There were 25,506 attendances in week ending 20 March 2022
Four-hour performance was 66.2%, the lowest on record
8,610 patients were delayed by four hours or more, this is the highest on record and means one third of all patients were waiting for four hours or more in an Emergency Department
2,615 patients were delayed by eight hours or more, this is the highest on record and means more than one in 10 patients were waiting for eight hours or more in an Emergency Department
1,015 patients were delayed by 12 hours or more, this is the highest on record and means one in 25 patients were waiting for 12 hours or more in an Emergency Department
Dr John Thomson, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Scotland, said:“Each week the Urgent and Emergency Care crisis worsens.
“Scotland’s Emergency Care system is failing patients who are coming to harm, and failing staff who are overworked, exhausted, and burned out but are left to cover the widespread shortcomings of the health system. Shortages of beds, shortages of staff, the social care crisis; existing staff do all they can to keep patients safe in these exceptionally challenging circumstances.
“It is an untenable and unsustainable situation. This week saw the highest number of long waits on record yet again. Data show that there is one excess death for every 82 patients delayed for more than six hours.
“This week 2,615 patients were delayed by eight hours or more, from this we can estimate that over 30 patients in this week alone could have come to associated harm or death as a result of their delay to admission.
“The significance of this appalling harm must not go unnoticed and must be met immediately with effective and meaningful action. The Scottish Government must understand the severity and extent of harm befalling our patients, and see that existing staff facing moral injury, going above and beyond, running on goodwill and adrenaline is not reasonable or acceptable.
“This can no longer be the sole answer to the biggest patient safety crisis in Emergency Care for a generation. This must not continue.”
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Keep Mum’s Heart Healthy this Mother’s Day
This Sunday, 27th of March, treat your mum to a luxurious, heart healthy day. It’s important for all mums to remember to take care of their own health and wellbeing, as well as that of their families. Here’s a few ways to make the day healthy and special:
Breakfast in Bed
Your mum will love being served breakfast, so pop by the shops early or make arrangements the day before. Why not serve up a tray of muesli with juicy berries, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon on wholemeal toast and freshly squeezed fruit juice. Dish up yoghurt with a medley of exotic fruits such as mango, kiwi, lychees and star fruit to make the tray more colourful.
Activities Galore
An active day out is a great way to spend Mother’s Day. This could be anything from a few rounds of tennis/badminton, a walk in the countryside or a cycle in the park. Spending time together as a family is always a treat. Take a healthy picnic and make sure you do the washing up when you get home.
Stress-free Day
Why not pamper her with a home spa? Light a fragranced candle and treat her to a manicure, pedicure, a relaxing facial or a back/neck massage. Running errands, doing the cooking and the washing up is a good way for mum to have a well-earned and stress free day.
Reverse the roles this Mother’s Day by looking after your mum and treating her to a luscious, heart healthy day!
The joy of owning dogs has remained for Lorraine, 61 from Livingston, thanks to a disability beating off-road TGA Breeze mobility scooter nicknamed ‘Daisy’.
Living near Edinburgh, Lorraine is a former support worker for those with additional needs, who owns two characterful Goldendoodles Katie and Sophie. Walking her dogs is a massive part of her life so when she started to have mobility difficulties following cancer treatment side effects, Lorraine worried how Katie and Sophie would get the exercise they needed.
The answer appeared to be a mobility scooter however Lorraine needed one that could cope with going off road in the countryside, especially in the winter. The Murieston Trail right next to her home was a favourite walk that was now not possible especially as severe fatigue was a problem. She was having to conserve energy and couldn’t risk not being able to get home. The search for a scooter with high ground clearance and good suspension led to the TGA Breeze.
Lorraine spent months shielding at home. She lost her freedom which was hard to cope with as she explains: “In 2020 my back garden becomes my world. Not anymore, I have my freedom back and I don’t feel disabled. Why should I? Cancer was a setback, but I’d say not being able to go out is a bigger set back.
“A scooter gives you your life back. With Daisy I can go anywhere, she often comes back covered in mud when we’ve been out. The Scottish term is bogging. It is so important to be able to escape from whatever is in your head. Going out and seeing things around you takes your mind off worrying.
“Being outside, hearing the birds singing, breathing fresh air, it all takes you to a positive place. My scooter makes me feel alive again.
“Before I had to choose whether I went for short walks with my husband around the shops or to take the dogs out. I didn’t have the energy to do both. Now I can save energy on my scooter and still do other things.
“I have more energy reserves. I can go out in the car knowing the dogs have had a good walk. Katie and Sophie got used to walking next to me on my Breeze really quickly, they weren’t bothered at all as it is quiet.
“What does it feel like to drive a Breeze? Well, it’s stress-free independence, accessibility and not getting tired. I can get home without worrying I won’t make it. I couldn’t do this without my scooter. If you also look at it from a safety point of view, I can get back home quickly if needed.”
The TGA Breeze is an 8mph scooter that has been involved with world record attempts and appeared on BBC Top Gear.
It is popular with ramblers who need power and stability to tackle mud, puddles and uneven ground.
This performance gives Lorraine confidence around the shops or in the countryside and tends to surprise most people as she adds: “I see people’s reaction when I’m coming along a woodland trail and they think they’ll need to get out of the way but no, no, no, I can drive around them on the grass no bother.
“Time and again they have been so surprised thinking that I’m going to get stuck, no chance with my Breeze. I love seeing their faces when I do a sharp turn into the undergrowth. They have no idea what this baby can do!
“I think the design of the Breeze is spot on, it ticks so many boxes that other scooters do not. I would add Harry from TGA who supplied the scooter was so good, no hard sell at all. He just left me to make my own decisions, there was never any chasing on the phone.
“So many companies harangue you these days and won’t leave you alone. This always makes me think they know their product is not good. It’s clear TGA have confidence in their products. When buying a scooter, it can be an emotional time for people. Often, they are vulnerable and the last thing they want is a salesman on their back with a high-pressure pitch. I had no phone calls chasing me, TGA have been brilliant.”
The future for Lorraine is looking bright as she is keen to ‘extend her horizons’. She is hoping to get a trailer for her Breeze so she can tow it to their caravan on the coast at Dunbar.
Lorraine is also pro-actively getting barriers and gates adjusted by her local council so fellow scooter owners can access the many picturesque walks around Livingston. This reflects many other initiatives across the UK including Miles with Stiles and Access the Dales – both supported by TGA.
Lorraine concludes: “Getting fresh air is so important. You can do it on a car boot scooter and that’s ok, but with dogs and wanting to go off road you need something more substantial.
“People should never look at having a scooter as a negative, there is no loss of dignity, not at all. Exactly the opposite. It’s all about finding new capabilities and opportunities.”
New data released today shows over half a million people are living with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis in the UK, including 1 in 67 people in their 70s.
Largest study of its kind worldwide shows rates are far higher than previously thought.
Research shows the UK is second only to the US in prevalence of the conditions and the impacts are huge.
Experts believe it is yet to reach its peak and voiced concerns of NHS capacity to manage treatment.
New research released by Crohn’s & Colitis UK today shows that the number of people in the UK living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – the two main forms of which are Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis – has been vastly underestimated for years and the rates are growing.
Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are both serious, life-long conditions that involve inflammation of the gut. They can cause debilitating pain and can have a huge impact on people’s mental wellbeing due to the impact of their symptoms.
Patients can also be at higher risk of bowel cancer and up to 80% of people with Crohn’s Disease and 15% of those with Ulcerative Colitis will need to have surgery at some point in their lives. There is no known cure for either condition.
The research, which was carried out by scientists at the University of Nottingham and funded by Crohn’s & Colitis UK and Coeliac UK, shows that the prevalence of Crohn’s and Colitis in the UK population is far higher than previously thought.
The study shows there are over half a million people (1 in every 123) in the country living with inflammatory bowel disease, nearly double that of the 300,000 previously estimated, raising concerns about the capacity of the health service to provide the required care for thousands of people.
The research is the largest of its kind worldwide and measured the incidence (the diagnosis of new cases) and prevalence (the number of cases in the population in 2020) of Crohn’s and Colitis over the last 20 years. It gives the best picture so far of the scale of the problem across the country.
The study involved researchers analysing the health care records of 38.3 million people registered with GPs as part of a UK-wide study. It found that 0.81% of the population or one in every 123 people are living with Crohn’s or Colitis, increasing to 1 in every 67 for people in their 70s. Globally, this research puts the UK as second only to the US in terms of percentage of the population living with the condition and the problem is set to grow.
Symptoms of Crohn’s and Colitis include urgent and frequent diarrhoea (often with blood), abdominal pain, fatigue, and associated anxiety and depression.
The causes of the conditions are unknown and some patients wait years to receive a diagnosis, meaning their symptoms could worsen and they potentially miss out on important treatment and care.
People receiving treatment for Crohn’s or Colitis need specialist care and support from nurse specialists, dietitians and psychologists to help them manage the impact of their condition. Currently, and in part due to the underestimated prevalence, the health service is not equipped to manage this care adequately in any of the four nations.
Sarah Sleet, CEO at Crohn’s & Colitis UK and Chair of IBD UK said: “This study shows that there are nearly twice as many people living with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis in the UK than previously thought, yet outdated figures mean the scale of the issue has been overlooked for too long.
“Lifetime costs for the NHS for treating these conditions are comparable to heart disease and cancer. They can have a profound impact on a person’s life and patients need expert care from doctors, specialist nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and psychologists.
“It’s crucial that the NHS recognises the scale of the growing numbers with Crohn’s and Colitis and does more to prevent lives being blighted for decades by these debilitating illnesses.”
Evelyn, 66 from Dorsetsaid: “I had symptoms for over 3 years before I received my diagnosis. I was suffering pain, weight loss, sickness, and had been admitted to hospital several times.
“Yet doctors told me that it was psychosomatic and I wasn’t believed. I’ve now been living with Crohn’s for over 40 years, having tried years of different medications and had two bowel resections.
“It’s something you learn to live with, but even on good days I have near constant fatigue, frequent pain, and always have to think about where the nearest toilet is. The impact it has on your life is huge”.
Dr Laila Tata, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham and lead researcher said: “IBD is unlikely to have reached its peak in the UK. This research estimates that the number of people living with the condition has grown to approximately half a million.
“It is a lifelong condition so it’s highly likely that the prevalence will continue to increase as the population ages. The associated complications, burden on individuals, capabilities of the healthcare system and other societal impacts of this all require serious consideration.
“We need continued research to understand why we’re seeing inequalities in diagnosis.”
The research found that the prevalence of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis was lower in London compared to the rest of the UK and highest in Scotland. This could be due to a younger, urban population in London.
The prevalence was also lower in more socioeconomically deprived areas and higher in people who declared their ethnicity as white compared with all other ethnicity groups.
Researchers say this may have been due to lifestyle factors, although barriers to diagnosis likely account for most differences between groups, such as differences in awareness of the condition, suggesting a need for increased understanding of these barriers and public awareness of the conditions.
Dr Christian Selinger, Chair of the IBD Committee at the British Society of Gastroenterology,said:“We have seen our workload in IBD increase over the years. The service is under strain as we have more patients and not enough staff.
“In terms of going forwards, we need to make a clear plea for investment in IBD services and the NHS, in order to deliver a high quality of care to patients and provide a better service.”
NHS Lothian’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People is ready to celebrate a very special birthday today – Wednesday 23 March – marking one year since the world-class facilities fully opened.
The services moved to the new site from the old ‘Sick Kids’ gradually, with outpatients arriving in July 2020, CAMHS in January 2021 and finally the remaining services including inpatients and A&E in March that same year.
The building and facilities provide a world-class centre for child healthcare, enabling NHS Lothian to continue to build on the excellent reputation for trusted, quality care delivered by dedicated and expert teams.
To commemorate the birthday, activities have been arranged with both patients and staff in mind, and with generous support from a range of partners including Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and Ronald McDonald House.
This includes the distribution of birthday-themed craft boxes with decorations for all wards; a birthday-themed projection on to the building; a drop-in photo booth; a birthday party with stalls, activities and live performances; complementary therapy & pampering sessions for families staying at Ronald McDonald House and treats for all staff which will distributed across each ward.
Allister Short, Service Director, Women’s and Children’s Services, NHS Lothian said, “The Royal Hospital for Children and Young people offers one of the most modern and best-designed children’s healthcare facilities in the world.
“I hope over the last twelve months, both patients and their families have been able to see what this means and the positive impact it has both for patient care and wellbeing.”
For the Simpson family from Torphichen near Bathgate, the facilities on offer not only help to provide a degree or normality but make a huge difference to the happiness of daughter Robyn.
Mum Michelle explained that the family have been in and out of hospital with Robyn ever since she was born, with the longest stay being four months.
She said, “It is really hard to have a child that is unwell. It places a real strain on you both physically, mentally and emotionally. Coming to the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People makes things just that bit easier – it’s bright, spacious and airy – feeling more like a hotel than a hospital.
“There are so many spaces especially for children and so many activities that they can get involved in – from art and craft to music. Seeing Robyn happy, even though she is in hospital, is incredible. It enables her to be a child rather than just a patient.”
Allister said, “The facilities on offer across the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People are truly incredible, however the services wouldn’t be anything without our talented and dedicated staff.
“Day-in-day-out they deliver so much to ensure the children and young people attending the hospital receive the very best care and support.”
Michelle added, “I can’t thank the staff enough. They offer so much support and reassurance as well as incredible care. It really does help to make it feel like a home from home whenever we’re here.”
For more information on The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and the facilities that are available visit –children.nhslothian.scot.
To keep up to date with the latest news from across Lothian’s Children’s Services, follow them on social media – LothianChildHealth on Facebook and @LothianChildren on Twitter.
Meanwhile, demolition of the old Sick Kids continues …
As part of their commitment to keeping people active and well, Edinburgh’s leading sport and physical activity charity, Edinburgh Leisure, is launching a new month-long physical activity challenge that aims to inspire people to get active every day this May.
The Movement for Good challenge is aimed at everyone, not just their members. It’s well-evidenced that moving and being physically active benefits our overall health and wellbeing, but putting it into practice can be hard, with family life, work commitments and household chores often taking precedence over exercise.
Helen Macfarlane, in the newly created role as Edinburgh Leisure’s Director of Wellbeing explains: “Whether people are new to physical activity or need a helping hand to get back into the swing of things, then our new Movement for Good challenge is for them.
“It’s designed to give participants a period of focus when they start to make small consistent changes by being active every day. This is the start of forming healthy habits so that regular activity becomes part of their daily routine, and they build the motivation to stay active because they feel good.
“Being active doesn’t have to mean running a marathon or joining a bootcamp. Even small changes can make a huge difference. Participants are encouraged to find an activity or activities they love, enabling them to create healthy habits and providing them with the motivation they need to stay active. So, for example, someone might wish to step it out, boogie on the dancefloor, or dip their toes into the pool or pump some iron throughout May.
“Participants can also use their challenge to do some good by raising sponsorship money to support local people who need a bit more help through Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programme, so they too can experience the benefits of an active life.”
This includes enabling care experienced children to enjoy the active childhood they deserve, to helping people with cancer and other long term health conditions to manage their symptoms and have a better quality of life, to ensuring older adults can stay active and connected for longer.
CHARITY MENINGITIS NOW are urging university students across the UK to take a few minutes to learn the signs and symptoms of the disease – as cases rise to pre-Covid pandemic levels.
Every university in the UK could experience at least one case of meningitis amongst its students this term, the charity is warning.
If students fall ill, the temptation might be for them to think they have Covid-19 or a hangover, but it could be something else, including meningitis.
Meningitis is a medical emergency, so it’s vital to recognise the signs and symptoms, act fast and seek medical assistance.
Charity chief executive Dr Tom Nutt said: “We know there are cases happening across the country – we heard of another one at a UK university just last week – and every case is one case too many.
“So today, we’re asking university students to keep meningitis in mind, learn the signs and symptoms and to look out for themselves and their friends.
“The early signs and symptoms of meningitis can be similar to flu and include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle pain.
“More specific signs and symptoms include fever with cold hands and feet, drowsiness, confusion, pale blotchy skin, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights and a rash which doesn’t fade under pressure.
“The rash can be a late sign though and may not appear, so our advice is not to wait for a rash.”
If meningitis is suspected seek urgent medical help by contacting your GP or calling 111.
During the pandemic, lockdowns used to curb the spread of Covid-19 also led to a decline in other infectious diseases. Meningitis rates were at a historic low until September last year.
Since then, however, there has been an increase in MenB cases among adolescents and young adults in England, ‘particularly in university students’.
Of the Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) cases confirmed among the 15 to 19 and 20 to 24-year-old age groups in September to November 2021, 84.6% (22/26) were students registered at a further or higher education institution.
Dr Nutt added: “We always feared there might be a rebound against the historically low figures for meningococcal infection we have been seeing during the pandemic, whilst hoping there would not be.
“We are already working hard to spread awareness messages within universities.
“Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against meningitis. But, with teenagers and young people being far more likely to carry the bacteria that can cause meningococcal disease and as most students will not have been vaccinated against MenB, it is vital they remain extra vigilant, know what to look for and seek urgent medical advice if they or one of their friends becomes ill.”
Meningitis Now has free information for parents and young people and lifesaving Signs and Symptoms cards. Find out more at www.MeningitisNow.org
Anyone affected or with any questions and concerns can contact the Meningitis Now Helpline on 0808 80 10 388 or email helpline@meningitisnow.org.
The latest weekly update of Emergency Department activity and waiting time statistics show:
There were 24,920 attendances, the highest since week ending 10 October 2021 70.5% of attendances were seen and resulted in subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within four hours
7,347 patients were delayed by four hours or more, this is the third highest on record 1,825 patients were delayed by eight hours or more
643 patients were delayed by 12 hours or more, this is the second highest on record
Dr John Thomson, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Scotland, said: “The data show the stark picture of the health system in Scotland right now and the serious crisis Urgent and Emergency Care is facing.
“There are extremely high numbers of patients being delayed for long periods of time, and we know that these long waits are associated with a high risk of harm or even death.
“This is a critical time. The pandemic is not over. Covid is ever present in the community, with increasing numbers of covid patients in hospital and a high level of covid related staff absences. The workforce is burnt out and overwhelmed, every shift is extremely demanding with staff covering for absent colleagues and managing high numbers of patients, doing their best to keep them safe and minimise harm. The moral injury to our colleagues working in our Emergency Departments cannot be underestimated.
“We welcome The Health and social care: national workforce strategy published last week by the Scottish Government. It is a positive strategy for the next five years. We especially welcome the commitment to grow the NHS workforce by 1,800 WTE staff and increase the number of medical school places by 500.
“However, we are disappointed both not to have been consulted on this strategy and by the limited mentions of Urgent and Emergency Care. We look forward to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care consulting with The Royal College on the meaningful details for Emergency Medicine including staffing and capacity needs.”
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of children’s services, has called for greatly increased investment in mental health services as the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the young become clearer.
The call comes as new figures published by Public Health Scotland today (15th March 2022), indicate that at the end of December 2021, 10,021 children and young people had been referred for treatment from specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).
This includes issues such as anxiety and depression and represents a staggering 27.1 per cent increase from the previous quarter (July to September 2021) when the figure was 7,882.
With already under-resourced and overstretched services facing overwhelming pressure due to increased demand, the SCSC has raised concerns over a potential “lost generation” of vulnerable children and young people whose mental health is being impacted by Covid-19.
Even prior to the pandemic cases of poor mental health were at unprecedented levels and in crisis, and there are a growing number of vulnerable children who cannot access adequate support. The pandemic has exacerbated this, leading to unprecedented demand and backlogs, with services struggling to keep up.
In total, 4, 544 children and young people started treatment at CAMHS over the period October to December 2021. This is an increase of 19.8 per cent from the previous quarter (3,792) and only 70.3 per cent were seen within the Scottish Government’s waiting time target for the NHS of 18 weeks from referral to treatment (met by at least 90 per cent of patients).
This is a fall from the previous quarter when the figure was 78.6 per cent. Eight out of 14 health boards failed to meet this target.
A total of 1,570 children and young people had been waiting over a year for treatment at the end of December 2021.
A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “For some time now, we have raised concerns over a potential lost generation of vulnerable children and young people, whose mental health is being impacted even further by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Too many of our young people are waiting too long for the treatment they need and it is more important than ever that children can access the support required, irrespective of where they live.
“While we welcome the attention that the Scottish Government has given to date on this vital issue, a lack of resources and lack of staff mean it’s becoming an impossible situation to manage. There must be a radical transformation of our mental health services, investing in specialist services and with a focus on preventing such problems arising in the first place and intervening early.
“This is a crisis we can overcome, but as the country comes to terms with the biggest hit to its mental health in generations, it will require a similar energy and commitment to that demonstrated for Covid-19 if we are to achieve this and prevent many young people giving up on their futures.”
Waiting times (with adjustments) for people who started their treatment from October to December 2021, by NHS Board of treatment:
Two of Scotland’s most historic and prestigious surgical institutions are collaborating to support the work of leading global healthcare charity Kids Operating Room (KidsOR).
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow have come together to raise funds to support a first-ever paediatric surgeon in South Sudan.
The Colleges, which boast a combined membership of more than 45,000 from all around the world, have joined forces to raise funding for KidsOR’s scholarship programme in South Sudan, which aims to support the scholarship and training of the country’s first paediatric surgeon and for a period of at least five years.
Each College will be looking to raise £6,500 given that £13,000 supports a trainee surgeon through one year of training.
Michael Stitt, Director of Partnerships at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, said: “The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Global Surgery Foundation exists in order to help to build sustainable surgical capacity in communities suffering from a chronic shortage of care.
“We are funding our share of the donation through the Global Surgery Foundation and KidsOR is a fantastic example of the very reason we have the initiative in place. It provides vital services to children who might not have otherwise had access to the healthcare they need.
“We are delighted to help fund the first paediatric surgeon in South Sudan and are looking forward to seeing the positive impact it has on children in the area.”
Mrs Alison Lannigan, Chair at HOPE Foundation, said: “The fellows and members of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and those of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh have contributed successfully for many years to the training and education of surgeons both in the UK and overseas.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity through Kids OR to take this further and collaborate in the funding of the Paediatric Surgical Scholarship Programme in South Sudan. At RCPSG, our members recognise the need to improve surgical care on a global scale and are delighted to award funding from the Hope Foundation to this worthy endeavour.”
Prof George Youngson, CBE trustee of Kids OR said: “Developing surgical services for children in a difficult part of the world, needs careful planning, commitment and resources particularly at a time when health services in our own country are being greatly stretched.
“However, in a characteristically Scottish visionary way, the two surgical colleges in Scotland have come together and looked beyond our own immediate challenges and taken an initiative that will provide treatment for a huge number of children in need of care elsewhere in the world. This support will not just be life changing for some, it will change many lives.”
Whilst the pandemic has a global perspective, so does the lack of access to surgical treatment for children particularly in those parts of the world like South Sedan where external aid is hard to penetrate. This makes the investment in assisting and developing local solutions provided by local surgeons and carers all the more precious.
David Cunningham, CEO of KidsOR, said: “We would like to thank the Royal Colleges for supporting our work in South Sudan. Despite being a country of 11 million – over half of whom are children – South Sudan lacks a single paediatric surgeon.
“The country also lacks the infrastructure with no paediatric Operating Room. This is reflected in the fact the country has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world (58.6 per 1,000 live births) and an alarmingly high under-fives mortality rate (89.8/1,000).”
Mr Cunningham added: “By coming together to fund the paediatric surgeon program, both of Scotland’s ancient Surgical Colleges will symbolise the power of partnership and the global reach of both Colleges, and would be celebrated across the diverse memberships of both institutions.”
Since 2018, the KidsOR Scholarship Program has worked with a number of partners to both fund the scholarships programme and to develop the infrastructure and networks needed to train paediatric surgeons across Africa. The first of the 120 KidOR surgical scholars are just now beginning to graduate.
One such graduate surgeon is Dr Alicia Messenga, who is based at Bugando Medical Centre, in Mwanza, Tanzania – a hospital that provides services to a population of almost 17 million (one third of the total population of the country).
Dr Messenga said: “Successful completion of my studies has benefitted our community as paediatric patients get the specialist care they need. As Bugando Medical Centre is also a university teaching hospital, surgical students get exposure to paediatric surgery now that we have a paediatric surgery unit in the hospital thanks to KidsOR and Smile Train.”
Later this year, KidsOR will begin training South Sudan’s first paediatric surgeons. The two scholars are Dr Betty Arkangalo Yuggu Phillimona (above) and Dr Bidali James Sebit Nzira. The Royal Colleges’ funding will be supporting the training of Dr Betty Arkangalo Yuggu Phillimona.
KidsOR is a charity tackling the global crisis in children’s surgery. You can donate to their lifesaving work by visiting www.kidsor.org.
