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The statistics on suspected cases of COVID-19 in hospital were developed and published at pace. NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde did not provide data for inclusion in first publication of statistics. The published statistics reference the fact that NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde figures are not included.

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde have been monitoring suspected patient numbers during the pandemic.

With the introduction of screening and testing of those aged 70 years and above on admission, the statistics on suspected cases of COVID-19 in hospital have been subject to definitional discontinuities. As such, while the statistics continue to be published, they need careful interpretation and their utility is reduced.

UK wide PPE Guidance sets out the recommended use of goggles and visors in different clinical and care settings.

Given the recognised sustained transmission of COVID-19, the guidance includes detailed advice around risk assessing use of PPE, including eye protection, in a range of different clinical and care scenarios.

Adequate stocks of goggles are held and distributed to both health boards, primary care providers and hubs based on need.

The Scottish Government is undertaking a variety of actions to ensure the public are aware of how COVID-19 can affect people differently. These include

• Daily First Minister Briefings
• Media and social media relations activity on a daily basis to communicate key messages
• Paid for marketing campaigns across TV, radio, newspapers and online
• Leaflet delivered to every household in Scotland during April
• Working with external organisations such as Health Boards, third sector and private sector to communicate key messages
• Writing to everyone who is potentially at greater risk from COVID-19 to shield themselves from the virus and outline the support available to them to do this
• Section on www.gov.scot that is dedicated to latest information on COVID-19

Much of the above activity will have covered the key symptoms the COVID-19. For example, when the loss of or change in sense of smell or taste was added to the list of symptoms the Scottish Government activated an advertising campaign across TV, radio and digital advertising on 19 May 2020 which highlighted all three symptoms. These adverts were active until 28 May 2020.

The Test & Protect advertising that was launched on 28 May 2020 also include details of the symptoms the public need to be aware of.

Alongside the three common symptoms we also include information to contact 111 if symptoms worsen or if symptoms are still present after seven days.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that Sports Therapists play in maintaining the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland and while progress out of the crisis has not be as quick as any of us would have wished for, we must move forward at a pace that continues to protect public health.

As we move forward in Phase 1, it is important that we follow the spirit of the route map and support the key public health message to ‘stay as home as much as possible during phase 1’.

We appreciate that Sports Therapists will be anxious to know when each phase will start. However, it is not possible to be precise with the timings of when we will move into each phase. Indeed it may be that not all parts of each phase will be introduced at the same time.

Transition from one phase to the next will very much depend on the changes we see in the spread of the disease, only moving to a less restrictive phase if it remains under control and if we can keep the ‘R’ number below 1. By adopting the phased approach to restarting services and not encouraging significant numbers of people to travel for treatments or procedures that are not essential or urgent we will help to reduce the risk of potentially raising the value of R.

Sports Therapists and privately practicing Physiotherapists will be expected to follow the guidance as set out by Health Protection Scotland and the Scottish Government in regards to returning to practice.

In our “Framework for Decision-Making”, we made a commitment to put equality and human rights at the heart of our response to COVID-19.

To support this, analytical partners across the Scottish Government, National Records of Scotland, Public Health Scotland and the NHS are working to better understand the impact of Covid-19 across a range of socio-demographic factors, including the link with poverty and deprivation, and how we can best support all vulnerable groups at this time.

In terms of action and additional investment so far, through the £350 million package of Communities Funding announced on 18 March we have allocated £102 million to Scotland’s local authorities so they can support those in need through this crisis.

This includes: £50 million in hardship funding which can be used as they see fit with no reporting requirements; £30 million from our Food Fund, supporting them to deliver a local coordinated response for those in need and helping children and young people access Free School Meal entitlements; and an initial £22 million boost to their Scottish Welfare Fund budget, allowing local authorities to reach more people in need with immediate support through Crisis Grants.

Across Scotland, a further £23 million boost to the Scottish Welfare Fund will be targeted where it is needed most – bringing total investment to £80.5 million in 2020-21 - and we have established a £50 million reserve to provide additional funding for the Council Tax Reduction scheme and Scottish social security benefits.

National Records of Scotland published a one-off release on Wednesday 3rd June “Deaths of care home residents involving COVID-19”. This showed the number of care home residents who died in hospital up to the 17th of May was 154.

These 154 deaths of care home residents in hospitals have already been counted in the NRS weekly statistics, under the "hospital deaths" category. This is because the location of death is what is recorded on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) which is then reported by NRS.

The link to the NRS release, “Deaths of care home residents involving COVID-19” is here:

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//statistics/covid19/covid-deaths
-care-home-residents.xlsx

In relation to question S5W-29379 on 10 June 2020, any care home residents who died in hospital as a result of COVID-19 will be included in the "hospital deaths" category. Deaths from COVID-19 that occurred in a care home will be counted in the "Care Home" category.

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-29378 on 10 June 2020. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Guidance from Health Protection Scotland and the Scottish Government is clear that physical distancing measures must be followed by everyone, including those in care homes . It recommends that residents remain in their rooms as much as possible; that communal activity and the use of communal spaces are avoided especially where there is an outbreak; physical distancing measures are applied; and where there are suspected or confirmed cases there should be strict enforcement of these measures. The use of a risk assessment to determine the approach is also recommended.

I expect NHS Boards to continue to implement the extant Scottish Health Planning Note (SHPN) 04-01: Adult in-patient facilities (October 2010) file:///C:/Users/u440390/Downloads
/1476379336-SHPN%2004-01%20for%20web.pdf which sets out bed spacing requirements. The Note states that:

“ Bed space 1.7 In relation to the issue of bed spacing for multi-bedded rooms, the current advice remains unchanged. That is, taking account of ergonomic criteria, primarily the space required for patient handling and other activities which take place in the immediate vicinity of the bed, it is recognised that the minimum bed space should not be less than 3.6m wide x 3.7m deep. ”

This meets the current requirements to meet COVID-19 physical distancing requirements.

A UK sub-group of SAGE, which includes Scottish representation, are currently looking at environmental aspects of COVID-19, which includes bed spacing. The outputs from this group will inform any decision making in terms of guidance changes in Scotland.

Supply of PPE

The Scottish Government continues to work with NHS National Services Scotland, Health and Social Care Partnerships, the social care sector, and with colleagues in other UK nations to procure and distribute necessary supplies of the types and levels of PPE required to safeguard frontline health and social care workers.

The Scottish Government has its own supply, procurement and logistics arrangements in place working with manufacturers in Scotland and globally to ensure we have adequate supplies and this will continue.

We have introduced measures to improve the distribution of PPE, including a single point of contact for all health boards to manage local PPE supply and distribution. Since the start of March to 3 June 2020, over 158 million items of PPE have been delivered to hospitals in Scotland ( counting individual gloves as single items, as they are purchased in boxes of single gloves ).

The Scottish Government also has a dedicated email address for staff, MSPs or members of the public to raise specific supply issues. The email box is monitored continuously and allows us to act to resolve any supply issues more quickly.