Scotland’s National Clinical Director Jason Leitch has suggested there will be no return to a blanket policy of asking the most vulnerable to shield.

Instead Professor Leitch signalled a more tailored approach to shielding with decisions left to individuals - backed by a 'fit note' from the Chief Medical Officer that people in level four areas can use if they don't feel safe going to work.

“You still hear us talk about the shielded group but really what we mean is the people at higher risk,” said Professor Leitch.

“That’s a thing you can assess yourself, there’s a risk assessment stuff online, you can do your own risk assessment and your employers can do risk assessments. 

“The fundamental rule will be if you are in a high-risk group be even more careful than the rest of the population.”

Professor Leitch was speaking at a virtual carers’ parliament event hosted by Carers Scotland.

During a question and answer session that touched on the extreme hardship some carers were facing before covid and that many more had experienced since, he said he had “a lot of sympathy” for more financial help for carers, but the decision was above his pay grade.

However, he stressed that the country’s 800,000 carers were not being forgotten in government discussions about the covid-19 response.

Derek Feeley, who is leading a review of adult social care on behalf of the Scottish government, described carers as an “indispensable” part of the health and care landscape.

“[They] need to be viewed and valued in the system as partners, as having expertise, a foundation and a cornerstone,” he said on the first day of the event on Monday.

Next week attendees will be able to hear from the Scottish government’s public health minister Joe FitzPatrick who is giving the keynote address at the main event on Wednesday 25th November.

Mr Fitzpatrick will also be joined by Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey, local authorities health and care lead Councillor Stuart Currie and Dundee Carers Centre head Lucinda Godfrey for a panel question and answer session.

A message from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, a presentation from young carers and further details about a new carers campaign are next on the agenda.

Speaking yesterday, Jason Leitch said: “We’re not going to tell anybody to shield. Shielding is still a category so we’re going to talk about people who were formerly shielding but we’re much more likely to talk about those at risk.

“It’s not no-risk and risk. It’s a continuum of risk. Of course, those in the shielded group are in that risk group in the main.

“But we know a lot more about this disease than we did in March, that the risk groups are different.

“We know for example that you might put transplant people somewhere different, you might put diabetes in there where you hadn’t before, you might put obesity in there.”

On Monday’s gathering, social care review lead Derek Feeley, pledged his report, set to be published early next year would be “different” to previous work in this area.

“There are some things that are really good about adult social care in Scotland,” he said, highlighting the example of self-directed support.

But he added: “There’s a gap that remains in intent… and people’s lived experience on the ground.”

Answering questions from unpaid carers across Scotland, Mr Feeley admitted that routine charging for support did not sit comfortably with a human rights-based approach to social care.

And while the review will be able to recommend investment in social care, it does not extend to the benefits system, he said.

Asked whether he would be calling for more generous carers benefits, Mr Feeley said: “We do recognise that those two things are related” but “we’ve no remit to review the benefits system in Scotland”.

Eligible Scots who support a friend or relative can be entitled to just under £70 a week from the UK government, though the Scottish government has topped up these payments through the Carers Allowance Supplement.

However the vast majority of the more than one million carers in Scotland miss out on the payments and supplement because of strict rules set by UK benefits agency, the DWP.

Meanwhile people at high risk who are living in areas that are moving into level 4 on Friday, are to get a letter from the Chief Medical Officer advising them how to keep themselves safe without having to stay indoors all the time.

At today’s daily briefing, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that people who cannot work from home should discuss with their employer what additional safeguards that need to put in place.

But ultimately, she said, the government will back those people who are worried about their safety:

“If your workplace cannot be made sufficiently safe, the Chief Medical Officer’s letter can be used as a Fit Note, as evidence that you are not able to go into work for as long as your area remains in level 4.

“So, look out for that letter in the next few days and check the Scottish government website if you can. We hope that providing you with the information you need, we can help you take the decisions that best protect your health and your welfare.”

 

Supporters – If you can help support our reporting for Scotland's health and social care community, please head to our donations page.

Bulletin – Sign up for all the latest news and events.