Question reference: S5W-28079
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 25 March 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 July 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that there are adequate supplies of personal protection equipment on the islands, and what advice it is giving to those NHS boards with responsibility to pass on to staff regarding when such equipment should be worn.
Answer
The safety of our essential frontline workforce is an absolute priority, and we are continuously looking to improve the supply and distribution of the protective equipment that is so vital in the fight against COVID-19.
The Scottish Government considers the current supply levels to be adequate whilst recognising there are pressures on particular items which are being managed. The improvements we have made to distribution routes for PPE in health and social care are helping to make sure we continue to deliver supplies needed.
PPE Guidance was released 2 April and available on the COVID-19 pages of the Health Protection Scotland (HPS) website. In addition the Scottish Government has published advice for Personal Assistants and for unpaid carers, who visit or live with a friend or family member or support a client to provide help with personal care such as washing or dressing.
On 23 June the Scottish Government announced recommendations on the use of medical face masks by staff within residential healthcare settings such as acute adult (inc. mental health) and community hospitals and care homes for elderly where staff are unable to physically distance. This included advice on the requirements for visitors to wear face coverings when attending adult hospitals or care homes for the elderly.