Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01706 on
‎ 24 August 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Following clinical advice, and in agreement with stakeholders, we will not be running a sepsis awareness campaign while the COVID-19 public awareness campaign continues.

We are aiming to re-start the annual sepsis public awareness campaign in 2022. In the meantime we are in discussion with sepsis charities around how we can support them in other ways to raise awareness of sepsis.

Data on diagnosis of sepsis by age, gender and location can be found at:

https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/acute-hospital-activity-and-nhs-beds-information-annual/acute-hospital-activity-and-nhs-beds-information-annual-annual-year-ending-31-march-2020/ .

At present the Scottish Government has no plans to publish data on people affected by sepsis, broken down by ethnicity.

We regularly engage with people who are at highest risk from COVID-19 through surveys, in-depth interviews and testing communications. Earlier this year we spoke directly to people at highest risk who have returned to the workplace as restrictions eased, to understand their challenges and what guidance and support may be needed when restrictions ease. Most recently, we launched a survey about the move to level 0 and beyond which asks how people are feeling about those changes. The results will be published late summer.

Three Disabled People’s Organisations (Inclusion Scotland, Disability Equality Scotland and Glasgow Disability Alliance) were consulted on the easing of restrictions.

Throughout the pandemic we have been engaging with both carers and carer organisations to ensure unpaid carers have the advice they need to help protect themselves and their loved ones during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Scottish Cancer Registry, hosted by Public Health Scotland, collects information on registrations for primary cancers. It does not hold information on secondary cancers.

There is work ongoing to develop systems for the routine collection of secondary cancer data, including secondary breast cancer. However, validation of these systems would require clinical time that is being focussed on seeing patients as we continue to prioritise cancer in the NHS. Any national system for the routine collection of secondary breast cancer would take several years to produce the first tranche of data. The Scottish Government’s National Cancer Plan has committed up to £114.5m until March 2023 which will drive a range of improvements across all cancer services.

Cancer continues to be a top priority for this Government. On 28 June I announced £10 million of funding to support cancer waiting times improvements during 2021-22. This funding will support targeted diagnostic activity, including for breast cancer. We have also provided five mobile MRI scanners and four mobile CT scanners to increase diagnostic capacity across NHS Scotland.

The timing for restarting the over-70’s self-referral scheme is regularly reviewed. The Breast Screening Programme Board (BSPB) agreed criteria to resume the option for women over 70 to self-refer in line with the programme’s recovery route map. The option for women over 70 to self-refer into the breast screening programme will resume once all screening centres are able to offer those aged 53-70 their breast screening appointments within 39 months of their previous screening. Progress towards this criteria is being closely monitored, and the National Screening Oversight, National Screening Committee and BSPB continue to work with Health boards to increase the number of available appointments within the programme.

Regardless of their age, women should remain symptom aware and report any symptoms to their GP immediately for these to be investigated.

Wastage data is not currently published by Public Health Scotland. However we can confirm for NHS board operated vaccination clinics, wastage is well below our planning assumption of 5%, which is a precautionary approach for worst case scenario planning.

Detailed information on hospitalisations by age group and vaccine status of hospitalised patients is available in Public Health Scotland's Weekly Statistical reports. These are accessible here : Publications - Public Health Scotland

COVID-19 Statistical Report - 14 July 2021 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

COVID-19 Statistical Report - 7 July 2021 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

COVID-19 Statistical Report - 30 June 2021 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

COVID-19 Statistical Report - 23 June 2021 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

COVID-19 Statistical Report - 16 June 2021 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

COVID-19 statistical report - 9 June 2021 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

COVID-19 statistical report - 2 June 2021 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

COVID-19 statistical report - 26 May 2021 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

COVID-19 statistical report - 19 May 2021 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

COVID-19 statistical report - 12 May 2021 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

COVID-19 statistical report - 5 May 2021 - COVID-19 statistical report - Publications - Public Health Scotland

Details on age cohort, crossed with vaccination status is available in each report from the week starting 10th of May 2021 onwards.

Further information including charts and tables are available on Publish Health Scotland's Dashboard, available here : COVID-19 Daily Dashboard | Tableau Public

The majority of stock to complete second doses in this phase of the programme has now been received and is being made available to Boards, as it is required.