Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-31827

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the InHealthCare digital service will allow people to access pulmonary rehab remotely.

The InHealthcare platform has been procured to deliver an interim remote monitoring solution aimed at Covid-19 patients and to aid response and recovery mobilisation plans within Scotland. Immediate additional focus areas have been identified in collaboration with local Board strategic and clinical leads and linked to Scottish Government key priorities including Covid-19 symptom monitoring, Heart Failure, Asthma, COPD and Pre-operative assessment.

We acknowledge there may be further targeted care pathways which could be supported by the platform, including pulmonary rehabilitation, and we are engaging with national and local clinicians and strategic leads to assess potential additional services on a case-by-case basis.

Question reference: S5W-31836

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Liam McArthur MSP (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate on 25 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what information and assistance is available to Members and staff who are experiencing difficulties with alcohol or drugs.

The SPCB is committed to providing a safe and positive working environment for Members and staff. The SPCB recognises that this can be put at risk by individuals who misuse alcohol, drugs or substances to such an extent that that it affects their health, work performance, behaviour or relationships at work. The SPCB is committed to ensuring a working environment which is free from this risk.

Under its published policies, the SPCB makes a distinction between individuals with an alcohol, drugs or substance misuse problem and misconduct involving alcohol, drugs or substances. These policies apply to SPCB staff and Members’ staff. The SPCB considers dependency on alcohol, drugs and substances to be a health problem for which the individual requires specialist treatment and support.

As such the SPCB, through its occupational health partners, provides impartial information, advice and support to individuals experiencing difficulties. This includes arranging specialist counselling, assessment or referral to another agency. Individuals can also seek support through the Employee Assistance Programme. This Programme provides a network of counsellors who are available to offer continuing support to those who have more complex issues.

The SPCB recognises that it is also the responsibility of the individual to accept this help and assistance to improve their condition.

Question reference: S5F-04387

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2020

To ask the First Minister what urgent action the Scottish Government is taking to restore and support contact between family carers and older and disabled people living in care homes, which is considered essential to their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

Question reference: S5W-30903

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the holding answer to question S5W-29031 by Jeane Freeman on 29 May 2020, when it will provide a substantive answer, and for what reason it has not provided this to date.

Question reference: S5W-31432

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly reduced its funding to the Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network (SPAEN), which supports the employers of social care personal assistants, and what equality impact assessment it carried out before reaching this decision.

The financial settlement in the 2020-21 budget was very tight and tough decisions were made across all parts of the health and social care portfolio. The majority of projects in the self-directed support and social care portfolio experienced reduced levels of funding.

Despite this, the total amount of funding from Scottish Government to SPAEN in 2020-21, is in line with previous years, it is made up of social care funding and specific support related to COVID-19.

It is good practice to regularly review grant funding arrangements to ensure alignment with policy aims and sustainability. As an organisation SPAEN has received Scottish Government funding for over a decade and some of its work is self-sustaining. Funding arrangements for 2020-21 followed the completion of a business review and receipt of SPAEN’s own funding application for 2020-21.

We are fully committed to the provision of independent advice and advocacy including advice on employment of personal assistants and as well as funding SPAEN we fund other organisations through the Support in the Right Direction programme (SiRD).

We did not complete an EQIA for this specific funding decision, however we did work with Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS), a membership body representing disabled people’s organisations, in order to understand the impact of our funding to independent support organisations as part of the consultation and fund development of SiRD. A planned EQIA on reform of adult social care has been delayed due to COVID.

Question reference: S5W-31433

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 8 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to organisations that provide support to the employers of social care personal assistants in each of the last five years.

The funding provided to organisations supporting the employers of social care personal assistants in each of the last five years is as follows:

2015 – 2016

The Support in the Right Direction Fund 2015-18

A portfolio of 36 independent support services across Scotland who provide to people who require social care, many of whom employ personal assistants

Self-directed Support Scotland

Infrastructure support to the independent support services sector to ensure they offer appropriate advice. This includes training on a range of legislation and best practice relevant to PA employers.

£2,937,491

Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network

Support people to employ and manage their own staff

£142,643 (includes funding from the Provider and Workforce Innovation fund of £27,643 )

2016 -2017

The Support in the Right Direction Fund 2015-18 and Self – Directed Support Scotland

£2,909,845

Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network

£143,335 (includes funding from the Provider and Workforce Innovation fund of £28,335)

2017- 2018

The Support in the Right Direction Fund 2015-18 and Self – Directed Support Scotland

£2,890,498

Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network

£142,653

includes funding from the Provider and Workforce Innovation fund of £27,653

2018 – 2019

The Support in the Right Direction Fund 2015-18 Extension	£1,648, 809
The Support in the Right Direction Fund 2018-21 A portfolio of 30 independent support services across Scotland who provide advice and practical guidance to people who require social care, many of whom employ personal assistants.	£1,464,520
Self-directed Support Scotland	£185,396
Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network	£120,000

2019- 2020

The Support in the Right Direction Fund 2018-21

£2,751,866

Self-directed Support Scotland

£225,067

Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network

£200,080

(This included exceptional funding for a specific need)

In addition to this, Scottish Government has funded the Workers’ Educational Association PA Network project which, while primarily supporting Personal Assistants, also supports the resolution of issues where relationships between social care personal assistants and their employers are at risk of breaking down. They have been funded as follows:

2015-2016	£56,307 via the Provider and Workforce Innovation fund
2016-2017	£60,907 via the Provider and Workforce Innovation fund
2017-2018	£61,466 via the Provider and Workforce Innovation fund
2018-2019	£66,460
2019-2020	£68,598

Question reference: S5W-31434

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 7 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many items of PPE have been provided to social care personal assistants and their employers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The supply of PPE is primarily the responsibility of social care providers themselves, and in the case of social care personal assistants, the responsibility of the person/people who employ them. However, given the immense pressure on normal supply chains due to COVID-19, the Scottish Government (via National Services Scotland (NSS)) has been providing top-up and emergency provision from the national stock to ensure that staff, unpaid carers, and social care personal assistants have the PPE they need.

PPE from the national stock is currently being supplied through two routes:

Local PPE Hub(s) in every Health and Social Care Partnership area where providers, personal assistants and unpaid carers can access PPE if they cannot get it through their normal supply routes; and
A central PPE support centre through NSS dedicated to urgent need, that can be accessed in emergency situations and when Hubs are unable to meet need.

As at August 31 2020, over 2.6 million items have been provided through these routes to social care personal assistants. This is over and above PPE that personal assistants or their employers have accessed through their normal supply routes.

Question reference: S5W-31394

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 7 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the financial viability of (a) care homes and (b) care at home services, and whether it (i) plans to provide any financial assistance and (ii) has discussed the acquisition of care homes with (A) health and social care partnerships, (B) COSLA, (C) local authorities, (D) NHS boards and (E) other organisations.

The Scottish Government is in regular contact with stakeholders such as Scottish Care and CCPS on a range of issues, including the financial sustainability of social care services.

The Scottish Government has agreed additional funding of up to £100 million to support immediate sustainability pressures across social care. We continue to work with Integration Authorities and COSLA to ensure that claims are received and payments are made in good time to social care providers. We are currently working closely with Integration Authorities and COSLA to undertake a detailed Quarter 1 review of the financial implications of Covid, and following this review we will make a further funding allocation to recognise costs incurred across health and social care.

Question reference: S5W-29909

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many calls have been made each week to the COVID-19 helpline, 0800 028 2816, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) NHS board area.

Unlike the 111 service, NHS 24's 0800 Helpline doesn’t capture caller demographics and therefore the breakdown of information by Health Board/Local Authority area isn’t available. Please see detailed information below on the total number of calls to the Helpline per week as well as the total number to date.

Week Ending	Helpline Call Demand
02.02.2020*	53
09.02.2020	142
16.02.2020	321
23.02.2020	161
01.03.2020	1,928
08.03.2020	3,436
15.03.2020	15,335
22.03.2020	26,495
29.03.2020	20,175
05.04.2020	8,520
12.04.2020	5,080
19.04.2020	3,236
26.04.2020	2,367
03.05.2020	2,780
10.05.2020	2,058
17.05.2020	1,677
24.05.2020	1,527
31.05.2020	1,978
07.06.2020	2,593
14.06.2020	2,500
21.06.2020	2,186
28.06.2020	3,063
TOTAL	107,611

* The week ending 02-02-2020 only contains data from 30th January, when the Helpline began.

Question reference: S5W-29031

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it will be making the first payments to hospices in the Central Scotland region from the £19 million that it announced on 28 April 2020 to support such facilities in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including Kilbryde Hospice in East Kilbride, which is reportedly at risk of closure.

On the 29 June, I wrote to Scottish Hospices to confirm that their funding requests (totalling £10.1m) related to loss of income during the pandemic during the first financial quarter of 2020 would be met in full. Integration Authorities and NHS Boards were also notified of this on the same date, and the funding was processed for onward allocation to hospices at the end of June 2020.

It is important to reflect that this funding was provided on a one off basis for the full first quarter of the year to account for loss of income during the pandemic, and that we expect the existing commissioning arrangements between hospices and Integration Authorities to be maintained going forward.

It is also important to reflect that in April 2020, I indicated that Scotland was likely to receive an estimated £19 million in consequentials in respect of the £200 million for hospices included in the UK Government’s announcement of £750 million for charities. HM Treasury have not yet provided an updated final consequential funding figure associated with the original announcement, although it is expected to be significantly lower than the £19m originally expected.

When we have clarification on the total consequential funding we will receive this will be allocated in full to Scottish Hospices.

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