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The UK wide clinical guideline on managing the long-term effects of COVID-19 has been developed collaboratively by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

The evidence reviews on interventions for long COVID were carried out by NICE. At present there is no evidence on hyperbaric oxygen therapy within the guideline.

NICE’s surveillance methods have indicated there is no new evidence which meets the research protocol for interventions on long COVID. However NICE will continue to carry out surveillance on all guideline questions, including the question on interventions, and the results of this surveillance will inform future updates to the living guideline.

There have been long COVID research calls by the National Institute for Health Research and UK Research and Innovation asking for projects investigating possible therapies for long COVID and a number of studies of this type have been funded.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment has not formed part of any application to either of these calls. Other ongoing calls are open and available for long COVID research applications and if a project on hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment for long COVID was received, it would be considered.

The Scottish Government recognises that Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a debilitating condition which can have a huge impact on people’s lives. We are committed to ensuring those affected by it are supported through the NHS and our social security system.

Social security support may be provided through devolved disability benefits, which comprise our newly launched Child Disability Payment, Child Winter Heating Assistance and also through Adult Disability Payment, which is planned to launch nationally in the summer of 2022, and Pension Age Disability Payment which will follow.

For all of Scotland’s new forms of disability assistance, we are making improvements to the application and decision making process. For Adult Disability Payments this will include replacing current assessments with person centred consultations. This and other changes will ensure that we take full account of fluctuating conditions like ME and markedly improve how all decisions are made.

In advance of the launch of our new benefits, adults continue to be eligible for existing disability benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Booster vaccinations in Scotland started as soon as possible once the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided their advice on boosters, which stated that the booster dose should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccine course, however there is some flexibility to offer a booster vaccination to the most vulnerable groups after five months.

1,342,841 people have received a booster or 3rd dose to 19 November, and we are working as quickly as we can, prioritising those most vulnerable.

Data on boosters by JCVI priority group is not yet published. We continue to work closely with Public Health Scotland to develop the vaccination data to provide robust statistics that enhance public understanding.

Booster vaccinations in Scotland started as soon as possible once the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided their advice on boosters, which stated that the booster dose should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccine course, however there is some flexibility to offer a booster vaccination to the most vulnerable groups after five months.

1,342,841 people have received a booster or 3rd dose to 19 November, and we are working as quickly as we can, prioritising those most vulnerable.

Data on boosters by JCVI priority group is not yet published. We continue to work closely with Public Health Scotland to develop the vaccination data to provide robust statistics that enhance public understanding.

The policing of COP26 was an operational matter for the Chief Constable, who was clear that the delivery of the event would be compliant with human rights legislation, would facilitate peaceful and lawful protest and ensure public safety.

Around 5,200 officers at the conference were from forces throughout England and Wales and deployed on a mutual aid basis. All of these officers were under the command of the Chief Constable who, from the outset underlined the duty and responsibility of all officers and staff to police in line with the values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights.

All officers deployed on a mutual aid basis were briefed both on the powers available in Scotland and on Police Scotland’s approach to public order. Police Scotland’s senior command were clear that any officer who fell short of these values would be returned to their home force.

The NHS is under extreme pressure due to the pandemic and NHS Ayrshire and Arran, like all Health Boards, is experiencing significant issues, including workforce challenges and high levels of delayed discharge.

To minimise pressures, last month I announced an additional £300 million package of measures to support health and care services. Over and above this and to maximise capacity during winter, we have invested £10 million in two new specialist programmes which aim to provide alternatives to admission and improve processes to ensure timely discharge.

Earlier this month I also announced further funding of £10 million to support Health Boards maintain resilience throughout winter by putting in place a range of measures including ensuring appropriate levels of staffing are in place across the system to facilitate efficient and effective patient care; enhancing front door teams to undertake assessments and avoid admissions, as well as enhancing pharmacists to rapidly respond to referrals and prepare timely discharge medications. NHS Ayrshire and Arran received £715,000 of this funding.

Myself and my senior officials have been meeting regularly with the Executive team at NHS Ayrshire and Arran to agree the immediate actions that will support improvements and minimise delays for patients. We have agreed with the Board a series of actions including a Short Life Working Group which specifically focuses on reducing the number of long delays and the length of time people spend in hospital.

The Victim Surcharge Fund is opened for applications from victim support organisations once sufficient money has accumulated to enable a viable exercise, which in turn is dependent on the number and value of fines imposed by the courts.

The Scottish Government will reopen the Victim Surcharge Fund for applications from victim support organisations to allow funding to be allocated during the 2021-22 financial year.

The funds distributed will depend on the amount that has accumulated in the Fund and the level of successful applications received.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04288 on
‎ 24 November 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

Booster vaccinations in Scotland started as soon as possible once the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided their advice on boosters, which stated that the booster dose should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccine course, however there is some flexibility to offer a booster vaccination to the most vulnerable groups after five months.

1,342,841 people have received a booster or 3rd dose to 19 November, and we are working as quickly as we can, prioritising those most vulnerable.

Data on boosters by JCVI priority group is not yet published. We continue to work closely with Public Health Scotland to develop the vaccination data to provide robust statistics that enhance public understanding.

As part of our national mission to reduce drug related deaths and improve lives, we have provided Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) with £3.5 million per year to support the implementation of the Whole Family Approach Framework. This will improve holistic family support for anyone affected by harms from drug or alcohol use.

Table 1 shows how much of this funding has been allocated to each ADP, advised to ADPs by letter on 17 June 2021.

Table 1:

*Figures have been rounded.