Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answers to questions S5W-34257 and S5W-34264 on 20 January 2021. 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 .

Additionally, the Healthcare Staffing Programme has been established within Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) and this programme will assist Boards in meeting their obligations under the Health and Social Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 (the Act), providing support and guidance while monitoring compliance. The programme will also be responsible for the development of staffing tools and methodology, as well as their review. The programme has been overseeing the use, development and regular review of the existing tools on behalf of Scottish Ministers until the Act is commenced. This programme was paused at the beginning of the pandemic, but has now restarted, although slowly in light of the continuing pressures of Covid-19. This work will support Boards in understanding how to prepare to meet their obligations under the Act, and will also undertake a revised range of roles, including supporting Boards in understanding workforce requirements in relation to it and to their Re-mobilisation plans.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34260 on 20 January 2021. 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 .

Additionally, as I stated to the Health and Sport Committee in my letter dated 18 December 2020, it is not possible to be explicit on the date for the public consultation, given this is part of a wider process of engagement and input which has been placed on hold to prioritise resource for the pandemic. When capacity becomes available the public consultation will be an integral part of that process.

Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) is responsible for both the Healthcare Staffing Programme National Steering Group and Education sub-group of that National Steering Group.

The Healthcare Staffing Programme National Steering Group last met on 6 November 2019. The Education Sub-group last met on 28 January 2020.

The Programme was stepped down in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic and remobilised in September 2020.

HIS has not yet agreed a firm date for the Healthcare Staffing Programme National Steering Group, but has confirmed that it will take place sometime before 5 February 2021. The first meeting of the reconvened Education Sub-group is scheduled to take place on 19 January 2021.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34257 on 20 January 2021. 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-34263 on 20 January 2021. 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 .

Additionally, my officials have had regular contact with both Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and the Care Inspectorate in relation to support they have given to Health Boards and care home providers throughout the pandemic. Government officials have held informal monthly meetings with HIS to discuss the programme work plan for the year, to focus on supporting workload and workforce planning during the pandemic, and progress that HIS could make during this time in relation to securing analytical and digital support from NHS Education for Scotland (NES Scotland), in preparation for developing approaches to multidisciplinary tool development.

The Care Inspectorate had commenced a scoping exercise relating to development of workload tools for care homes for adults. This work was paused due to the pandemic and will be re-established when appropriate, given the significantly stretched nature of available time and resources for those working in the sector during the ongoing pandemic. However, Scottish Government has supported them in developing a Care Management safety huddle tool during this time. This tool enables care homes to identify areas of concern and risk, including workforce, and supports a consistent approach to escalation to the Care Inspectorate and Health and Social Care Partnerships, which helps support them now and in preparation for the implementation of the Act, along with the duties this will impose on them. This tool will further inform future development of workload tools and methodologies in care homes for adults.

The actions that the Scottish Government has taken to develop its duties which correspond to the Health and Care (Staffing) Scotland Act 2019 (the Act) have, as with most aspects of health and social care policy, been significantly affected by our need to respond to the global pandemic emergency.

While the implementation of the Act has been paused, Boards have continued to use workload tools where there has been capacity to do so. Therefore, since the initial lockdown we have focused on supporting Boards with necessary workload and workforce planning as part of their response.

Scottish Government has been funding and overseeing the development of a range of resources in recognition that Covid-19 has required changes to staffing resulting from increased demand, reduced availability of staff and implementation of social distancing in clinical areas, including the development of:

• staffing models for intensive care units and the Louisa Jordan Hospital;
• professional judgement templates with associated specialty specific guidance for adult acute wards, maternity and neonatal services, mental health and learning disability services, community nursing and AHP services;
• a care management safety huddle tool and professional judgement template for use in care homes.

Additionally, Scottish Government has continued to provide funding for workforce lead posts in each Board to provide local leadership and expertise, in recognition of the importance of support being available to NHS Boards for staff at this time. The use of workload tools are not currently mandated in recognition that Boards may not have capacity, though they remain available to Boards should they wish to use them. Scottish Government also continues to fund the Healthcare Staffing Programme (HSP) within Health Improvement Scotland (HIS), which is responsible for work to support implementation of the Act, although understandably the focus this year has been on supporting workforce planning required as a result of the pandemic.

Throughout 2020 the Scottish Government’s Cardiac Rehab Champion, in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation, was in contact with health boards across Scotland and worked with them to discuss alternative, Covid-appropriate options to traditional face-to-face rehabilitation.

Our overriding priority is to keep people safe, in their homes and in healthcare settings. Individual decisions based on the benefits and risks of treatment may have to be made for people living with a heart disease. Alternative therapy options involving fewer visits to hospital are being offered to individuals where these are considered clinically appropriate.

The Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and National Clinical Director most recently wrote to hospices on the 22 December 2020 to offer updated advice on visiting over the winter period.

This letter emphasised that Scottish Hospices are expected to follow the visiting guidance that is most closely aligned to the physical attributes of their service. It is important to reflect that the majority of patients cared for in this type of setting will fall under the visiting guidance exemption for end of life care. In such instances, we support hospices in taking a compassionate and bespoke approach to visiting to allow those nearing the end of life to be with their loved ones.

The Scottish Government remains in regular communication with Scottish Hospices, through the auspices of the Scottish Hospices Leadership Group, to provide further advice and support as required.

The Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing meets the Lord Advocate from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest.

This information is not centrally held. I suggest you contact the relevant Boards for this information.