The Scottish Government is committed to keeping staff across the NHS and emergency services safe, including ensuring continued access to appropriate personal protective equipment.

NHS National Services Scotland are keeping the position with NHS supplies under constant review as the coronavirus pandemic develops and we are working with them to ensure stocks are maintained so we can continue to protect those who need it. Health Boards also have means to notify NHS National Procurement of any supply issues, in order that they can quickly be rectified.

We are distributing PPE to all social care providers and to GP Practices. This includes stocks of facemasks, aprons, gloves and eye protection, in line with Health Protection Scotland guidance. The Scottish Government also remains in close liaison with the emergency services and through them, their suppliers, to ensure they remain adequately protected in performing their vital roles.

Principal responsibility for collecting data on deaths in hospital belongs to Public Health Scotland. However, the Mental Welfare Commission must be notified by Health Boards of deaths of people who are subject to detention in hospital or treatment in the community under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Commission to provide you with the figures requested.

Clinical advice and available evidence suggests it is too early to determine exactly what the post-viral, long-term physical and mental health impacts will be for those who have had COVID-19. We are aware that some people suffer from post-viral syndrome following any viral infection and present with chronic fatigue and general malaise. We are also aware of the wider effects on mental health resulting from long-term isolation, reduced contact with family or friends and economic adversity. However the scientific evidence on post-viral physical and mental health impacts of COVID-19 specifically is still in its early days.

The Scottish Government on behalf of the NHS and other stakeholders have been working with Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) since November 2018 to try and identify a way forward that will support Scotland’s continued participation in the National Asthma and COPD Audit Programme, specifically a mutually agreeable legal basis to support the financial payment for that participation.

So far we have not been able to identify one, although Scotland will continue to participate in NACAP until the end of this current contract, which is 28 February 2021.

We are continuing to work on how we collect auditing data of respiratory conditions going forward to ensure that any data collected meets Scotland’s needs, and supports decision making both clinically and at a policy level, including the implications of Covid-19. Options will include considering what the benefits of NACAP have been in terms of service improvement in Scotland and the possibility of contracting directly with the audit providers, rather than through a third party such as HQIP.

Access to pulmonary rehabilitation is already a key recommendation in national clinical guidelines which we expect NHS Boards to follow, that is why it will form an important part of the final Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland, currently out for consultation until 3 July 2020.

Once the final Plan is published, we will work with stakeholders to understand what clinical audits are needed for respiratory to support decision making both clinically and at a policy level in Scotland.

We continue to work in close partnership with the BMA and other representative bodies, to ensure that we maintain the highest health and safety standards, and promote the health and wellbeing of NHS Scotland staff.

The Minister for Mental Health is working closely with partners across the health and social care sector, including NHS Boards, Health and Social Care Partnerships and local employers, to ensure a range of psychological and wellbeing support is in place for the workforce.

MyCOPD is currently being assessed for potential usefulness to patients and services in Scotland as part of a managed service. It is part of the MymHealth apps and is commercially available to all UK citizens living with COPD Long Term Conditions provided they have access to Google and Apple stores.

Another MymHealth service MyHeart is also being assessed for potential usefulness to patients and services in Scotland.

While we are supportive of the public accessing certified apps for self-monitoring, patient to healthcare professional remote monitoring from home also remains a priority. As such, our remote monitoring service Florence is being utilised in areas across Scotland to support people with a variety of conditions such as COPD. This service is provided via simple SMS technology therefore is more accessible to those who do not have a smart phone, and its availability is based on local clinical priorities.

We have recently procured a new remote monitoring solution to support people who are diagnosed with COVID19. The InHealthCare solution, which will take the form of an app or be accessed via text or a website, will allow access to a suite of remote and self management materials to support people to manage their condition from home or from a homely setting as well as being able to provide regular updates on their condition.

The third sector also provide a crucial role in supporting people living with long-term respiratory conditions. Organisations such as the British Lung Foundation and Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland provide online resources tailored specifically for those living with or caring for someone with a long-term lung condition such as COPD. Further information can be found at British Lung Foundation: https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you and Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland: https://www.chss.org.uk/chest-information-and-support/ .

The Scottish Government does not have access to this information as it held by the Health and Safety Executive which is reserved.

The total number of deaths in each health board where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate is published weekly by the National Records of Scotland https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/covid19stats

Where a death is attributable to the workplace (within the terms set out by the HSE) it is RIDDOR reportable and HSE are the body responsible for carrying out any such investigation. Not all deaths of workers reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be attributable to workplace contracted Covid-19.

Where a death is RIDDOR reportable (and if the employer chose to investigate at its discretion), we would expect any local investigation to take place in line with usual policies and procedures and for the employer to comply with any other investigation i.e. the HSE investigation or an Fatal Accident Enquiry if it were announced.

The information requested is available at i) NHS Workforce Data https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/NES-Publication/Equality_and_Diversity_S2019.xls

ii) Social Care Annual Workforce Data: https://data.sssc.uk.com/data-publications/22-workforce-data-report/216-scottish-social-service-sector-report-on-2018-workforce-data

The Scottish Government has no immediate plans to pilot a 4-day working week for its employees. We are scheduled to meet the recognised trade unions (PCS, Prospect, and FDA) later in the year for regular discussions on pay, and terms and conditions.