Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31683 on 24 September 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

Yes. The Scottish Government welcomes all opportunities to identify ways in which its policies and practices can be continuously improved.

The Scottish Government does not apply any hierarchy of status to inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2005 and Parliamentary Inquiries. Ministers recognise the value and importance of both, albeit noting that they have a different legal basis.

Maintaining legal professional privilege is fundamental to good government in line with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, the administration of justice and the rule of law. As set out in the response to PQ S5W-31274 on 1 September 2020, Scottish Ministers have authorised the disclosure of legal advice in exceptional circumstances only. The Scottish Ministers did not impose a restriction notice on the disclosure of legal advice to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry or the (UK) Infected Blood Inquiry; in relation to the Trams Inquiry, disclosure was for the limited purpose of enabling the Inquiry to determine whether the documents were privileged, and no material which was privileged was disclosed further.

There is no single test of "exceptionality" for determining whether it is appropriate to waive confidentiality. Whilst waiver will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, each situation is considered on its own merits.

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

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31683 on 24 September 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

On 25 June, the Scottish Government announced that care homes should allow outdoor family and friends visiting with one visitor from 3 July and this guidance was updated on 8 August to recommend outdoor visiting with a maximum of 3 visitors from up to two households in homes where it has been 28 days since a resident or member of staff displayed any COVID symptoms.

On 3 September, it was announced that in care setting that are not registered as being for older adult residents - day and overnight visits may resume following local individual assessment of the person’s need for this and an individual risk assessment of the visit.

Scottish Government continues to give consideration to the mental health and wellbeing of everyone in care homes and supported accommodation and recognises that restrictions during the pandemic have impacted on those who have been affected. Assessment of peoples’ health and wellbeing should take place on an individual basis with appropriate support being provided.

In order to support the physical and mental wellbeing of people with learning disabilities, the Scottish Commission for Learning Disabilities (SCLD) have been working with Scottish Government to produce easy to read information on the Covid-19 and how people can protect themselves. This includes easy read guidance on Coronavirus, physical distancing and the phases in the route map out of crises. They have also worked with Glasgow University to develop a series of booklets for services supporting vulnerable people on staying physically and mentally healthy at this time.

Scottish Government is actively considering ways to open up further visiting options for people living in care homes and hopes to publish plans in the near future. These actions will need to support a balancing of risks from infection being brought into care homes and of reduced contact with family members. Proposals are currently in development and are likely to include options for longer and more participative visits with loved ones.

On the 21 August, Health Protection Scotland published COVID-19 - information and guidance for social, community and residential care settings. This guidance covers supported accommodation settings and can be found at https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/web-resources-container/covid-19
-information-and-guidance-for-social-community-and-residential-care-settings/

It was announced on the 3 September, for community and social outings – in care setting that are not registered as being for older adult residents - day and overnight visits may resume, following local individual assessment of the person’s need for this and an individual risk assessment of the visit. We recognise that some care homes may need to liaise with health protection teams to assess what may take place at a local level.

This guidance can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19
-adult-care-homes-visiting-guidance/

The Scottish Government has no plans to produce specific guidance for people with learning disabilities living in supported accommodation or care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the care home guidance and Health Protection Scotland guidance cover these settings.

Guidance issued by the Scottish Government recommends that care homes and supported accommodation carry out individual risk assessments to ensure all residents, including those with learning disabilities, are safe. The guidance also outlines that potential application of any of the recommendations of national guidance should always take place on consideration of the individual facts and circumstance of residents, and on consideration of these against the wider risks posed to the other care home residents from the virus. In doing so, a full and robust risk assessment should be carried out.

Assessments should take the individual’s needs into account to ensure services can be adapted in line with relevant guidance and approaches agreed with local NHS Boards, Health Protection Teams and the Care Inspectorate.

From 7 September, in care settings not registered as for older adults, day and overnight visits may resume following an individual risk assessment of the person’s need for this and an individual risk assessment of the visit.

We appreciate how difficult it has been for people who have had procedures or treatments postponed due to the pandemic, and in particular, for those living with chronic pain, whose quality of life may have been affected.

Health Boards are continuing to remobilise services in line with the ‘Remobilise, Recover and Re-design Framework’ which we published on 31 May. We remain committed to ensuring that the full range of pain services will be available as quickly as it safe to do so. To support this, tomorrow we will publish a COVID-19 Recovery Framework for NHS Pain Management Services which was developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders across the clinical community, third sector and patient groups.