Lessons identified from the initial health and social care response to COVID-19 in Scotland

The report examines the response during March to September 2020 highlighting examples of good practice and themes for further improvement.

The purpose of this report is to provide insight from the COVID-19 response including lessons identified from health and social care organisations within Scotland, supplemented by global case studies where appropriate.

You can read the full report on the Scottish Government website (this link will take you away from our website)

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Humza Yousaf MSP responded:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been the biggest public health crisis in living memory and this report sets out the tremendous work of our health and social care system in meeting this challenge.

The findings provide valuable insight from the first six months of the pandemic, but the situation has moved on significantly over the past 11 months since that time. Our NHS has developed new ways of working while continuing to provide vital treatment and safe patient care.

The Scottish Government responded promptly to the impact of the pandemic and the huge demand it placed on health and social care staffing, creating a recruitment portal which meant those with relevant skills and experience came forward as quickly as possible to support frontline services.

We also worked with the NHS, Scottish suppliers, and on a four-nation basis to ensure that Scotland has adequate stocks of PPE and never ran out of supplies, even during the very difficult first phase when global PPE markets became very challenging.  Over 770 million items of PPE have been delivered to hospitals and primary care and over 350 million items to social care organisations since March 2020.

Scotland’s response to COVID-19 has been supported by clinical advisory groups across areas like shielding, care homes and clinical guidance among others. We recognise the importance of ensuring  guidance is coordinated and consistent and continue to work closely with health and social care stakeholders on this.

We also acted to provide further support and significantly strengthen oversight of Scotland’s care homes during the pandemic, including governance issues. We acted to support the safety and wellbeing of staff and residents through a number of avenues including regular testing, the vaccine programme and additional resources for pandemic related roles and expenditure.

The Scottish Government has accepted the recommendations of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care, including the creation of a National Care Service, as we establish a care system which is rights-based and people powered.

While this report provides some valuable insights into the COVID-19 crisis, especially its initial phase, we are committed to a full public inquiry which will examine all aspects of the pandemic and are in contact with the UK Government over how that can be taken forward on a four nations basis.”

End of page.