Chamber and committees

NHS Scotland has not sent any COVID-19 tests abroad for analysis, all NHS testing has been undertaken in Scottish laboratories.

The following table shows the estimated number of long stay care home residents with learning disabilities, by age group, in Scotland as at 31 March 2017, the latest time period for which data are available.

Guidance on the personal use of face coverings during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was published on 28 May and will be updated as guidance changes. You can find the latest face covering guidance here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-public-use-of-face-coverings/ .

There is a range of guidance available for care homes regarding COVID-19 and how to protect staff and residents including those with learning disabilities and staff. Health Protection Scotland (HPS) publishes infection control guidance COVID-19: Information and Guidance for Care Home Settings’ which is for all care homes, including those that care for people with learning disabilities. This guidance is based on National Infection Prevention and Control Manual for health and social care settings which provides advice on how to prevent and manage the spread of all respiratory infections including COVID-19. To supplement HPS guidance, the Scottish Government also issued the ‘National Clinical and Practice Guidance for Adult Care Homes in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic’. This was first published on 13 March and updated most recently on 15 May. This guidance draws on the HPS guidance but provides more detailed information on some of the practical steps that are required to protect staff and residents, including guidance specific to homes that care for people with learning disabilities. Both the HPS and the Scottish Government guidance is continually reviewed to take account of the emerging picture around COVID-19.

In addition, the Scottish Commission for Learning Disabilities (SCLD) have been working with Scottish Government to produce easy to read information on COVID-19 and how people can protect themselves. This includes advice on staying at home, infection control, PPE, shielding and physical distancing. Information on the phases in the route map out of crises is also being developed with phase one now available. SCLD have also worked with Glasgow Universality to develop a series of booklets for services supporting vulnerable people on staying physically and mentally healthy when physical distancing. The Scottish Government, with their partners created a ‘Clinical guide for front line staff to support the management of patients with a learning disability, autism or both during the coronavirus pandemic’. This alongside other guidance is available on SCLD’s website.

a) This information is not held centrally.

b) This information is not held centrally.

c) Of the 285 deaths involving COVID-19 which took place at home or in a non-institutional setting which had been registered by 14 th June, 84 had been referred to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

d) Of the number above, 7 were subject to a post-mortem.

This information is not centrally collected.

National Records of Scotland produce a weekly publication which includes figures for the number of deaths associated with COVID-19 that occurred in various settings, however deaths in hospices are not reported separately. Hospice deaths are included in the hospital statistics where the hospice resides in hospital grounds, or included in care home statistics where the hospice is situated in the community.

The most up to date NRS statistics related to Covid-19 deaths can be accessed via the following link: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/covid19stats

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29039 on 25 June 2020. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

We are always looking to make more information relating to COVID-19 in Scotland publicly available, where appropriate. We need to be confident that data is accurate and robust, within legal guidelines and protecting people’s right to confidentiality.

In line with new statutory reporting requirements, the Care Inspectorate now provide a weekly report on the total number of death notifications they receive from adult care homes to the Scottish Government, which is laid before Parliament and also published on the Scottish Government website. https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-additional-data-about-adult-care-homes-in-scotland/ .

Care services across Scotland are working tirelessly under very challenging circumstances. The Care Inspectorate works closely with care providers, health and social care partnerships, care industry leaders and the Scottish Government to ensure services get the support they need during the pandemic.

The Scottish Government have been working with the Scottish Commission for Learning Disabilities (SCLD) and People First Scotland to create easy read versions of all official Government Coronavirus related advice and information relevant to people with learning disabilities. Information on COVID-19 symptoms, access to testing and social distancing in an easy read format can be found on NHS Inform's website .

The link for (a) COVID-19 symptoms can be found at https://www.nhsinform.scot/media/3549/20-21-coronavirus-easy-read-nhs-inform-1-overview-9-june-2020.pdf . The link for (b) access to testing can be found at https://www.nhsinform.scot/media/3556/20-21-coronavirus-easy-read-nhs-inform-10-testing-9-june-2020.pdf . The link for (c) social distancing can be found at https://www.nhsinform.scot/media/3178/v3-coronavirus-covid-19-nhs-inform-guidance-part-4-social-distancing-9-apr-2020.pdf . Additionally the link to the easy read version of the advice on testing can be found at the bottom of the door drop leaflet on Test and Trace.

Easy read documents are the most effective methods of written communication for people with learning disabilities and the easy read documents are the most accessed alternative formats of Government advice on NHS Inform’s website.

On 18 June, the First Minister announced that we are able to move into Phase 2 of the route map. This saw adjustments to the number of households able to meet outdoors and those who are eligible, to form an extended household.

This now means that people from up to 3 different households will be able to meet outdoors. However, we are still advising no more than 8 in any group. This will allow children from up to three households to play together outdoors, with physical distancing.

We also announced changes that will allow the formation of an ‘extended household group’ with one other household. This will allow those who live alone (or those living only with children under the age of 18) to be connected to another household to provide mutual social support. Children within an extended household group will be able to play together without the need to stay 2 metres apart.