FOI – 000164 Provision Of Covid Support To Unpaid Carers (HTML)

Date received – 12 July 2022 | Date responded – 10 August 2022

Request

I am looking for information regarding the provision of Covid support to unpaid carers.

As such, can I request the following:

1. how much has NHS National Services Scotland spent on the purchase of (a) PPE items and (b) lateral flow tests that were provided to unpaid carers in each month since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to present, also broken down by financial year.

Response

I refer to your freedom of information request that we received on 12 July 2022.

I can advise you that we have now completed the search of our records and can provide you with the following information:

1) how much has NHS National Services Scotland spent on the purchase of (a) PPE items

FOI – 000164 Appendix 1 Data For PPE Costs & FOI – 000164 Appendix 2 PPE Collection Per Month provides details in relation to NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) spend for PPE items.

(b) lateral flow tests that were provided to unpaid carers in each month since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to present, also broken down by financial year.

NSS does not hold all the detail requested. Appendices 3 & FOI – 000164 Appendix 4 LFT Collection Per Month (attached) details what we do hold. The total quantity of lateral flow tests (LFTs) provided to unpaid carers issued via the Health and Social Care Hubs (HSCP Hubs) in each month, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to present. It does not include the cost.

Under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act an organisation does not require to provide information if it does not hold that information. As well as access to LFTs from HSCP Hubs, unpaid carers could also access LFTs through the UK Covid portal.

In terms of LFTs purchased by NSS for unpaid carers, we do not hold this information as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) procured these for the UK centrally and NSS have not been provided with the costs of tests purchased. This information may be available by contacting UKHSA General Enquiries at enquiries@ukhsa.gov.uk.

I trust you will find the information of assistance and if you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of how we have dealt with your request you can make representations to us asking us to review the handling of your request.

If you require any further information please contact Associate Director Information Security & Governance, within 40 working days of the date of this correspondence.

Contact

Address

If after a review you are still unhappy, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner, who can be contacted at Kinburn Castle, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, or via their application form.

National Services Scotland (NSS) is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. You can view all FOI responses within our FOI Publications repository.