Tag: NHS Lanarkshire

New funding for app to support people at risk of falls

An innovative digital project to help people who fall or are at high risk of falling has secured funding for its second phase.
 
No Need To Fall is being co-designed with people who have lived experience of falls and those who provide support and care and the wider workforce.
 
The project is being led in NHS Lanarkshire by Dr Ana Talbot In collaboration with North and South Lanarkshire Councils HSCPs, the University of Strathclyde, Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre and six local and national voluntary sector charities, with project management provided by Sophie Bagnall at the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde-hosted West of Scotland Innovation Hub.
 
Phase 2 of the project will see daily care and support needs being addressed and prepare appropriate responses in the event of a fall.
 
The team will use the roll out of a new digital alarm receiving platform to early adopters in Scotland in early 2024 to explore the opportunities around digital tools to helps responders in the event of a person having a fall.
 
Research from Phase 1 of this project found people who draw on support and care feel falls are an inevitable part of ageing, but also blame themselves when they occur.
 
They often avoid using technology that could help due to negative associations with ageing and may have lower levels of digital literacy.
 
The project seeks to address a number of these findings and provide digital solutions that are empowering, support relational aspects and prevent falls. 


Project lead Dr Ana Talbot, Consultant in Older Adult Medicine, NHS Lanarkshire, and West of Scotland Innovation Hub Clinical Fellow, said: “Moving into Phase 2 of this project allows us to more fully explore how we can address the needs of people who draw on support and care and those that provide it utilising the opportunities around digital tools.  
 
“Addressing digital literacy and giving people the confidence to use this technology, which is now commonplace, is a very important part of how we approach support and care.
 
“I am delighted that we as a team are working with our partners to improve outcomes for people who have some of the highest risk of falls.”
 
The project is being supported by The Health Foundation.
 
Visit the West of Scotland innovation Hub website for more information on healthcare innovation.

Scottish health boards to receive additional military support

Requests for military assistance at three health boards in Scotland have been approved. NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Grampian and NHS Lanarkshire will receive the support from service personnel to help manage growing pressures as a result of Omicron.

They will begin inductions at the boards in January after the MACA (Military Assistance for Civilian Authorities) support was approved by the Scottish Government.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is adding to the winter pressures usually faced by the NHS which is why boards, like their counterparts across the UK,  have requested military support to complement our existing resources. 

“I’m  grateful to military personnel for their efforts at this time, along with all frontline staff in our NHS for the vital  role they play in help keeping us safe.

“At this time it is also particularly important that we continue to take all precautions to prevent transmission. So test regularly for the virus, limit socialising in the run up to Christmas, wear face marks where required and open windows to improve ventilation.”

The following MACA requests have been approved by the Scottish Government: 

  • NHS Ayrshire &Arran – 20 service personnel for for 6 weeks.
  • NHS Grampian – 38 x service personnel for 4 weeks.     
  • Lanarkshire – 32 x service personnel for 4 weeks.

Military personnel will start inductions on January 7th.

Army called in to support struggling NHS

In response to the immediate pressures on the NHS because of COVID-19 and the backlog in care caused by the pandemic, military assistance has been requested for NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Borders.

Acute services in both health board areas are operating at capacity because of workforce shortages associated with the virus.   

A total of 63 military personnel will be deployed to NHS Lanarkshire – this includes three nurses, 45 military medics, 12 General Duties Troops and three drivers who will be working in acute settings.

In NHS Borders, 14 military medics, two nurses and four additional military personnel will provide assistance in acute settings. A military driver will provide transport. Two military medics will oversee operations from the army’s headquarters in Scotland.

Military support within the two health board areas is due to start on 19 October and continue initially until 10 November 2021 though this will be kept under constant review.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The NHS is experiencing significant pressure at the moment because of COVID-19 admissions and the backlog in care built up during the pandemic and we are taking a range of steps to introduce additional capacity in order to help with the unprecedented pressures on the health and care system.

“Earlier this month we announced a record winter package funding of £300 million to support a range of measures to maximise capacity in our hospitals and primary care, reduce delayed discharges, improve pay for social care staff, and ensure those in the community who need support receive effective and responsive care.  

“In the NHS Borders and NHS Lanarkshire areas, staff shortages because of COVID-19 are affecting bed capacity and temporary military assistance has been requested to support the boards at this time.

“With increasing levels of social mixing and close social contact it is expected that this winter COVID-19 will circulate alongside respiratory viruses, such as flu, adding to the winter pressures usually faced by the NHS.

“This military support will allow both boards to support existing staff to reduce waiting times, enhance care and provide a better experience for our patients.     

“As always I would like to thank all those involved in our healthcare systems for their continuing hard work and dedication over this particularly busy time.”