Record investment to ensure Scotland’s NHS is ready to meet changing patient demands and the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will be at the heart of the 2021/22 Programme for Government (PFG) this week.
The PfG will confirm plans to introduce an unprecedented increase in frontline health spending of 20% over the current Parliament.
The first rise will be confirmed in the 2022/23 budget being published later this year and will provide additional funding of at least £2.5 billion by 2026/27.
The PfG will be set out by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday 7 September), and will also include measures to drive a green, fair economic recovery, create a land of opportunity for our children and young people, and achieve a just transition to net zero.
It will also confirm plans to introduce legislation in the coming year to establish a new National Care Service in Scotland by the end of the current Parliament, transforming the way health and social care services are provided.
The First Minister said: “We owe our health and social care services, and the extraordinary staff who kept them running in the toughest of years, our immense gratitude.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, we will strengthen and improve our health and social care system so that everyone gets the care they need, while recognising and repaying the efforts of staff given the toll the pandemic has had on them.
“We are already investing record amounts in out NHS, but this 20% increase will help transform the way we deliver services and ensure the system is ready to meet the challenges which still lie ahead.
“Our recent NHS recovery plan set out measures to establish a network of cancer diagnostic centres, refurbish NHS facilities across Scotland and make unprecedented investment in mental health services.
“The creation of a National Care Service will also mark the biggest reform of health and social care since the creation of the NHS and will help ensure every patient’s care journey is focused on the individual.
“Recovery from COVID-19 across all of society is the Scottish Government’s first and most pressing priority and I am determined that this Programme for Government will allow our health service to continue managing COVID-19 and our longer term population health challenges.”
Primary care funding will go up by 25% over the course of this parliament, with half of all frontline health spending invested in community health services.
The PfG will also confirm plans to invest £29 million to provide an additional 78,000 diagnostic procedures, as well as increasing inpatient and day case activity by 10% in 2022/23 and outpatient activity by 10% by 2025/26.
The first £50 million, of the planned £250 million increased investment to tackle the drugs death emergency, will also be provided.
A new consultation is seeking the public’s views on legislative reform to support Scotland’s recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The consultation sets out a range of proposals, including whether some beneficial temporary provisions made under Scottish and UK coronavirus legislation and due to expire in March 2022 should be maintained.
The public will have 12 weeks until the consultation period ends on 9 November to share their views on the proposals. These include:
maintaining provisions in the UK Coronavirus Act that enable Scottish Ministers to enact measures via public health regulations for any future public health threats, in line with powers that are already in statute in England and Wales
a change in the law that will allow a wider range of health professionals such as nurses, midwives and paramedics to give vaccinations and immunisations
maintaining pre-eviction protocols relating to rent arrears in the private rented sector, ensuring that tenants have all the information they need about their rights, and placing more responsibility on landlords to ensure correct procedures are followed
whether the extended statutory time-limits for criminal proceedings should temporarily remain in place to help the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service manage the backlog of cases arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure cases can continue to be heard, through greater flexibility in the programming of court business
maintaining remote registration of deaths and still-births by phone or other methods, without the need to go to a registration office in person, in addition to a new proposal to extend this flexibility to live births
The consultation also asks people to suggest any additional measures or legislation not covered in the consultation that could support Scotland’s recovery.
Deputy First Minister and COVID Recovery Secretary John Swinney said: “This consultation focuses on reviewing the legislative powers that have supported our response to COVID-19. We want to ensure we remove measures no longer needed in order to respond to the pandemic whilst keeping those where there is demonstrable benefit to the people of Scotland.
“This is an opportunity to maintain changes that have been welcomed by people who now don’t want to lose transformations that have been innovative, beneficial, and increased access to services.
“While the pandemic has been incredibly disruptive, its urgency has forced the public services we rely on to adapt and continue and still deliver, driving the pace of digital adoption, and in some cases more efficient ways of working.
“As we enter the recovery phase, we now have a unique opportunity to reimagine how health and social care, learning and justice services can be designed and delivered around the lives and needs of the people who use them.
“I invite everyone to have their say on what this future should look like to support a fair, safe and secure recovery. Your views on these proposals will inform any future legislation to be brought forward on these topics for full scrutiny and debate in Parliament.
“We remain committed to expiring or suspending any existing provisions that are no longer necessary, and will continue to report to Parliament every two months on the use of any temporary powers.”
HR & Recruitment had the biggest bounce back in jobs compared to July last year
Job opportunities in HR & Recruitment swelled to more than triple the average increase for all sectors
The Transport/ Logistics/ Warehouse industry saw the second highest increase
The HR & Recruitment industry has seen the greatest increase in job opportunities over the past year, new research has revealed.
The study, conducted by advertising experts N.Rich, analysed official job advertisement data from the ONS and Adzuna, comparing the year-on-year increase in job ads across 29 different industries between July 2020 and July 2021.
Results indicated that HR & Recruitment boasts an annual increase of 544% jobs advertised – more than three times the average increase for all UK industries (171%).
The Transport / Logistics / Warehouse industry has seen the second highest increase in job opportunities, with a 437% annual increase.
Rounding out the top three of highest annual increase of jobs advertised via Adzuna job boards were those for the Catering/ Hospitality industry, with a 425% improvement compared to the same date last year.
Other industries starting to recover include Manufacturing, which has a 420% annual increase in job adverts, putting it in fourth place. Fifth place belongs to the Marketing/ Advertising/ PR industry, with an annual increase in job adverts of 359%.
The lower half of the Top 10 features industries such as Management/ Exec/ Consulting industry (357% annual increase), Constructions/Trades (352%), and Admin/ Clerical/ Secretarial jobs (329% increase). Rounding off the top 10 are the Sales and Wholesale/Retail industries, with increases in job adverts of 292% and 290% respectively.
At the other end of the scale, Healthcare and Social Care saw the lowest increase in openings, going up by just 29% compared to a year previously, while Education also saw a relatively small rise of 52%.
Year-on-year comparison of job adverts across UK by industry – top 10, July 2020 – July 2021
Industry
Year-on-Year percentage increase
1. HR and Recruitment
544.94%
2. Transport/ Logistics/ Warehouse
437.74%
3. Catering and Hospitality
425.21%
4. Manufacturing
420.93%
5. Marketing/ Advertising/ PR
359.00%
6. Management/ Exec/ Consulting
357.13%
7. Construction/ Trades
352.44%
8. Admin/ Clerical/ Secretarial
329.41%
9. Sales
292.32%
10. Wholesale and Retail
290.53%
Average across all industries
171.8%
In addition, the study analysed how job opportunities have changed across the UK’s regions, with the East of England seeing an increase of 242% when comparing the week commencing 16 July 2021 with the same week in 2020.
In second place is the North East with a 223% increase in job adverts, while third place belongs to the West Midlands with a 210% increase in jobs advertised.
London has seen the lowest increase in job opportunities by region compared to July last year, at 134%. North West comes in behind at 167%, followed by the South East with a 168% increase in job adverts.
Year-on-year comparison of job adverts across UK by region, July 2020 – July 2021
UK Region
Year-on-Year percentage increase
1. East of England
242.1%
2. North East
223.2%
3. West Midlands
210.9%
4. East Midlands
205.7%
5. Yorkshire and The Humber
194%
6. South West
171.8%
7. South East
168.7%
8, North West
167.5%
9. London
134.2%
All Regions
171.8%
Year-on-year comparison of job adverts across UK by country, July 2020 – July 2021
UK Region
Year-on-Year percentage increase
1. Northern Ireland
232.5%
2. Wales
180.6%
3. England
176.2%
4. Scotland
159.9%
A spokesperson for N.Rich said, “It is exciting to see that a number of industries are recovering after a gruelling couple of years. It just goes to show that – despite fears of an economic downturn post lockdown – the UK job market remains resilient and robust.”
The study was conducted by N.Rich, which offers a rich array of intent data and ad inventory that enable marketers to drive awareness and lead generation effectively.
UNISON will be holding a static lobby outside the Edinburgh City Chambers tomorrow (Tuesday 17th August) from 9.30am to coincide with the meeting of the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board (EIJB) meeting taking place at 10am.
Although this meeting will not be making a final decision on care home closures, they will be planning to move forward with wider consultation on the issue, with the purpose of coming to a decision at a meeting in September.
It was UNISON’s quick actions that ensured the EIJB did not move forward with the proposed closures at their meeting on 22nd June 2021.
UNISON will be making a deputation to the meeting tomorrow and will be calling for:
the saving of our care homes;
meaningful engagement with the trade unions;
call for proper impact assessments; and
the need to have a wide-ranging meaningful public consultation.
UNISON want care homes to remain run by and for the public and not run by private companies for private profit.
If publicly owned and run care homes are not up to standard, then investment in adaptation, or the building of new care homes must be done to ensure that any demand can be met.
Staff in care home must be paid a decent wage, have access to developmental training and feel secure in their employment.
The lobby outside the City Chambers on Tuesday 17th August is only part of the union’s campaign to ‘Save Our Care Homes’ and UNISON plan to build to a bigger event for the September meeting.
You can sign UNISON’s petition here and click here for a link to a ready-made email to your MSP.
The Another Edinburgh is Possible campaign group is also urging the capital’s citizens to support the fight against care home closures:
‘Join the protest rally outside the City Chambers as the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board meets on Tuesday 17th August. It’s likely that the board will hold a special meeting in September to make the decision to close 5 out of the 9 local authority care homes in Edinburgh.
‘We want to build a campaign that is so strong that when that meeting takes place the board has no option but to drop its’ closure plans. Three Edinburgh City Councillors sit on the board. We’ve written to the leaders of all five party groups on the council demanding that their group takes a clear and unambiguous public position in opposition to the closures.’
“ASK THE GP” The only public live meeting with the Polish GP in Scotland on Covid-19 vaccination for the Polish Community
“ZAPYTAJ GP” Jedyne takie spotkanie z polskim lekarzem w Szkocji na temat szczepień na Covid-19 [ENG]
In response to the needs of the Polish community in Scotland, Fenikswould like to invite you to a live webinar with Dr Piotr Konieczny, a Polish GP in Edinburgh who specialises in ENT and is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
During this meeting, the expert will answer the most frequently asked questions about Covid-19 vaccination.
There is no need to register, but in case you do not want to miss this meeting you can sign up to the Facebook event (a notification will show up an hour before the event): https://www.facebook.com/events/845324889457595
A recording of the meeting will be made available on Feniks Facebook page and on YouTube. The discussion will be held in Polish.[PL]
“ZAPYTAJ GP” Jedyne takie spotkanie z polskim lekarzem w Szkocji na temat szczepień na Covid-19
Odpowiadając na zapotrzebowanie polskiej społeczności w Szkocji zapraszamy na spotkanie informacyjne online z dr Piotrem Koniecznym, polskim lekarzem rodzinnym w Edynburgu specjalizującym się w laryngologii, członkiem Royal College of General Practitioners. W czasie spotkania ekspert odpowie na pytania na temat szczepień przeciwko Covid-19, które można zadawać w poniższym kwestionariuszu.
NIE PRZEGAP: Czwartek, 12 sierpnia, godz. 19.30 (czasu brytyjskiego)
Nie trzeba się rejestrować, ale zachęcamy do dołączenia do wydarzenia na Facebooku (przypomnienie o wydarzeniu pojawi się na godzinę przed): https://www.facebook.com/events/845324889457595
A National Care Service for Scotland – but COSLA condemns proposals
A consultation has been launched to seek the public’s views ahead of the creation of a National Care Service, which will ensure everyone who needs it can expect the same standards of care, wherever they live in Scotland.
Local government umbrella organisation Cosla has criticised the government’s plan as another move to undermine local democracy.
The National Care Service will deliver person-centred care that supports people in a way that suits their needs, providing real benefits for those who are being cared for and the people who care for them. It will introduce ethical commissioning, based on fair work principles, for the benefit of everyone involved.
The consultation sets out some of the options for delivering social care in a way which changes the system from one that supports people to survive to one that empowers them to thrive. It recognises that this will involve significant cultural and system change that will need to be supported by new laws, and new ways of working.
In order to deliver these recommendations there will continue to be strong local accountability. The consultation proposes Community Health and Social Care Boards to strengthen the voice of the local population, with people with lived experience and local elected members sitting alongside professionals.
Consulting on the proposals was one of the commitments for the first 100 days of this government. Implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care, and the establishment of a National Care Service, will be one of the most significant tasks of the current parliament.
At a minimum the new National Care Service will cover adult social care services. However, the consultation document also recognises that if we want to build a comprehensive community health and social care system, we should consider extending its scope to other groups such as children and young people, community justice, alcohol and drug services, and social work.
Minister for Social Care Kevin Stewart said: “The importance of our social care services has never been clearer. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to our nation’s carers, paid and unpaid, for the commitment and compassion we have seen throughout the pandemic.
“The Scottish Government commissioned the Independent Review of Adult Social Care during the pandemic, because it was clear we needed to do things better in future.
“We have already made significant improvements, with reforms such as the integration of health and social care, and implementation of the Real Living Wage Policy for Adult Social Care workers and this year the Scottish Government pledged £64.5m to fully fund the pay increase. But we can go further. What we are now proposing is the biggest public sector reform for decades, since the creation of the National Health Service.
“I am committed to implementing the recommendations of the Independent Review and staying true to the spirit of that report by building a system with human rights at the heart of it.
“The Review recommended the creation of a National Care Service, with Scottish Ministers being accountable for adult social care support. I believe however that it is right for this consultation to look beyond simply the creation of a national service for adult social care. The ambition of this government is to go much further, and to create a comprehensive community health and social care service that supports people of all ages. We are also committed to a ensuring there is strong local accountability in the system.
“Absolutely vital to this is ensuring that our invaluable social care workforce feel happy, respected and fulfilled in their role.
“We are at the beginning of a journey to improve social care in Scotland. We will only get this right with your support. I want to hear from as many people and organisations as possible over the next couple of months, so we can build a better system together.”
In a statement, the Social Covenant Steering Group which will advise on the creation of a National Care Service, said: “Most of us have waited many years to see plans for major improvements in the way social care support is delivered and we welcome the publication of this consultation.
“Many people may feel they have been consulted before and are keen to see some action. But this time it is an important legal step in in order that a bill can be put to Parliament.
“So, it is important that as many people as possible including; current users of social care support, unpaid carers, the workforce and everyone else who cares about this vital support will take this opportunity to express their views on the kind of system we need to enable everyone to reach their potential.”
The Consultation on the National Care Service which was launched today cuts straight through the heart of the way Scotland is governed, says COSLA President Councillor Alison Evison:
“The Consultation launched today cuts through the heart of governance in Scotland – not only does it have serious implications for Local Government – it is an attack on localism and on the rights of local people to make decisions democratically for their Place. It once again brings a centralising approach to how decisions which should be taken locally are made.
“We welcomed large parts of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care and have been keen to get on and deliver, however the vision this consultation sets out goes beyond the Feeley Report. It isn’t evidence based and will take years to deliver – years when we should be making improvements which will benefit all users of social care services.
“Councils know their communities and all the evidence suggests that local democratic decision making works. Councils have shown time and time again during the last 18 months of the pandemic that we can deliver for the communities we serve when we are trusted and resourced to do so.
“It is deeply concerning that the consultation is also a considerable departure from the recommendations of the independent review set up to look at Adult Social Care.
“The lack of prior engagement with Local Government is not new – the partnership between the Scottish Government and Local Government which we have been seeking to build, continues to elude us in practice and it is the communities we serve who are losing out.
“Let’s be clear – this is not a “thinly veiled” attack on Local Government – there is no subtlety to it and, sadly for local communities, the ‘onion peel’ of Local Government services by this Government shows no sign of letting up.
“On behalf of the communities we serve, COSLA and Local Government will engage constructively with the Consultation process. People may be surprised by the extent of services covered by this Consultation and I would urge as many as possible to respond to it, as this could really be the end for anything other than central control in Scotland.
“We all want better services for our communities, nobody more so than Local Government and that is what Local and National Government should be working on collectively for our communities.”
More people than ever in Scotland will be offered the free flu vaccine to help protect as many lives as possible this winter.
Those people eligible for the free flu vaccine now include:
those aged 50 and over
those aged 6 months to 49 years who have certain underlying health conditions which increase risk
pregnant women
children aged 2-5 (not yet at school)
health and social care staff
unpaid and young carers
all primary and secondary school age children, (in school setting)
independent NHS contractors, (GP, dental and optometry practices, community pharmacists), laboratory staff (working on COVID-19 testing) including support staff
teachers, nursery teachers and support staff in close contact with pupils
prison staff and support staff in close contact with the prison population (delivering direct detention services)
those in the prison population
The flu vaccination programme will run from this September until March 2022. All those who are eligible are being urged to take up the offer as soon as possible when invited to protect themselves and others and help the NHS and social care services avoid additional pressure over the winter period.
Almost every year in Scotland thousands of people are hospitalised with flu. This winter our immunity may be even lower than usual due to lower levels of the flu virus circulating last year as a result of the crucial public health measures in place to protect the population from COVID-19. Therefore this year, more than ever, it is important to get the flu vaccine to ensure everyone is protected.
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer has written to the healthcare professionals who will be delivering the flu vaccine to ensure they are prepared to deliver our largest ever flu programme from September.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Flu can be extremely serious and is very infectious. With COVID-19 still circulating in the community we can best protect the people of Scotland by encouraging everyone eligible to get vaccinated against flu too.
“That’s why this flu season, we are extending the vaccination programme and offering the flu vaccine to around four million people in Scotland. This will help to protect those most at risk as well as ease pressure on our National Health Service and social care services. The vaccines are safe and the best way to help protect you, and others, from flu this winter.”
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nicola Steedman said: “The public health measures put in place to help fight against COVID-19 meant that the circulation of flu viruses was very low last season.
“As restrictions continue to lift and we get back to living our lives more normally it is important this year, more than ever, that you receive your flu vaccine if you are eligible, and before flu starts to spread widely. It only takes a few minutes to be vaccinated, and it helps to provide protection from flu for the period of time that flu is likely to be circulating in Scotland.
“The JCVI has also published interim advice on providing a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to those eligible in the autumn. Any such extension to the vaccine programme would run alongside the vital flu programme, to protect those at risk from flu this winter.
“We will take this into account while we await the final JCVI recommendations. But we urge people not to forget about flu, and to come forward for their flu vaccination this year.”
Speakers include Graeme Smith (Unite), Alyson Pollock, Nick Kempe, a Unison rep and more.
We want to make the case for saving the homes as widely known as possible and argue that the future of residential care should be public, democratically accountable and provide security and comfort for all those who need it.
Unite Scotland has criticised Friday’s announcement by the Scottish government on workers suspected of contracting Covid not being required to self-isolate, stating that it could lead to a new spike in the pandemic.
As one of the nation’s leading trade unions in the health and social care sector, which has been significantly impacted by the pandemic, Unite has raised serious concerns directly with the Scottish government over its approach to level zero.
The Scottish government has removed the blanket requirement for close contacts to self-isolate as long as they’re double vaccinated and take a PCR test. This includes removing the requirement for those working in health and social care to self-isolate as had previously been the practice throughout the pandemic.
According to the Scottish government figures, 1,825 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the past 24 hours on Thursday (22 July). Twenty-two new deaths have been reported of someone who tested positive for the virus over the past 28 days.
In the week ending 20 July, on average 2,109 NHS staff, or around 1.2% of the NHS workforce, reported absent each day for a range of reasons related to Covid-19.
James O’Connell, Unite industrial officer, said:“There have been a growing number of cases of the delta variant in Scotland and we can’t allow this to spiral out of control. While we understand there is a need and desire to return to normality, we have got to remember that vaccination is not immunisation.
“Unite’s members, particularly in those vulnerable sectors such as health and social care, are extremely worried that we could see a new spike in hospital admissions, and it is the staff on the frontline having to deal with this.
“If you’re identified as a close contact it potentially takes 48 hours minimum for the virus to be detected through a test so there is a potential for staff to be asymptomatic without knowing they are positive for a period of time.
“Using the hierarchy of control risk should be removed or at least minimised as much as it can be, therefore, in order to remove or minimise the risk of spread you should isolate not gamble using health and social care staff as the test.
“They look after the most vulnerable people in our society, is it worth it? The government is putting a lot of emphasis on double vaccination which does not stop contraction of the virus, however – why are they not looking at reducing the time between vaccine?”
‘Real life experts’ to help focus on what really matters to people receiving social care
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and Minister for Social Care Kevin Stewart have welcomed the first meeting of a Social Covenant Steering Group, set up to help guide the development of a National Care Service.
Establishing the group, made up of people with day-to-day experience of social care, was a key recommendation of Derek Feeley’s Independent Review of Adult Social Care and marks the fulfilment of one of the commitments for the first 100 days of this government.
Initial membership of the group, which met for the first time yesterday, includes unpaid carers, disability rights activists, a care home resident, a campaigner for the needs of relatives of those in care homes, a social care worker and others with significant experience of the way services are currently delivered.
The diverse group includes people from across Scotland with a spread of ages, and social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
The group is expected to help establish a common set of values and beliefs – a social covenant – which will underpin the National Care Service, including treating people with dignity, prioritising the common good and ensuring there is strong oversight of the new service. It will establish underlying and unifying principles to help guide decision-making.
Mr Stewart, who will chair the group’s meetings, said: “We know there were problems in the social care system before COVID arrived and we had already started to think about ways of reforming it, but the pandemic has shone a spotlight on the system and really highlighted the importance of making changes.
“Many members of this group have already heavily influenced the recommendations in Derek Feeley’s report and I am keen to ensure that we continue to listen to their expert views and act on what they tell us.
“A social covenant will enable us to develop a common set of values around social care; and see those systems as not merely a safety net, but a springboard to allow people to flourish.
“It is extremely important that we listen to people with lived experience – the real experts – to hear about the highs and lows of social care services. It is by doing this that we will really find out what’s good about the services people receive, more importantly, what needs to improve for those who use and deliver social care.”
“Only by listening to people with real-life experiences , and acting on what we hear, can we create a system that ensures that everyone in Scotland has the opportunity to live fulfilling and rewarding lives.”
Marion McArdle, who has a daughter with complex needs said: “I feel privileged to be part of this group, since I’m fully expecting it to be a partnership between the government and the experts, people with real stories and real suggestions on how to change things for the better based on their lived experience of social care in Scotland.
“I’m optimistic that this can only be good thing and a great step forward in getting it right for Scotland’s citizens who are entitled to a social care system which at the very least meets their human rights.”
