Day: January 2, 2022

Omicron: Greater Glasgow to operate essential-only visiting

Due to the increasing challenges faced as a result of the new Omicron variant, and in order to protect the safety of our patients and staff, the difficult decision has been taken to operate essential-only visiting from Wednesday 5 January 2022 in our adult hospital wards.

This change will include maternity services meaning only one essential visitor will be permitted in all parts of the maternity pathway.

Jennifer Rodgers, Deputy Nurse Director at NHSGGC, said: “This has been one of the hardest decisions to take but it is essential to help protect our patients, visitors and staff. We recognise how difficult this is for patients and the people that matter most to them and we will keep this under close review so that restrictions are not in place any longer than is necessary.

“This decision has been reached in conjunction with senior infection control, public health, clinical and operational teams, and in the best interests of patient wellbeing.

Jennifer added: “Essential visiting arrangements will be applied flexibly and compassionately, and each patient’s needs considered on their own merits. Carers, those providing essential care or emotional support, or spiritual care are not considered to be visitors and will continue to be permitted to attend a patient in hospital. 

“Essential visits will be supported wherever possible and include the following illustrative examples:  

  • A birth partner supporting a woman during hospital visits and throughout the maternity pathway
  • A person receiving end-of-life care – we expect this to be defined as flexibly and compassionately as possible, to support patients at the end of life spending meaningful time with their loved ones in their final days, weeks or months 
  • To support someone with a mental health issue, or dementia, or a learning disability or autism, where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed 
  • To accompany a child in hospital 
  • In general situations when someone is receiving information about life-changing illness or treatments. 
  • In these and other similar situations where support from another person is essential for advocacy and wellbeing, family support should be facilitated. 

Evelyn Frame, Chief Midwife said: “We understand that support from birthing partners has a positive impact on a woman’s experience so making this decision has been very difficult but, as this variant seems to be more transmissible, our priority has to be keeping our women and staff as safe as possible.

“For our inpatient areas we encourage a person-centred, flexible visiting approach and within ante-natal and post-natal visiting continues but only the birthing partner will be allowed.  No other visitors will be allowed including siblings. During labour and birth only one birthing partner will also be allowed to stay throughout the whole labour experience.

“In our outpatient areas – anyone coming for a scan, early pregnancy or day care, or perhaps an outpatient appointment with one of our physiotherapist, dietician, midwife or obstetrician there is no change and you can bring your birthing partner for the duration of your appointment.

“Anyone with questions about visiting arrangements should speak to their midwife.”

Angela O’Neil Deputy Nurse Director said: “we recognise how difficult it is for families being apart, especially when their loved one is unwell.

“Where possible ward staff will continue to support patients to maintain contact with those closest to them however due to the extreme pressures staff are under if may not be possible to give an exact time or day when a video call or telephone call can be guaranteed.

“We are sorry for any distress this may cause and of course, staff will always try to facilitate these calls where possible, however we ask for your understanding while we try to manage under very challenging circumstances. Further information on arranging a virtual visit can be found on the NHSGGC Webpages

“The successful ‘Give and Go Service’ available earlier in the pandemic will be remobilised for family to drop-off essential personal items for patients and to pick up laundry etc. 

“The service will be available from Wednesday 5 January 2022, and thereafter Monday – Friday as follows:

  1. Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (main atrium) – items should also be dropped off here for patients in the INS – available between 12pm – 4pm
  2. Glasgow Royal Infirmary (medical block entrance) – available between 12pm – 5pm
  3. Royal Alexandra Hospital (main hospital foyer) – available between 12pm – 5pm
  4. Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre (main entrance), available between 8.30am – 3.30pm, and
  5. Local arrangements will be in operation in all other sites.  

 “Please speak to ward staff who will advise of local arrangements for dropping off and collecting belongings.  

“Further information can be found on the Give and Go Webpage.

“It should be noted Current visiting arrangements will remain in place until Tuesday 4 January 2022. These are as follows:

  • Patients in shared accommodation such as nightingale type wards and 4 and 6 bedded bays will be able to have essential visits only 
  • Patients in single room accommodation will be able to benefit from the support of one visitor. This visitor can change each day.   
  • Two visitors per day is recommended for patients in paediatrics, neonates and maternity wards.  
  • Mental Health, Addictions and Learning Disabilities staff will make a visiting plan with each patient based on their individual needs and circumstance, and the local risks that present in each ward. 
  • In line with infection prevention and control practice, wards with current active infection cases are required to temporarily restrict visiting to essential visits only 
  • As always, there may be some individual patients who are particularly vulnerable to the risks of infection. For these patients, visiting will remain at essential visits only. 

“We would like to thank our patients and their loved ones in advance for their patience and support during this incredibly difficult and challenging time.”

Additional information can be found on the NHSGGC Visiting Webpages and on our social media channels.

Morrisons reduces non-alcoholic tipples for Dry January

Ahead of Dry January, Morrisons has a selection of offers available on non-alcoholic drinks so that customers can continue enjoying a tipple, without the alcohol. 

Products on offer range from sparkling wines for weekend nights in, to non-alcoholic beers and spirits.

Highlight offers include: 

Chelsea v Liverpool to be first football match to trial safe standing in England

Football fans will be able to stand in some of the biggest stadia in England and Wales from today, as the UK Government launches its landmark trial of safe standing for the remainder of the domestic football season.

Supporters attending Chelsea against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge this afternoon will see new facilities in use within the Matthew Harding Stand lower tier and Shed End upper and lower tiers.

It follows Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston recently visiting the stadium to inspect the arrangements put in place, and meet with fans and club representatives.

Five clubs – Cardiff City FC, Chelsea FC, Manchester City FC, Manchester United FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC – will be the first in the top two tiers of football to have licensed ‘safe standing’ in designated seated areas for home and away fans, as the Government works towards fulfilling its manifesto commitment.

The grounds have been selected following an application process, open to all grounds covered by the all-seater policy, led by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA).

The clubs involved in the pilot will have to adhere to strict conditions including enhanced use of CCTV, improved steward training, and fans utilising licensed safe standing areas being strictly limited to ‘one person, one space.’

Each supporter will occupy the same area that they would take up if they were sitting, with a traceable, numbered ticket. Barriers will be in place behind and in front of every individual. Seats must not be locked in the up or down position, so fans can choose to sit if they wish to, and the standing areas must not affect the views of other fans.

Standing areas are already commonplace in Germany’s Bundesliga and there are similar examples across the rest of Europe, the United States and Australia.

https://youtu.be/i4qWNl18L7U

Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport, said: “Fans have long campaigned for the introduction of safe standing, so I’m pleased that Stamford Bridge will launch this pilot programme that will allow us to carry out an in-depth trial at some of our biggest stadia over the remainder of the season, and inform a decision on a widespread roll-out.

“Safety will be absolutely paramount at all times. Detailed work is being carried out to monitor these early adopters, and the SGSA will work hand-in-glove with football clubs, supporters groups, local authorities and the police.”

The introduction of licensed standing areas follows research conducted during the 2019/20 season, prior to the onset of the pandemic, which found that seats with barriers/independent barriers helped reduce the safety risks related to standing in seated areas.

Over the remaining part of the season, research will be carried out at the grounds by CFE Research, to evaluate the implementation of licensed standing areas at early adopter grounds.

This research will be provided to the Government to inform its decisions about the potential wider roll-out of licensed standing from the start of the 2022/23 season for Premier League and Championship clubs that wish to introduce it and have met the strict conditions.

Ken Scott, Head of Inspectorate of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA), said: “The focus of the SGSA is the safety of all fans at sports grounds. We know there is a safety risk arising from fans who persistently stand in seated areas, demonstrated in independent research.

“The advent of new engineering solutions and the findings from our research has shown this can be managed safely. The early adopters programme will enable us to properly test and evaluate licensed standing areas and advise the Government in its next steps.”

Kevin Miles, Chief Executive of the Football Supporters Association, said: “This is a huge step forward. This is something we’ve been campaigning for 30 years on. It’s great to see people now being offered the choice on whether to sit or stand at a football match.

“I will feel more secure having that safety rail in front of me there. I think that will make a difference to the confidence of fans in the stands about their own safety.”

Scottish Ambulance Service staff member Pat awarded Queen’s Ambulance Medal

A Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) staff member who has been instrumental in dealing with some of Scotland’s biggest incidents has today been awarded the Queen’s Ambulance Medal (QAM).

The prestigious honour – which acknowledges ambulance personnel who have shown exceptional devotion to duty, merit and conduct – has been awarded to Patrick (Pat) O’Meara, General Manager of Events.

Pat, 57, joined SAS in 1998, after 17 years at the London Ambulance Service.

Throughout the past four decades, he has been involved in some of the UK’s most significant incidents, including the Clutha Bar crash where he was incident commander, the George Square bin lorry tragedy, and the Stockline Plastics Factory explosion.

Most recently, he has led the Service’s planning and response to COP26 and in the early stages of the pandemic, led on the development and implementation of the Service’s Mobile Testing Units.

Pat, who lives in East Kilbride, said: “I am very humbled and grateful and it’s a great honour to receive the award. In saying that, you never work on your own and any success is always down to being a member of a team.”

Pat started with the Scottish Ambulance Service as an Operations Room Officer, where he was responsible for control room emergency operations across Glasgow.  Over the years at SAS, he has worked as a General Manager for Ambulance Control Centres, Community Resilience, and South East Scotland, which included the responsibility for the visit of Pope Benedict. Pat is also the Chief Medical Support Officer of the Army Cadet Force and is a Trustee of the Poppyscotland charity.

The dad-of-one joined the London Ambulance Service in 1981. Growing up wanting to be a policeman, he said: “I learnt first aid as an Army Cadet and had to use those skills with a serious leg wound on a fellow pupil who was pushed from a second floor window and later on another pupil having a fit. I then felt that the ambulance service was a career I should look at.

“The ambulance service was very different to today. The skills were not as advanced as they are now, we did not have defibrillators and there was no such role as a paramedic, only advanced trained ambulance men.”

Speaking on some of his memorable jobs throughout his career – in addition to Clutha and the Glasgow Bin Lorry incident – he said: “A young man aged 15 had been stabbed with a machete and despite my efforts and those of others, he sadly died. I remember him pleading with me not to let him die.

“I have also attended a bombing, an aircraft crash at Heathrow Airport, I’ve been held hostage and attended an incident where I was chased with a knife!”

SAS Chief Operating Officer Paul Bassett said: “Pat has been an amazing ambassador for the Scottish Ambulance Service over the past 23 years and this award is testament to Pat’s dedication and professionalism.

“He has been heavily involved in several major incidents, leading as incident commander, and most recently, he successfully led the Service provision to COP26. We are truly grateful for everything he has done for the Service.”

Police Scotland officers recognised in New Year Honours List

Four Police Scotland officers have been recognised for their outstanding public service in the New Year Honours List 2022.

Judi Heaton, who recently retired as an Assistant Chief Constable, Chief Superintendent Louise Blakelock, Head of Road Policing and Chief Inspector Marlene Baillie, area commander for Oban, Lorn and the Isles, Mid Argyll and Kintyre and the Islands, will each receive the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) – the highest honour awarded for policing service.

Graeme Anderson, from Monifieth in Angus – who was the Lead Events Planning Officer for Police Scotland’s Tayside Division – is to be presented with an MBE for services to event planning and law and order in Dundee.

Commenting on the officers being recognised, Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Iain Livingstone QPM said: “Policing is a demanding and rewarding vocation and I am grateful for the professionalism and public service demonstrated by officers, staff and special constables every day, in every area of Scotland.

“I give my warmest congratulations and thanks to those who have been recognised by Her Majesty the Queen today.”

Judi Heaton said: “This is a wonderful surprise and ending to my policing career. I’ve been privileged to work with some amazing people and I feel very honoured and humbled.”

Chief Superintendent Blakelock said: “I am extremely humbled and honoured to have received this recognition for doing a job that I love.”

Chief Inspector Baillie added: “I am honoured and extremely grateful to the person who nominated me, my teams who deserve special recognition for the amazing work that they do and my family for their continued support.”

Graeme Anderson said: “It’s a huge honour for me to receive an MBE and I’d like to thank all those people I’ve worked with over the years who helped to make events in Tayside safe and successful.

“Special thanks goes to my wife Lynn, who without doubt deserves the award far more than I do.”

Photograph clockwise from top left – Judi Heaton, Graeme Anderson, Marlene Baillie and Louise Blakelock.

COVID vaccine for 12-15 year olds

Bringing forward second dose for young people

Families are being urged to get young people aged 12-15 their second dose of the COVID vaccine as early as possible in the New Year.

Drop-in sessions will be available for this age group from January 3 2022, while those who have already been given a date for their second jag can call a helpline to bring their appointment forward and get protection from the virus earlier.

Following JCVI advice, this age group can get their second vaccination from 12 weeks after their first dose. NHS Inform and local health board websites will provide further details of where drop-in sessions are available in each area.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Additional vaccinator capacity across Scotland means we are now in a position to offer second doses to the 12-15 age group earlier than previously planned.

“Eligible young people can get their second doses from next week, and before they return to school in many cases. I would urge them to take up the offer as early as they can, to receive greater protection from the virus.

“The festive season saw a major effort to get adults boosted by the bells. But we need to keep up momentum and make sure everyone is protected from the virus, particularly with the emergence of the new Omicron variant.”

Those who have already received a scheduled appointment can bring it forward by calling 0800 030 8013. 

If you’re eligible, you can drop in for your booster at clinics all over Lothian. Learn whether you’re eligible, and find the closest clinic to you, at: 

https://www.nhslothian.scot/…/Pages/Drop-in-Clinics.aspx