Chamber and committees

Social care workers have always been, and continue to be, able to choose to wear a mask.

The Scottish Government’s guidance on the extended use of face masks and face coverings was first published in June 2020. It was an adjunct to guidance for social care workers on the use of face masks within the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) and the Care Home Infection Prevention and Control Manual (CH IPCM). In September 2022, the face mask guidance for adult social care settings was amended and staff, visitors and service users of adult social care settings stopped routinely wearing face masks. Guidance on the use of face masks had therefore reverted to circumstances as set out in the NIPCM/CH NIPCM with one addition: “Staff, visitors and those receiving care and support may choose to wear a mask and this should be supported”. It was this line of guidance that was withdrawn in May 2023.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland recommended that this line of guidance was removed as it was unnecessary and increased the risk of confusion and misinterpretation, and that guidance on the use of face masks in adult social care settings should revert to the NIPCM, which is based on clinical need and risk assessment. The withdrawal of the extended guidance on the use of face masks and face coverings in social care settings and reversion to the NIPCM/ CH NIPCM does not prevent social care workers from wearing a face mask.

Our Diabetes Improvement Plan contains a specific commitment to support further roll-out of technologies such as insulin pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs), as well as emerging technologies such as hybrid closed loop and artificial pancreas systems. Between 2016 and 2022, we have invested £29.6 million of additional funding specifically to support this.

This is over and above the baseline funding that Scottish Government provides to NHS Boards and it is for them to determine how best to utilise this funding to meet the needs and priorities of their local populations.

We work closely with boards to identify and resolve any issues regarding access to diabetes technologies and we recognise that there are still significant challenges for some people living with diabetes to access the technology they are eligible for.

The Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) pathway based within the Centre for Sustainability Delivery (CfSD) has recently established a national team to provide dedicated support to NHS health boards and roll out the technology faster and more efficiently across Scotland. We will monitor this pilot closely to determine how best to support NHS Boards in the future.

The Scottish Government is aware that there was a UK-wide supply issue with the availability of Antabuse® (disulfiram) tablets earlier this year. The supply disruption has now been stabilised and supplies of Antabuse® (disulfiram) tablets are returning to normal levels.

The pricing and the supply of medicines is currently reserved matter for the UK Government. We continue to engage with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and we will continue to monitor the situation.

In the event of a medicine shortage, the NHS in Scotland has robust processes in place to manage supply issues when they do arise. Normally there are alternative products which can be prescribed and dispensed.

As of 30 June 2023, (a) 2,345 parents or carers in the Stirling local authority area, and (b) 2,160 parents or carers in the Clackmannanshire local authority area had received at least one Scottish Child Payment since its introduction on 14 February 2021.

These figures are based on secondary analysis of the most recently published statistics on Scottish Child Payment published by Social Security Scotland. Whilst these include information on the number of children currently benefitting from Scottish Child Payment by local authority area, we do not currently produce a breakdown of the total number of parents or carers who have received payment.

The latest Scottish Child Payment Official statistics publication can be found at:

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/publications .

The next release of Scottish Child Payment statistics which will cover the period to the end of September 2023, is due to be published on 28 November 2023.

Governance for the programme is provided by the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Programme Board which met for the first time in November 2021. The Board has met regularly since then and stakeholder representation includes:

• NHS Board Primary Care Leads
• NHS Board Directors of Pharmacy
• NHS Board e-Health Leads
• Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland
• Scottish General Practitioners Committee (of the British Medical Association)
• Community Pharmacy Scotland
• Non-Medical Prescribers Group
• NSS Contractor Prescribing Payments team

At each meeting, the Board discusses key issues and interdependencies such as appliance supply. This will ensure that we continue to develop and adapt as necessary through the life of the programme. At the appropriate time, we will consider engaging with other stakeholders, such as the British Healthcare Trades Association.

If stakeholders wish to keep up to date on progress, including a quarterly newsletter, the latest information can be found on the NSS’ website . The programme also welcomes any feedback and comments, and these can be submitted by emailing: [email protected].

When launched, the initial iteration of the solution will replace the paper prescription with a digital solution. We will achieve this by developing an end-to-end digital solution for in-hours prescribing from general practices through to community pharmacy dispensing. Appliance items which are prescribed from in-hours general practice for community pharmacy dispensing, will come under the new process at this time.

If NHS health boards have alternative arrangements in place for appliance prescribing and dispensing, then these may be included in subsequent phases of the programme. Appliances for patients will continue to be prescribed and dispensed during any period of change.

Work is also underway to produce an Equality Impact Assessment which will provide a wide view of how the digital solution will affect people. These findings will be used to ensure that we can mitigate against any challenges or issues in the design of the DPDP digital solution while ensuring that it is inclusive and accessible.

The National Menopause Specialist Network is open to healthcare professionals with a special interest in menopause. The Network currently has over 55 members with representatives from all mainland Health Boards.

The 2016 Digital Learning and Teaching strategy sets out our expectation that local authorities will develop strategies to support the appropriate and effective use of technology in education. We do not hold a central record of these documents. As indicated in the recent PfG, we will now work with partners on the development of a refreshed digital strategy for education that will aim to drive improved digital access for all learners.

One of the key aims in the Women’s Health Plan is to ensure that all women will have access to a healthcare professional with an interest in menopause through primary care, and that in the longer term, we build a basic understanding of menopause amongst all healthcare professionals.

In order for primary care professionals to be able to enhance their skills in menopause care, the Scottish Government has commissioned NHS Education for Scotland to create a bespoke training package and framework which is focussed on menopause and menstrual health for general practice and others working in Primary Care.

There is now a menopause specialist in every mainland NHS Board, with a buddy system in place for the Island Boards. Through the National Menopause Specialists Network these local specialists support primary care teams through the provision of access to a menopause specialist for consistent advice, support, onward referral, leadership and training.