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During the period March 2020 to September 2021 there were 99 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in pregnancy that were associated with a critical care admission.

However, Public Health Scotland note that general or critical care admission may be unrelated to COVID-19, for example for delivery of her baby or for an injury. Alternatively, women may be incidentally found to have COVID-19 following routine testing on admission for an unrelated reason.

Information regarding pregnant women currently in intensive care unit as a result of contracting COVID-19 or have been hospitalised and delivered their baby early (S6W-04226 and S6W-04227 on 17 November 2021) is not held centrally by the Scottish Government and not yet publicly available. Public Health Scotland may be contacted and may be able to provide this information.

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

The national pancreatic cancer audit is an NHS England initiative and Scotland participates in UK audits (Scottish Cancer Registry data is provided by Public Health Scotland). The Scottish HepatoPancreatoBiliary Network (SHPBN) has reported HepatoPancreatoBiliary (HPB) cancer audits annually since 2010. The 2013-2019 audits are based on quality performance indicators, including some specific to pancreatic cancer. The annual audit reports are available on the SHPBN website. The 2020 audit report is currently in progress.

Through the National Cancer Plan we have placed an emphasis on the less survivable cancers, including pancreatic, and improving their outcomes. We have provided funding and are working with the SHPBN to redesign pancreatic and liver pathways.

The British Medical Association (BMA) and I issued a joint statement to all practices on face-to-face appointments as a result of multiple discussions between both parties.

For many years now, in person face-to-face appointments form part of a hybrid model of options that are offered to patients including video consultations, telephone consultations and in person face-to-face appointments. The pandemic changed the balance between these appointment types. While we are clear that face to face appointments must increase we also recognise that for a number of patients they will wish to continue with telephone or video consultations. Changes to physical distancing guidance will assist practices to safely increase more face to face appointments.

Importantly the type of appointment offered should be agreed through shared decision making, balancing patient choice and autonomy, and practice circumstances/capacity and clinical judgement.

I last met with the BMA on 25 October 2021.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03671 & S6W-03672 on 17 November 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

The Scottish Government has never received an offer from the UK Government to adapt its app to support our needs. It is appropriate that we design a scheme that is right for Scotland, works in our context, and offers us the flexibility to adapt to our changing circumstances.

The information requested is not published. Any information on second dose appointments is used to show people their upcoming scheduled appointments, and a record of cancelled appointments is used to track Did Not Attend (DNA) rates. However, the specific information requested regarding under-16s is not available.

Children and young people age 12-15 are being offered a first dose of the vaccine. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) will continue to review data and evidence on second doses for children and young people aged 12-15 once more data on second doses in this age group has accrued internationally.

We are aware of an issue where a small number of under-16s were incorrectly issued invitations to for a 2 nd dose. This was mainly in the central belt, however the people affected were quickly identified, the appointments cancelled, and revised communications were issued to those affected.

Section 9 of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 requires that the Scottish Ministers have regard to opportunities to advance equality and non-discrimination when exercising functions under Part 1 of the Act.

The following provisions under Part 1 of the Act confer functions on the Scottish Ministers, and details of measures undertaken to advance equality and non-discrimination when these functions have been exercised by Ministers is provided in the following table.

Our COVID Status Certification scheme is a necessary, proportionate, and a limited measure targeted towards activities that are a higher risk. This is an alternative to the potential closure of higher risk venues.

We have taken an equality and human rights approach; and have considered how the scheme may impact individuals and communities. This includes, considering the scheme’s compatibility with the Convention Rights identified in the Human Rights Act 1998 and with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. Other requirements, such as the rights enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) have also been taken into account.

In developing the scheme, ministers and officials have engaged pro-actively with a wide range of stakeholders, including but not limited to, those representing human rights, children’s rights, and each of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act. Stakeholder views and evidence have been reflected in our published impact assessments.

Our decisions are taken, and reviewed on the latest data and clinical evidence . Our review process includes consideration of the impact assessments, such as Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) and Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment .

The initial contract to develop the NHS Scotland Covid Status App was awarded to Netcompany through fair and open procurement at a cost of £600,000. Netcompany is a Danish firm who have developed the Coronapas App for Denmark and the NHS Covid Pass for England and Wales.

The NHS Scotland Covid Status App continues to be developed, with further features and functions added, we will therefore set out the total cost in due course.

Health Boards have already commenced recruitment activity to meet the commitment to recruit an additional 1,000 Health and Care Support staff at AfC Bands 2, 3 & 4 to provide additional capacity across a variety of services both in the community and in hospital settings. Funding of up to £15 million is being provided in-year to fully fund all costs associate with recruitment to these posts. We are directly supporting boards to fill these posts as quickly as possible within that time frame, through securing an accelerated pre-employment process and supporting the delivery of employability initiatives such as the ‘Skills Boost for Health Care’ training for staff new to health and care.