The Scottish Government has not held any specific discussions with NHS Lanarkshire regarding ambulance waiting times in the area.

We receive daily and weekly updates on ambulance service performance across the country, broken down by Board area and if any major concerns are identified these would be picked up with the ambulance service directly.

The Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS Lanarkshire work very closely together on any issues identified with regular engagement taking place to ensure SAS continue to deliver the best possible care for patients.

Menstrual health and wellbeing education is a key part of relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education. RSHP education is an integral part of the health and wellbeing area of the Scottish curriculum, Curriculum for Excellence. Learning about RSHP education begins early on in primary school and continues right up to S4-S6. RSHP education is delivered in an age and stage appropriate manner and is intended to enable children and young people to build positive relationships as they grow older. Schools will equip young people with information on a wide range of issues, including menstrual health and wellbeing, depending on their age and stage of learning. Learning should present facts in an objective, balanced and sensitive manner within a framework of sound values and an awareness of the law.

An online RSHP teaching resource, ( www.rshp.scot) published last year, provides 133 age and stage appropriate learning activities on RSHP education for use in all education settings and is aligned to Curriculum for Excellence. This resource includes learning activities on menstruation from second level (P5 to P7) , with endometriosis introduced at third/fourth level (S1 to S3) .

1. Studies into the properties of copper in reducing microbes on its antimicrobial surface are promising, and antimicrobial copper surfaces provide an example of a novel technology that may supplement standard cleaning practices and potentially further reduce the transmission of nosocomial pathogens . However, the use of antimicrobial copper cannot replace regular cleaning/ disinfection.

2. Health Protection Scotland published a literature review on Antimicrobial Copper Surfaces in July 2017, which is available here . The review concluded that antimicrobial copper surfaces could supplement standard cleaning practices and potentially further reduce the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. However, whilst there was evidence supporting the use of copper alloy environmental surfaces, it was typically of low to moderate quality, and there was insufficient evidence to support the use of copper oxide-impregnated composite environmental surfaces and textiles.

3. The use of copper and copper compounds on surfaces in patient vicinities might also introduce alternative electrical pathways, which would need risk assessed.

4. In terms of reducing nosocomial transmission of COVID-19 more generally, we have worked hard to ensure that Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in hospital and other care settings are robust. This includes environmental cleaning and disinfection, in addition to other measures such as the appropriate use of PPE, extended use of face masks and coverings, physical distancing and testing, as well as risk assessed patient care pathways to help guide the implementation of measures for safe and effective care.

Everyone should consider taking a daily 10 microgram supplement of vitamin D to protect bone and muscle health, particularly during the winter months. It is specifically recommended that groups at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency take a daily supplement all year round. This includes pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children under 5, people who have low or no exposure to the sun, and people from minority ethnic groups with dark skin who require more sun exposure to make as much vitamin D.

Current advice on vitamin D is available at: www.gov.scot/publications/vitamin-d-advice-for-all-age-groups

Decisions on whether to prescribe vitamin D for people in care homes will be made on an individual basis taking account of residents’ needs. Where individuals are likely to benefit, it is recommended vitamin D should be prescribed.

Everyone on the shielding list has been offered a free four month supply of vitamin D from December 2020. Information outlining how to receive this offer has been sent to all those on the shielding list. Advice on the importance of vitamin D supplements has also been provided to those on the shielding list through Scottish Government websites and information updates attached to letters from the Chief Medical Officer.

As set out in the answer to question S5W-29950, the Scottish Government has provided a package of support to outdoor education centres impacted by the pandemic. We continue to be committed to supporting centres and we have been in regular contact with sector representatives since May 2020 to provide support during this challenging period.

Organisations whose activities include running outdoor centres have benefited from Scottish Government funding. Boys’ Brigade Scotland and Scouts Scotland both received £60,000 to support the outcomes of the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention Fund and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities Fund (CYPFEI & ALEC Fund). The Boys’ Brigade and Scouts Scotland have also received approximately £30,000 of support through our Wellbeing Fund.

The £25m Third Sector Resilience Fund has also supported a wide range of third sector organisations, including:

• Scottish Outdoor Education Centres Limited - £98,465
• Adventure Centre for Education - £16,259
• Aerial Adventures, Livingston - £15,547
• Teen Ranch Scotland - £75,251

On 22 October 2020 the Scottish Government announced a new £2m fund to support residential outdoor education centres impacted by the pandemic.

The number of vaccines procured for five previous years is contained in the table:

The safety of all school users is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government.

Evidence suggests that adequate levels of ventilation can limit the spread of COVID-19. As winter approaches, we have issued updated guidance to local authorities that balances the need for ventilation in parts of the school estate with the requirement to maintain adequate temperatures. This has been published as part of the latest version of school reopening guidance.

The Scottish Government currently has no plans to make any changes to the contents of Scotland’s Baby Boxes. The Baby Box ensures that every family with a newborn has access to essential items needed in the first six months of a child’s life.

The Baby Box balances practical items, such as the clothing, changing mat, digital thermometer and bath & room thermometer, with items designed to have a positive impact on parent-child interaction such as books, a baby wrap and a play mat to support attachment, early learning and play.

We are continuing to monitor the feedback from families and health professionals and the latest research available. Both indicate very high levels of satisfaction with the Box and its contents. We have commissioned an independent evaluation of Scotland’s Baby Boxes and we expect the findings to be published on the Scottish Government’s website by spring 2021.

All new parents and families with young children have access to a health visitor or family nurse, who can provide them with any additional information or support they may require, either directly or through community based resources. These essential health services continued throughout the pandemic, prioritising early contacts in the health visiting pathway, along with maternity services.

We are undertaking work across our health and social care settings to assess our preparedness for Winter. As part of this we are working with Boards and delivery partners to ensure that we are as prepared as we can be for the months ahead in the context of Covid-19 and other winter risks such as winter flu, winter pressures on Emergency Departments and restarting elective care.

The immediate focus of work is planning for the implications of a resurgence of Covid-19. The impact of Covid-19 is unlikely to fall evenly and so will be felt harder in some parts of the country than others. Our collective response will need to factor in strong mutual aid arrangements and logistics support to ensure there are safe levels of staffing throughout the system to manage winter pressures. A Health & Social Care Winter Planning team will work with Boards and delivery partners to assess winter preparedness.

On staffing capacity, we are working closely with Health Boards and at a national level to understand any concerns about staffing levels and explore effective mitigations. We continue to support the effective deployment of staff, including the use of temporary and emergency staffing through the National Health and Social Care Covid-19 Accelerated Recruitment Portal. The Portal was launched in March 2020, to allow returning health care professionals to come forward and support our health and social care services at this time of national emergency. We are prepared to make further use of the Portal to mitigate future staffing demand from NHS Boards.

Regarding staff absence, we have collected, monitored and published data on NHS and care home staff absences since the outbreak of this pandemic. Data is continually collated from NHS Boards and the Care Inspectorate on the number and rate of absences associated with Covid-19.

For the week to 20 October 2020, a daily average of 1.6% of the NHS workforce were recorded absent for reasons related to Covid-19. The rate of NHS Covid-19 related absence has remained below 2% since late July and below 4% since early May.

For the week to 20 October 2020, a daily average of 2.3% of the care home workforce were recorded absent for reasons related to Covid-19. The rate of Covid-19 related absences in care homes has remained at or below 2.5% since early August and below 4% since late June.

We will continue to pay close attention to staff absence data in the coming months.

NHS Test and Protect is a complex public health intervention and uses a whole system approach for delivery across NHS Boards, local authorities and other key delivery partners. As spend may be incurred centrally, rather than by individual partners, costs incurred by NHS Boards do not constitute total programme spend. Overall expected costs for this programme include expenditure on testing, contact tracing and support for those isolating.

On 29 September 2020 the Cabinet Secretary for Health announced £1.1 billion in additional funding for NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships to meet COVID-19 related costs. A breakdown of the initial provision for Boards included for NHS Test and Protect – as included in this funded package – is set out below. Activities and costs remain under close review and funding to Boards will be revised through the year in line with agreed changes.