Tag: NHS Lothian

Success for Sammy in Helpforce Volunteer Awards

NHS Lothian have announced that Sammy McKee has won the Helpforce Champion Volunteer of the Year Award. 

The Helpforce Champions Awards are a national awards designed to celebrate the invaluable contributions made by volunteers across the UK during the past turbulent year, fundamentally defined by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Head of Volunteering, Jane Greenacre, explains this is not just recognition of one person’s contribution but of all of the volunteers, past and present: “The contribution Sammy has made over the last 18+ months is incredible, and we are so pleased it has been recognised in these national awards.

“However, in the eyes of the Voluntary Services Team, all of the volunteers are winners. The roles that Sammy has taken on as Ward Helper, Vaccine Clinic Welcome Guide and at the Meaningful Activity Centre are really representative of support provided by 500+ volunteers so everyone can share in this success.”

“Sammy, like all of our volunteers, embodies NHS Lothian’s values  of care and compassion, dignity and respect, quality, team work, and openness, honestly and responsibility.”

If you would like to volunteer, know more about NHS Lothian volunteer roles or if you work for NHS Lothian and want to know what support can be offered contact:

Volunteer.Enquiries@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Sammy joined the volunteer team at NHS Lothian in March 2020, as he was keen to support his local community and the NHS during the pandemic.

Since then Sammy has given over 750 hours of his time volunteering twice a week (often three times a week) in a variety of roles and he has done all of this alongside family and other commitments and with continual professionalism and good humour.

From his first contact to date Sammy has embodied NHS Lothian’s values of care and compassion, dignity and respect, quality, team work, and openness, honestly and responsibility. Sammy has demonstrated his care and compassion for others as a volunteer in a care of the elderly ward where he supports patients (many of whom have complex needs) where he has volunteered since March 2020.

He has consistently treated the patients with dementia using the meaningful activity centre at St John’s Hospital with dignity and respect spending time getting to know patients, their likes and interests and planning activities to do with them one-to-one or in small groups.

Sammy has demonstrated his commitment to quality by actively participating in the Voluntary Services Team’s optional training programme giving up yet even more of his time to learn and develop his skills.

There is not a single person (staff or volunteer) who has worked alongside Sammy who would not agree that he is a team player. Sammy offering to change his usual volunteering site to support another volunteer who was lacking on confidence and his willingness to take on extra shifts to cover for colleagues unable to attend at the vaccination clinics are just two examples.

In addition Sammy is open to new ideas, honest about his experience and takes responsibly for the commitment he has made to those he supports. Sammy has two main roles with NHS Lothian as a Ward Helper in a Medicine of the Elderly ward In Findlay House and as an Activities Volunteer in the Meaningful Activity Centre at St John’s Hospital. Alongside these roles, he has also volunteered as a Vaccination Clinic Guide for 5 months.

In each of these roles, his volunteering was designed to achieve different things. The Ward Helper role aims to support positive health outcomes for patients by supporting day-to-day tasks and providing stimulation and to free staff time to allow them to focus on specialist tasks.

Many of the patients in this particular area have complex needs which can result in challenging behaviour or low mood. The support provided by the Ward Helpers enables patients to maintain their abilities and physical health, to improve mood and to support patients in the most difficult of circumstance to have the best possible experience. This support also helps families of patients by allowing them to take breaks from visiting safe in the knowledge that their loved one will not be alone.

The Meaningful Activity Centre was developed to provide a therapeutic environment for patients within the hospital. Patients with cognitive impairment can frequently become distressed in the hospital environment as not all their needs can be met on a ward through a medical model.

At the Meaningful Activity Centre, the volunteers aim to meet unmet needs that are related to boredom and lack of activity. However, it is not just playing some games to relieve boredom. By engaging in meaningful conversation and using excellent listening skills, the volunteers have been able to find ways to understand what is causing the distress of the person and to take steps to reduce distress.

As a Ward Helper Sammy completes many practical tasks including helping with meal distribution and the tea trolley (key to tackling issues with dehydration common in hospital settings) and the mealtime tidy up after eating, he will support patients to eat by providing company, encouragement and also practical assistance having been trained to safely feed patients who need assistance.

Outside mealtimes Sammy will help with practical takes such as answering the door to welcome visitors, top and up supplies like hand gel, masks. However, the key to Sammy’s Ward Helper role is the building of relationships with patients so that he can support them in a person centred way through small therapeutic interventions such as taking a patient in a wheelchair to spend time in the garden, taking short walks in the ward to maintain mobility, reminiscence and conversation to maintain mental stimulation and support good mood, sitting with a nonverbal patient listening to music to calm and relax them.

As a Vaccination Clinic Guide Sammy welcomes people to the clinics, guides them through the process giving explanations about what would happen next, how long things might take, giving directions, reassuring the nervous/making conversation with those who had been isolated often for months previously and supervising the post vaccination observation bay. Sammy’s cheerful manner and easy confidence help ensure that everyone feels valued and supported as they attend the clinic.

At the Meaningful Activity Centre Sammy supports patients one to one or in small groups through a range of person centred activities. There may be games or bingo to enjoy, looking at books and newspaper articles from yesteryear, listening to music or even karaoke to some old favourites, afternoon teas and the occasional dinner dance.

Whatever the activity Sammy is there leading the way and encouraging everyone to get involved, working at the understanding, confidence and enthusiasm level of the patient so that they feel comfortable and have a good time. contribution is invaluable.

While many of the patents Sammy supports are not able to articulate their gratitude verbally, it is obvious from the changes in their demeanour (not just while interacting with Sammy but following) that their time with Sammy has helped them to feel calmer, more settled and more at ease in the hospital.

Choudhury: NHS Lothian ‘in crisis’

ANOTHER WEEK OF ‘SHOCKING’ A & E FIGURES RECORDED

Lothian MSP Foysol Choudhury has warned that  NHS Lothian is in crisis as another week of dismal A&E figures has been recorded.

Statistics published yesterday show that only 64.8 per cent of attendances in NHS Lothian at A&E in the week ending 31st October were seen within four hours.

  • 363 patients spent over eight hours in A&E, with 132 waiting over 12 hours.
  • 1,504 patients waited over 4 hours.  
  • These are among the worst weekly A&E times on record for NHS Lothian.

Scottish Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury said: “Yet another week of shocking statistics showing the reality of SNP mismanagement of our NHS.

“Lothian patients are in dire need of medical help and they are not receiving the swift attention they deserve. These are truly shocking figures that show once again just how out of depth the SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousef is.

“The SNP has left NHS doctors and nurses over-worked, under-staffed and under-resourced – and it is patients who are paying the price.’’

Scottish health service set for gruelling winter as performance deteriorates yet again

The latest Emergency Department performance figures for Scotland published by the Scottish Government yesterday for September 2021 show a deterioration in performance for the fifth consecutive month. The data show the worst four-hour performance on record and both the highest number of 12-hour and eight-hour stays since records began.

In September 2021 there were 113,998 attendances to major Emergency Departments across Scotland, the number of attendances dropped by 3,500 patients (3%) compared to the previous month, August 2021.

Despite the slight decrease in attendances data show that four-hour performance reached a new record low, with 73.8% of patients being seen within four-hours, this is 1.5 percentage points lower than the previous month, August 2021. It is the second time in 2021 that performance has fallen below 75%.

In September 2021 1,840 patients spent 12-hours or more in a major Emergency Department, this is an increase of 31.5% compared to the previous month, August 2021. This number increased for the fifth consecutive month and is once again the highest number of 12-hour stays since records began.

Data also show that 6,413 patients spent eight hours or more in a major Emergency Department. This is an increase of 20%, equal to over 1,000 patients. The number of patients delayed by eight-hours or more increased for the fifth consecutive month and once again this is the highest number of eight-hour stays since records began.

Dr John Thomson, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Scotland, said: “The consistent fall in performance is seriously worrying. What we are seeing: ambulance handover delays; dangerous crowding; long stays; put patient safety at risk and can lead to harm or avoidable deaths.

“Data show that for every 67 patients waiting 8-12 hours, one of them will come to avoidable harm – therefore we can estimate that in Scotland between January and August 2021 there have been 231 excess deaths directly caused by a long wait due to a crowded Emergency Department.

“These are unconscionable practices and both ambulance crews and Emergency Medicine staff are under pressure to resolve the problem – together with the College of Paramedics we laid out this guidance.

“The problem is poor flow throughout the hospital and exit block, this will not be resolved in the Emergency Department, it is a system-wide problem and requires system-wide solutions and collaboration.

“Boards must safely expand capacity where possible, provided doctors and nurses and other healthcare workers are available to staff the beds. Same-day emergency care can help to reduce unplanned hospital admissions, maximising the delivery of this service may alleviate some pressures.

“Discharge to assess, ensuring that patients can be discharged in a safe and timely way where they have the support they need to recover in the community, can help free up beds to increase flow throughout the hospital.

“Lastly, it is vital that adequate support and resources are given to social and community care so vulnerable patients do not face successive trips to the Emergency Department or hospital.

“Clear communication between Clinical Leads and senior Board management about the reality of ambulance handover delays; dangerous crowding; and long stays is also vital. Stating the threat these practices pose to patient safety and both reporting and escalating incidents as they occur should guide leadership to take swift action.

“It is a very difficult time, and we are preparing for a gruelling winter. The past five months of performance figures suggest that more deterioration is set to come. In Emergency Medicine we must continue to work towards collaborative solutions and work with other departments, specialties, and management.

“But we continue to call on the Scottish government to set out a long-term workforce plan. In Emergency Medicine (EM) in Scotland there is a vital need to both recruit new and retain existing staff, we need at least 113 EM consultants along with sufficient numbers of both junior and supporting staff and nurses.”
Today’s statistics revealed the worst weekly and monthly A&E statistics since records began.

The statistics show that only 65.6% of attendances at A&E services in NHS Lothian were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within 4 hours for the week ending on the 24th of October. 

This is lower than the previous record low of 66.3% recorded in week ending 12th September. Furthermore, 508 patients in NHS Lothian waited more than 8 hours, with 240 not being seen for 12 hours.
  
Scottish Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury said: “A&E services in the Lothians are in crisis, with the situation rapidly deteriorating with every passing week.’’
  
“Hard-pressed frontline staff have been sounding the alarm for months, but the Health Secretary has spectacularly failed to take action. Patients in the Lothians are being put in danger thanks to the SNP’s catastrophic failure to support A&E services. 

‘’The Health Secretary is without a workable plan, so we have a health service in freefall. Action must be taken now. Our NHS deserves better’’

Roll-out of new diabetes test

World-leading test to improve diagnosis

A simple blood test for people with Type 1 diabetes enabling some patients to stop taking insulin is to be rolled out.

Scotland is the first country in the world to introduce this test which will be available from hospital diabetes centres from Monday (1 November).

Aimed to improve the accuracy of diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes, the routine testing of C-peptide allows doctors to work out how much insulin someone with diabetes is making themselves.

If C-peptide is present in significant amounts, then it may indicate that the person does not have Type 1 diabetes and that it may be possible to stop or reduce insulin treatment.

The roll-out follows a two year pilot study in NHS Lothian led by Diabetes and Endocrinology Consultant Professor Mark Strachan.

Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “Diabetes is a clinical priority for this Government and we want to ensure that everyone living with diabetes in Scotland can access safe, effective and person-centred healthcare, treatment and support.

“Type 1 diabetes is a significant health challenge right across the world. I am proud that Scotland will be the first country to introduce this blood test which has the potential to have a significant positive impact on the lives of those people living with diabetes.”

Professor Mark Strachan said: “C-peptide helps diabetes specialists make a more accurate diagnosis of the cause of diabetes, and that means we can get people on the most appropriate treatment. In some instances, C-peptide testing allowed people to stop very long-standing insulin therapy; this can be life-transforming.

“If anyone has any concerns regarding their diabetes or wishes to know more about the new blood test, they should contact their diabetes clinical team who are best placed to provide specific advice and support based on their individual circumstances.”

There are approximately 315,000 people living with diabetes in Scotland.

The programme will be offered to people with a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes of at least three years duration. C-peptide testing will be offered by hospital diabetes centres.

‘Catastrophic failure’: Lothian MSP comments on A & E crisis

NHS Lothian has warned patients not to attend A&E unless their condition was life-threatening.

It comes after statistics published this week have revealed the worst weekly A&E statistics on record. 

Chief executive of NHS Lothian, Calum Campbell, said a request has been submitted for mutual aid from other health boards after services became caught in the grip of a “perfect storm” caused by staffing and bed pressures, combined with high volumes of patients presenting with complex and serious cases.

Lothian list Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury said: “Patients in the Lothians are being put in danger due to the SNP’s catastrophic failure to support A&E services.’’

‘’Lives are on the line and the Health Secretary’s current strategy is clearly not dealing whatsoever with this crisis.’’

‘’ The NHS is under-resourced, under-staffed and under pressure, and the Scottish Government must fund the NHS properly so that people can access care and treatment at A&E when they need it.’’

“If action is not taken now, we risk a winter of chaos in A&E departments across the Lothians. 

Local patients can access new cancer treatment

New prostate cancer treatment available at Edinburgh Cancer Centre is first in Scotland

Men in the South East of Scotland may now be able to access a new treatment for prostate cancer, which is available at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, Western General Hospital.

The Edinburgh Cancer Centre (ECC) is the first in Scotland to offer High–dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) for treatment of prostate cancer.

It was successfully introduced by NHS Lothian earlier this year and is now being made available to suitable patients across the South East of Scotland.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Scottish males affecting 1 in 10 men. With more than 3,000 men diagnosed every year this figure is only expected to increase.

But, with early detection and improved treatments, survival rates are also increasing. Radiotherapy is commonly used to cure prostate cancers and increasing the radiation dose in treatments has shown to improve long-term cancer control.

The HDR-BT service at the ECC offers an additional treatment approach to deal with aggressive but localised prostate cancer. It allows a higher dose of radiation to be targeted directly into the prostate gland in a safe and controlled way. This minimises radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissue and thereby reduces potential side effects.

The new treatment is being offered alongside existing radiotherapy treatments at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, expanding the range of treatment options on offer. 

Dr Aravindhan Sundaramurthy, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre explains: “We have been successfully delivering low-dose-rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) for prostate cancer with over 1000 men throughout Scotland benefitting from the service. However, men with more advanced or aggressive disease would not be eligible for LDR-BT on its own.”

“The start of the new HDR-BT service opens a very important therapeutic option for men with high-risk prostate cancer features. It brings together the skills and expertise of staff across our radiotherapy, oncology and anaesthetic teams to deliver another treatment option.”

Roderick Sanderson (62) from Dumfries & Galloway was the first patient to receive this new treatment at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre. 

He said: “I would strongly encourage anyone who is offered this treatment to go for it. It was a very smooth process and the care I received from the NHS was absolutely first class. I was looked after every step of the way and I knew that I was in the best possible hands for my treatment.”

This HDR-BT service is a collaborative effort involving radiotherapy nursing, prostate clinical oncologists, anaesthetics, therapeutic radiographers and oncology physicists.  It is currently being offered at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre for suitable patients within the South-east Scotland Cancer Network with an aim to expand the service to other patients across Scotland.

Anyone looking for more information about prostate cancer including details of common symptoms and testing can visit NHS Inform: www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/cancer/cancer-types-in-adults/prostate-cancer

New £6.2m Renal Dialysis Unit opens at the Western General

A new £6.2 million Renal Dialysis Unit has opened in Edinburgh serving patients from the north and west of the city. Located at the Western General Hospital, the state-of-the art facility is designed to meet projected rising demand for dialysis services, while being more comfortable and welcoming for patients.  

It will ensure patients who need kidney dialysis have access to the latest equipment in modern, bright and spacious surroundings.  

The new building replaces a smaller unit, which was over 30 years old, and very cramped. It has increased the number of dialysis stations from 9 to 12. Now up to 72 patients can be treated in the unit.  

Dialysis involves filtering waste products and excess fluid from a patient’s blood when their kidneys stop working properly. The most common form of dialysis, haemodialysis, takes on average four hours per session and is typically carried out three times a week.  

Dr Caroline Whitworth, Consultant Nephrologist explains: “Patients can expect to spend between 12 and 18 hours per week on dialysis so having a welcoming, peaceful and comfortable place to do dialysis is really important. 

“We’re already seeing the positive impact this fantastic new facility is having on patients and staff.  The clinical areas is as light and airy as possible, but also more peaceful, giving patients a much better experience. The unit will be a great benefit for patients for years to come.” 

Bill Aitken, a renal patient, started experiencing symptoms of kidney failure in his early 30s. An avid football player he first noticed that something was wrong when his fitness started to deteriorate. He has been a patient with NHS Lothian for over 25 years. He says:  “I’ve been in and out of treatment at both the Royal and the Western General.  This feels light years away from the previous unit.

“It’s very nice and bright and has cracking views out the window to Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town. When we’re dialysing, we’re there for a long time so it makes a huge difference to be doing it in modern, pleasant surroundings.” 

The Renal Dialysis Unit is one of several new projects at the Western General Hospital to transform services and create more space, comfort and privacy for patients. It was funded by NHS Lothian Capital Investment, constructed by Robertson Construction on behalf of RMF Health, and designed by HLM Architects. 

David Cairns, regional managing director, Robertson Construction Central East, said: “The new renal unit is one of several projects we have delivered at the Western General Hospital, on behalf of RMF Health, over the last 2 years whilst the hospital has remained a live environment.  We’re also progressing a number of other projects with RMF Health which will provide first class facilities for the hospital.”   

The capital development team worked closely with NHS Lothian’s official charity, Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation, to integrate creative enhancements of the environment into the design, helping to ensure that the unit was not only clinically functional but also aesthetically pleasing.  

Jane Ferguson, Director of Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation, explains: “The involvement of our Arts in Health and Wellbeing team from the start of this project really demonstrates the importance that NHS Lothian has placed on art and design as an essential part of their capital projects.

“They recognise how much of an impact the environment and surroundings can have on patient and staff wellbeing. We were delighted to work together to take forward creative and innovative ways to enhance the space, and I think the end result is a welcoming, restful environment which creates privacy, distraction and diversion while patients receive treatment.” 

NHS Lothian warns of children flu vaccination letter mistake

Are you a parent or guardian of a 2-5 year old in Edinburgh, East Lothian or Midlothian? Check out this important update regarding flu vaccine appointments 👇

More information on the children’s flu vaccine is available here:

– https://www.nhsinform.scot/…/children-aged-2-5-years