Crisis may go on to end of year warns health minister

Lockdown set to be extended ... as ICU beds rise to over 700

THE coronavirus crisis could still be being battled by the end of this year, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman warned yesterday.

She admitted that Scots could face controls on their freedoms for many months as the nation tackles the spread of deadly Covid-19.

Emergency legislation backed by MSPs to help curb the reach of coronavirus has a two-year limit attached.

The lockdown that came into effect on Monday is in force for an initial period of only three weeks – but this ban on movement is likely to be extended.

Miss Freeman told Holyrood’s health committee: ‘The point I would like to make about the two-year length – it is a long time but it is important to remember that this emergency legislation is there.

‘No one here – and I don’t think anyone in Westminster in the UK Government, either – wishes to have this emergency legislation and these powers. They are there because of the situation we face.

‘As members will be aware with the most recent announcements, this is a brand new virus. We are learning about it as we go and trying to anticipate how it will progress.

‘So we cannot be certain that it will be over and done with this summer or this year. We don’t know that yet.

‘So we need to ensure that we have the emergency powers for as long as the maximum length we anticipate it might be necessary.

‘Equally, we can end these powers sooner than two years if we are successful in all the other measures that are being taken to suppress the peak level of cases, in order to allow our health service to cope.’

In a later update to MSPs at Holyrood, Miss Freeman said that the NHS will quadruple the number of intensive care beds in order to cope with coronavirus.

More than 700 intensive care unit (ICU) beds will be made available across the country to deal with the expected influx of patients who have Covid-19.

Miss Freeman also said that ‘humanitarian’ help for the most vulnerable Scots who are isolating at home will include deliveries of food and medication.

She announced that parking charges at three PFI hospitals will be lifted for 12 weeks, although many health boards are now imposing a ban on all but the most essential visitors.

Meanwhile, testing of NHS staff is being prioritised, and they must self-quarantine only if they test positive for the virus.

Miss Freeman said that plans already announced to double the number of ICU beds had been increased, with the target upped to more than 700. Under normal circumstances, Scotland has around 190 ICU beds.

The Health Secretary added: ‘Given the scale of the challenge we are planning to quadruple our ICU capacity to over 700.

‘A pipeline of ventilators is slated to come to Scotland over the coming weeks to enable this increase and we are working with suppliers to do all we can so that they can be brought here as soon as is humanly possible.’

Miss Freeman stressed it was ‘critical’ to protect those at the highest risk from infection – those who have been asked to self-isolate for the next 12 weeks.

They will receive a ‘package of support’ co-ordinated by newly established humanitarian assistance centres, which will offer deliveries of medication and food, along with help managing medical conditions.

A national contract will be put in place to facilitate food deliveries but it is currently unclear what this will entail.

Parking charges at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital will be suspended for three months from this Monday.

A number of health boards have also banned visitors, except the most essential cases.

Boards imposing this rule include NHS Lothian, NHS Borders, NHS Fife and NHS Western Isles.

Exceptions to this ban are neonatal wards, maternity services, children’s wards, and hospices or end-of-life care.

Miss Freeman also said that the Scottish Government is working to secure the personal protection equipment required for frontline healthcare staff and that there is a delivery plan in place.

Health boards will prioritise testing of frontline staff with coronavirus symptoms to make sure those who do not have the illness do not have to self-isolate.

Miss Freeman said: ‘We need to ensure our health and care workforce is safe and protected. It is essential that frontline health and care staff can remain at work.

‘To help save lives we must continue to prioritise testing in hospitals. All the capacity that remains must be used, to ensure critical staff can return to work as soon as possible.

‘I am publishing guidance for the NHS to support the use of the testing capacity in our laboratories that is not needed in providing essential care, so it can enable health and social care staff to be back at work when it is safe for them to do so.’

The Health Secretary added: ‘NHS boards will prioritise testing based on where the pressure is being most felt in their workforce and in social care.’

Meanwhile, MSPs will now sit at the Scottish parliament on only one day each week, as officials tighten up access in response to the nationwide lockdown.

Holyrood bosses yesterday confirmed First Minister’s Questions has been cancelled this week, with MSPs to return next Wednesday.

‘Learning about virus as we go’ ‘Ensure health workforce is safe’