Miles Briggs MSP – Page 9 – The NEN

Call to restart cancer services in Scotland

Scottish Conservatives Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has called for the Scottish Government to publish an NHS Scotland Recovery Plan to restart services disrupted by Covid-19, particularly cancer services.

In preparation for the Covid crisis NHS Scotland went to great lengths to free up capacity and many services were paused.

Elective surgeries were postponed for three months to free up beds and cancer screening programmes for breast, cervical and bowel cancer as well as some cancer operations were also indefinitely halted.

Now cancer charities have issued a plea to the Scottish government to get cancer services up and running again and the Scottish Conservatives have asked for a plan to deal with the backlog in treatment and operations.

In NHS England cancer treatments restarted over two weeks ago.

In addition, this morning ISD Scotland published figures showing that attendances at A&E services have dropped dramatically since the end of march, due to the measures put in place to respond to COVID-19.

The statistics highlight that during the week of the 3 May only 16,107 people were seen at A&E, compared to 27,845 for the same week in 2019, the previous year, a staggering drop of over 40%.

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary said: “It is vital that the Scottish Government brings forward an NHS Recovery Plan – a plan to restart our health service, particularly cancer services and operations, in Scotland.

“Over the last two months, in so many ways, people have selflessly put their own needs on hold.

“The A&E figures show that people have been staying away from the NHS meaning many people may be suffering in silence.

“But further delays will mean more patients could have poorer outcomes.

“It is now over two weeks since NHS England restarted cancer treatments, we could too.

“Thanks to the incredible work from everyone who works in our NHS, our health service has not been overwhelmed during this crisis.

“The Scottish Government must publish a plan to deal with the current backlog of operations and treatments and give everyone access to the healthcare they need before it’s too late.”

Scottish Tories: Government must plan to clear backlog of operations

The Scottish Conservatives have called for the Scottish Government to publish a plan outlining how they will clear the backlog of operations created while the NHS concentrates on Covid-19.

The call comes as the latest figures show that the number of planned operations for March this year in Scotland has fallen over 30% compared to March last year.

In addition, the number of cancelled operations for the same month has almost doubled to 15% compared to March 2019.

The Scottish Conservatives have said that it is understandable that the NHS has been prioritising Covid patients but the Scottish Government must outline a plan to clear this backlog and ensure there isn’t any avoidable suffering beyond the pandemic.

3,429 operations were carried out in NHS Lothian during March 2020, a decrease of 1,875 from 5,304 in March 2019 – a decrease of 35%.

The percentage of cancelled operations has more than doubled compared to March 2019, with 21.3% of operations cancelled in March 2020, compared to 9.9%.

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary said: “Our NHS has rightly diverted time and resources to tackling Covid-19 and we wouldn’t expect anything else.

“But the dramatic reduction in hospital operations is not without cost and must be reversed as soon as possible.

“The Scottish Government must put a plan in place to clear these operations or Covid could cause even greater suffering.

“Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak SNP Ministers were failing to meet their own waiting times targets.

“It is clear that for many patients the wait to get the treatments and operations they need is going to be significantly longer.

“I am enormously grateful to everyone working in our NHS right now – the Scottish Government must plan now so doctors and nurses can continue to save lives now and in the future.”

Briggs: Plan now for coronavirus rehabilitation

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs says health boards must start planning now for rehabilitation support for people who have had severe cases of Coronavirus.

Covid-19 is expected to lead to a dramatic increase in the numbers of people managing what will possibly be long-term lung conditions and needing support for rehab and recovery.

The number of people who have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease in NHS Lothian has increased by 70% since 2011/12, to 19,167 people, a higher increase than any other region in Scotland.

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland are working with health boards, including NHS Lothian, to reform the way people with lung conditions access rehabilitation and support.

Vital support, such as Pulmonary Rehabilitation, could benefit thousands of people in Lothian, as well as allowing the health board to make significant savings in the long term.

The charity have a number of initiatives in place to support those living with chest, heart and stroke conditions during the Coronavirus epidemic, including their freephone advice line Nurses: 0808 801 0899

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative Health Spokesperon, said: “It is right that health boards are focusing their efforts on maximising the number of intensive care beds, increasing ventilator capacity and continuing to treat those who are most sick.

“A high number of people in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s, who have breathing difficulties and are in the high risk category during the Coronavirus outbreak, would benefit from this treatment.

“NHS Lothian must start putting plans in place now for breathing rehabilitation, so that patients who have had Coronavirus can access this treatment and start their recovery.”

Jane-Claire Judson, Chief Executive at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: “The devastating impact of coronavirus will see many survivors living with poor lung health, perhaps for the rest of their lives. They could be left dealing with breathlessness which can cause worry and anxiety, but there are rehabilitation programmes which can help.

“Physical activity is hugely important to recovery and it is key to living well with chest conditions. At the moment our local support groups which normally provide group exercise can’t meet up.

“We’re making sure that people can still keep active at home by sending out short videos and information on activities everyone can do. We’re also busy working with health boards across Scotland to make sure our services alleviate some of the pressures on the NHS.

“No-one fully understands what long-term effects coronavirus will have on people’s health – but we do know that support for rehab and recovery is going to be more important than ever.

“Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is urgently making plans and adapting our services to make sure we’re there for everyone who needs us, now and in the future.”

Briggs: New measures to keep us connected

A range of new measures have come into force to help the country to stay digitally connected during the coronavirus.

Ofcom, the regulatory authority for telecommunications, has announced new commitments to help broadband consumers during this difficult time.

These include:

Working with customers who are finding it difficult to pay their bill to ensure they are treated fairly and supported appropriately.
Removing all data allowance caps on all current fixed broadband services.
Ensuring that vulnerable customers receive alternative methods of communication if priority repairs to fix landlines and broadband cannot be carried out.
Offering new generous mobile and landline packages to ensure people are connected such as free calls or data boosts.

These commitments, effective immediately, will be delivered by the major internet service and mobile providers, namely BT/EE, Openreach, Virgin Media, Sky, TalkTalk, O2, Vodafone, Three, Hyperoptic, Gigaclear, and KCOM.

Universal Service Obligation

From the 20^th March, households also now have a legal right to request a decent, affordable broadband connection from BT under the new Universal Service Obligation (USO).

Lothian residents can check if they are eligible for an upgrade at www.bt.com/uso or by calling BT direct on 0800 783 0223.

Those eligible may be able to use a 4G Hub or will have work done up to £3,400 free of charge to install a fixed line connection.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “During the Coronavirus lockdown, being connected to the rest of the world is more important than ever, for working from home and staying connected with friends and family.

“These measures by Ofcom will ensure that people can remain connected during this pandemic. A number of household in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s will be finding it financially hard at the moment and companies have a responsibility to treat their customers fairly.”

NHS Lothian ‘under significant strain’

The latest NHS Lothian board papers warn its “total capacity will be under significant strain throughout April and probably beyond” (link).

The papers reveal the estimated cost of dealing with coronavirus for the board and local social care alliances is £80m, but that figure was of 17 March.

Officers from the Royal Marines and British Army are supporting the health board’s executive team as well, it is revealed.

The papers also show that urgent cardiac surgery is now being carried out at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “It is very concerning that NHS Lothian is going to be under such significant strain over the next few months.

“NHS Lothian were already facing significant challenges in delivering service before the Coronavirus outbreak and are now facing even greater challenges.

“It’s welcome during these difficult times that our NHS can call on the help of our UK armed forces.

“The Scottish Government and NHS Lothian must work together during this crisis to support NHS staff to provide the best possible patient care at this extremely challenging time.”

US, TAE! – Scots want to help, too

Thousands of Scots stand ready to help an NHS volunteering scheme, and the SNP government should waste no time in setting one up, the Scottish Conservatives have said.

Yesterday, UK health secretary Matt Hancock announced an initiative which allows members of the public to help out hospitals and patients with a range of tasks.

However, the plan which will ease pressure on the NHS amid the coronavirus pandemic is only on offer in England.

Holyrood’s shadow health secretary Miles Briggs has called on the Scottish Government to create a similar scheme north of the border.

The project means ordinary people – so long as they’re showing no signs of Covid-19 – can help with tasks like transporting medicine and equipment, and helping with deliveries for those who are self-isolating.

More than 250,000 people have signed up in a single day to volunteer with the NHS after the ecruitment drive was launched.

Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Miles Briggs said: “So far, both the Scottish and UK governments have worked really well together as we face this unprecedented crisis.

“Now this volunteering scheme has been set up for England, this would be another good way for both to collaborate.

“Thousands of Scots would have seen this announcement and immediately looked into it, only to find it was just those living south of the border who could get involved.

“Hopefully now the Scottish Government will follow suit and harness the amazing goodwill that is out there.

“Ordinary people are desperate to help out our amazing NHS at this crucial time.

“Scots help out fellow Scots when they are facing tough times. That’s just how Scotland works and that’s exactly what we are all going to have to do.”

Briggs: Health Secretary ‘misled Scottish Parliament’

On Tuesday this week, Miles Briggs MSP asked Jeane Freeman MSP what her response was to concerns raised by the former chair of NHS Lothian regarding the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.

http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12568&i=113612

The Cabinet Secretary for Health stated: “I stress that, on 4 July, I took the decision to halt the move. Mr Houston next met me on 18 July. At no point in the intervening period did he – the chair of a major NHS board – feel that it was incumbent upon him to contact me, as the cabinet secretary, to discuss what might have gone wrong or what should be done next and where the board should be involved.”

It has since transpired that the Cabinet Secretary for Health was contacted by Mr Houston by email on 12 July, despite Parliament being repeatedly told otherwise.

The Scottish Government have refuted that Parliament had been misled on the grounds that the email by Mr Houston did not refer to specific issues.

The correspondence from Mr Houston referred to the “RHCYP/DCN situation” as well as assurances that himself and the board were handling the situation and an offer to meet for a 1 to 1 chat prior to the meeting on the 18^th July.

Scottish Conservative Health Spokesperson, Miles Briggs, said: “It truly beggars belief that while Jeane Freeman was answering allegations of lying, she misleads the Scottish Parliament.

“The Health Secretary’s transparent attempts to smear Mr Houston have been exposed for what they are.

“The truth is that Jeane Freeman simply refuses to take responsibility for the mess at the Sick Kids hospital and continues to blame everyone but herself.

“It is clear that Mr Houston did attempt to contact the Cabinet Secretary for Health prior to the 18^th July, but was ignored by her, as he has been since Ms Freeman took up the post.”

Briggs: Alcohol and Drug Partnerships need more support

Figures released last week show that the number of patients treated for cocaine use at Alcohol and Drug Partnerships in Edinburgh and the Lothians has quadrupled over the last five years, from 64 in 2013/14 (5%) to 273 in 2018/19 (17%).

The number of patients being treated for heroin use has decreased over the last five years, form 601 in 2013/14 (42%) to 566 in 2018/19 (36%).

Heroin remains the drug which the highest number of patients are treated for in Lothian ADPs, followed by Cannabis 301 (19%) and then Cocaine 273 (17%) which has overtaken Diazepam.

In Lothian there are three Alcohol and Drug Partnerships – Edinburgh, West Lothian and Lothian Mid and East ADP.

Conservative Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has been campaigning for improvement to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships in Lothian, which have longer waiting times than in other Scottish health boards. Trouble recruiting staff has been one of the reasons highlighted for longer waiting times in Lothian.

Last year Miles Briggs, who is the Tory health spokesman at Holyrood, criticised Edinburgh Integration Joint Board for withholding £1.4 million in funds, for over a year, that were allocated for substance misuse services.

Scotland has the highest drug rate in the European Union and both the Scottish and UK Government held conferences in Glasgow last week to try and tackle the problem.

Miles Briggs MSP said: “Whilst the number of people treated by Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) in Edinburgh and the Lothian has remained roughly the same, the type of drugs being treated for has noticeably changed.

“It is reassuring that fewer people are being treated for heroin at ADPs, but the increase in the number of people being treated for cocaine is very worrying.

“Patients who are attending Alcohol and Drug Partnerships must be seen as soon as possible to get treatment and give them the best possible chance of recovery.

“In the Lothians and across Scotland there has been a record number of people who are dying from drug abuse. There needs to be a shift towards recovery and rehabilitation and all parties must work together to reverse this trend.”

Coronavirus: Business as Usual … for now

CORONAVIRUS ACTION PLAN PUBLISHED

The Scottish Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive, and the UK Government have today jointly published an Action Plan setting out a collective approach to the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Scottish Government has also published additional Scotland-specific guidance on its resilience and response arrangements, which provides further detail on how the response will be delivered and coordinated if there is a sustained epidemic.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland are well-prepared to deal with a coronavirus outbreak. As well as the four nations’ Action Plan published today, we have also published tailored guidance for Scotland’s unique landscape.

“The Action Plan and the detail of our additional resilience arrangements for Scotland set out very clearly what we know so far about coronavirus, the different phases of managing an infection of this nature, what each phase means and the actions that have been or could potentially be taken at each stage.

“Much of this planning is based on reasonable worst case scenarios which will be refined as our understanding of the virus develops, but it is vital that we are well equipped to deal with all possibilities as this outbreak grows globally.

“We will continue to work closely with the UK Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive as part of a coordinated response to this virus.”

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Scotland is well equipped to deal with infections of this kind and health boards and social care services plan and prepare for a range of emergencies in order to minimise disruption as far as possible.

“We have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues and follow the highest safety standard possible to protect health and social care staff, patients and the public.

“The NHS has been specifically preparing for the possibility of further spread of coronavirus since it was first detected in Wuhan and today’s planning information outlines the processes and protections in place to ensure a coordinated response to this outbreak.”

Scottish Conservative shadow health spokesman Miles Briggs MSP said: “Understandably many people in Lothian are deeply concerned about whether the Scottish NHS will be able to cope with the extreme demands that the Coronavirus will place on it.

“Over the last six years we have seen a significant reduction in hospital beds with the loss of hundreds of acute hospital beds over a six year period.

“The worst case scenario outlined by SNP Ministers and the Chief Medical Officer suggests a high number of vulnerable patients will require hospitalisation. The SNP must therefore consider the worst case scenario and recommission NHS beds across the hospital estate urgently.

“It is the responsibility of all of us regardless of politics to make sure that guidance is followed to help protect individuals and families and to provide advice and assistance especially to the most vulnerable in our society.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the press this morning:

Good morning and thank you for coming along, and I am very glad to be joined this morning by the government’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Advisor.

Today we have published the Coronavirus Action Plan setting out how all four parts of the UK will take all necessary and reasonable steps to tackle this outbreak.

The plan has four strands. Containing the virus, delaying its spread, researching its origins and cure, and finally mitigating the impact should the virus become more widespread. That is, contain, delay, research, mitigate.

And let me be absolutely clear that for the overwhelming majority of people who contract the virus, this will be a mild disease from which they will speedily and fully recover as we’ve already seen.

But I fully understand public concern, your concern, about the global spread of this virus. And it is highly likely that we will see a growing number of UK cases.

And that’s why keeping the country safe is the government’s overriding priority. And our plan means we’re committed to doing everything possible based on the advice of our world leading scientific experts to prepare for all eventualities.

Let’s not forget – we already have a fantastic NHS, fantastic testing systems and fantastic surveillance of the spread of disease.

We will make sure the NHS gets all the support it needs to continue their brilliant response to the virus so far.

The plan does not set out what the government will do, it sets out the steps we could take at the right time along the basis of the scientific advice.

Our country remains extremely well prepared, as it has been since the outbreak began in Wuhan several months ago.

Finally, crucially, we must not forget what we can all do to fight this virus, which is to wash our hands, you knew I was going to say this, but wash our hands with soap and water. And forgive me for repeating this but there will be people who will be tuning into this for the first time: wash your hands with soap and hot water for the length of time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.

It’s simple advice but it’s the single most important thing we can do, as I think our experts would attest.

But at this stage, and with the exception of all of the points I have just mentioned, I want to stress that for the vast majority of the people of this country, we should be going about our business as usual.

Coronavirus_action_plan_-_a_guide_to_what_you_can_expect_across_the_UK

A third of women consider HPV a taboo topic

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs is supporting Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust to tackle the myths and stigma around the common virus Human papillomavirus, HPV, and get the facts out.

This year, Scotland’s cervical screening programme is moving to test for HPV first, a far more sensitive test that will save lives but also means many more women will be told they have HPV. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust ran its #SmearForSmear campaign during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week last month (20-26 January) to tackle the misconceptions about the virus.

In the majority of cases, HPV infection goes away without doing the body any harm. However, sometimes it causes cells to change which, if not treated, could develop into cervical cancer. Testing for HPV is a far more accurate test estimated to prevent almost 500 diagnoses of cervical cancer every year in the UK.

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs and the UK’s cervical cancer charity want as many people as possible to understand the importance of cervical screening and to feel informed and comfortable when they get their results.

New research conducted by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has found a third of women consider HPV a taboo topic and would not want anyone to know if they had it.

A quarter haven’t heard of HPV and one in five would feel embarrassed if they were told they had the virus. Calls to the charity’s Helpline about HPV have already risen 50% over the past year. It is expecting this to significantly rise as more women are tested for HPV and is calling on health professionals to be prepared for increases in questions from patients and encouraging open conversation.

Miles Briggs, Lothian MSP, said: “It is concerning that one in three women consider HPV to be a taboo topic and this risks putting women off being screened.

“Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust are doing excellent work to correct the myths around HPV and get the facts straight and encouraging more women to be screened.

“It is better to be safe and screening for the virus shouldn’t be something for women to be embarrassed about.”

Robert Music, Chief Executive, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: “HPV can be confusing but it is nothing to be ashamed of. 80% of us will get at least one type of HPV in our lives and in most cases the immune system will get rid of the infection without it causing any harm.

“We need to get the facts out about HPV and get rid of harmful myths and stigma around this really common virus.”