Chamber and committees

Work on the refresh of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework is underway. It is anticipated that it will be published in Autumn 2022.

Since announcing my response to the Moray Maternity Services Review I have written to both NHS Highland and NHS Grampian outlining my expectation of planning towards the networked Raigmore option (Model 4 in the report) and the full Consultant-led Maternity Unit at Dr Gray’s to begin immediately. I indicated in my statement my expectation that planning for Model 4 will conclude by the Summer and Model 6 soon after and I expect this to be no later than the end of this year. I will meet with NHS Grampian soon to discuss their implementation plans including timescales. I indicated on 30 March that I would be happy to keep the Scottish Parliament updated when I have more detail on milestones and timescales.

I can advise that all Health Boards in Scotland have been advised of the national approach being taken to the provision of a 'once for Scotland' GP DACS. Boards are aware that a national steering group is overseeing this development and has established a ‘pathfinder’ approach to better understand the level of demand, market maturity and benefits and impact before seeking to agree a national approach. Guidance will developed and issued as part of the pathfinder programme.

Following the launch of the Scottish Mens Sheds Association (SMSA) in November 2015, the Scottish Government has supported the men’s shed movement in Scotland, by providing £645,000 of funding to the SMSA and Age Scotland to date.

Our annual core funding support to the SMSA has enabled the movement to fully establish in Scotland and grow our Scottish men’s sheds from just 3 sheds in 2013 to 127 sheds which are open today, and a further 70 that are currently in development, serving 2,899 members, and 10,267 shedders across Scotland.

Scottish Government annual breakdown of support to the men’s sheds movement is as follows:

To SMSA:

• 2016/17 - £75,000
• 2017/18 - £75,000
• 2018/19 - £75,000
• 2019/20 - £75,000
• 2020/21 - £150,000 (higher figure included funds to support Covid response)
• 2021/22 - £45,000

To Age Scotland:

• 2017/18 - £50,000
• 2018/19 - £50,000
• 2019/20 - £50,000

The expenditure on local adoption of GP DACS is not currently monitored at a national level given the variation in different approaches and systems that are currently in use for online triage and asynchronous consultations. We expect to develop a clearer picture of this as we develop the approach to national GP DACS.

As part of the pathfinder programme guidance will developed and issued to NHS Boards on GP DACS. However, I should clarify that Near Me is not an asynchronous model (as it only provides real-time video consultations) and that AskMyGP has been procured at a local level and does not fall under the remit of the national programme.

The Minister for Equalities and Older People has invited Hourglass to meet with her to discuss funding for its elder abuse helpline. Hourglass have yet to suggest a date to meet.

Within NHS GG&C, acute stroke thrombolysis is already available on a 24/7 basis. This is currently based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), with patients transferred for thrombolysis where appropriate. Work is ongoing to establish a telemedicine thrombolysis model to provide 24/7 thrombolysis at other sites.

The Scottish Government recognises that thrombectomy procedures can significantly improve outcomes and quality of life for some people who have suffered an ischaemic stroke by avoiding or reducing the level of disability. We are committed to introducing a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service in Scotland and are making important progress against this commitment. In NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the thrombectomy service is currently in the test of change phase, and has provided thrombectomies to 13 patients since October 2021.

The numbers of Community First Responders (CFRs) that were allocated to and attended incidents in the last financial year are presented in the table below. For safety reasons as a result of Covid, Community First Responders were stood down for a six month period in 2020. The required training for remobilisation of all volunteers and CFR schemes extended into 2021.

Please note that if two Community First Responders were allocated to the same incident, then they will both be counted.

Guidance on accessing COVID-19 treatment is provided on NHS Inform . Notably, there are different treatment options available for different groups of individuals who are thought to be at higher risk from COVID-19. The online guidance states that individuals with health conditions which mean they may be eligible for COVID-19 treatments should contact the health board where they live in the first instance. This is because an individual’s home health board will have access to more information about the individual to be able to support any requirements to confirm their eligibility. Where the individual is temporarily resident in another part of Scotland, or another part of the UK, they should contact their home health board who will support them in accessing their closest treatment service.