Westminster’s Health and Social Care Committee and Science and Technology Committee have today launched a joint inquiry into lessons to be learned from the response to the coronavirus pandemic so far.
The two Select Committees will jointly conduct evidence sessions examining the impact and effectiveness of action taken by government and the advice it has received. Each Committee will draw on specialist expertise and call witnesses to consider a range of issues including:
the deployment of non-pharmaceutical interventions like lockdown and social distancing rules to manage the pandemic;
the impact on the social care sector;
the impact on BAME communities;
testing and contact tracing;
modelling and the use of statistics;
Government communications and public health messaging;
the UK’s prior preparedness for a pandemic; and
the development of treatments and vaccines.
Joint Inquiry Chairs Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP and Rt Hon Greg Clark MP issued the following statement:
“Parliament has a crucial role in scrutinising the actions of government at a time when the country is in the grip of a crisis such as the current pandemic with its tragic impact on lives and livelihoods.
“Important lessons need to be learned that can help inform further decisions that will need to be taken in the months ahead. It is crucial to learn and apply them now since the Public Inquiry that the Prime Minister has promised is likely to be some time away.
“Our committees will jointly learn what went well, what didn’t, and what lessons must be learnt at this point in the pandemic.
“We will use the independence of our cross-party committees and weekly detailed questioning of witnesses to consider the decisions taken and the evidence they were based on and assess their effectiveness. We will develop clear recommendations so that the UK can benefit from the lessons learned for future stages of this pandemic and for future crises.”
Detectives are appealing for information following the attempted murder of a 19 year-old man at a flat in West Pilton Grove last night.
At around 8.40pm on Wednesday evening (7th October), the 19 year-old man and another man were outside shops on Ferry Road Drive in Edinburgh, when they were involved in an altercation with a group of youths.
The 19 year-old man received a facial injury then made his way home to West Pilton Grove.
At around 9.30pm, he was in the flat when four men forced entry and seriously assaulted him. Police and Ambulance attended and the injured man was taken to Edinburgh Royal Hospital where he is being treated for stab wounds.
Hospital staff describe his condition as serious.
The four men responsible are white and aged in their late teens or early twenties:
The first man was of medium build and wearing a grey hooded top, a black gilet and black jogging trousers.
The second man was wearing a black hooded top and black jogging trousers.
The third man was wearing a green top and black jogging trousers,
The fourth man was of heavy build and wearing a black hooded top, blue t-shirt, black jogging trousers and white trainers.
Detective Sergeant Rory Legge of Corstorphine Police Station said: “Our enquiries are continuing into this incident and we have been carrying out enquiries and gathering CCTV from the local area to help us establish the identity of the four men responsible.
“I would appeal to anyone who witnessed, or who has information on the incident outside the shops on Ferry Road Drive or the further assault in West Pilton Grove to contact us as soon as possible. “Anyone with information should contact Corstorphine Police Station through 101 quoting reference number 3512 of 7 October.
“Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”
Retail trade union Usdaw has responded to yesterday’s tightening of the Covid-19 restrictions, by the Scottish Government, with a call for respect for shop workers.
From this weekend, shops across Scotland are to return to 2 metre physical distancing and reintroduce safety measures put in place earlier in the pandemic.
Usdaw is reminding customers of the five simple steps to encourage considerate shopping, that were agreed with the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and the Scottish Government, urging the public to play their part in creating a safe and enjoyable retail environment for other customers and retail staff:
1. Queue considerately.
2. Maintain social distancing.
3. Follow instructions inside and outside shops.
4. Follow all necessary hygiene measures.
5. Be respectful to shop staff.
Tracy Gilbert – Usdaw’s Scottish Deputy Divisional Officer said: “Unfortunately the early part of the Covid-19 crisis saw instances of abuse towards shop workers double and we are absolutely clear that ‘abuse is not part of the job’.
“With infections rising we understand why the Scottish Government wants to return to the original safety guidance for shops, that we developed with the SRC, to provide staff and customers with a safer shopping experience.
“Customers need to play their part and be patient, observe social distancing and show respect to shop workers. Retail staff are key workers delivering essential services and that role must be valued and respected.”
A £20.6 million investment from the Scottish Government has been granted to improve cancer care services for patients at the Western General Hospital.
It will fund a range of construction and refurbishment projects to Oncology wards, services and facilities at the hospital. This includes building two new Linear Accelerator (LINAC) bunkers to house specialist cancer treatment machines, improvements to patient accommodation increasing the number of ensuite single rooms and relocating the Cancer Assessment Unit.
The project forms part of a wider masterplan for the Western General Hospital to transform services, create more space, comfort and privacy and provide access to modern facilities and cutting-edge equipment.
Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Lothian, said: “This Scottish Government funding marks a key milestone in an ambitious programme of investment to ensure the Western General hospital continues to provide high quality treatment and services into the future.
“It will greatly enhance the hospital as a centre of excellence and help us work towards our longer-term vision of opening a new Regional Specialist Cancer Centre.”
Additional projects currently being funded by other capital investments at the Western General include the modernisation of Haematology inpatient services and construction of a new outpatient facility, funded by an exceptional and incredibly generous charitable donation of circa £12 million.
A £1 million investment will create new facilities to expand the Clinical Trials footprint and a £6.2 million Renal Dialysis facility is also being constructed which will offer improved clinical areas and better clinical team facilities.
These projects are supported by a programme of ongoing infrastructure improvements and upgrades in and around the hospital to enable the construction and refurbishment works.
Chris Stirling, Site Director at the Western General Hospital added: “This work will greatly enhance the care, services and environment at the Western General. We are committed to the long-term future of the Western General and ensuring we provide staff and patients with the clinical space and services they deserve.
“We are grateful to everyone who has supported the projects so far and to our neighbours and the community for their patience and understanding whilst work progresses.”
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “The Scottish Government is pleased to be supporting improved cancer facilities at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.It is a mark of improved population health that more of us are living longer overall, however this also means the incidence of cancer is rising.
“Improved treatments also mean more of us live longer with cancer as a chronic condition. It is therefore vital our NHS facilities keep pace with demand and offer the best environment possible for people with cancer and those who treat and care for them.”
Work across the projects is expected to be completed over the next three years, finishing in 2022.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs said:“This much needed investment at the Western General Hospital is welcome news and the improvement of cancer care service is crucial for the South East of Scotland.
“Cancer care has been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and getting services fully resumed is critical for patients who are diagnosed with cancer.
“Ultimately a new Cancer centre, based at the Western General, will be needed going forward. This funding, which I have previously called for, will significantly improve cancer services until the new centre is built.
“I have called on SNP Ministers to update Parliament on plans for a new build Edinburgh Cancer Centre.”
New rules for debt letters will help people to better understand and manage their debts, reducing distress and supporting mental health
The letters borrowers receive from their lenders when they are seriously behind on repayments will be easier to understand and less intimidating as a result of new rules proposed by the Treasury today.
Default Notices are designed to give people who are falling behind on their debts fair warning before lenders take further action, but much of the formatting and content has not been updated in nearly 40 years.
Research from the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute and debt charities has shown that large amounts of capitalised text and legal terms can make the information contained in the letter hard to understand, which has the unintended consequence of confusing and distressing people. This has a negative impact on people’s mental health as well as their ability to effectively manage their debt.
As part of the government’s effort to support people in problem debt, it will legislate to change the language and presentation of information in debt letters. T
The new rules will make debt letters less threatening by restricting the amount of information that must be made prominent and requiring lenders to use bold or underlined text rather than capital letters. Lenders will also now be able to replace legal terms with more widely understood words and letters will clearly signpost people to the best sources of free debt advice.
John Glen, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said: Being behind on your credit repayments can be a really distressing experience which is made worse by a confusing and intimidating letter from your lender.
“As part of our effort to help to people struggling with their finances, it’s right that we look again at the legislation around these letters. These new rules will help to take the fear out of finance by ensuring that letters are easier to understand, less threatening, and empower people to take control of their finances.
“Some vital work has been done by charities, the industry and the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute and I am grateful for their support in tackling this important issue.”
Martin Lewis, Founder and Chair of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute charity, said: It’s no exaggeration to say that this change could save lives. Over 100,000 people in England alone attempt to take their lives each year due to debts, and four times that consider it.
“So we’re delighted the government has agreed to back this element of our campaign and change the default demand rules. The last thing people struggling with debt need is a bunch of thuggish letters dropping through the letterbox, in language they can’t understand, written in shouty capitals alongside threats of court action.
“And the timing is crucial, with millions of people facing debt and distress due to the pandemic, the sooner we end these out-of-date laws which force lenders to send intimidating letters the better. Today’s changes will make the most distressing debt letters much less intimidating, and crucially will also easily and calmly point people in serious debt to get the free, non-profit, debt advice they need.”
Eric Leenders, Managing Director, Personal Finance at UK Finance said: “The banking and finance industry understands the impact that debt can have on a customer’s wellbeing and has been working closely with government to help support customers, especially those in vulnerable circumstances.
“Lenders have to send Default Notices and these important changes announced today will ensure that customers receive more appropriate and supportive communications.”
These new rules are the latest in a wide package of support put in place to help people struggling with their finances, especially through coronavirus.
This includes £38 million of extra funding to debt advice providers this year and working with lenders and financial regulators to give people access to payment holidays on their mortgages and a range of consumer credit including credit cards, personal loans, motor finance and payday loans.
The government has also given the Financial Conduct Authority strong powers to protect consumers who borrow money, including cracking down on payday lenders, capping the cost of rent-to-own, and taking action on overdraft fees.
The new rules will be delivered through secondary legislation and are expected to come into force in December 2020. All lenders will then be required to make the changes within six months.
If you are experiencing debt problems, don’t ignore it and hope it will go away – it won’t; it will get worse. Seek help NOW.
Granton Information Centre can help. Telephone 0131 551 2459 or 552 0458 or email info@gic.org.uk
You’re not alone with your mental health. We’re here to help you.
This is the clear message coming from NHS 24, Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance service as they launch a new campaign to support mental health and wellbeing for people across Scotland in time for World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2020.
The Together Let’s Care for your Mental Health campaign aims to raise awareness of a range of mental health information and services that support mental health.
It’s been developed to support wider partnership working between NHS 24, Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance service as part of a joint response to the Scottish Government Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027.
Over the past 18 months, the three organisations have been working together to develop new ways to support people in mental health distress when they contact their services.
NHS 24 has created a new 24/7 Mental Health Hub that provides support for those contacting the 111 service. In addition, people calling Police Scotland in mental health distress are also now offered access to the 111 Mental Health Hub service. Collaboration work with Scottish Ambulance Service is also underway to develop a similar pathway.
Under the banner ‘Together Let’s Care for your Mental Health’ the partners are able to signpost to a range of self-help guides and options for further support at www.nhsinform.scot/youmatterwecare.
This campaign page also offers additional information for a range of day to day concerns such as anxiety, depression, young people’s mental health needs, alcohol, gambling and drug use.
NHS 24 offers a range of mental health services in addition to the 111 Mental Health Hub, including Breathing Space’s telephony and web chat services, NHS inform self-help guides, and Living Life’s CBT service.
Stephanie Philips, Director of Service Delivery at NHS 24, said: “We are pleased to be working together with Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service to provide the best possible outcomes for people in mental health distress.
“We are able to support many of those who come into contact with our services to find support and self-care options in their own communities but we are also absolutely reinforcing the message that if you need help now there are a range of services available to you.
“We really want people in mental health distress to know that they are not alone. Our team are here to help those getting in touch with our services with a compassionate response.”
Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey said: “I doubt there is a single one of us who has not thought about our own mental health and wellbeing at some point over the past few months.
“In many ways, the pandemic has helped to destigmatise mental health, and reminded us that it is okay not to feel okay. More people have been asking each other how they are doing and the importance of good mental health is clear.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have invested £6 million of additional funding to support the population’s mental health, including £2.1 million to expand the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub so that it is now available to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Round the clock, trained practitioners at NHS 24 will offer callers a compassionate and empathic listening service based on the principles of psychological first aid, as well as advice, signposting and onward referral to local services if required.”
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie (Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing) said: “Protecting vulnerable people is a priority for Police Scotland as part of our statutory requirement to improve the safety and wellbeing of people, places and communities.
“Much of the demand on the organisation now comes from incidents which no longer result in a crime report being raised, such as people in distress or experiencing a mental health crisis. Calls of this nature can come to the police from concerned family and friends, passers-by, and other agencies, as well as individuals themselves.
“Police Scotland has recently completed the national roll-out of a new way of assessing calls to its 101 and 999 service to improve the way we respond to contact from the public.
“Where appropriate, we engage in partnerships with colleagues around the country in health, social care and third sector organisations to help people to access the most suitable support at the appropriate time.”
Frances Dodd, Director for Care Quality and Professional Development for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We are delighted to be working with our partners in NHS 24 and Police Scotland on ‘Together Let’s Care’.
“Integrated working across services on issues like mental health means we can deliver a joined up approach to supporting patients and working together to deliver improved care for those suffering mental health across Scotland.
“The ‘Together Let’s Care’ campaign is designed to assist patients to access the right mental health services first time, and allow health professionals, Police and community-based staff to further enhance the support and services currently in place.
“This campaign increases signposting to a wide variety of self-help guides with the aim to support clinicians improve mental health outcomes by increasing access to specialists and services within local communities.
“It’s so important for all of us to be mindful of our mental health and wellbeing, address mental health issues early and seek help if needed. This service is one part of the system that will ensure we as a community can help identify and address mental health issues early, enabling people to find pathways to healthy, productive and fulfilling lives.”
Temporary steps announced to tackle record infection rates.
Further measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) are to come into effect tomorrow as Scotland recorded more than 1,000 new positive test results in a single day.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told parliament yesterday that actions are needed now to prevent a return to the peak level of infections experienced in spring by the end of this month.
"It is by taking tough but necessary action now that we hope to avoid even tougher action in future."
She said: “While there are significant restrictions still in place – and they are hard and painful – we are living much more freely now than in the spring and early summer.
“We are determined – if at all possible – that this will continue to be the case. We are not going back into lockdown today. We are not closing schools. We are not halting the remobilisation of the NHS for non-Covid care. And we are not asking people to stay at home.
“The need for action is highlighted by today’s figures and, more fundamentally, in the evidence paper published today. To try to interrupt this trajectory, we must act now. While the measures will feel like a backward step, they are in the interests of protecting our progress overall.
“It is by taking the tough but necessary action now that we hope to avoid even tougher action in future.”
The new restrictions, backed by a new £40 million support fund for business and the existing UK Job Retention Scheme, will be in place nationwide for 16 days, with tighter restrictions across central belt areas where the infection rate is highest.
Restrictions on licensed premises will come into force from 6pm tomorrow (Friday 9 October), with all other restrictions applying from 00:01 Saturday 10 October.
The new measures are:
Nationwide (excepting central belt areas):
Hospitality (food and drink): all premises may only open indoors between 6am and 6pm, with no sales of alcohol
Hospitality (food and drink): premises may open outdoors until 10pm, with sales of alcohol (where licensed)
Takeaways (including from pubs and restaurants) can continue
Evening meals may be served in accommodation for residents only but no alcohol can be served
Current meeting rules, maximum of six people from two households, continue to apply
Specific life events, such as weddings and funerals, may continue with alcohol being served, with current meeting rules for these events (20 person limit in regulated premises only)
Central belt area focusing on five health board areas (Ayrshire & Arran; Forth Valley; Greater Glasgow & Clyde; Lanarkshire; Lothian):
All licensed premises will be required to close, with the exception of takeaway services
Cafés (unlicensed premises) which don’t have an alcohol licence will be able to open between 6am and 6pm
Takeaways (including from pubs and restaurants) can continue
Evening meals may be served in accommodation for residents only but no alcohol can be served
Specific life events, such as weddings and funerals, may continue with alcohol, with current meeting rules for these events (20 person limit in regulated premises only)
No group exercise classes for indoor gyms and sports courts, pools with an exemption for under 18s
No adult (18+) contact sports or training, except professional sports, indoor or outdoor
No outdoor live events
Snooker/pool halls, indoor bowling, casinos and bingo halls are to close
Public transport use should be minimised as much as possible, such as for education and work, where it cannot be done from home
Current meeting rules, maximum of six people from two households, continue to apply
Additionally, from this weekend, shops across Scotland are asked to return to two metres physical distancing and reintroduce the mitigations they put in place earlier in the pandemic, including one-way systems.
The challenge Scotland faces has also been set out in an evidence paper published today by senior clinical advisors: the Chief Medical Officer, the Chief Nursing Officer and the National Clinical Director. It shows the R number is currently higher in Scotland than in other UK nations and that three weeks after opening hospitality, the R number rose to 1 and above.
In the seven days up to Monday, the number of people in hospital with Covid increased by almost 80%. In the past week, cases in people over 80 years old increased by 60% and cases in the 60-79 year old age group more than doubled.
During the period these measures are in place, the Scottish Government will work with all sectors to review guidance in place to ensure all steps are being taken to minimise COVID-19 transmission and support compliance with regulations.
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has reacted to the announcement, which will decimate many of Scotland’s businesses – in particular, the hospitality sector which employs tens of thousands of people in Edinburgh.
In particular, businesses in the sector believe:
The evidence base on which the Government is making decisions which have such devastating impacts needs to be more robust and compelling. The Government’s own analysis is that 1 in 5 of those reporting infections have visited hospitality venues, and acknowledges that there is no evidence confirming where they acquired the virus
The First Minister acknowledges that the vast majority of hospitality businesses have spent scarce resources and significant time making their premises as safe as possible, yet still hospitality venues bear the brunt of restrictive measures
There has been NO genuine consultation with the sector on what measures are necessary and NO desire to seek any potential alternative solutions with businesses.
Joanne Davidson, Director of Policy at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: “Everyone in the country acknowledges the pandemic is a serious public health issue and we appreciate that Government has to make hard decisions in the current climate.
“However, it is an issue we need to tackle together, and that means involving businesses in the process. Taking decisions without recourse to those whose lives, businesses, employment and well-being are torn apart by these decisions is not the way to bring our country through this process successfully.
“Along with all of our colleagues in the Chamber network, we call on the Scottish Government to consult in a genuine way with business, to provide more robust data on which serious decisions are being based, and to seek solutions and meaningful engagement with the business community which minimise the impact and ensure adequate and appropriate financial support is made available to protect jobs and livelihoods.”
Federation of Small Businesses Scotland is warning that the mental health of small business owners and the self-employed has suffered during this pandemic.
FSB’s Andrew McRae said: “The vast majority of those in business want to be – and are – playing their part in tackling the crisis. But this year has taken its toll on the mental health of those that work for themselves, especially those that operate in certain sectors.
“Governments north and south of the border need to ensure there’s enough help on offer to see smaller firms through a crisis that’s not of their making. These local firms aren’t expendable, and care needs to be taken not to treat them as such.”
FSB offers a range of mental health support advice for members and the wider small business community.
