Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-30274

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made in the frequency of stethoscope usage during GP visits for people over 65, and what steps it is taking to resume the detection of structural heart diseases among this group in primary care settings.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the frequency of stethoscope usage during GP visits for people over 65.

We fully expect patients to be treated in line with their clinical priority. In these unprecedented times, NHS Boards are expected to schedule appointments or advise of alternative arrangements as soon as clinically appropriate, which includes arranging telephone or Near Me video consultations in primary care and hospital settings. The NHS continues to provide emergency and urgent care for all patients.

Anyone who feels that their condition is deteriorating and they need to be seen sooner than their scheduled appointment should contact their GP or clinician who will be able to provide further advice, or the NHS 24 111 service out of hours.

On 1 April, the Scottish Government published Coronavirus (COVID-19) tailored advice for those people living with chronic heart disease: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-tailored-advice-for-those-who-live-with-specific-medical-conditions/ . This information is updated regularly.

For patients with chronic heart failure, more comprehensive information is available on the Scottish Heart Failure Hub website: www.heartfailurehubscotland.co.uk/covid-19/ .

Question reference: S5W-30273

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the prevalence of heart valve disease, and what action it is taking to provide access to treatment for older people with this condition to (a) support healthy ageing and (b) reduce their vulnerability to (i) COVID-19 and (ii) future epidemics and pandemics.

In 2019, The National Health Services Scotland (NHSS) National Planning Board commissioned a horizon scan for heart disease in Scotland. The purpose of the horizon scan was to develop a long term forward view (5-10 years) and advise on issues that require national planning for NHS Scotland. This included looking into the prevalence of valve disease with considerations of supporting healthy ageing and access to minimally invasive techniques.

The horizon scan recommended a draft review initiation document be prepared to describe a proposed scope and remit for a Scottish Cardiac Intervention and Structural Cardiac Intervention review. This has been prepared and will be considered by the National Planning Executive Group in July and the full NHSS National Planning Board on 21st of August 2020.

Question reference: S5F-04254

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 June 2020

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will support community sport restarting as lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Question reference: S5W-29051

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide treatment for people with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The NHS in Scotland is currently dealing with an unprecedented health situation that has meant that some scheduled, non-essential procedures and care has had to be postponed to ensure other, seriously ill patients can be treated and cared for.

We fully expect patients to be treated in line with their clinical priority. In these unprecedented times, NHS Boards are expected to schedule appointments or advise of alternative arrangements as soon as clinically appropriate. The NHS continues to provide emergency and urgent care for all patients.

Where someone is receiving treatment for a pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, it is important that they take extra care of their overall wellbeing, and attending hospital appointments in a different way is part of this. Clinical teams are working to minimise the time people spend in hospital departments, for example arranging telephone or Near Me video consultations and offering blood tests at a different NHS site.

Individual decisions based on the benefits and risks of treatment may have to be made for people with heart disease. Alternative therapy options involving fewer visits to hospital are being offered to individuals where these are considered clinically appropriate.

Anyone who feels that their condition is deteriorating and they need to be seen sooner than their scheduled appointment should contact their GP or clinician who will be able to provide further advice.

On the 8 June 2020 we published an update on the future direction of shielding policy in Scotland, a link to which can be found here https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-shielding-way-forward-scotland/ . This most recent advice sets out that those who are Shielding should do so until at least 31 July.

On 1 April, the Scottish Government published Coronavirus (COVID-19) tailored advice for those people living with chronic heart disease: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-tailored-advice-for-those-who-live-with-specific-medical-conditions/ . This information is updated regularly.

For patients with chronic heart failure, more comprehensive information is available on the Scottish Heart Failure Hub website: www.heartfailurehubscotland.co.uk/covid-19/

Question reference: S5W-29052

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people with severe heart valve disease have access to minimally-invasive treatment that can reduce time spent in hospitals to help reduce their exposure to COVID-19 and its subsequent potential complications.

Question reference: S5F-04233

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2020

To ask the First Minister what consideration the Scottish Government has given to the impact of lockdown restrictions on people with dementia.

Question reference: S5W-29386

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 June 2020

To ask to Scottish Government whether it plans to halt the current and any future planned emergency release of prisoners, in light of the Scottish Prison Service Early Release Tranche 1 Report showing that staff absence levels have fallen below the threshold for implementation of the emergency legislation, which is 20% of the total workforce.

Scottish Ministers are satisfied that the release of prisoners authorised by the Release of Prisoners (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 is a necessary and proportionate response to the effects coronavirus is having, and is likely to have, on prisons generally, for the purpose of protecting: (a) the security and good order of prisons; and (b) the health, safety and welfare of prisoners and those working in prisons. There is no legislative requirement within the Regulations or the Act for Scottish Prison Service staff absence levels to be at a specific level for action to be taken.

Question reference: S5O-04396

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that public transport in rural areas has sufficient capacity to meet demand.

Question reference: S5W-29054

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 27 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make an assessment of the reported increase in number of deaths from non-COVID-19-related diseases during the lockdown period.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) publish weekly statistics on COVID-19 deaths, including where COVID-19 was a suspected or underlying cause of death.

NRS report that up to week 13, the number of weekly registered deaths in Scotland had been broadly in line with the five year average. From week 14 (30 March) onwards, there has been a clear divergence from the five year average number of deaths. Whilst the majority of these “excess deaths” have COVID-19 reported as the underlying cause, NRS also report excess deaths for the underlying causes of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, circulatory (heart disease and stroke) and cancer.

The Scottish Government, along with analytical partners such as Public Health Scotland and National Records of Scotland are engaged in programmes of research to understand the wider impact of covid-19 on Scotland’s population. Public Health Scotland plan to release an analysis of health inequalities in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 mortality around mid-June.

Question reference: S5F-04137

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 May 2020

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that obesity and diabetes increase an individual’s risk of contracting COVID-19.

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