Weekend services at NHS Lothian

The priority over the weekend at NHS Lothian’s acute hospitals must continue to be on urgent cases and on maintaining safe, quality ​patient care. 

Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Lothian, said: “The extreme weather has pressed our services and our heroic staff to the limit and I am so proud of the way they have responded and risen to every challenge.

“Our staff have been working in some of the most difficult circumstances to ensure they can deliver safe, quality care and they have gone above and beyond at every turn – in some cases even just to get to work with people staying overnight in hospitals or walking for hours in knee-deep snow. We deployed our own 4×4 vehicles to help get staff to where they needed to be and we would also like to thank Lothian Fire and Rescue Service, the Coast Guard, the Blood Bikes charity and the Army based at Redford Barracks who supplied us with extra vehicles and drivers.

“We are closely monitoring the situation, but due to the continuing severe weather conditions and lingering transport difficulties, all routine, non-urgent elective procedures and all hospital outpatient appointments will be postponed.

“Emergency and urgent elective procedures will still go ahead.  We will be prioritising  essential and urgent surgical cases .

I would like to apologise to patients affected by these weather cancellations and reassure them that they will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

“Our outpatient appointments service will return to schedule on Monday so patients should attend their appointments as normal. If they can’t make it  they should phone the number on their appointments letter. However routine elective surgical procedures will be cancelled on Monday 5 March as we will be prioritising  cancer and urgent procedures. Patients  will be notified individually if their appointment is NOT  going ahead.

“I would also remind patients that the emergency department is for acute illnesses and there are a number of other options for cases that are not life-threatening, such as the Minor Injures Unit, out-of-hours GP, or a local pharmacist who can also provide expert care and advice. Patients in need will always be seen, but it is important that clinical services always be prioritised to those who most urgently require it.”

Mr Crombie added: “The extreme weather has pressed our services and our heroic staff to the limit and I am so proud of the way they have responded and risen to every challenge.

“Our staff have been working in some of the most difficult circumstances to ensure they can deliver safe, quality care and they have gone above and beyond at every turn – in some cases even just to get to work with people staying overnight in hospitals or walking for hours in knee-deep snow. We deployed our own 4×4 vehicles to help get staff to where they needed to be and we would also like to thank Lothian Fire and Rescue Service, the Coast Guard, the Blood Bikes charity and the Army based at Redford Barracks who supplied us with extra vehicles and drivers.
“We are closely monitoring the situation, but due to the continuing severe weather conditions and lingering transport difficulties, all routine, non-urgent elective procedures and all hospital outpatient appointments will be postponed.
“Emergency and urgent elective procedures will still go ahead.  We will be prioritising essential and urgent surgical cases.
I would like to apologise to patients affected by these weather cancellations and reassure them that they will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
“Our outpatient appointments service will return to schedule on Monday so patients should attend their appointments as normal. If they can’t make it they should phone the number on their appointments letter.  However routine elective surgical procedures will be cancelled on Monday 5 March as we will be prioritising cancer and urgent procedures. Patients will be notified individually if their appointment is NOT going ahead. 
“I would also remind patients that the emergency department is for acute illnesses and there are a number of other options for cases that are not life-threatening, such as the Minor Injures Unit, out-of-hours GP, or a local pharmacist who can also provide expert care and advice. Patients in need will always be seen, but it is important that clinical services always be prioritised to those who most urgently require it.”
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davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer