Tag: Scottish Government

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

£13 million saved from fraudsters

Criminals have been stopped from fraudulently withdrawing around £13 million from bank accounts, according to a new report into serious organised crime in Scotland.

The report, published by the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, also details programmes established to divert young people away from a life of crime and an online training resource which helps identify the signs of serious organised crime. One section highlights the efforts being made to tackle motorcycle crime in Edinburgh.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, who chairs the Taskforce meetings, said: “The Taskforce partners have delivered a wide range of activities to tackle serious organised crime – contributing to a safer, fairer and more prosperous country. Among the successes has been the implementation of the Banking Protocol which has been adopted by most of the major banks operating in Scotland.

“Banking staff have prevented more than £13 million from being withdrawn from the accounts of often older or vulnerable people. These incidents tended to centre around conning people into withdrawing their money or paying excessive amounts for work that was not needed or was of poor standard. And in some cases these people have been accompanied at the bank by a member of the group in a bid to get the money.

“The report underlines the continuing grip organised criminals have on some of our most disadvantaged communities and we are determined to do all that we can to make Scotland a hostile environment for anyone who seeks to exploit others.”

Alasdair Macfarlane, Head of Fraud Prevention and Response at Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “These types of scams have a devastating impact on our customers’ lives and that’s why our branch colleagues are trained to identify and help prevent these crimes.

“Working in collaboration with Police Scotland we are disrupting these criminals. However, customers should always be aware that we, nor the police, will ever ask a customer to transfer money to a safe account and if asked to do so they should call us on a trusted number and preferably on a different phoneline.”

Major banks operating in Scotland who have signed up to the Banking Protocol include Barclays Bank, Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale, Nationwide, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, TSB Bank.

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Angela McLaren said: “We are committed to tackling serious and organised and will persistently pursue those who set out to cause harm and misery to our communities.

“By working in collaboration with key partners the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce has already had notable success in detecting and disrupting a number of organised crime groups and crime types.

“This has also included a range of activities to divert people away from becoming involved in serious and organised crime

“We cannot and will not become complacent in our efforts and through the SOC Taskforce we will continue to identify those involved in organised crime, dismantle their operations and bring them before the courts.”

The Serious Organised Crime Taskforce was established in 2007 and has 13 members with more supporting the work taken forward by the Taskforce’s four Strand subgroups.

The progress report outlines the nature and scope of organised crime in Scotland, where there were a total of 112 serious organised crime groups made up of around 2,400 people (as at the end of March 2019). Seventy-two per cent of SOCGs are located in the West of Scotland, 18% in the East and 10 % in the North.

Sixty-nine per cent of SOCGs are involved in drugs crime, 72% are involved in the use of seemingly legitimate businesses. The most common being licensed premises, taxis, restaurants, shops, garage repairs and vehicle maintenance and property development.

As at September 2019 there were 205 individuals, linked to 68 separate crime groups, held in prison custody.

SOC-Task-Force-Progress-Report-2020

Coronavirus update

The First Minister attended a UK Government COBR meeting and chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Committee (SGoRR) yesterday to discuss preparations for coronavirus (COVID-19) following confirmation of a first case in Scotland.

At the COBR meeting a four nations Action Plan to tackle the virus was agreed. This will be published in each area today with Scottish-specific information made available alongside the four nations plan.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health will make a statement to Parliament this  afternoon.

At SGoRR Ministers were updated on plans preparedness across all sectors in Scotland.

There have been a total of 815 negative test results in Scotland and one positive test result since the start of the outbreak in Wuhan in China.

According to Scottish and UK protocol all patients presenting with a history and symptoms which may be suggestive of coronavirus will be isolated in hospital or at home and appropriate infection prevention and control measures put in place until tests are confirmed.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The patient who tested positive for COVID-19 is clinically well and is being treated in hospital. I would like to thank the NHS for its response and all of the health professionals involved in the patient’s care and treatment.

“Scotland has been planning for  coronavirus for some time. We expect a significant outbreak in the weeks to come but it is important to note that we are still in a containment phase of the virus. This is where we take all of the steps that we can to contain the infection and prevent it taking hold within the community.

“This phase is particularly important because there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for coronavirus. Early detection measures will continue to be vital in helping to prevent the spread of the virus – everyone can play their part by following the latest health and travel advice, and following basic hygiene precautions, such as washing hands frequently, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.”

The UK Government will lay out its plans to contain the spread of coronavirus later today. These include possible school closures, event cancellations and bringing NHS staff out of retirement.

INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO CONTAIN THE VIRUS

United Nations Humanitarian Chief Mark Lowcock has released US$15 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help fund global efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus.

The announcement came as the World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded the global risk of the coronavirus outbreak to “very high” – its top level of risk assessment. The WHO has said there is still a chance of containing the virus if its chain of transmission is broken.

The sudden increases of cases in Italy, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Korea are deeply concerning. There are now cases linked to Iran in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman, along with cases linked to Italy in Algeria, Austria, Croatia, Germany, Spain and Switzerland.

The UN funding has been released to the WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It will fund essential activities including monitoring the spread of the virus, investigating cases, and the operation of national laboratories.

The WHO has called for US$675 million to fund the fight against coronavirus. There is a window of opportunity to contain the spread of the virus if countries take robust measures to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients, and trace contacts.

Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock said yesterday: “We do not yet see evidence that the virus is spreading freely. As long as that’s the case, we still have a chance of containing it.

“But swift and robust action must be taken to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients, and trace contacts. We must act now to stop this virus from putting more lives at risk.

“This grant from the UN’s Emergency Fund will help countries with fragile health systems boost their detection and response operations. It has the potential to save the lives of millions of vulnerable people.”

This is a critical juncture in the outbreak. The focus is on containing COVID-19 by strengthening surveillance, conducting thorough outbreak investigations to identify contacts and applying appropriate measures to prevent further spread.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “The potential spread of the virus to countries with weaker health systems is one of our biggest concerns.

“These funds will help support these countries get ready for detecting and isolating cases, protecting their health workers, and treating patients with dignity and appropriate care. This will help us save lives and push back the virus.”

UNICEF is leading on preventative actions in communities across the affected countries with risk communication, providing hygiene and medical kits to schools and health clinics and monitoring the impact of the outbreak to support continuity of care, education and social services.

“At this pivotal moment, every effort must be made to push back against the outbreak,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “These crucial funds will support our global efforts to bolster weaker health systems and inform children, pregnant women and families about how to protect themselves.”

Since it was launched in 2006, CERF has provided more than $6 billion to over 100 countries and helped hundreds of millions of people.

 

Scottish plans for VE Day

A series of events to mark 75 years since Victory in Europe Day has been announced by Holyrood’s Veterans Minister Graeme Dey.

The commemorations will honour the service and dedication of all those who helped secure peace, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Events, delivered in partnership by the Scottish Government, Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland, include a parade through Edinburgh on 8 May, a free open-air concert and an RAF flypast.

World War II veterans and their carers are being offered free travel and accommodation in Edinburgh.

Communities across Scotland will be encouraged to host their own commemorative events and schools will be given learning packs to help pupils understand the significance of VE Day.

The Scottish Government and Legion Scotland are providing more than £50,000 to help fund the programme of events.

Veterans Minister Graeme Dey said: “Although three quarters of a century have passed since the end of World War II, we must never forget the sacrifices made by those from across the Commonwealth and Allied nations.

“Their service allowed us to enjoy the freedoms and relative peace we now take for granted and it is important veterans of the War are central to these commemorations.

“I encourage communities from across Scotland to be part of this inclusive, welcoming and poignant event.”

Dr Claire Armstrong, chief executive of Legion Scotland, added: “The 75th anniversary of VE Day is a hugely important moment in our nation’s history. 

“It is a time for communities from across Scotland to join together in celebration and commemoration, and we want to ensure that those who sacrificed so much during World War II take centre stage.

“I therefore encourage applications from veterans and anyone else who directly contributed to the war effort to be part of these events.”

On 7 May 1945, Nazi Germany formally and unconditionally surrendered to the Allied Forces, bringing to an end six years of war.

The following day was declared VE (Victory in Europe) Day and millions of people celebrated, marking the victory with street parties, dancing and singing.

The Scottish Government has moved the May Bank holiday to 8 May to coincide with the VE Day anniversary.

The parade will feature vintage military vehicles, motorcycles from Legion Scotland’s Riders Branch, pipe bands, veterans, current personnel from the Armed Forces, horses and youth groups.

The concert will be held in Princes Street Gardens and will follow the theme of Scotland’s involvement in World WarII .

Those wishing to apply to be part of the VE Day 75 events should email b.ward@legionscotland.org.uk or telephone 0131 550 1562.

Coronavirus: First case in Scotland

A patient has been diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland. Following a positive test result for the virus, the patient has been admitted to hospital and is now receiving treatment in isolation.

There are now 36 cases across the UK.

The patient is a resident of the Tayside area and has recently travelled from northern Italy. Clinicians have already begun contact tracing, the process of gathering details of the places they have visited and the people they have been in contact with since returning to the UK.

It is important to note that this does not involve people the patient may have passed on the street or in a shop as the risk in these situations is very low. Close contact involves either face to face contact or spending more than 15 minutes within two metres of an infected person.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government Resilience Committee (SGoRR) last night and will be taking part in the UK Government’s resilience (COBR) meeting chaired by the Prime Minister this morning.

Further cases are expected in Scotland and SGoRR will meet again later today.

There have been a total of 698 negative test results in Scotland since the start of the outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

According to Scottish and UK protocol all patients presenting with a history and symptoms which may be suggestive of coronavirus will be isolated and appropriate infection prevention and control measures put in place.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Our first thoughts must be with the patient diagnosed with coronavirus, I wish them a speedy recovery.

“Scotland is well-prepared for a significant outbreak of coronavirus but there is currently no treatment or vaccine. Early detection measures will continue to be vital in helping to prevent the spread of the virus.

“People have a vital role to play in helping us contain any outbreak by following the latest health and travel advice, and following basic hygiene precautions, such as washing hands frequently, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.” 

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said: “Firstly our thoughts are with the person who has been diagnosed, and with their family. I would like to thank all the health professionals who continue to be involved in their care and treatment.

“Scotland is well equipped to deal with infections of this kind. We have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues, and have been preparing for this possibility since the beginning of the outbreak in Wuhan.

“This is peak season for respiratory and flu-like illness. There will be people presenting with symptoms of acute respiratory illness but these cases are highly unlikely to be coronavirus (COVID-19).

“We practice and prepare our response to disease outbreaks and follow tried and tested procedures, following the highest safety standards possible for the protection of NHS staff, patients and the public.”

The positive sample has been sent to Public Health England’s Colindale laboratory in London for a confirmatory test. Scottish Laboratories will send all positive samples to Public Health England’s WHO designated Colindale laboratory for confirmatory testing.

Advice for travellers who have visited affected areas is available at NHS Inform.

More advice on travel can be found on Fit for Travel and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

NHS Inform Q&A

Up to date information on the situation in Scotland is being published by Scottish Government.

Coronavirus: ‘Drive through’ testing introduced

Testing arrangements for coronavirus are being expanded across Scotland. 

Health boards are implementing a range of different methods for people in their areas to access testing. This ranges from testing in contained areas at local health centres, to community testing in the home, and ‘drive-through’ testing in some areas.

NHS Lothian is the latest health board to introduce ‘drive through’ testing, where patients with mild symptoms drive themselves to a contained area of the Western General hospital for testing, enabling them to avoid public transport or walking.

However the drive-in initiaitve is NOT for self-referalls.

Dr Tracey Gillies, medical director at NHS Lothian, stressed: “This service is for patients who have been assessed by the specialist team so it is an appointment-only service. It is not a drop-in clinic and it is important to stress that patients cannot be seen without an appointment.

“The drive-through facility and the community testing teams allow us to test patients without them coming into healthcare facilities. Patients will be referred on by their GP or NHS 24 if they are at risk of the virus and meet the clinical criteria.

“They will then be referred on to our teams, who will decide whether they need to be tested in their own homes or if they are well enough and can use their own transport to drive to the Western General Hospital.”

Other boards are running community testing, which allows people to be tested in their own home where appropriate. This involves staff from public health teams attending people’s homes in protective suits to provide testing, and offer advice to anyone displaying symptoms.

It follows the introduction of specialised coronavirus screening laboratories in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said: “Although all test results have come back negative so far, it is only a matter of time before there is a positive case in Scotland. 

“Our priority is to ensure testing facilities are available across Scotland, so we have asked health boards to explore options for people in their area depending on their needs. Methods of testing will be different depending on factors like population and geography.

“Scotland is well-prepared to deal with coronavirus. We need the public to help contain spread by keeping themselves informed of the latest health and travel advice, and taking basic hygiene precautions such as hand-washing, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and binning the tissue straight away.”

NHS England news release on drive through testing

The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland are well-prepared to deal with a potential coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and are working with the UK Government, Wales and Northern Ireland to publish a coordinated response.

In the coming days the four nations will jointly publish an updated action plan on the response of the health care system and the public to coronavirus. The document will outline the steps that will be taken to manage coronavirus if there is a sustained epidemic.

The Scottish Government is also participating in the UK wide launch of an updated public information campaign this week. It will feature posters and social media adverts to reinforce the importance of hand-washing, for 20 seconds or more with water and soap, to prevent the spread of the virus.

In addition, the Scottish Government has:

• stood up its Resilience Room (SGoRR) with both Ministers and officials meeting regularly to ensure the country is prepared
• participated and engaged in UK Government COBR activity
• developed emergency regulations to ensure coronavirus is a notifiable disease
• implemented a training programme and trained Scottish Ambulance Service staff to support the transport of patients that may be infectious
• established two laboratories in Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) to manage an increase in testing
• delivered face masks to GP practices as a precautionary measure
• developed and issued guidance to clinicians as well as sector specific information to schools, universities, ports and airports to ensure members of the public are alerted to the latest clinical information
• established a dedicated helpline within NHS 24 to provide members of the public with the opportunity to receive information and discuss concerns
• developed an online resource via NHS Inform that can be accessed 24/7

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “In Scotland we have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues and while all tests have so far come back negative, it is highly likely that we will see a positive case soon as coronavirus continues to spread around the world.

“As part of our efforts we are working with the UK Government, Wales and Northern Ireland to publish a coordinated response in the coming days.

“Staff across the Scottish Government, its agencies and key partners are stepping up work to deal with the potential consequences of a coronavirus outbreak. This includes prioritising key activity to keep Scotland running should the situation change, but also to ensure that all sectors can play their part in managing the response.

“Led by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, our clinicians and Health Protection Scotland are working closely with their counterparts across the UK to guarantee a consistent and joined up approach.

“We will continue to ensure we are as prepared as possible for the likelihood of coronavirus cases in Scotland and will continue to work with health boards, local authorities and other governments across the UK in ensuring that plans and preparations are in place to respond.”

The UK has 23 confirmed cases – none so far in Scotland – but there are warnings more will inevitably follow.

It’s YOUR money!

Funds awarded to maximise benefit take-up

Organisations which will help to maximise the take-up of benefits and household incomes in Scotland have been awarded £600,000.

Twenty-six organisations from across the country received allocations to support hard to reach groups, single parents and people with particular barriers such as mental or physical disabilities to apply for Scottish social security benefits.

Two Edinburgh-based organisations – Big Hearts Community Trust (£11,860) and FAIR (Family Advice Information Resource) (£24,214) – are among the recipients.

The funding is part of the Scottish Government’s Benefit Take-Up Strategy, launched in October 2019.

Announcing the successful applicants at North East Sensory Services, a charity in Aberdeen awarded £42,665 to help people with hearing and sight impairments, Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We believe social security is a human right and an investment in the people of Scotland. That is why everyone who is eligible to apply for benefits should have the support they need.

“Along with local delivery staff, we want third sector organisations to add their expertise and reach out to help those who need it most.

“This funding of £600,000 will be vital to support those who face barriers to access the financial support they are entitled to and increase their incomes. This includes the people with sight or hearing impairments who are supported by North East Sensory Services.

“This funding shows we are determined to do things differently in Scotland and create a new social security system that puts dignity, fairness and respect at its heart.”

Graham Findlay, Chief Executive of North East Sensory Services, said: “The support we provide reaches more than 6,500 blind and deaf people across the North East of Scotland.

“We are delighted that the Scottish Government has recognised the particular difficulties our service users have in finding out about and applying for crucial benefits that help them to live their lives as independently as possible.

“This funding is vital to upskill our staff team with specialist knowledge so we can provide essential support to those who need help navigating the benefits system.”

While no North Edinburgh organisations received income maximisation funding in the latest round, receiving the benefits to which they are entitled can make a huge difference for people who face a daily struggle to get by.

Granton Information Centre’s income maximisation work has seen an incredible £3.3 MILLION put into the pockets of local people over the last financial year – money that they were entitled to but had not been claiming.

“Despite local and national awareness campaigns we still see people every week who are not receiving their full benefit entitlements”, said GIC manager Caroline Pickering.

“There are a number of reasons for this – the benefits system is complicated and there have been a number of significant changes over recent years. It can be confusing and the complicated form-filling – or, worse still, lengthy telephone calls to government agencies – can put people off.

“We encourage clients to persevere, however, as we support them through the process. For some people, getting the money they are entitled to really can make a life-changing difference.”

A Culture Strategy for Scotland

Culture’s ability to transform lives and empower people is the focus of A Culture Strategy for Scotland, published yesterday.

The document, which was developed through public engagement and consultation, outlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to strengthening the sector in order to value, protect and nurture culture.

As part of the strategy, which is supported by almost £1.25 million funding, the Scottish Government will:

• Establish a new National Partnership for Culture, an advisory group led by the former Edinburgh International Festival Managing Director Joanna Baker to support delivery of the strategy’s aims and advise Scottish Ministers on matters affecting culture

• Build an Arts Alive programme to bring up to 250 cultural sessions to schools and communities, including five artists’ residencies

• Support a pilot project with Museum Galleries Scotland to recruit volunteers from diverse backgrounds and help them achieve an SQA accredited qualification

• Develop the Arts, Culture, Health & Wellbeing Scotland Network to advocate for cultural approaches to prevent poor health and promote cultural intervention to tackle health inequality and support rehabilitation

• Encourage community-led and participatory arts activity through the Creative Communities programme, which has been match-funded this year by proceeds of crime to support projects for young people at risk of re-offending

• Help schools engage more with the arts through the Supporting Expressive Arts in the Curriculum programme

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop (above) said: “Culture is central to who we are. It is Scotland’s strength. This is why it must be valued first and foremost in and of itself – that is to say culture is worth more than any financial value that can be placed on it.

“A key pillar of the strategy is the recognition that we need to do more to nurture artistic talent and support artists and to add value, recognise and champion artistic excellence. We want to harness the power of culture to transform lives, to improve health and wellbeing, to contribute to the growing economy, and to bring creative approaches to design better communities.

“I am grateful to everyone who has helped to shape this strategy as part of our national cultural conversation – which will continue to grow and evolve. It places culture at the heart of Government, and sets a shared vision which I hope will inspire all those with an interest in its future in Scotland.”

Ms Baker said: “A Culture Strategy for Scotland is a powerful assertion of the importance of culture and creativity to the lives of everyone, and of the positive contribution that a rich diversity of cultures and artists makes to Scotland’s place in the world.

“I welcome the opportunity to work alongside colleagues from across the country and from many different sectors to help to shape the future of support for culture in Scotland.”

culture-strategy-scotland

More city school leavers in positive destinations

A record proportion of school leavers were in a ‘positive destination’ such as study, work or training about three months after leaving school last year.

Figures show that 95% of young people were in a positive destination, with the gap between those from the most and least deprived communities achieving a positive destination the lowest since 2009-10.

The statistics also show that:

  • more than 85% of school leavers achieve at least one pass at SCQF 5 or better. In 2006-07 the proportion was 71.1%
  • the proportion of school leavers with one or more pass at SCQF 6 or better is 60.5%. In 2006-07 the proportion was 41.6%
  • the proportion of school leavers achieving vocational awards has increased to 17%, giving them skills they need for entering the workplace. The achievement of these awards has increased for school leavers every year since 2013-14

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “For the ninth consecutive year, more young Scots are in study, training or work three months after leaving school than ever before. Moreover, the gap between the richest and poorest communities for those moving into a positive destination continues to narrow.

“This demonstrates that Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is delivering one of the ultimate aims of school education – to secure a positive next step in learning, life and work for our young people.

“Compared with the previous year, there has been a slight fall in attainment for school leavers who achieved one or more national qualifications. In any high performing system there will be fluctuation, however over time the percentage of school leavers achieving one or more pass at National 5 and Higher level has improved substantially.

“We have commissioned the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to carry out an independent review of the curriculum. The review will look carefully at achievement in the senior phase so that we can improve further.”

Alma Harris, a member of the International Council of Education Advisers (ICEA), said at the ICEA biannual meeting last week: “The Scottish system is doing everything that we would expect a high performing system to do. It has all the right components, it’s investing in the right places.

“What we are seeing is incremental growth. And, as a council, we’re very confident that that incremental growth bodes well for the future.

“The focus on equity and excellence is, without question, the right focus. The way in which the system has been empowered, to develop itself into a high performing system, is also to be commended.”

The official statistics can be found here.

City SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald has welcomed new figures showing more Edinburgh school leavers are in study, work or training than a decade ago.

Across Scotland, a record proportion of young people were in a positive destination three months after leaving school last year. The gap between those from the most and least deprived communities achieving a positive destination the lowest since 2009-10.

In Edinburgh, the number of unemployed school leavers seeking work fell from 15% in 2009/10 to 3% in 2018/19.

Over the same time period the number of school leavers going directly to higher education rose from 37% to 43%.

SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald said: “It is very welcome that significantly more young people in Edinburgh are going on to positive destinations such as work and study straight from school.

“For the ninth consecutive year, more young Scots are in study, training or work three months after leaving school than ever before.

“It’s particularly welcome that the gap between the richest and poorest communities, for those moving into a positive destination, continues to narrow.

“This demonstrates that Curriculum for Excellence is delivering one of the ultimate aims of school education – to secure a positive next step in learning, life and work for our young people.”

For some, however, it’s a case of ‘Could Do Better’ – particularly for children with additional support needs.

Commenting on the Scottish Government’s statistics for attainment and initial leaver destinations for secondary pupils (2018/19), a spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition – an alliance of independent and third sector service providers – said: “We are deeply concerned about falling attainment levels for those with additional support needs such as autism, dyslexia and mental health problems.

“While 91 per cent of those with ASN had one pass or more at SCQF Level 4 or better in 2017/18, this had reduced to 90.7 per cent in 2018/19. For those with one or more pass at SCQF Level 5 or better this had fallen from 70.4 per cent to 69.8 per cent. And for those with one or more pass at SCQF Level 6 this had fallen from 39.5 per cent to 39.3 per cent.

“The attainment gap between those with ASN and those with no ASN has increased from 7.3 per cent for 2017/18 to 7.6 per cent in 2018/19 for those with one or more pass at SCQF Level 4 or better and from 21.8 per cent to 22.4 per cent for those with one or more pass at SCQF Level 5 or better. It has dropped from 31.9 per cent to 31.2 per cent for those with 1 or more pass at SCQF Level 6 or better.

“It is deeply disappointing to see this fall in attainment level for those with ASN and that the attainment gap is opening between those with ASN and no ASN in some categories.

“Along with the National Deaf Children’s Society, the National Autistic Society Scotland, and Royal Blind we recently made a call for increased resourcing in the Scottish Government Budget to support those with ASN.

“While the numbers of those with ASN has risen by more than 82 per cent since 2012, amounting to just under a third of the pupil population, it is alarming that spend per pupil with ASN has fallen by more than 26 per cent over this same period.

“It is vital that those with ASN get the care and support they need in order to give them the best possible start in life and close the educational attainment gap.

“Too many pupils with additional support needs are missing out on the specialist support they require because of budget cuts at a time of increasing need.

“This is clearly challenging in an environment of austerity, however, the cost to society in the long term if adequate resourcing is not provided will far outweigh any potential savings made today.”

Coronavirus: Scottish case ‘likely’

Preparations for a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Scotland have been accelerated, as the virus continues to spread beyond China.

Several European countries have announced their first coronavirus cases. The cases in Austria, Croatia and Switzerland all  appear to be linked to the growing outbreak in Italy, where there are now more than 300 cases with eleven deaths.

The first positive virus test has also been recorded in South America, where a Brazilian resident just returned from Italy.

The Scottish rugby team played a Six Nations international match in Italy on Saturday but the corresponding Women’s game was postponed.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon chaired a Scottish Government Resilience meeting (SGoRR) to discuss preparedness in Scotland yesterday. 

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, who also attended the meeting, said: “Though the risk to individuals remain low, and all test results have come back negative so far, the Chief Medical Officer has advised that it is highly likely that we will see a positive case in Scotland as coronavirus continues to spread.

“We are expecting an outbreak and are working hard to ensure we have plans in place to contain it as best we can. The NHS and Health Protection Scotland have an established plan to respond to anyone who becomes unwell.

“Scotland is well-prepared for a significant outbreak of coronavirus but there is currently no treatment or vaccine. Therefore, preventing the spread of any outbreak will be vital, and the Scottish Government is working closely with NHS Scotland and Health Protection Scotland to ensure this.

“We have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues and have public health and infectious disease experts working intensively on these issues.

“The public also has a vital role to play in helping us contain any outbreak by following the latest health and travel advice, and following basic hygiene precautions, such as washing hands and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.”

Preparations in Scotland to date include:

  • the establishment of two testing laboratories in Glasgow and Edinburgh to speed up identification of confirmed cases
  • Supplying GP surgeries with face masks and ensuring hospitals are fully stocked with personal protective equipment
  • Updating of public health legislation to make coronavirus a notifiable disease

The latest numbers of test results are published at 2pm each day on the Scottish Government website.

Updates on public health advice for coronavirus can be found on the NHS Inform website, and a free helpline has also been set up for those who do not have symptoms but are looking for general health advice: 0800 028 2816.

For the general public who are planning to travel abroad, guidance can be found on fitfortravel. Where a COVID-19 risk is identified then country pages will be updated.

Anyone who has arrived in the UK from the areas listed below since 19 February is advised to stay indoors and avoid contact with other people, even if they do not have symptoms. Those who have returned from these areas and display or develop symptoms should  phone their GP or NHS24 on 111 out of hours:

  • Iran
  • specific lockdown areas in Northern Italy as designated by the Government of Italy
  • special care zones in South Korea as designated by the Government of the Republic of Korea
  • the Hubei province in China

For South Korea, anyone who visited the two cities at the centre of the outbreak, Daegu and Cheongdo, is advised to self-isolate for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms.

For Iran, all returning travellers are requested to self-isolate, even if they do not have symptoms.

For northern Italy, all travellers returning from specific lockdown areas identified by the Italian Government are advised to self-isolate, even if they do not have symptoms.

Any other travellers returning from parts of Italy north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini in the past week are asked to monitor their health, and self-isolate if they develop symptoms.

Anyone who has travelled to the UK from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam is also now advised to monitor their health, and self-isolate if they develop symptoms.

Public health advice to reduce the risk of acquiring and spreading respiratory infections by practising good respiratory hygiene, includes:

  • avoiding direct hand contact with your eyes, nose and mouth
  • maintaining good hand hygiene – washing hands with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitiser, after coughing or sneezing, after going to the toilet, and prior to eating and drinking
  • wherever possible avoid direct contact with people that have a respiratory illness and avoid using their personal items such as their mobile phone
  • when coughing or sneezing cover your nose and mouth with disposable tissues and dispose of them in the nearest waste bin after use