Question reference: S5W-31837
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 16 September 2020
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Current status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 23 September 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered including dementia on its list of shielding medical conditions, and to what extent it considers that people with dementia would benefit from support similar to that provided to those shielding at the height of the pandemic.
Answer
On 22 September the First Minister confirmed that Shielding would not be reinstated at this time. We will continue to monitor the evidence, and if the risks increase – whether nationally or locally – we will take the steps necessary in order to keep people as safe as possible.
At the outset of the pandemic, the four Chief Medical Officers covering Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, published a list of six groups where people would be considered to be at highest risk of severe illness should they contract COVID-19.
Evidence on potential clinical risk factors for severe illness from COVID-19 has been kept under review in order to advise on whether to add or remove specific conditions to the highest risk group.
In addition, clinicians have been exercising their clinical judgement in determining who needs to be in the shielded category where patients are clinically at ‘highest risk’ of severe morbidity or mortality from COVID-19, but are not included in the above six groups.
Many people with dementia are aged over 80 years old and are considered a high risk due to advanced age and the prevalence of COVID-19 in older age groups. It is also known that there is high comorbidity between dementia and other health conditions which are already covered within shielding criteria.
We wanted to ensure people were only advised to shield themselves when it is absolutely necessary, as these measures can significantly impact on their quality of life and increase social isolation.
The lack of human contact for people living with dementia can have a detrimental effect on their condition and their general health. Continuity of care and regular communication with others can often help minimise the symptoms of confusion and loneliness associated with dementia, therefore, keeping life routine and as ‘normal’ as possible is beneficial in the longer term.