Tag: NHS Lothian

Free bike passes for NHS staff

Transport for Edinburgh’s Cycle Hire Scheme (Just Eat Cycles) are delighted to announce the release of 100 free annual passes for NHS staff today (Tuesday, 5 May 2020).

Developed in partnership with Sustrans Scotland and Edinburgh Cycle Hire operators Serco, the scheme has been made possible by funding from Transport Scotland through Sustrans’ Partnership programme.

NHS employees interested in accessing the 12 month pass should use their NHS email address (@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk or @nhs.net), and send an email to support@edinburghcyclehire.com by June 22nd 2020.

They will then be sent a code to redeem through the Just Eat Cycles app, which is free to download for iOS and Android. Passes, which cover both e-bikes and pedal bikes, will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

Until 4 July, 2020 the NHS passes will cover the use of e-bikes and pedal bikes for free up to 60 minutes per ride. After the initial two months the pass will revert to a normal annual membership for the remaining ten months. E-Bike trips will then cost 10p per minute.

George Lowder, Chief Executive of Transport for Edinburgh said: “Transport for Edinburgh are delighted that Transport Scotland have provided funding to allow access to The Edinburgh Cycle Hire Scheme for NHS staff who are fulfilling such vital roles at this time.”

Sustrans Scotland Director, Karen McGregor, said: “In the Covid-19 crisis, cycling can offer a healthy and convenient transportation choice for many.

“And so long as the 2m social distancing is observed, it can help people keep a safe physical distance from others. We are delighted to be able to provide funding to support NHS staff with their travel during the pandemic.

Alex Macdonald, General Manager of Just Eat Cycles, said: “We want to thank all NHS employees for their incredible efforts on the frontline.

“It is a privilege to support these people with free access to e-bikes and pedal bikes during the current crisis – we hope it provides some respite to those working hardest to keep us all safe.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “This is a fantastic initiative, which will support NHS staff doing the crucial job of keeping us safe to take advantage of cycling as a healthy way of travelling and exercising.

“We’re currently working to implement changes around the city to give people more space to stay 2m apart while cycling, and I’m delighted this will also benefit those participating in this scheme.”

Frank Mitchell, Chief Executive of SP Energy Networks, who have provided funding for cycle hire stations, added: “We’re extremely grateful for the work NHS staff and other key workers are doing during this pandemic.

“We’re really proud the funding from SP Energy Networks has allowed Transport for Edinburgh to expand its Edinburgh Cycle Hire scheme and install more hire points, which help our essential workers travel to and from work around the city in a green and healthy way that supports the official Scottish Government and NHS guidance.

“This is just one of the ways we’re supporting our NHS during the Covid-19 crisis and I’m sure it will make a real difference for those who can benefit from the scheme.”

PIC: Greg Mcvean

Yet another delay for the new Sick Kids hospital?

The saga of Edinburgh’s new Sick Kids hospital is set to be extended again – after health secretary Jeane Freeman admitted the latest timescale was “under review”.

The facility, which is now eight years late, was supposed to finally open in the autumn.

However, Ms Freeman admitted in a parliamentary answer on Friday that the handing over looked set to be held up again because of coronavirus pressures.

Ms Freeman said: “NHS Lothian is working closely with IHSL to ensure delivery of the programme as close to the timeframe of a full handover in Autumn 2020, but this timeframe is now under review. A refreshed programme is likely to be available during the second half of May and I will of course keep Parliament updated.”

Shadow health secretary Miles Briggs said while this particular delay may be understandable given the Covid-19 crisis, it could have all been avoided had the SNP hit any of the previous targets for opening.

The much-needed facility has been plagued by problems, meaning staff and patients have been forced to continue to use the ancient building in the Sciennes area of the city, which the health board itself has acknowledged is no longer fit for purpose. 

Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Miles Briggs said: “Obviously with the current situation it’s inevitable there will be delays with almost all projects of this nature.

“What wasn’t inevitable was the SNP’s failure to get this hospital open in anything like the timeframe initially set out. This vital hospital – which was commissioned, planned and built by the SNP – was meant to open in 2012.

“It should currently be open, thriving and assisting our dedicated NHS staff with the coronavirus battle. Instead, it lies empty while the rest of the hospital estate is placed under immense pressure.

“Families across the east of Scotland will not forget the SNP’s spectacular mismanagement of the Sick Kids project.”

Project Wingman takes off at Royal Infirmary Edinburgh

Staff at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh are set to receive the first class treatment as the latest Project Wingman lounge opens on site.

The facility, which is run by pilots and crew from across every UK airline, will provide a space for staff to unwind, de-compress and de-stress before, during and after their shifts.

The lounge, the first of which to open in Scotland, takes inspiration from the ‘first-class lounge’ experience and will offer a relaxing and friendly environment where staff can be treated to refreshments such as teas and coffee, as well as light snacks.

The Edinburgh facility is part of a UK wide initiative spearheaded by British Airways pilot and captain Dave Fielding, Emma Henderson, an EasyJet pilot, and Prof Rob Bor, a psychologist at the Royal Free hospital in London.

While a light-hearted nod to the movie Top Gun, the initiative aims to provide support for staff who are busy providing first-class care for patients.

Furloughed, grounded, or made redundant by the COVID-19 crisis, the aircrews involved are all volunteering their time to put a smile on faces, while offering a much needed space for rest and relaxation.

Inga Cosway, Healthy Working Lives Co-ordinator, Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, said that across NHS Lothian, work has been ongoing to provide a range of facilities and support for staff. This has included the provision of a number of support helplines, as well as quiet spaces for staff to use.

Inga said, “We are delighted to welcome airline crew to our forces here at the Royal Infirmary. The Project Wingman lounge will provide a welcome space for colleagues to pause, reflect and unwind as together we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Most of us will never have experienced the luxury of a first-class lounge, but I know that staff are delighted to have this facility available to them and cannot wait to meet the captain and his crew.  We are grateful to the Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation who have provided essential funding to make this happen.”

The Edinburgh facility, is being run and managed by Captain Paul Singleton, a pilot with Virgin Atlantic. Paul said that he wanted to give something back to NHS staff after personally seeing the work that they do day in and day out.

Paul said: “Like many others I wanted to do something to help and support the NHS at this critical time. My son had a major operation at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh and I cannot thank staff enough for the outstanding care that he received. I was in awe of NHS staff before the COVID-19 crisis hit, but now, more than ever I wanted to express my heartfelt thanks and admiration.

“As aircrew, we are highly trained, well organised & excellent communicators. Using these skills we hope to support every member of staff at the Royal Infirmary, who are working tirelessly as we navigate the uncharted territories that COVID-19 is presenting us with.”

The Project Wingman lounge is available for all staff and is open daily from 7am – 9pm.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “This is an excellent initiative run by pilots and crew from airlines across the UK to use their skills and experience to support NHS staff at this challenging time.

“NHS frontline staff are going above and beyond every single day, putting themselves at risk to care for everyone, and it is more important than ever to look after those who look after us.

“The incredible efforts made by all NHS staff during this period must be recognised not just now, but also in the future, by continuing to support those who are risking everything for us.”

Emergency Eyecare Treatment Centres introduced

New centres to reduce the need to attend hospital

New measures have been introduced to help patients with emergency eye problems, reducing the need for them to attend hospital during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Backed by up to £3 million of Scottish Government funding, Emergency Eyecare Treatment Centres have been established in all health board areas.

New technology is also being trialled by NHS Grampian and NHS Forth Valley.

After a telephone consultation, some patients may be referred to optometrists within the treatment centres who can manage a wide range of conditions without further involvement from GPs or hospitals.

In Grampian and Forth Valley, live video and audio feeds between the centres and consultants in hospitals are also being used to enable more patients to be immediately diagnosed and treated.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “While services have changed dramatically over the last few weeks, my message is clear – if you are worried about your health in any way, please get in touch with your GP. The same applies to your vision – if you have experienced any problems with your sight, please contact your local high street optician as soon as possible.

“I would like to thank NHS Boards and the optometry and ophthalmology professions for their excellent collaboration in establishing, at pace, more than 50 Emergency Eyecare Treatment Centres across Scotland to manage patients without COVID-19 symptoms who need an emergency face-to-face consultation.

“I am pleased to see some NHS Boards are also using innovative new tele-ophthalmology technology. This means that more patients can be immediately diagnosed and treated in a community setting while gaining an expert opinion from the secondary care ophthalmology team.”

Patients without COVID-19 symptoms will be referred for an emergency face-to-face consultation after having a telephone triage or consultation with a community optometrist.

Only the Emergency Eyecare Treatment Centres will examine patients face-to-face. These premises have been provided with the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to keep patients and practitioners safe. The centres have been established by each Board with guidance and support from Eyecare Scotland, the national clinical leads multi-professional group.

Routine eye care services were suspended on 23 March. Since then, community optometry practices have continued to provide emergency and essential eye care services to patients, enabled by a package of financial support measures from the Scottish Government.

This includes provision of monthly average practice income from NHS services and up to £3 million of funding for the provision of emergency and essential eye care services.

NHS Lothian has established an Emergency Eyecare Treatment Centre.

To access this service, patients must first phone their local optometry practice to be assessed over the phone. If a face-to-face appointment is necessary, then an appointment will be arranged for that patient. 

Further information, including an updated list of community optometry practices offering telephone assessments, can be found here: https://services.nhslothian.scot/EmergencyEyecareTreatmentCentre

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service: 

Annual diabetic retinopathy screening has been suspended until further notice because of COVID-19.  Look out for further updates.

NHS Lothian announces expansion of COVID-19 testing

NHS Lothian has announced a further expansion of its COVID-19 staff and health and social care worker testing.  The developments, which include opening a new test facility at West Lothian College, will provide additional options for accessing coronavirus (COVID-19) testing.

To date, over 2,300 tests have been carried at the Chalmers Sexual Health Centre in Edinburgh providing reassurance to staff, helping to reduce unnecessary absence and bolstering frontline services.

Chalmers and the new West Lothian facility both offer appointment based drive-through testing, where individuals remain in their vehicle as a nose and throat swab is taken.

Recognising that not everyone has access to a car, the service has worked to develop a number of additional options for access. This includes the ability to carry out appointment based bike-through and walk-through tests, as well as working with taxi providers to ensure staff can easily get to and from the test facilities.

This work means that if staff or health and social care workers, such as local authority care home staff or private sector carers have symptoms, they can be tested within the first 72 hours, and if negative, and appropriate, can be released from the requirement to isolate and return to work, and so can their household contacts.

The staff testing facility at Chalmers has been running since 26 March 2020 and has already provided a huge amount of information enabling NHS Lothian to expand and develop the service.

Dr. Alastair Leckie, Director of Occupational Health Services, NHS Lothian said, that the teams have gained an enormous amount of practical knowledge and statistics, as well as insight from those who have accessed the service, all of which has been used to help shape these new developments.

He said, “Our staff have told us time and time again that they want to be at work, helping patients and supporting colleagues. Testing provides reassurance for staff, it helps to get them back to work quicker, and reduces unnecessary periods of self-isolation.

“A monumental amount of work has been done in a short period of time to further expand our testing facilities, ensuring that we not only have more test sites, but that there are a range of options available in how staff can access these.

“I am incredibly proud of the work that has already been done, and which will continue in the days, weeks and months ahead, as together we continue to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.”

While the Chalmers service was initially developed to support with NHS staff testing, since 5 April it has also offered testing for health and social care staff working within the four immediate Health and Social Care Partnerships, as well as those employed by private care providers.

Allister Short, Chief Officer, West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership said that not being able to access testing had been a huge concern and worry for health and social care staff who wanted to be at work supporting and caring for people.

He said, “It is great that the NHS Lothian testing facilities are available for health and social care staff. It not only helps to protect vulnerable service users and care home residents, but also reduces periods of unnecessary self-isolation for our staff.”

Jackie Galbraith, Principal of West Lothian College said, “Since the start of the lockdown staff and students at West Lothian College have been working hard to help the NHS and key workers tackle the coronavirus.

“We donated all of our personal protective equipment to key workers, gave all of our food stock to local charities, and are working with partners to produce and distribute visors to frontline workers.

“Some of our staff and students have returned as practitioners to the health and social care sector, while others are volunteering to help people in need in local communities.

“With the launch of the new NHS COVID-19 testing station now our campus is being put to good use while college buildings remain closed to students and staff. We are very proud to play a part in reducing the impact of this pandemic.”

Dr Tracey Gillies, Medical Director, NHS Lothian, said around 100 tests were currently being carried out every day at the Chalmers site and of those around 80 per cent had already tested negative for COVID-19.

She added: “Providing access to testing for NHS and health and social care staff is critical. It not only gives reassurance, but enables these staff, if they feel well enough, to return to work.

“I would like to say a big thank you to all of the teams that have worked together to enable these testing developments to happen. This work is just one example of how NHS Lothian is responding to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but it encapsulates and illustrates the drive, determination, responsiveness and hard work that all our staff are demonstrating on a daily basis.”

Routine immunisations continue, says NHS Lothian

Immunisation appointments for children and pregnant women are continuing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, says NHS Lothian.

Scheduled immunisations are an important and legitimate medical reason to leave your house, and people who have an immunisation appointment should attend as planned.

If an individual with an upcoming immunisation appointment – or a member of their household – is showing symptoms of COVID-19, then they must NOT attend, but should call the number on their invitation to rearrange the appointment.

Professor Alison McCallum, Director of Public Health & Health Policy, NHS Lothian, said: “All scheduled immunisation appointments in Lothian are continuing and we would encourage all children and pregnant women to attend.

“If you cannot attend because you or your family are showing symptoms of coronavirus, please call the phone number on your appointment letter or contact your health care practitioner to rearrange.”

Dr Gregor Smith, Interim Chief Medical Officer, said: “We’re grateful to everyone for heeding our Stay Home Save Lives message during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the NHS is still open, and the routine vaccination programme is an important way to protect you and your family’s health.

“It is important we continue to protect children and other vulnerable groups against serious vaccine-preventable diseases. Routine immunisations for children and pregnant women are a crucial way we can help keep people safe and healthy at this time.

“We know members of the public will have protecting their family’s health from coronavirus, by following guidance on social distancing and not travelling unnecessarily, at the forefront of their minds. But receiving an immunisation is one of the important medical reasons for which you should leave your house, and it will help protect you or your child from other serious diseases.”

Coronavirus: 41 deaths in Lothian

Further information will help inform ongoing response to outbreak

The Scottish Government is publishing additional data daily in order to provide a clearer picture of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is progressing in Scotland.

The information below will be published every day at 2pm on the Scottish Government website at https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/.

Additional data published from Wednesday 8 April includes:

• total number tested positive and being treated in intensive care
• confirmed or suspected cases being treated in intensive care (in total and by health board)
• confirmed or suspected cases being treated in hospital (in total and by health board)
• Scottish Ambulance Service attendances for total and suspected cases (including suspected cases taken to hospital)
• NHS Staff COVID-19 related absences by day for the last week
• number of calls to the COVID-19 Helpline
• number of calls to 111 (all patients not COVID-19-related)
• number of people delayed in hospital (all patients not COVID-19-related)

This is in addition to the information currently provided:

• number of people in Scotland tested for COVID-19
• number tested negative/positive
• number tested positive and died
• number tested positive by health board

Separate to the daily published data above, including those deaths with a laboratory positive result for COVID-19, Wednesday 8 April also sees the first publication by a weekly report by National Records of Scotland on all deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate by the doctor who certified the death.

This includes cases where the doctor noted that there was suspected or probable coronavirus infection involved in the death. These weekly statistics will provide valuable information on the spread and impact of COVID-19 across Scotland, will complement the daily statistics produced by HPS and provide a useful comparison with the weekly ONS death statistics.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “It is important to understand why this information matters. It is not just that we want to count how many people are affected by this virus, although that is of course very important.

“This information is also essential to helping us to understand who is most severely impacted by the virus, how it has spread and is spreading across the country, and whether there are any hot spots where there are more cases than we would expect to see.

“It also helps us plan for how many beds we will need in our hospitals, and it will help to tell us when the peak of this virus has passed, and when we might be able to make decisions about lifting some of these restrictions.

“I know, and have reflected on this previously, that it can be really hard hearing accounts of numbers of deaths. I understand that it can make us feel powerless – that something we cannot see or feel is taking so many lives.

“But we all do have power as individual citizens and I want again to stress that, by following the rules, by staying at home and by self-isolating when we have symptoms, all of us can help to reduce the number of deaths.

“Finally, I have said this on several recent occasions but I think it appropriate to say it again. I focus on the statistics in these updates because they are really important to give us some overall sense of how the virus is spreading. But I am acutely aware that deaths are much more than statistics.

“Each and every one of these deaths represents an individual whose loss is a cause of deep grief. So I want once again to express my condolences to everyone who has lost friends, family or loved-ones.”

covid-deaths-report-week-14

National Records of Scotland yesterday released figures on the number of total deaths in Scotland related to Covid-19. The total number of deaths up to 5th April 2020 is 354, with 41 deaths in NHS Lothian.

16.2% of the total deaths in Scotland between 30th March to 5th of April (week 14) mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate.

The National Record of Scotland figures are higher than the number published daily on the Scottish Government website because NRS figures include all cases were Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.

The 41 deaths in NHS Lothian account for 1.7% of deaths in the health board since the start of 2020 (weeks 1 to 14).

Scottish Conservatives health Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “My condolences are with the families and friends of people who have died from Coronavirus.

“These figures give a clearer picture of how Covid-19 cases are escalating and the number of people were Covid-19 has been a contributing factor in their death.

“We must all continue to follow official guidelines and do everything we can to protect the people most vulnerable to Coronavirus.”

NHS Lothian sets up staff testing centre at Chalmers Centre

NHS Lothian has transformed one of its health centres into a mass drive-through staff COVID-19 testing centre.

Every day, scores of NHS Lothian staff are being tested in their cars at the Chalmers Sexual Health Centre in Edinburgh, in a bid to reduce unnecessary absence and bolster frontline services.

To date, 670 staff, including doctors and nurses and their household contacts, have attended appointments at the testing station to be swabbed for the virus.

If they have symptoms and are tested within the first 72 hours, a negative result, can end family or self-isolation and allow a return to work if they are well. This is even more valuable to staff who are self-isolating for 14 days because of household contacts who may have symptoms.

Dr Tracey Gillies, Medical Director, NHS Lothian, said up to 160 staff have been tested in a day and of those around 86 per cent had already tested negative for COVID-19.

She added: “Providing access to staff testing is critical. It not only gives our colleagues reassurance, but enables staff, if they feel well enough, to return to work.

“Across NHS Lothian, we have seen fantastic cooperation, flexibility and willingness from all our teams, and this staff testing facility really does encapsulate that. Every single member of staff is doing their bit and for that, I would like to say a huge thank you.”

Regular services at Chalmers have been greatly reduced over recent days and weeks, and as a result, has meant that the centre had quiet areas, with many members of staff who could be re-deployed into different roles.

A massive operation swung into force and the area was quickly transformed into a mass testing centre, with a team of dedicated and expert staff, capable of carrying out hundreds of tests every week and returning results by text message within 48 hours.

Dr Alastair Leckie, Director of Occupational Health Services, NHS Lothian, said the teams drew on the experience and expertise gained from drive-through patient testing which was created out of the Regional Infectious Diseases Unit at the Western General Hospital during the early days of the pandemic.

He said: “The experience we gained from our drive-through patient testing has been invaluable. It helped us to know what was needed to run the service, but crucially how we could make it bigger.

“Our staff have told us time and time again that they want to be at work, helping patients and supporting colleagues. Testing provides reassurance for staff, helping to get them back to work quicker, and reducing unnecessary periods of self-isolation.

“A monumental amount of work has taken place in a very short period of time to provide this service and we are incredibly pleased and proud to see it working. Already we are looking at how we can roll this model out to other locations.”

Staff are told to report symptoms as soon as they first appear and are given an appointment at the testing centre within 72 hours.

They drive to the testing centre in the city centre and follow the signs into the facility, which is based in the car park. They are called forward in turn and a member of the team, in protective clothing, approaches their car. A mouth swab is taken and the staff member is told to drive home.

Dr Dan Clutterbuck, Consultant in Sexual Health Medicine, NHS Lothian, said: “The Sexual Health team are well used to carrying out high volume testing, and I am delighted that we could use these skills, experience and expertise to scale up our staff testing service.

“The model we have developed here is easily replicated, and our team are working with others across the organisation to enable this to happen.”

NHS Lothian ‘under significant strain’

The latest NHS Lothian board papers warn its “total capacity will be under significant strain throughout April and probably beyond” (link).

The papers reveal the estimated cost of dealing with coronavirus for the board and local social care alliances is £80m, but that figure was of 17 March.

Officers from the Royal Marines and British Army are supporting the health board’s executive team as well, it is revealed.

The papers also show that urgent cardiac surgery is now being carried out at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “It is very concerning that NHS Lothian is going to be under such significant strain over the next few months.

“NHS Lothian were already facing significant challenges in delivering service before the Coronavirus outbreak and are now facing even greater challenges.

“It’s welcome during these difficult times that our NHS can call on the help of our UK armed forces.

“The Scottish Government and NHS Lothian must work together during this crisis to support NHS staff to provide the best possible patient care at this extremely challenging time.”

HOSPITAL VISITING SUSPENDED

NHS Lothian has announced that visiting will be suspended to limit the spread of coronavirus and to protect vulnerable patients, as well as staff. This move will come into effect from today.

Visiting will continue in specific circumstances; for example patients receiving end-of-life care, for inpatients in our children’s services and those accompanying partners during childbirth. Visiting arrangements for these groups should only take place following discussions with senior charge nurses or midwives.

Professor Alex McMahon, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Healthcare Professionals, NHS Lothian said: “Across NHS Lothian, Scotland and the UK, we are experiencing profound changes in our daily lives as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19).

“Now, more than ever, we need to work together. To our patients and their families, I would urge you to help us by respecting this difficult decision.”

Professor McMahon added: “I understand that not being able to visit family members while they are in hospital may be upsetting and I would like to assure the public that this decision has not been taken lightly.

“All across the UK, people are being urged to stay at home where they can and to limit social interactions, instead using phone and video calls to stay in touch with family and friends.

“The decision to suspend visiting may be unpopular with some patients and their families, but it has been made to help protect the safety of your loved ones and our staff.”

To stay up to date with the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) advice, visit NHS Inform: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19

A free helpline has been set up for those who do not have symptoms but are looking for general health advice.

This can be accessed by calling 0800 028 2816. The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 10:00pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8:00am – 6:00pm.