatic and proportionate approach by providing a temporary extension of the statutory obligations for gas safety in light of the current pandemic and restrictions that are in place across the country.