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The Scottish Government is aware that there are a small number of children experiencing symptoms of Long COVID. The NHS in Scotland is delivering care for children with Long COVID, ensuring support is tailored to the individual needs of the child through relevant pathways such as for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The SIGN clinical guideline on managing the long term effects of COVID-19 gives healthcare practitioners evidence based recommendations on how to best support children, young people and adults experiencing symptoms of Long COVID. We have disseminated the guideline to clinicians across Scotland and actively endorsed its use in underpinning delivery of care in NHS Scotland.

We are working closely with people affected by Long COVID, NHS Boards and the wider clinical community in Scotland to continue to deepen our understanding of the symptoms and impact of the condition, to make sure people can access the services currently available and that we make the improvements needed.

The Scottish Government has never approved funding for the relocation of the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion and self-evidently has not therefore withdrawn funding. In February 2018, the Scottish Government invited NHS Lothian to submit an Outline Business Case, making clear that it was not making a commitment to fund the construction of a new eye hospital.

Patients’ own clinicians will be best placed to provide specific advice, many will also be contacted by their own GP directly who will be able to provide specific clinical advice for their circumstances.

I have made it clear to all the Health Boards and professionals that individuals who are unable to leave their own homes will receive their vaccination at home.

The Scottish Government is continuing to engage with the Joint committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on the issue of priority vaccines for terminally ill patients and those at risk of being immunosuppressed. I have written to the JCVI on this matter, and the response provided by JCVI advised that for the first phase of the COVID-19 mass vaccination programme, priority should be given to protecting those most at risk of dying from COVID-19.

JCVI priority group 4 includes all those 70 years of age and over, and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals. Group 6 includes all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality. Group 6 also includes unpaid carers, including all adult carers and young carers aged 16 to 18.

Priority groups 4 and 6 are not completely distinct groups as such. In practice, delivery to these groups will be a matter of weeks apart. A person can therefore move in and out of these two groups with time rather than being static in one group.

Patients’ own clinicians will be best placed to provide specific advice, many will also be contacted by their own GP directly who will be able to provide specific clinical advice for their circumstances.

We will continue to work with the JCVI to monitor vaccine delivery.

A pilot thrombectomy programme began in the North of Scotland at NHS Tayside on 9 November. A fully operational thrombectomy 24/7 service is anticipated in Tayside by 2023, and will form part of a national network in line with the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government commitment.

In the West of Scotland, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus will provide a ‘hub’ thrombectomy service for the West of Scotland by 2023, while the NHS Lothian service will also be operating from the Little France site within the same timeframe.

As set out in this year’s Programme for Government, we expect NHS Lothian to provide a Thrombectomy service on the Little France site by 2023.

NHS Lothian’s Referral to Treatment data is not currently available for the period July to December 2020 due to significant pressure on the local information and intelligence resources in light of the current COVID19 pressure. This information will be published at a later date. The Scottish Government remains deeply grateful for the hard work, commitment and professionalism of all NHS staff at this time of unprecedented challenge.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that those living with respiratory conditions can access clinically appropriate, safe and effective person-centred healthcare treatment and support. The Respiratory Care Action Plan will set out the priorities and commitments to support the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the following 5 respiratory conditions: Asthma; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); Bronchiectasis; Sleep Apnoea; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Clear governance arrangements will be put in place, following the publication of the Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland. This will include a National Advisory Committee with representation from key delivery partners to inform and develop the implementation programme and associated governance and monitoring arrangements.

Care home residents have started to received their second dose. Latest progress on second doses for care homes residents (as of 7 March) was 17,467 vaccinations (58% of residents in older adult care homes and 55% of residents in all care homes).

Vaccinations are taking place differently across Scotland to reflect the needs of local communities. NHS Scotland Heath Boards are responsible for the local delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine. As such, Health Boards along with GPs are responsible for making decisions regarding local delivery in line with the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance. This includes how GPs will deliver vaccines to their temporary patients.

The Coronavirus Vaccination Helpline can be called on: 0800 0308013 (available 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week) for advice relating to receiving vaccinations in individual health boards.

Further general information about the coronavirus vaccine and its delivery is also available at NHS Inform .