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All NHS Boards across Scotland have the option of referring patients to the NHS Centre for Integrative Care (CIC) for services not available locally.

It is for individual NHS Boards to decide what complementary and alternative medicines/therapies they make available based on the needs of their resident populations and in line with national guidance.

The CIC is a facility owned and operated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC), offering people with long term conditions a range of services, including complementary, holistic and homeopathic treatments. It is the responsibility of NHS GGC to manage access to their services.

A variety of risk assessments are undertaken across all wards in the Hospital, including 4a and 4b, covering social distancing, hand hygiene, infection control precautions (SICPs) audits every 6 months, patient placement, and the verification of the specialist ventilation systems in ward 4b. The new and innovative Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) dashboard available to all staff enables real time review of IPC data, and allows for a quick and effective response to any risks reported.

The information requested is available from https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/factsheet/2020/02/health-and-wellbeing-census/documents/health-and-wellbeing-census-frequently-asked-questions/health-and-wellbeing-census-frequently-asked-questions/govscot%3Adocument/HWB%2BCensus%2B2021-22%2B-%2BQA%2Bdocument%2B-%2BAugust%2B2021.docx.

Causes of death in Scotland are recorded by National Records of Scotland (NRS). The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) system, which is used in the UK to classify deaths, does not allow deep venous thrombosis to be separated from phlebitis (inflammation of a vein).

Figures from NRS are provided below, for which deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been taken to refer to thrombosis of the deep veins of the leg. Deaths from DVT frequently occur from complications of the DVT, principally pulmonary embolism, so deaths from pulmonary embolism have been included in these figures. As mentioned above the ICD-10 does not allow DVT to be separated from phlebitis, so these figures may include a small number of deaths due to phlebitis.

Deaths attributed to deep vein thrombosis (DVT)* registered in Scotland, 2014 to 2020

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04301 on 6 December 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Vaccination is the best way to keep you, your friends, family, and community safe and we encourage everyone to consider getting the vaccine.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice changed on 15 November 2021. In the vast majority of cases a successful route to safe vaccination can now be found, a disability would not necessarily mean that an individual cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

It is exceptionally rare to withhold vaccination, however, if vaccination is not straightforward support is available to help people achieve the benefits of protection from the Covid-19 vaccines. Local vaccination centres can help answer questions about the vaccine and can advise what arrangements may be put in place to enable safe vaccination.

In the rare cases where that support is provided and does not lead to vaccination then this will result in the person being identified as either able to safely receive the vaccine but decides not to do so and in this circumstance they will not be eligible for a medical exemption certificate; or they will be identified as clinically unable to safely receive the vaccine and in which case they will receive a secure paper exemption certificate in the post. All vaccine status certificates, including medical exemptions certificates, are time limited.

Further information on COVID-19 Status Certificates and about medical exemptions from them is available from NHS Inform , the COVID Status Helpline on 0808 196 8565 , or local vaccination centres.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04215 on 20 December 2021 . All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Those workers who are not eligible for the Self-Isolation Support Grant may be eligible for an emergency grant from their local authority. Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grants are available to all people regardless of their current benefit eligibility. They are specifically designed to provide a safety net when an emergency situation occurs and there is no other way to cover costs.

In addition, support can be provided via the Local Self-Isolation Support Service which is a proactive outbound call service operated by local authorities. The service calls people who are self-isolating, and who are happy to pass on their details. This service helps with support to access food, medication, and other essentials, whilst also signposting to further advice services. Help can be provided by contacting The National Assistance Helpline on 0800 111 4000 which anyone can contact, and operates between 09.00 to 17.00 every weekday.

(a) There are no current plans to change the value of the SISG. It is not intended to be a direct replacement for lost income but remains reflective of the financial impact on workers who have to isolate. For most people who qualify for the Grant, £500 will be more than they would normally earn during that period.

(b) We have committed to making sure that eligibility for the Grant aligns with the public health policy on isolation. In particular during times of uncertainty or when a new variant such as Omicron arose, it is important to make sure that low income workers can follow the public health guidance without having to worry about being worse off as a result. Since the Grant began, it has facilitated both local and national changes in health policy such as extending eligibility as part of a local secondary contract tracing exercise and widening access in Omicron cases. Our approach is to continue to ensure that the grant will be available should it be needed.

Information on the levels of tax and expenditure in the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland 2020-21 publication is set out at: Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland 2020-21 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

This comprehensive review is a substantial exercise for the Scottish Government and NHS Boards and, regrettably, has been delayed due to prioritisation of our ongoing response to the pandemic and remobilisation of services. The review will take full account of the matters raised by Members, and will be taken forward as soon as possible.