Seòmar agus comataidhean

As set out in my response to S5W-28055 on 7 April 2020, an app MY COPD already exists which patients can access. The third sector provide a crucial role in supporting people with long-term respiratory conditions and the guidance sets out where people can access support - https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-tailored-advice-for-those-who-live-with-specific-medical-conditions/ .

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 .

We published the draft Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland for consultation on 20 December 2020. The consultation was due to run until 3 April 2020, however, due to the on-going situation with COVID-19 we have extended the consultation to 3 July 2020.

This will be reviewed in June and will be extended further if required, in recognition of the fact that COVID-19 may have implications and consequences for many aspects of respiratory care going forward, including pulmonary rehabilitation.

In the meantime, public health advice is regularly updated and can be found at: Coronavirus (COVID-19) on NHS Inform and at Public Health Scotland: https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19/ .

The advice on the these websites is being constantly reviewed and updated based on the developing evidence base to ensure information relevant to specific vulnerable groups is included and up-to-date.

The single most important action we can all take in fighting coronavirus is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

• Only go outside for essential food, health and work reasons
• Stay 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people
• Wash your hands regularly and wash your hands as soon as you get home
• Do not meet others, even friends or family

I met with STUC on 11th, 18th and 24th March to consider how we can support workers and encourage fair work practices in response to COVID-19. We share the concerns of the STUC that the most economically vulnerable in our society must be protected through this time, including supporting workers to self-isolate and take other measures when they need to. I have been meeting with STUC bi-weekly and will continue to do so.

The Scottish Government has issued an approval to enable women having an early medical abortion to take both abortion pills at home. The intention is that this approval will remain in place during the Covid-19 outbreak. This will ensure patients can have their consultation by telephone or video call so they can follow public health advice to stay at home. Following the consultation, if the patient wishes to proceed, and where this is clinically appropriate for them, the medication will be delivered to their home. Patients will be given clear instructions on how and when to take the medication and will be given contact details they can call at any time if they have any concerns or queries.

Some patients will still need to be seen in person where there are clinical reasons for this, but this change should help minimise the number of patients attending clinics during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The Chief Medical Officer has written to NHS Boards to encourage them to implement this as soon as possible for those patients for whom it is appropriate. She has also asked them to ensure as part of their contingency planning that all women who choose to have an abortion can continue to access abortion services within the legal time limits.

Whilst there is a legal requirement for two registered medical practitioners to sign off each abortion, the CMO’s letter also provides further information to help NHS Boards continue to ensure the legal requirements are met and allow terminations to proceed without delays. NHS Boards have been asked to consider whether doctors can review a patient’s notes remotely and sign forms electronically. The Scottish Government understands that NHS Boards are willing to help one another with providing opinions on abortion and signing off if any individual Board needs support.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28062 on 31 March 2020. 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-28062 on 31 March 2020. 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-28062 on 31 March 2020. 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-28062 on 31 March 2020. 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 .

Our intention is to publish the Women’s Health Plan by the end of this year.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

NHS staff on duty within prisons will provide a clinical response to an overdose in custody, including the administration of naloxone during the day. Night shift staff and managers have been trained in the safe administration of intra-muscular naloxone in emergency ‘first on the scene’ situations when no NHS staff are on duty. These staff have access to intra-muscular Naloxone via their local night shift protocols.

In 2017 a total of 272 Operational night shift staff were in receipt of full up-to-date training in the administration of naloxone. This training included the Private Prisons HMP Addiewell and HMP Kilmarnock. Of these 207 were public sector operational night shift staff. This represents 79% of the total night shift complement for public sector prisons. It should be noted that some night shift staff may be employed on part time contracts, so the total number of individual staff may exceed the complemented figure.