NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – Page 2 – The NEN

Pilot initiative helping look after Glasgow’s drug injecting population supports more than 800 people

A novel harm reduction initiative to help healthcare staff monitor and treat people who inject drugs has helped support more than 800 vulnerable people since launching.

The WAND programme, which incentivises the city’s most hard-to-reach communities to regularly engage with the health service, has helped facilitate more than 5,000 harm reduction interventions across three participating sites, with more than 1,200 WAND assessments taking place since the programme launched in September 2020.

Operating from three centres in Glasgow, the programme focusses on providing a holistic approach to addressing drug harms such as overdoses, blood borne viruses, and injecting related complications. It comprises:

W: Wound Care
A: Assessment of Injecting Risk
N: Naloxone Provision
D: Dry Blood Spot Testing

People who inject drugs can be hard to keep engaged with the health service, which is crucial in helping reduce the harms of drugs by providing advice and treatments and access to other services to help them.

WAND works by providing a £20 redeemable voucher to patients and encourages patients to return for follow up assessments every three – four months. The vouchers can then be exchanged for cash or other essentials. It’s one of a number of harm reduction programmes running across NHSGGC to help tackle the drugs crisis.

Through the interventions, staff can provide immediate care to the patients, helping avoid trips to A&E or further harm being caused further down the line. It also ensures that if a patient has a Blood Borne Virus such as HIV for example, this can be picked up at an early stage through dry blood spot testing and appropriate information and treatment can be provided to the patient.

John Campbell, Injection Equipment Provision Manager for NHSGGC, said: “WAND is by far the most successful harm reduction initiative running in Glasgow today. Individuals we look after come from the hardest to reach communities and WAND provides us with an insight and touch point with them that we would never previously have had.

“This means that through early intervention we can stop problems getting worse, which would cost more to address had they gone undiagnosed or untreated, and we can also encourage those patients to consider moving into recovery or to engage with other means of support to help them.”

As part of the 30 minute assessment, patients are also encouraged to carry naloxone with them at all times. Naloxone is a lifesaving injectable which is used to reverse overdoses. In the past year alone more than 3000 naloxone kits have been distributed, and more than 18,000 have been issued in total. Every week there are instances of naloxone being used to reverse overdoses in patients.

John Campbell added: “Naloxone is literally a life-saving device for many people. If we can ensure that our patients are trained and carry the kit at all times, it means that we’ll hopefully see far fewer deaths as a result of overdose in the future.”

The WAND initiative was recently referenced in the Scottish Drugs Deaths Taskforce report, which made the recommendation that the programme be rolled out on a larger scale due to its success in supporting and monitoring patients in the city.

No laughing matter – Heather learns to smile again

One moment, Heather McFarlane was watching a Peter Kay routine on TV in bed with her husband. The next, it looked like she was sound asleep. But Heather wasn’t asleep. Her laughs had triggered her cataplexy, a symptom of narcolepsy, which meant that despite appearances, she was wide awake.

Heather, 47, from Jordanhill in Glasgow, explained: “I was laughing and within a split second it looked like I was asleep, but I was lying there and I couldn’t move any muscles. It was horrible. I was still awake and conscious, but I was essentially trapped in my body.”

Heather first noticed things were not right in 2010, while she was on maternity leave with her third child. She was struggling to stay awake. She then noticed that emotions, such as laughter or smiling could trigger an attack. Her face muscles would droop and her legs would give way.

In her job, teaching children with additional needs, she would retreat to the staff toilets where she would end up asleep. People would talk to her and she would struggle to stay awake. She had to give up driving the school bus.

She said: “It was horrendous. When I laughed, I had a kind of shutdown, as if I had rebooted in a split second. Like the power had gone out and come back on again. I had to stop watching funny things on TV and avoiding funny situations with the kids.

“It saw part of me disappear. I even had to learn to function as a different kind of mum to the one that I was.”

Heather sought help from her GP and in 2013, was referred to a specialist team at Glasgow Royal Infirmary for support, where she was finally diagnosed. Such is the rarity of the condition, it can often take 10 or more years for a patient to be diagnosed, during which time, some are dismissed as being lazy or unproductive.

While there’s no cure for the condition, the team worked to find out the best clinical treatment, as well as other support required to help Heather keep her job and live a more ‘normal’ life.

Margaret Docherty, a Nurse Practitioner at the sleep clinic, has been pioneering treatment approaches, with her expertise sought by colleagues right across Europe.

She said: “Narcolepsy can be completely devastating for people’s lives. It’s about finding the right treatment and support for the person, everything from psychological support, to medication and understanding their lives and needs. My driver is how we can improve things for people – that’s what matters.”

The team prescribed Sodium Oxybate, a purified form of GHB, as part of a range of treatments to help Heather stay awake during the day and asleep at night.

“It was a game-changer in lots of different ways,” added Heather. “I’ve been able to get some of my life back.”

Dr Eric Livingston, Respiratory Consultant and Clinical lead at the clinic, said: “When we get the medication right, it can transform lives, allowing people to drive their cars again, or get back to work or university – instead of people thinking they are tired or lazy.

“Some people have been told for 30 years that they are lazy, before they even get a diagnosis, but we can support and get them back to a full life again.”

Dr Livingston paid tribute to his team, not least Margaret. He added: “I deal with the narcolepsy and clinical symptoms, but the service Margaret provides is unique. She can see the big picture about how it impacts on people’s lives.

“She has done amazing work with these patients and, along with our service being a pioneer in providing new medications, it’s really making a positive difference.”

Heather has been supported by her colleagues at Hazelwood School in Glasgow and remains at work – with a beanbag on hand, in case it’s needed for her less frequent attacks. She’s also found ways to smile and laugh again.

She added: “The team have been amazing. It’s not just the condition they are interested in, it’s me as a person – and not just me, but my wider family as they know this impacts all of us.

“It’s hard to live in Glasgow and have to avoid things which are funny – now I don’t have to.”

UK’s biggest dispensing robot helps to keep medication moving

Getting the right medicine to the right patient at the right time

Working with the UK’s largest dispensing robot, a team of unsung heroes have been making sure that patients across Greater Glasgow and Clyde get the medicines they need throughout the pandemic.

The team at the Pharmacy Distribution Centre in Glasgow process around 100,000 pharmacy items each week and, with the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, that effort has expanded to include sending some 72,000 vaccines to clinics every week.

However, their herculean effort is aided by some Amazon-style technology and a huge, robot storage and distribution machine which automates around 80% of the pharmacy work.

The machine is believed to be the biggest of its kind, operating in the UK. At any one time, the Pharmacy Distribution Centre will carry some 10,000 lines of medicines. Work to distribute the vaccines remains a manual endeavour, with the team employed on that working in an adjacent site.

Claire Aliyar, Chief Pharmacy Technician at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, explained: “The team have been working really hard throughout the pandemic – especially at the very beginning, because it just happened so fast. We tried to get as much stock in as we possibly could before it all started and we did manage to get some, but it was going out as soon as it came in.”

The team provide medicines for hospital wards, other acute settings, care homes and prison medical units. This includes major sites such as the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley and the Inverclyde Royal Infirmary in Greenock.

Orders are placed online and the entire, high-tech production line works 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The team’s aim is to ensure that every patient gets the medicine they need, when they need it – with the robot dispensing medicines from amoxicillin to paracetamol (and everything in between) into blue boxes which are then tagged with the ward or location which has ordered them by a member of the team. The boxes are then packed into a fleet of vans ready to be shipped across the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Technology is an important part of the process, and a few weeks before the first lockdown the team took delivery of a smaller robot, one which is refrigerated and can look after medicines that require being stored at cold temperatures. No other UK health board or trust currently has the same technology. The tech also helps to reduce to almost zero the number of errors that can occur in dispensing.

While the machines do much of the heavy lifting, a team of technicians and operatives ensure that the entire process runs smoothly, as was evidenced with the start of the pandemic.

When COVID arrived, the demand ramped up. Claire added: “The team were fabulous, they increased their working hours and came in for extra days. They just rolled up their sleeves, all with the same purpose – to get medicines out for the patients at their time of need.”

The team were then asked to set up a vaccine distribution centre from scratch.

Claire explained: “We did a small proportion of NHSGGC’s vaccine programme before, but nothing on the scale we needed. It became huge, a massive part of our workload and we took the new warehouse space from scratch and now we’re supplying more than 70,000 doses each week – more than 2.1 million doses to date.”

Ahead of the Omicron wave, the team worked to anticipate demand. Claire said: “The more prepared we are, the less pressure there is in the wards and departments.

“It’s been a huge success. I’ve never worked with a team like this – we all look out for each other whether we’re having a good or a bad day. We’ll always be here for each other and the patients, making sure their medication gets to them when they need it.”

Gail Caldwell, Director of Pharmacy for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, added: “Medicines are the most common healthcare intervention and never has this been more important than during the pandemic.

“The pharmacy team at the Pharmacy Distribution Centre have worked tirelessly throughout to ensure NHSGGC had adequate supplies of critical medicines.”

RCEM: Health system under enormous strain as Covid impacts emergency care

The latest A&E activity and waiting times for major Emergency Departments in Scotland for November 2021 show:

73.8% of attendances were seen and resulted in subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within four hours – an increase of 3 percentage points compared to the previous month, October 201
There were 103,726 attendances, a 4% decrease when compared to the previous month, October 2021
More than one in four patients were delayed by four hours or more
5,697 patients were delayed by eight hours or more, equal to 5.5% of all attendances
1,729 patients were delayed by 12 hours or more

Responding to these figures, Dr John Thomson, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Scotland, said: “The reality on the ground is that many Boards are under enormous strain, as there has been a significant increase in staff absences due to the surge in covid. Staff are isolating with a positive test or due to a contact with someone with a positive test.

“Emergency Departments were overstretched prior to the new variant. But current winter pressures met with widespread staff absences mean staff are put under more and more strain on each shift which affects the quality of care provided and both the patient and staff experience alike.

“For many staff, there hasn’t been a Festive break, and they have had no rest or respite but continue to work tirelessly in Emergency Departments.

“The pressures are mounting on the health service once again. It is imperative that we are able to continue delivering vital care to patients.

“But the surge of covid across Scotland is affecting all parts of the system, not just Emergency Care.

“It is a deeply concerning situation to be in, and what concerns us most is the functionality of the health system and our ability to continue delivering urgent and emergency care to those who need it.”

NHSGGC issues urgent public A&E appeal as staff struggle to cope with demand

Amidst unprecedented and unsustainable demand on emergency services, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is urging the public not to attend A&E without a very urgent or life-threatening condition and to use more appropriate services instead.

A&Es across the health board remain extremely busy, with all operating well over normal capacity which is having a huge impact on service provision.

Unless very urgent or life-threatening, patients should not attend A&E without first calling NHS24 on 111. This will ensure they are directed to the most appropriate urgent service for their needs and A&Es are safeguarded those who need them.

Commenting Dr Scott Davidson, Deputy Medical Director for Acute Services for NHSGGC, said: “Our A&Es remain open and continue to assess, treat and admit emergency patients, however they are extremely busy and staff are facing huge challenges to ensure we’re able to treat patients safely and as quickly as possible.

“We continue to see large numbers of people attending with symptoms that could be managed by speaking to a GP, local pharmacy, or, by calling NHS24 on 111 before attending A&E.

“As a result of current demand at A&E, people are facing long wait times and our staff are under severe pressure.

“There are other services geared up and ready to see and treat you. If you’ve had a slip, trip or fall, we have numerous Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) across NHSGGC which can look after you, including if you’ve broken a limb.

“More information on MIUs, what they can treat and how to access one can be found on the NHSGGC website (https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/your-health/know-who-to-turn-to/minor-injury-units/archive/minor-injuries-adults/)

“GP practices across Greater Glasgow and Clyde are operating normal hours, and community pharmacies are also open to help you get the treatment you need.

“Unless very urgent or life-threatening, please do not attend our A&Es unless you are referred.”

Across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde there are three standalone Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) – at the Vale of Leven Hospital, Stobhill Hospital and the New Victoria ACH.

MIUs operate in a similar manner to A&Es and can take care of a vast range of injuries.

Patients who attend MIUs following a call to NHS24 are far more likely to be seen, treated and discharged quicker than if they present to an A&E. They will also be helping to protect vital frontline A&E services for those people whose lives are at risk.

More information on MIUs, what they can treat and how to access one can be found on the NHSGGC website: https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/your-health/know-who-to-turn-to/minor-injury-units/archive/minor-injuries-adults/

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:

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

‘We’re proud of all of our teams’

Senior NHSGGC clinicians write to First Minister and Cabinet Secretary over ‘unfounded criticism’ by politicians and in media

Senior clinicians from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf, to express their disappointment and frustration about the way in which their work and integrity have been portrayed in the Scottish Parliament and the media in recent days.

Here is the full text of that letter:

Dear First Minister and Cabinet Secretary,

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital/Royal Hospital for Children

As NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde clinicians and clinical leaders, we write to express our immense disappointment and frustration about the way in which our hospitals, our colleagues and the treatment of our patients is being portrayed in the press and the chamber of the Scottish Parliament.

Our highly specialist services care for, treat and support some of the most vulnerable adults, young people and children in the country. Our sole aim is to deliver high quality, person centred care to our patients and focus on what matters most to them; fundamental to this is the strong working relationship between our clinical teams and infection control teams to keep our patients safe.

We have been, and remain, fully committed to being completely open and transparent in all that we do and we are dismayed that the integrity of our staff has been repeatedly called into question. Do we always get everything right when we discuss issues with families? Perhaps not. Do we ever wilfully withhold information from them? Absolutely not.

We have grave concerns that the continued undermining nature of the current negative headlines will result in an erosion of trust between clinical staff and patients and their families. Indeed, we have already seen evidence of the impact this is having on individual patients and carers, with staff reporting that families are very anxious about the safety of their relative while in our care.

We are particularly disappointed that individual patients are being discussed in Parliament without the knowledge of the families concerned, causing untold distress to families already grieving the loss of their loved one.

This unfounded criticism of our clinical teams and staff as well as the safety of our hospitals, is also hugely detrimental to staff morale at a time when so much is being asked of them.

Our staff across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, including the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus, provide professional, dedicated care to their patients and as we prepare for a challenging winter, this sustained criticism of our staff is undoubtedly causing them distress and worry.

We are proud of all of our teams, many of which include leading specialists, but we fear that such negativity will have an enormous impact on our ability to recruit and retain such skilled individuals in the future as well as those of wider clinical, nursing and support staff. We will always treat our patients with integrity, dignity, respect and honesty and this should never be in doubt.

We accept that there will always be improvements we can make and learning we can implement, but at the heart of all that we do, is the commitment from every clinician working within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to provide the best quality of care for all of our patients and to be open and honest with them and their loved ones about their diagnosis and treatment.

Anything less would undermine the professional code of practice each of us sign up to at the start of our careers and adhere to throughout.

Yours sincerely

Dr Jennifer Armstrong, Medical Director
Dr Margaret McGuire, Nurse Director
Dr Scott Davidson, Deputy Medical Director (Acute)
Angela O’Neill, Deputy Nurse Director (Acute)
Dr Chris Deighan, Deputy Medical Director (Corporate)
Dr Kerri Neylon, Deputy Medical Director, Primary Care
Mr Wesley Stuart, Chief of Medicine, South Sector
Dr Claire Harrow, Chief of Medicine, Clyde Sector
Ann-Marie Selby, Interim Associate Chief Nurse Clyde Sector
Hon. Professor Colin McKay, Chief of Medicine, North Sector
John Carson, Chief Nurse, North Sector
Hon. Professor Alistair Leanord, Chief of Medicine, Diagnostics
Dr Alan Mathers, Chief of Medicine, Women and Children’s Services
Morag Gardner, Chief Nurse, South Sector
Mandy Meechan, Interim Chief Nurse, Women and Children’s (designate)
Patricia Friel, Interim Chief Nurse, Women and Children Services
Dr David Dodds, Chief of Medicine, Regional Services
Lorna Loudon, Interim Chief Nurse, Regional Services
Dr Martin Culshaw, Associate Medical Director, Mental Health
Gail Caldwell, Director of Pharmacy
Fiona Smith, AHP Director
Evelyn Frame, Chief Midwife
Margaret Connelly, Assistant Chief Nurse, Governance and Regulation
Lesley Rousselet, Chair, Area Clinical Forum

New clinics introduced to provide COVID jabs for newly arrived asylum seekers

A vaccination clinic has been set up in Glasgow to provide COVID vaccinations for newly arrived asylum seekers.

The clinic, which welcomed the first vaccination patients to its base in Govan last Friday, is part of the Asylum Health Bridging Team which provides a range of health services to some of Scotland’s most vulnerable communities.

Craig Davidson, a senior nurse within the team, helped to administer the first vaccines at the clinic. He said: “People have been really positive about getting access to the vaccine – to protect them and the wider community. We want to make sure that asylum seekers get the same access to health care and the COVID vaccine as the rest of the population.”

The clinic is targeting asylum seekers who have recently arrived in Glasgow, in the four to six week window where the team can offer assistance before patients’ asylum journey progresses. An initial health assessment can take up to 90 minutes, looking at physical illnesses and conditions and to provide mental health and trauma support.

The team also support people who may have been victims of trafficking and women who may have been subject to abuse or FGM. After the initial assessment is over, patients are invited back to the clinic for the COVID vaccination, with accommodation provider Mears, arranging transport.

Craig added: “It’s about building trust. We support them through the traumatic experience they have been through and at least 95% have been through a traumatic journey just to get to the UK.”

The clinic was the brainchild of Stewart Curtis, team leader at the service. While asylum seekers already established in accommodation were targeted as part of earlier COVID vaccination outreach programmes, or able to access their jab through community clinics, Stewart recognised that not everyone could do the same.

Stewart said: “The people we are seeing don’t know the community, they don’t know where to go. I wouldn’t even try to imagine what some of our service users have left behind and what some of them have gone through just to get here.

“We’re the first point of NHS contact for them. We are that friendly face and space, somewhere they feel comfortable and we can have the vaccination clinic here, where people know us and feel they are in a safe and supportive environment.”

Stewart said his team have welcomed the opportunity to add the vaccine to the range of support services on offer.

He added: “I know the positive impact my staff are having on each individual’s life that comes through the door – that makes me really proud.”

Craig has also seen the benefits. He said: “I began my nursing career in May 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. I used to work in a ward treating patients who had COVID and dealing with a high level of death and trauma was, for me, really hard.

“It’s great to see this side with people who are so pleased to get the vaccine in the knowledge that it will protect them and the wider community.”

Hope for Isabella

The parents of a six-week old baby girl who is one of the first in the UK to be given access to a new, potentially life-saving drug are thanking the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde team for giving their daughter a chance of a normal, healthy life.

Isabella Winfield was born on 30 April in Elgin to her parents Richard and Margaret, and within her first day of life it was clear that something was not quite as it should be.

Mum Margaret, from Archiestown said: “From her first check-up, the midwife was concerned that Isabella appeared to be floppy and told us she would need to refer her on to the paediatricians. From then they started lots of tests, focussing on her muscle function.

“As a new mum it was quite overwhelming. One minute I was a new mum, the next I had a very sick baby. But the team were great and their support was invaluable. Gene tests were started and we waited 11 days for the results.”

Tests concluded that Isabella had Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Babies born with Type 1 SMA, which is the most common form of the condition, experience progressive muscle weakness, loss of movement, difficulty breathing. Sadly, without treatment, 90% don’t survive past their first year of life.

While this was devastating news, there was hope – in the form of Zolgensma. Zolgensma has just been made available on the NHS after the health service struck a deal with manufacturers Novartis Gene Therapies.

Margaret said: “I was aware of Zolgensma but thought it was still in trials. As soon as they said it was available to us, we just thought yes, go for it. We had no hesitation. If it’s available for her, it’s her best hope.”

Looking after Isabella and her family was Royal Hospital for Children neurologist Dr Iain Horrocks, who has spent his career specialising in neuromuscular disorders in children.

Dr. Horrocks said: “Tragically, most babies with Type 1 SMA would die within six months. There was no treatment. It’s a disorder of the Motor Unit and the missing gene means messages from the spinal cord where the gene is located to the muscles aren’t received. This results in muscle atrophy (or death). Typically it presents as babies struggled to feed, but it was often as late as six months before it became apparent.

“For the last few years we have had access to a drug which works well in stopping muscle deterioration, but it needs to be given every four months for life. It’s injected into the spine. As they get older, patients hate getting it and there can be problems getting access to the spine, so it’s not ideal. And it’s not a gene therapy.

“Zolgensma is a game changer. Time is of the essence – the sooner it’s given the better and muscle function is protected from any further deterioration. Literally every day counts. It’s also less invasive as it’s given as a single, once only infusion, rather than being injected into the spine.”

Isabella was diagnosed at just 11 days old and nine days later received her potentially life-saving treatment.

He said: “It all happened really quickly. I met them on the Wednesday with the diagnosis “virtually” with my colleague Dr Elma Stephen from Aberdeen Children’s Hospital. We brought them down to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, the following Wednesday, gave her some steroids, and infused her on the Thursday.

“Isabella was the ideal candidate for Zolgensma. As she presented so young she managed the viral load of the gene therapy infusion really well. She was the perfect candidate for this treatment presenting at the perfect age”.

“I’m so pleased that we got to her so early. We only treated her about three weeks ago when she was only three weeks old, so it is probably too early to talk about the future, but we are, of course, optimistic. She is prime candidate to do really well with this therapy and we should see some real improvements with her in the next couple of months.

“The expectation from Isabella is that she could go on to hit her motor milestones within the WHO (World Health Organisation) classifications, such as sitting, standing and walking. So we really hope she will progress nicely, albeit, she will be a bit weak. We hope she will be able to have a full life whereas a few years ago I would never have been able to talk about SMA babies like this.”

Dr Horrocks says he feels re-invigorated in his work, having had so many years where he was unable to hold out any hope for babies like this and their families.

He added: “This has radically turned the approach with these patients on its head! It re-enthuses you for your work. I think I can do this for the next 15 or 20 years because it makes it all worthwhile. I am very hopeful for children with this condition in the coming years. It’s life changing.”

Back in Archiestown, Richard, Margaret and baby Isabella are settling into life – with hope for her future.

Margaret said: “At the end of the day, we have hope for her to go on and be a happy, healthy little girl. We are so grateful to everyone involved.”

Greater Glasgow launches drop-in COVID vaccination centres for people aged 40 and over

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has announced the latest stage in its fight against COVID-19.

The First Minister announced yesterday that Glasgow is to remain in level three lockdown for a further week.

Six months into the vaccination programme, and with nearly one million people having received their first dose, NHSGGC is opening drop-in vaccination centres for people aged 40 years and over.

If you are 40 or over and have not yet had your first dose of vaccine, or have waited more than 10 weeks for your second dose of Astra Zeneca – in other words, if you had your first dose in March – you can come along to one of the centres listed below from today (Saturday 29^th May) and get vaccinated.

People will be seen on a first come first served basis, and there will be a set capacity each day. Future dates will be made available if required and we will use our social media channels to keep you regularly updated about potentially busy periods at each of the centres.

For more information, go to our website at NHSGGC: Drop-In Vaccinations

Drop-in centre locations and times:

Saturday 29^th May:

Mobile vaccination unit, New Victoria Ambulatory Care Hospital, Minor Injuries Unit car park, 11am-6.30pm

Sunday 30^th:

SSE Hydro, 9am-6pm

Monday 31^st:

Glasgow Club Easterhouse, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Club Donald Dewar, 9am-6pm
Hub Community Centre Clydebank, 9am-3pm

Tuesday 1^st June:

Mobile vaccination unit, Govan Housing Association Car Park, 35 McKechnie Street, Govan, Glasgow, G51 3AQ, 11am-6.30pm
Lagoon Leisure Centre, Paisley, 9am-6pm

Wednesday 2^nd:

SSE Hydro, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Central Mosque, 9am-6pm
Lagoon Leisure Centre, Paisley, 9am-6pm
Allander Leisure Centre, Bearsden, 9am-6pm
Mobile Vaccination Unit, Shields Health and care Centre Shields Centre, 80 McCulloch Street, Pollockshields, G41 1NX, 11am-6:30pm

Thursday 3^rd:

SSE Hydro, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Central Mosque, 9am-6pm
Alexandria Community Centre, 9am-3pm
Barmulloch Community Centre, Glasgow, 9am-6pm

Friday 4^th:

SSE Hydro, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Central Mosque, 9am-6pm
Barrhead Foundry, 9am-3pm
Carmichael Hall, Eastwood, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Club Castlemilk, 9am-3pm
Port Glasgow, 9am-3pm

Saturday 5^th:

SSE Hydro, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Central Mosque, 9am-6pm
Carmichael Hall, Eastwood, 9am-6pm
Renfrew Leisure Centre, 9am-3pm
Johnstone Town Hall, 9am-3pm

Sunday 6^th:

SSE Hydro, 9am-6pm
Glasgow Central Mosque, 9am-6pm
Kirkintilloch Leisure Centre, 9am-3pm
Greenock Town Hall, 9am-6pm
Concorde Centre, Dumbarton, 9am-3pm

Glasgow will move to Level 2 from next weekend as long as key indicators remain stable or fall, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday.

In line with the recommendation of the National Incident Management Team (NIMT), the First Minister said there are signs that the situation is stabilising in the postcodes at the heart of the initial outbreak and across the city generally, and that, if that trend continues, the city can move to Level 2 from 00:01 on Saturday 5 June.

The First Minister said yesterday: “Case levels in Glasgow are uncomfortably high but there are signs of progress. So the view of the National Incident Management Team is that it would be premature to move Glasgow out of Level 3 this week while the situation remains so fragile. However, if incidence continues to stabilise, and assuming levels of hospitalisation remain reasonably stable, they will support a move to Level 2 from the end of next week.

“Of course, it is necessary that we do see progress continue. We will be watching the critical statistics carefully every day. If the massive public health efforts continue to have an impact; if our collective efforts continue to drive the virus back; then from next Saturday – 5 June – the plan would be for the city to move to Level 2.

“But, I need to be very clear. We need to see the positive signs to continue to make that a reality. To give as much advance notice as possible, I intend to confirm any decision to Parliament no later than Wednesday of next week.

“So, my message to the people of Glasgow is, don’t lose heart. I live in the city, so I know how hard this is. But please, continue to help with all of the public health efforts that are in place. If we continue to do that, we will move out of Level 3 quickly.

“In particular, please come forward for the vaccine – not just the first, but both doses. And that applies to young people too. This virus can and does make people ill – being young is not a cast iron protection against it. Far from it – a high proportion of the, albeit relatively low, number of hospital cases now are amongst younger age groups.”

Helping Hands: Ruth writes poem in recognition of colleagues for International Nurses Day

An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde critical care worker has written a poem to recognise the hard work and dedication of colleagues as part of International Nurses Day 2021.

Senior Charge Nurse, Ruth Wilson, tells the tale of a nurse’s role through ‘Helping Hands’ which outlines the huge remit and responsibility of nurses in providing day-to-day care. Ruth, 55 from Ayrshire who has worked as a nurse for more than 36 years, sees first-hand how colleagues look after patients on a day-to-day basis.

Read ‘Helping Hands’ below:

Helping Hands

At the start of the day, hands are washed before countless nursing tasks
Protecting ourselves with hand hygiene and professionally fitted masks

These hands will wash patients, write careplans, and administer medication
They will clean surfaces and equipment with total dedication

These hands will give out meals, make beds, and answer numerous telephone calls
They will guide and support mobilising patients in order to prevent falls

These hands will pour cups of tea, tie up linen, and empty patient bedpans
They will secure pumps and equipment to gleaming drip stands

These hands will feed and clothe, perform oral hygiene and comb hair
They will fill out fluid balance charts and give regular catheter care

These hands will take notes on ward rounds, and order things on “Trak”
They will dispense analgesia, offer a massage or give a soothing ice pack

These hands will organise flowers, open cards and tidy the place
They will dress wounds, cut nails, moisturise patient’s bodies and their face

These hands will soothe fevered brows through the comfort of touch
They will wipe away tears when it all gets too much

These hands will perform CPR and airway skills and really without much thought
Will automatically pilot to the resuscitation skills they were taught

They will support relatives with bad news, and patients will be allowed to cry
They will perform last offices when their patients die

They will sign discharge letters when people are getting home
They will clean all the surfaces shinier than chrome

These hands are priceless hands, helping hands, the hands you hope are there
If you ever get sick yourself, you want hands that care.

RUTH WILSON