Day: June 14, 2020

Annie Lennox backs call to reopen chronic pain clinics

Annie Lennox has called for action over the “intolerable” suffering of chronic pain patients during lockdown. Annie said it’s “indecent and inhumane to leave people to suffer”.   

She was referring to the continuing closure of NHS specialist pain clinics.  While many patients get by on medication, some depend on regular treatment at NHS specialist clinics. These closed almost three months ago, with some staff diverted to Covid-19 duties, now lessening.

She personally suffers from “excruciating” neuralgic pain. This comes in occasional agonising bouts – but Annie highlighted the plight of other sufferers needing clinics frequently.

The international star, originally from Aberdeen, responded to patient concerns from Scotland where some patients -whose NHS treatments ran out during lockdown-were in such desperate agony that a few have been driven by relatives to England for infusions.

They paid around £800 for private infusions they couldn’t afford normally and the 500 mile return journeys were “torture” for their conditions. Private as well as NHS pain clinics stopped services in Scotland.

Annie wrote: “As a long-term chronic pain sufferer, I understand only too well what it feels like to go through hours or days with extreme physical discomfort.  

‘Without medication or clinical treatment, life becomes torturous and untenable.

In the U.K, millions of people suffer.  

Some rely on having regular access to pain reduction treatment, but due to the Covid 19 lockdown situation, NHS chronic pain clinics have been closed for months with no word yet on when they will re-open, which is sought urgently In Scotland in particular.

Will years of complaints over waiting times and underfunding continue to be ignored?

Unlike the barbarism of the Middle Ages – in the 21st century, it should be considered indecent and inhumane to leave people to suffer intolerable pain without their usual relief, while we actually do have the means to treat it. 

I very much hope this situation can be taken seriously and responded to as soon as possible.”

Annie Lennox OBE. 

Normally, returning patients visit Scotland’s NHS pain clinics over 40,000 times a year. Some need treatments every five to six weeks, others require different help and specialist advice.

Injections are currently barred if they contain steroids which could be harmful if a patient later develops Covid-19.

But infusion drips of the pain drug Lignocaine are free of steroids – and patients have appealed for these to be resumed urgently and a date set  for re-opening.  Other types of infusions have happened in Scotland during lockdown – but not for chronic pain.

Apart from around 40,000 visits by return patients to NHS Scottish pain clinics, there are over 20,000 new chronic pain patients in Scotland annually. That’s a fraction of the 800,000 suffering  (40,000 visits does not mean entirely 40,000 patients as some need treatment several times)

Annie sent support to the Scottish Parliament’s patient-run Cross-Party Group  on chronic and two charities also run by patients, Affa Sair in Moray and Grampian and Action on Pain UK.

All three groups have been outspoken critics of long-term lack of help for pain sufferers and thanked Annie for her “compassionate and uplifting outreach to patients” whose suffering was often overlooked.

Christopher Bridgeford, the voluntary chair of the 550 patient charity Affa Sair said: “I very much welcome and applaud Annie’s statement. It has been an agonising situation  since the decision to halt pain clinic treatments for those who depend on them.

“Medication doesn’t work for all.  For some, only those clinic visits tackle really terrible levels of pain through infusions.  Many  find it very hard to speak about their plight. For this international star and much respected activist to make her struggles with pain so public speaks of a very courageous and inspiring lady.

“I hope her words encourage the Scottish Government to ensure that full Pain Clinic services are restarted soon and staffing given proper funding in future”

Ian Semmons, patient chair of Action on Pain UK said: “Annie has given a strong and powerful message that cannot be ignored. She has spoken for those who suffer too much in silence.  Chronic pain patients have for years been overlooked by Governments everywhere. 

“But Action on Pain has long been very worried about Scotland and the shortage of funding for NHS chronic pain clinics and their hard-worked staff. They are funded  like a Cinderella service when they can even save some from suicide.

“Waiting times for new patients have soared from almost 90% being seen on time nine years ago to only 60.5% in 2019, before the virus emergency. The Scottish Government has dealt with chronic pain by setting up ineffective talking shops, meeting behind closed doors, not open to the public. Urgent action is needed”

Last year, Annie wrote of suffering excruciating pain for over ten years. It comes in bouts – not involved with regular treatment:

“Over a decade ago, I had to have a back operation and a lot of things changed after that. Long story.. but I occasionally suffer from excruciating nerve pain, which comes in with a vengeance when I least expect it.  It has given me an insight as to what others have to deal with … far more or less than this. My gratitude when it dies down is immeasurable.”

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary and co-chair of the Cross Party Group on Chronic Pain said: “I totally agree with Annie Lennox and welcome her intervention around the negative impact the lockdown has had on chronic pain patients across Scotland.  

“For chronic pain patients across Scotland every week the lockdown continues is yet more time that chronic pain patients suffer unbelievable agony and distress.

“Over the last thirteen years SNP Ministers haven’t taken chronic pain patients’ seriously – ignoring their concerns and needs and failing to improve access to pain management clinics and treatments.

“It is clear we need to see SNP Ministers restart services for chronic pain sufferers as soon as possible but we also need to see an acknowledgment from SNP Ministers that even before this public health emergency chronic pain patients across Scotland were being failed.

“As we come out of lockdown it presents an opportunity for us to radically reform the way services are run and accessed by chronic pain patient.

“Chronic pain patients’ want to see a step change in Scotland to help deliver for chronic pain patients and their families.”

Find out more https://www.affasair.org & http://www.action-on-pain.co.uk

Local democracy under threat?

Concerns have been expressed in Edinburgh that politicians and city leaders may be cutting corners as crucial decisions are made about our city – all during a time when the press is under increased strain due to falling revenue.
In this conversation with four leading Edinburgh journalists we will explore the threats to local democracy and press reporting during the coronavirus outbreak.

Joining us for this conversation will be Euan McGrory (The Scotsman), Mure Dickie (Financial Times), Phyllis Stephen (The Edinburgh Reporter) and David Bol (The Herald).

Date: Thursday 25 June 2020
Start time: 6pm
Venue: Zoom online (how to join info will be sent to you via email)

Book your free ticket now

We look forward to seeing you on the evening. If you have any questions, please contact us on the details below.

Edinburgh World Heritage
5 Bakehouse Close
146 Canongate
EH8 8DD

members@ewht.org.uk

Edinburgh Book Festival to go online

Organisers of the Edinburgh International Book Festival have announced that they will be presenting the 2020 Book Festival online from Saturday 15 to Monday 31 August. 

The programme, made up of over 100 events for adults, families and children, will offer both live and pre-recorded conversations featuring leading writers, poets and participants from around the world.

Events will be free to view, and available through the Book Festival’s own website.

Nick Barley, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said “We are very excited to be presenting live online events for the first time. 

“Thanks to invaluable support from The Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, The City of Edinburgh Council and many of our sponsors and donors, including Baillie Gifford, People’s Postcode Lottery and a number of generous individuals, we are in a position to experiment, to bring the essence of our wonderful festival to our loyal supporters – and new audiences – in a series of ambitious, innovative and exciting online conversations.

“The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a crucial part of the literary year for Scottish and British writers and publishers, and we felt strongly that we needed to showcase the very best writing and ideas despite not being able to come together in Charlotte Square Gardens in Edinburgh this August.”

Full details of the programme and participating authors for the 2020 Edinburgh International Book Festival online, and information on how audiences can access the free events, will be announced at the end of July.

Picture: EIBF

Government action on coronavirus in England ‘a catalogue of errors’

A National Audit Office (NAO) report has catalogued the UK Governement’s response to the coroanvirus pandemic.  UNISON says the report is ‘a catalogue of errors’ and highlights a ‘complete absence of planning or thought for social care’.

The report by the National Audit Office (NAO) provides a factual overview of the response by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and other bodies during March and April 2020 to prepare the NHS and adult social care in England for the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is the second report in the NAO’s programme of work on government’s response to the outbreak.

After declaring a Level 4 National Incident in relation to COVID-19 in late January, on 17 March the NHS set out measures to prepare for a surge in infections. From 13 March DHSC began to issue guidance to the care sector before publishing an action plan for adult social care on 15 April.

So far, government has allocated £6.6 billion from the Coronavirus Emergency Fund to support the health and social care response to COVID-19 and £3.2 billion directly to local authorities to respond to COVID-19 pressures across local services.

Action taken by the NHS to increase capacity meant there were enough beds and respiratory support nationally at the peak of the outbreak in April.

Between mid-March and mid-April, the NHS increased the number of beds available for COVID-19 patients from 12,600 to 53,700, by, for example, discharging patients and postponing elective, or planned, procedures.

Planned activity fell by 24% in March 2020 compared to March 2019. The NHS also contracted with private hospitals to use up to an additional 8,000 beds, and established temporary Nightingale hospitals.

This meant that nationally the number of COVID-19 patients never exceeded the number of available beds.

From early March to mid-May, available ventilators and other oxygen support also increased, with the number of mechanical ventilators rising from 9,600 to 13,200. Over the April peak, the NHS also met the national demand for oxygen supply.

Other measures implemented to help the NHS cope with the outbreak included the temporary deployment of 18,200 additional staff to clinical and support roles, of which around 8,000 were retired or former staff making themselves available for such roles.

There have been numerous outbreaks of COVID-19 within adult care homes in England, with more than one in three reporting an outbreak between 9 March and 17 May. This peaked at just over 1,000 homes in the first week of April.

Some parts of the country were more affected than others, with the North East being the area with the largest proportion of its care homes (just under half) reporting an outbreak by 17 May.

Patients discharged quickly from hospitals between mid-March and mid-April were sometimes placed in care homes without being tested for COVID-19.

On 17 March, hospitals were advised to discharge urgently all in-patients medically fit to leave in order to increase capacity to support those with acute healthcare needs.

Between 17 March and 15 April, around 25,000 people were discharged from hospitals into care homes, compared with around 35,000 people in the same period in 2019.

Due to (UK) government policy at the time, not all patients were tested for COVID-19 before discharge, with priority given to patients with symptoms. On 15 April, the policy was changed to test all those being discharged into care homes. It is not known how many patients discharged to care homes had COVID-19 at the point they left hospital.

The £3.2 billion funding for local authorities was to help them respond to COVID-19 pressures across all the services they deliver, including adult social care. Some in the sector are concerned that local authorities have not increased the rates they pay to care providers. In a survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, around half of local authorities said they were temporarily increasing rates.

Testing for health and social care workers has faced challenges.

On 17 March the NHS announced that testing would begin being rolled out to NHS staff with symptoms. Limits on testing capacity meant tests started to be rolled out to symptomatic NHS staff from 27 March.

This was extended to care workers on 15 April and to the rest of their households two days later. From 28 April, all care home staff were eligible for tests but the DHSC capped the daily amount of care home tests at 30,000, to be shared between staff and residents.

The government does not know how many NHS or care workers have been tested in total during the pandemic.

Based just on tests carried out by the NHS, NHS England & NHS Improvement estimates that the number of NHS staff and the people they live with who were tested increased from 1,500 to 11,500 a day during April.

A range of bodies across health and social care have raised concerns about the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).

At the start of the outbreak, the only central stockpile of PPE was designed for a flu pandemic. Although an independent committee advising on stockpile contents had recommended in 2019 that items such as gowns and visors should be included, these had not been stockpiled.

The central procurement route set up to supply PPE during the outbreak met the modelled PPE requirement (under a worst case scenario) for some items in NHS trusts, but distributed 50% or less of the modelled requirement for gowns, eye protectors, or aprons. It only addressed a small proportion of the modelled requirement for PPE among social care providers.

Within its wider programme of COVID-19 related work, the NAO will undertake more detailed assessments of specific elements of the health and social care response, which will also help to identify lessons for subsequent stages of this pandemic and other future emergencies.

Launching the report, Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO, said: “This report demonstrates the enormous efforts of staff across health and social care to respond at speed to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While we have not sought to evaluate government’s response in this report, our work raises some important considerations.

“The speed and nature of the response in health and social care has been shaped by longstanding differences between the sectors and ongoing financial pressures. Government’s ability to increase beds, ventilators, PPE and testing has varied in part because of the number of other bodies, both national and international, with which it has had to engage.

All of these issues need to be taken into account as government plans for the later phases of the pandemic and future emergencies.”

Readying-the-NHS-and-adult-social-care-in-England-for-COVID-19

Commenting on the report, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “This is a catalogue of errors and highlights once again a complete absence of planning or thought for social care.

“Discharging patients to care homes without testing was simply scandalous and accelerated the spread of the virus among an obviously high-risk group.

“This report confirms what staff have said from the start, that the supply of protective equipment in social care was woefully inadequate.

“And it makes clear the (UK) government doesn’t know how many people have actually been tested in care.

“It’s plain the care sector was out of sight, out of mind in the early stages of the pandemic. The result has been a tragic and catastrophic loss of life.

“When the government announced compulsory face coverings for the NHS but made no mention of care, it was clear lessons haven’t been learned. The sector’s still being treated as an afterthought.”

New research reveals most valuable football memorabilia

Football fans could be sitting on a secret treasure trove after a new study named the most valuable collectables of all time.

With English football restarting this Wednesday, new research has identified exactly which football-related keepsakes have the most value in 2020. From classic replica shirts to sticker albums and other football memorabilia, fans could be sitting on a goldmine without knowing it.

New research from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk has identified exactly which football-related keepsakes have the most value in 2020.

Authentic and vintage shirts can sell for hundreds of pounds online, with footie fans eager to spend a small fortune to collect the memorabilia.

A David Beckham Manchester United home strip from their treble-winning 1999 season is worth £199.99.

Sporting memorabilia has always been a popular pastime for Brits to collect and invest in, with retro football shirts being particularly popular. The 1979-80 season Liverpool Home shirt fetches £499 online, and the Arsenal 1991-92 Away shirt worth £425.

The prices of other rare items, including medals, sticker albums and programmes, have also shot up and they can sell for hundreds. The complete Panini France 98 World Cup sticker album is now worth well above its cost price at £200.

A spokesperson for NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “Football is one of the UK’s favourite sports and with the Premier League season restarting, the whole country will be tuning back in.

“The upcoming matches are to be played behind closed doors, so there’ll be no new programmes to collect, but Brits may have some of the most sought-after programmes from the last few decades hiding in storage.

“FA Cup Final programmes are always high value, as well as programmes that were printed for a player’s, or manager’s, first or last match.

“It’s especially interesting to see which items the public may have hidden at home already. The team at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk even have a replica World Cup Brazuca football from the 2014 World Cup in their shed, and we’ve found it to be worth £190.

“It’s no surprise that TV shows like Antiques Road Show and Storage Hunters are popular, because Brits dream of finding something of value in the cellar or attic.”

To see the full study of the most valuable football memorabilia which can make Brits a profit, please visit here.

Appointees should be able to collect benefits on behalf of claimants – but safeguards must be in place, say Holyrood Committee

Holyrood’s Social Security Committee has backed a Bill which would allow adult benefit claimants who consent to nominate an appointee to claim benefits on their behalf. However MSPs have warned that suitable safeguards must be put in place to limit fraud and the exploitation of vulnerable people.

The Committee has recommended the Bill be amended to include safeguarding principles that underpin the detail of how the appointee system will work and protect it from abuse. They have urged the Scottish Government to bring forward detailed guidance which should also be statutory.

The Committee published its Stage 1 report in response to the Social Security Administration and Tribunal Membership (Scotland) Bill which makes changes to the Social Security Act of 2018.

They have also backed a change which would allow health professionals, other than doctors, to verify that a claimant is terminally ill meaning their disability benefit claim would be fast-tracked.

Bob Doris MSP, Convener of the Social Security Committee, said: “The Committee welcomes this legislation and strongly supports the general principles of this Bill including allowing anyone in receipt of benefits to appoint someone to collect benefits on their behalf. 

“However, submissions to the Committee from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Law Society of Scotland outlined that without suitable safeguards in the legislation, the appointee system would not be compliant with human rights legislation and could be open to abuse.

“The Scottish Government’s principal safeguard is that consent must be given. However, the legislation should go further and build in additional safeguards such as the ability to challenge appointee decisions, undertake periodic reviews and resolve disputes.

“We are also keen to see amendments brought forward at Stage 2 which would ensure there is a duty to inform people of their eligibility for all top up benefits including the Scottish Child Payment.”

Scottish Hockey: League season 2019/20 is now completed

Following the suspension of hockey due to the unprecedented situations presented by the Covid-19 virus, Scottish Hockey can confirm that the 2019/20 league season is now completed for Scottish Hockey’s Premiership, National, Championship and Regional leagues.

Scottish Hockey’s Management Committee considered all options to complete the 2019/20 season in full on the pitch, as well as partial completion of the season, in detail, and reached the unanimous decision, endorsed by the Scottish Hockey Board, that it is sadly now not possible to complete all the remaining fixtures on the pitch.

The 2019/20 cup and plate competitions are also now completed.

There will be no winners awarded for season 2019/20, and no automatic promotion or relegation, however with the majority of leagues completing over 60% of matches there is clearly a wish for the endeavour of clubs to be recognised. Therefore, teams have been given a placing based on their performance up until hockey was suspended.

The final league rankings (attached) for the 2019/20 season have been determined using average points per match, based on the matches completed prior to competitions being suspended.

Scotland’s European representatives, based on these rankings, will be Grange (EHL); Western Wildcats (Men’s EuroHockey Trophy); Clydesdale Western and Edinburgh University (both Women’s EuroHockey Challenge 1).

Three guiding principles were established as part of our decision making process: health and safety; fairness; and practicality.

From the outset of the process we aimed to ensure that no team is negatively impacted by the current circumstances, and as such, there will be no teams automatically relegated or promoted this season.

League Season 2020/21

We are currently considering the most suitable approach for season 2020/21. The Board of Scottish Hockey recognises that the Management Committee was not established to operate in these unprecedented times and so it has been determined that the powers of the Management Committee be suspended at present and that a task force be created, that includes members of the Board and the Management Committee, to consider our approach for season 2020/21.

It is intended that the task force will consult with member clubs with a view to building a route map, aligned to Scottish Government guidance, for the season ahead.

The timeline for this task force is as follows:

19 June: task force appointed

10 July: consultation with clubs

24 July: decision

We will release our working scenarios document outlining the process of how the decisions regarding season 2019/20 were made along with the task force appointments. 

Season completion – FAQ 

What does completion mean?

The current suspension of hockey will continue and no further games will be played in the 2019/20 season.

Why can’t the remaining games be played ahead of the next season?

As part of the decision-making process, all options to complete the 2019/20 season in full, as well as partial completion of the season, were considered.

Due to the level of uncertainty around facilities; social distancing; teams’ access to players; universities; and government restrictions, it is not possible to confirm with certainty when hockey will resume. This break in continuity also means that any restart would not be a fair reflection of the teams who began the 2019-20 campaign.

Next season will start afresh when it is safe and possible to do so.

What is Scottish Hockey’s decision regarding league winners, promotion and relegation?

There is no automatic promotion or relegation in season 2019/20. There will be no winners awarded for season 2019/20. However, with the majority of leagues completing over 60% of matches there is clearly a wish for the endeavour of clubs to be recognised. Therefore, teams have been given a placing based on their performance up until hockey was suspended. Placings were calculated by using average points per game to determine the final positions within the league, see further details below.

It was determined that to relegate any team without fulfilling all fixtures would be unfair. Therefore, in season 2019/20 there will be no relegations.

How were placings worked out?

All games played before the suspension (00:01 on 14 March 2020) were included in calculating league standings. Placings were calculated by using average points per game to determine the final positions within the league.

The points per game average for each team was calculated by dividing the number of games played by the total points gained. In the event that two teams were equal after establishing their points per game average, goal difference was used to rank the teams.

Why was points per game average used?

Due to the uneven number of games played within leagues it was determined that the fairest calculation was the points per game average as this aligned with our principle of fairness, and ensures that no team was disadvantaged/advantaged as a result of less/more games played.

Why are the standings in Men’s National League 2 and Men’s National league 3 different than what is shown on the Scottish Hockey website?

Prior to the announcement that all hockey would be suspended there were two forfeited games due to be played on the 14th March. It was decided to exclude these games from the average points per game calculation as they were due to be played after the suspension, which begun on 14th March.

Who will represent Scotland in European competitions next season?

Scotland’s European representatives for next season have been determined by the 2019/20 points per game placings. This was unanimously approved in a vote by the Management Committee who felt teams competing in the 2019/20 season are a more accurate reflection of competitive standards than that of team positions from the previous season.

From the men’s Premiership, Grange and Western Wildcats will compete in Europe. In the women’s Premiership, Clydesdale Western and Edinburgh University will play in Europe.

Are the cup and plate competitions still going to be played?

No further cup or plate games will take place in season 2019/20 and no winners will be awarded. 

Will clubs be offered a refund or credit for the 2019/20 season?

Yes, all teams involved in our leagues will be offered 40% credit for their entry fee of next season’s competitions, or have the opportunity to allocate that money to support Scottish Hockey youth teams in 2021. 

What does this mean for youth competitions?

Recently Scottish Hockey announced that all domestic youth competitions planned for the period up until the end of August have been cancelled.

This includes the U12, U14 and U16 festivals in May and June. The U16 National Club Cup and the U14 Inter Districts. 

Are cards and suspensions carried over to next season?

Yes, any individual who received a match ban that was not served in season 2019/20 will have their ban carried over to the first games of next season.

Any yellow cards that were given in 2019/20 season will stand and as per the discipline code, any individual who accumulates four yellow cards in the same competition within any 12 month period will receive a suspension. 

When will next season start?

We will be guided by the Scottish Government and public health authorities in making any decision to resume hockey. We will consult with clubs to establish their readiness to restart formal competitions and any specific barriers they may face. 

What is the format of next year’s competitions?

Scottish Hockey will be consulting with our clubs on the structures for organised competitions next year. The consultation documents will be sent to our clubs by 10 July. 

How many teams will get relegated from each league in season 2020/21?

We need to wait for league structures to be finalised before we confirm this. We plan to work to the principal that every team that wins their league will have a chance to be promoted either automatically or through a playoff, and at least every side that finishes bottom of a league will either be relegated or face a relegation playoff. If there is a significant change to the structures in 2020-2021 there may be a requirement for further relegation. This will be communicated in advance of any league starting.

Who will be on the task force?

The Scottish Hockey Board will appoint the task force and its members will be circulated with the initial consultation.

What happens if our team wants to play in a lower league?

When the structures are confirmed for the upcoming seasons, clubs will submit their entry forms. If a team wishes to play in a lower league, then they should speak to the Competitions and Events Manager who can advise.

I want more information

If you have any further questions, or any feedback, please contact competitions@scottish-hockey.org.uk

Care home testing must increase, say Scottish Tories

SNP Ministers must step up their efforts and get on top of testing care home staff and residents in NHS Lothian.

2,665 care home staff and 2,460 care home residents have been tested cumulatively since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, up to the 7th June.

This is despite SNP Health Secretary Jeane Freeman promising last month that every care home worker would be routinely tested.

The Scottish Conservatives challenged SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the matter at First Minister’s Questions where Nicola Sturgeon revealed only a fifth of care home staff had been routinely tested across the country.

Table 5 – Number of Tests – Care Home Staff and Residents
             
Number of Tests
Week Commencing 1 June Cumulative total to 7 June
NHS Board Staff Residents Staff Residents
Ayrshire and Arran                67                  30                689              579
Borders                22                  13                343              193
Dumfries & Galloway                  4                    7                  75              159
Fife             178                  30                763              372
Forth Valley             876               565            2,176           1,858
Grampian             115               167            1,709           1,668
Greater Glasgow & Clyde                17               678                920           5,709
Highland                47                  40                258              265
Lanarkshire                43               119                586              956
Lothian             566               327            2,665           2,460
Orkney                  6                    5                  20                 15
Shetland                  8                    9                  74                 52
Tayside             264               139                876              741
Western Isles                30                    4                  41                 22
Scotland          2,243            2,133          11,195        15,049

Scottish Government statistics reveal that across Scotland’s 14 health boards, only 18,110 care home staff have been tested out of an estimated 50,000 across the country – NHS Border said it didn’t have the capacity to run care home tests.

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has repeatedly raised concerns over the level of testing in care homes since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month it was revealed that over 900 hospital patients were discharged to care homes with being tested for Covid-19.

The Scottish Conservatives are calling for all for SNP Ministers to set a deadline for when all care home staff will be routinely tested.

Miles Briggs, who is the Conservative health spokesperson, said: “There has simply not been enough testing carried out in care homes since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has had disastrous consequences.

“SNP Ministers have been repeatedly told that testing is crucial for reducing the spread of Covid-19, but have slow to implement testing in care homes.

“In Edinburgh and the Lothians there have only been 2,665 tests carried out on care home staff, no where near as many as are necessary.

“Nicola Sturgeon and SNP Ministers must set a firm deadline as to when all care home staff will be tested.”

 

Stagecoach launches new smartphone “busy bus” indicator to help customers plan journeys

  • App will use data and artificial intelligence to help customers socially distance
  • Traffic light indicator will give easy guide to quieter services on bus networks
  • Part of a range of extra safety measures to help customers travel with confidence

Stagecoach, Britain’s biggest bus and coach operator, is launching a new smartphone “busy bus” indicator to help customers plan their journeys as services increase across the country.

The new feature on the Stagecoach bus app will use extensive data and artificial intelligence to provide a traffic light indicator to help customers choose quieter services and maintain social distancing.

The app is now being rolled out to iOS and android users and is planned to be fully in place by 18 June via the app store and Google Play platforms. The “busy bus” tracker will provide a regularly updated guide to how busy individual bus services are in networks across the UK.

It is part of a comprehensive package of safety measures in place to help people travel in confidence as the economy and daily life reopens at different speeds across England, Scotland and Wales.

Each service in the live map on the app will be colour coded, with quieter buses showing in a green bus icon indicating ‘not too busy’, through to amber ‘quite busy’ and dark amber ‘very busy’.

Customers can also see where their bus is on the map and when it will be arriving, providing all the information they need at their fingertips.

Stagecoach’s app already has the UK’s most advanced real time bus tracker and this latest development will help people to confidently and easily plan when they want to travel.

The new feature is the latest addition in an extensive range of measures by Stagecoach to help customers feel confident in using buses as they continue to provide a vital link to work, retail and leisure facilities.

Stagecoach is continuing to increase capacity on bus services to support social distancing. Strict cleaning regimes continue for all buses, which includes at least a daily clean of all buses with an anti-viral sanitiser. Contactless payment is also available on all buses.

The latest UK government advice states that everybody travelling on public transport from 15 June must wear a face covering. Stagecoach’s guide on how to travel safely and comfortably can be found at stagecoachbus.com/coronavirus.

Carla Stockton-Jones, Interim Managing Director UK for Stagecoach, said: “We are pleased to be welcoming more people back onto our buses as things start to open up around the country.

“We have already put a range of extra measures in place to make sure our customers feel confident in using our services, including strict cleaning regimes and social distancing measures, which we know are the biggest priorities for travellers. The launch of our new busy bus indicator is an extra step to give people an easy, at a glance guide on the best times to travel and to plan their journeys to avoid busier times.

“Buses continue to play a vital role in connecting people with work and leisure facilities. At a time when people across the country are starting to be reunited with friends and family, this investment in new technology will help to ensure that people can be completely prepared and confident in using our services.”

The Stagecoach app is available on both the UK Bus iOS and Android platforms.

For more information about Stagecoach, visit stagecoachbus.com/coronavirus.

Action needed to help renters

UK government urged to strengthen social security system.

Scotland’s Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has written to the UK Government calling for urgent action to support housing tenants affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mr Stewart identifies five key areas in which the benefits system and support for people who rent their home should be urgently strengthened.

The Housing Minister urges the UK government to:

• lift Local Housing Allowance rates further to make more homes affordable to renters
• suspend the removal of the spare room subsidy
• suspend the benefit cap
• suspend the shared accommodation rate for under-35s
• extend the backdating of benefits for those who might not have realised they were eligible and relax the criteria under which backdating is allowable

The Scottish Government took action in the first emergency COVID-19 legislation to protect tenants from eviction for at least six months. Recently it made an additional £5 million available in discretionary housing payments to support those renting, increasing this fund to £16 million – this is further to that made available to fully mitigate the bedroom tax.

FULL TEXT OF LETTER

The Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9AJ

Dear Ms Coffey

I am writing to urge further consideration of the need to strengthen the social security system for renters affected by COVID-19.

In this unprecedented crisis, the Scottish Government and local authorities swiftly took a range of steps to protect renters from eviction through extended notice periods and extension of mandatory grounds. We have also moved to provide additional financial support within our devolved powers and budgets.

In order to support tenants during the crisis, we have increased the amount available for other discretionary housing payments (DHPs) by £5 million to almost £16 million. This takes our overall investment in DHPs in 2020/21 to more than £76 million. We took these steps to support those for whom the UK welfare state is not providing the safety net it should.

We are also supporting private landlords by offering loans and encouraging them to take mortgage breaks where available, although we know this is limited for some. We continue to engage with landlords across the rented sector to ensure that they are coming to agreements with tenants on rent arrears and signposting tenants to the range of financial support available.

The Scottish Government remains committed to working collaboratively with the UK Government to ensure that the social and economic effects of COVID-19 are mitigated effectively and efficiently so that people do not face hardship or homelessness. We have set out the steps we would like you to take in various pieces of correspondence during the pandemic.

The benefits system is an essential lifeline for many people facing or experiencing homelessness throughout the UK. Housing elements of social security remain a crucial part of the support required by tenants facing financial difficulty or homelessness as a result of the pandemic and remain reserved to you.

The changes you have made to local housing allowance (LHA) rates are welcome, but fall short of what is needed to provide comprehensive support to people living in rented accommodation.

In addition to our previous calls to lift the benefit cap; to scrap or relax the restrictions around the removal of the spare room subsidy; to provide more information to local authorities to help signpost available support to tenants; and to support quicker payments for discretionary housing payments, I urge you to consider further action to support people who rent their homes.

This is an area where urgent intervention is required in light of emerging evidence of the inequity of support available between those who rent and those who hold a mortgage.

Recent research by the Resolution Foundation demonstrates this in stark terms, finding that mortgage holders entered the crisis with lower average housing costs relative to income and a bigger financial buffer than renters, a disparity reflected in the fact that renters were far more likely to be facing difficulty in meeting their housing costs than those with a mortgage.

This same research also found that the level of mortgage holders seeking and successfully securing a mortgage holiday is far higher (12%) than the number of private renters seeking and successfully securing rent reductions from their landlords (5%).

We know that many people will find themselves in financial difficulty for the first time from job loss or substantial income reductions. Given the scale at which this is occurring for households across the country, it is vital that the safety net of social security is accessible and sufficient to support people through this national crisis and a new approach to the housing element of social security is now needed.

• We know that low-income families will have no savings to cushion them from the financial impact of the pandemic. We urge you to suspend the removal of the spare room subsidy, particularly as a spare room becomes essential when larger families need space to isolate.

• To support those with high rents who are currently unable to source lower cost accommodation, we would ask you to suspend the benefit cap. This will help to reduce the risk of immediate and short term hardship for families who are unable to meet housing costs, and will help to ensure that the support you have made available through investment in LHA rates and the increase in the standard allowance rate of universal credit is not undermined.

• We have seen the benefit of restored LHA rates in Edinburgh, with several hundred properties now affordable to renters, but the majority of renters will still struggle to source affordable accommodation and people must be able to maintain tenancies beyond the immediate crisis. We urge you to lift LHA rates further, bearing in mind that the 30th percentile still represents a cut when compared to the 50th percentile that applied before UK Government welfare changes.

• The high number of individuals under the age of 35 who have moved in with their parents during this crisis highlights the need for better housing support for young people. Like many stakeholders in the Scottish housing sector, we believe there is a strong case for suspending the shared accommodation rate for under 35s, especially as many who have lost jobs during the crisis are likely to be younger people.

• Finally, we ask you to extend the backdating of benefits for those who might not have realised they were eligible and relax the criteria under which backdating is allowable.

The Resolution Foundation figures are concerning and the risk to households who rent their homes is immediate and pressing. We must work collectively to act now to support a group of people facing mounting rent arrears and financial difficulty they would not have if they were mortgage holders. You will be aware of similar calls from leading homelessness organisations who are hearing concerns from their clients.

I am happy to discuss any of the points raised in this letter and wish to further reaffirm the offers from Scottish ministers to work with you on any other actions you are considering in response to COVID-19. I hope that by working together our governments can provide the most effective form of support during this crisis and afterwards.

Kind regards

KEVIN STEWART
MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HOUSING AND PLANNING