NHS cancer screening programmes have been suspended as the health services focuses work on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, with the virus now estimated to have infected more than 100,000 people in Scotland.
The development was revealed at a press briefing where it was also announced the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) in Glasgow would be converted into a field hospital.
Nicola Sturgeon announced the moves as the number of Covid-19 deaths in the country rose to 47, an increase of six on Sunday’s figure.
There are now 108 people in intensive care who either have the virus or are suspected of having it, an increase of 13 in 24 hours. The number of positive coronavirus cases has risen to 1563 – up 179 from Sunday’s total.
But Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said the actual number of Scots with the disease is now estimated at more than 100,000.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: SEC to turn into field hospital within two weeks
The First Minister said while the temporary hospital might not be needed as the NHS works to increase its capacity, she said it makes sense to act now.
It could be up and running within two weeks, providing 300 extra beds initially, with this potentially increasing to 1000.
Speaking at a briefing at the Scottish Government’s headquarters in Edinburgh, the First Minister spoke about efforts to “prepare the NHS for the incredibly difficult weeks that lie ahead”.
She also revealed 10,000 people had responded to the Scotland Cares volunteering campaign, which was launched earlier yesterday, within the first four hours.
This includes about 5000 former medical and care workers, plus medical students who have put themselves forward to work for either the health or care services.
READ MORE: Lockdown could be reintroduced if cases spike once lifted
On the temporary suspension of breast, cervical and bowel cancer screening, which also applies to abdominal aortic aneurysm screening and diabetic retinopathy screening, the First Minister said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly, however, it is important to maximise the ability of the NHS to cope over the coming weeks.”
She added: “We will restart the screening programmes we have paused as soon as we can, this is a temporary suspension and it will be reviewed after 12 weeks or earlier, if evidence suggests restarting the programme is feasible.
“However, at this moment pausing these programmes is an important way of allowing the NHS to deal with impact of Covid-19.”
Anyone who develops symptoms that would usually be screened for – such as breast lumps – should contact their GP, the First Minster said.
Dr Calderwood said screening of pregnant women and newborn babies will continue as normal. By halting the other screening programmes, she said NHS staff in laboratories could instead work on testing for Covid-19, helping to provide “that vital increase in the capacity for testing for coronavirus that we need”.
READ MORE: Scotland must make its own decisions on key issues like testing
On the decision to start work on turning the SEC into a temporary NHS hospital, Sturgeon said: “If needed, we expect the hospital could become operational within a fortnight from now.
“Initially it will provide us with 300 additional beds but ultimately it could have capacity for more than 1000.”
While she said “we might not need to use the exhibition centre” – saying NHS boards are working to ensure 3000 hospital beds are available for Covid-19 patients – the First Minister added: “It makes sense for us to act now to increase hospital capacity further.
“Preparing the Scottish Exhibition Centre as a hospital is the best option for doing that.”
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “The SEC has been assessed as the best option given its accessibility, its close proximity to hospitals in the west of Scotland, the security and its established infrastructure and transport links.”
READ MORE: 10,000 Scots sign up to coronavirus campaign in just four hours
Both the First Minister and Freeman stressed the new hospital will be staffed and operated by the NHS, though Freeman added the military would be involved in planning the new facility.
The Health Secretary announced Jill Young, a former chief executive of the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank, has been appointed to take charge of it.
At the same briefing, Dr Calderwood was asked about a report by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) which said one in four NHS doctors are off work sick or in quarantine. She said the figure reflected the Scottish Government’s estimates between 17% and 20% of medics would be off work at any one time as a result of the virus. Professor Andrew Goddard has warned illness and self-isolation is already seriously affecting emergency departments, particularly in London.
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