Tag: NHS Lothian

Another £12 million to health boards for emergency care

The Scottish Government has released £12 million in additional funding to health boards across Scotland to support non-COVID emergency care.

This immediate action will help put measures in place to reduce waiting times for urgent or emergency treatment, with a focus on boosting staffing levels and available beds.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We are acutely aware that hospitals are facing significant challenges due to a rise in non-Covid attendances and that some health boards are taking necessary measures to protect urgent and emergency care capacity.

“This £12 million will support them to do so. We are working closely with those Health Boards experiencing the greatest challenges to ensure the funding delivers the improvements required.

“Our NHS staff continue to work tirelessly to respond to the pandemic whilst providing vital non-Covid treatment and safe patient care. Any reductions to service will be short term to ensure those of most critical need have immediate medical attention. Urgent treatment, including vital cancer treatment will continue during this challenging period.”

Chief Executive of NHS Lothian Calum Campbell said: “Hospitals across Scotland are dealing with the pandemic, while seeing an increase in non-covid patients arriving at their doors.

“We are grateful to the Scottish Government for working with us to ensure everyone who needs urgent or emergency care is prioritised – such as vital cancer treatment or accident and emergency care for life-threatening conditions.

“This funding will be vital in helping to provide extra staffing and bed capacity to further enhance improvements in unscheduled care and support delivery of the NHS Recovery Plan.

“NHS Lothian will use this funding to increase beds in the community, relieving pressures on acute hospitals, and to support staff in treating patients as quickly as possible.”

The public can do their part to help the NHS by considering options closer to home when they need medical attention.

Advice is available online at NHS Inform, or they can contact their GP practice or visit their local pharmacy who can help and prescribe treatment.

They can also call NHS 24 on 111 if they can’t wait for their GP practice to open, or they think they need emergency treatment which is not life-threatening.

Edinburgh Park mass vaccination centre welcomes final patients

Edinburgh Park’s mass vaccination centre will welcome its final patients this weekend as the site prepares for closure on Sunday.

The mass vaccination centre, based within the Royal Bank of Scotland’s former Younger Building, will close this weekend, having seen thousands of patients come through its doors.

Over the last four months, since the site opened on Monday 1 March, the vaccination team has administered 82,595 doses of the lifesaving vaccine.

NHS Lothian is now in the process of moving to a more flexible delivery model and will utilise more mobile and surge vaccination clinics.  This will allow the board to target people who are still to receive their jab by making it as easy as possible to be vaccinated.

The decommissioning of the site will begin on Monday (12 July). Those in the west Edinburgh area wishing to visit a drop-in clinic at a mass vaccination centre can do so at the Royal Highland Showground.

Airport buses have been temporarily diverted to allow passengers to be dropped off directly outside Lowland Hall.

The Edinburgh Park site will still welcome both appointments and drop-ins until closure.

Pat Wynne, Nurse Director of Primary and Community Care, NHS Lothian, said: “The site at RBS has played a key role in the vaccination programme so far and we are really thankful to our team who made it work so well. I would also say thank you to Royal Bank of Scotland for cooperation throughout the site’s operation.

“Anyone wishing to be vaccinated from Monday can do so visiting one of our four mass vaccination drop-in clinics across the region, which are continuing to operate.

“This weekend (10 and 11 July), we will be running our mobile vaccination clinics with the Scottish Ambulance Service at The Centre, Livingston (Sat), and Fort Kinnaird Shopping Centre (Sun).

“These are open to everyone over the age of 18 for first vaccination, and for those who are due their second vaccination having waited eight weeks.”

More opportunities to get “Jagged in July”

Mobile vaccination timetable extended

The vaccination bus run by NHS Lothian and the Scottish Ambulance Service will operate this weekend to reach as many over 18s as possible.

The mobile unit is visiting shopping centres in West Lothian and Edinburgh as the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme nears completion of first doses for all adults in Scotland.

Meanwhile, every mainland health board continues to offer daily drop-in clinics where people can attend for their first dose or – if eight weeks have passed – their second dose.

Anyone who would prefer a scheduled appointment can continue to self-register with NHS Inform if for any reason they have not yet had their first inoculation.

Visiting the vaccination bus in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nicola Steedman said: “The vaccination programme has been a huge success and it is great to see so many people taking advantage of the mobile units.

“I want to thank NHS Lothian and the Scottish Ambulance Service for their help in adding this option to the programme and, of course, every single person involved in the roll-out in Scotland.

“Our route out of this pandemic is getting as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible, that is why we are urging people to get jagged in July. We are currently working our way through the remaining people in the 18-29 year old group and would welcome them at the vaccination bus if they want to pop in while they are out shopping or walking.

“If the mobile unit isn’t near you, remember you can attend one of the drop-in clinics being run in all mainland health boards. You can also rearrange the location of your appointment online if, for example, it is more convenient for you to be vaccinated closer to your work than home.

“All of the evidence says that the vaccines are working as we continue to battle the faster-transmitting Delta variant which is now dominant so I urge everyone to take advantage of the vaccination programme which is open to every adult in Scotland.”

NHS Lothian Director of Nursing for Primary and Community Care Pat Wynne said: “The mobile unit is rolling out across Lothian to help us reach into communities and take the lifesaving vaccine to them.

“It is a great boost to our vaccination programme and will complement the drop-in clinics that are already running at our mass vaccination sites and in local, smaller clinics.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to get their COVID-19 vaccination because we know how crucially important it is. I would encourage anyone who is near these locations this week, and is yet to be vaccinated, not to miss the bus and come forward.”

Scottish Ambulance Service Clinical Governance Manager Keith Colver, said: “The Scottish Ambulance Service, in partnership with local Health Board colleagues and local authorities, has provided mobile vaccination clinics in the heart of communities across Scotland and since launching the service in Perthshire, feedback from the public who have attended one of our drop in clinics has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Over the next two weeks we would encourage anyone aged over 18 who has yet to receive their first vaccination, or had their first vaccination over eight weeks ago, to take the time to drop into a mobile clinic.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Scottish Government in developing the mobile vaccination service and rolling it out to other areas of Scotland, helping to vaccinate as many people as possible against Covid-19.”

Vaccination bus locations this weekend:

Friday 9 July and Saturday 10 July – Almondvale Shopping Centre, Livingston

Sunday 11 July – Fort Kinnaird Shopping Centre, Edinburgh

Remember you can also get a jag without an appointment at Craigroyston Community High School from 8:30 – 4pm until Sunday.

Scotland is still expected to move to level zero on 19 July, with remaining legal restrictions lifted on 9 August, but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon conceded yesterday that case numbers are worryingly high and that the planned dates are not “set in stone”.

The First Minister will be holding a media briefing at lunchtime today:

NHS Lothian given £27 million in extra COVID funding

NHS Lothian has been given £27 million in extra COVID-19 funding from the Scottish Government as part of a £380 million package allocated to health boards across Scotland.

This comes on top of the £1.7 billion already provided to health boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships last year.

The additional funding includes ongoing support for the vaccination programme, the Test and Protect system, and personal protective equipment for health and care workers.

SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald MSP said: “NHS Lothian has been under incredible pressure during the pandemic, not only will this additional funding support the health board with its efforts to treat patients but it will also play a role in supporting our NHS in its remobilisation programme as we come out of the pandemic.

“It is essential that our health services can be on a sure footing as we re-emerge from the pandemic and other services that have been disrupted can restart smoothly.

“This is a demonstration again that the only party in Scotland that can protect Scotland’s NHS is the SNP.”

 Covid Funding (£m)
NHS Ayrshire and Arran                   13.7
NHS Borders                     3.4
NHS Dumfries and Galloway                     4.9
NHS Fife                   11.6
NHS Forth Valley                   10.1
NHS Grampian                   16.2
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde                   45.8
NHS Highland                     9.8
NHS Lanarkshire                   25.9
NHS Lothian                   27.0
NHS Orkney                     0.7
NHS Shetland                     0.7
NHS Tayside                   13.7
NHS Western Isles                     0.9
National Waiting Times Centre                     3.9
Scottish Ambulance Service                   17.4
The State Hospital                     0.3
NHS 24                     2.7
NHS Education for Scotland                     1.8
NHS National Services Scotland                156.3
Healthcare Improvement Scotland                     0.4
Public Health Scotland                   12.6
Total                379.6

City council leaders urge caution as COVID cases continue to climb

Council Leaders have urged people to take care and carry out regular testing as COVID cases remain high in the Capital.

The appeal follows yesterday’s announcement by the First Minister, in which she called for “renewed care and vigilance” at this critical moment. This week, Edinburgh and the Lothians recorded the highest number of COVID cases in Scotland.

In response to the high numbers, several community test centres have opened around the city over recent weeks. Free COVID tests are on offer for people who don’t display any symptoms, aiming to break the chain of transmission by catching asymptomatic cases which could still be infectious.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “The city is beginning to open up, returning a sense of normality to our daily lives, but we really must continue to take care by continuing to wash hands and using sanitiser regularly and physical distancing when out enjoying all our city and its businesses has to offer.

“With the weather still getting better, continuing to meet up with friends and family outdoors where possible can help drive the numbers down and keep the freedoms we’re starting to enjoy again.

“Regular testing is vital too if we are to catch and isolate cases, and I would urge everyone to make use of community test centres and order your free home testing kits to check if you could have COVID even if you don’t have symptoms.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “Over the last 15 months we’ve all worked really hard to minimise the impact of the COVID virus, and I’d like to thank everyone for their patience during this time.

“That’s why it’s crucial that we don’t let our guard down now so I would encourage everyone to take up their vaccination when offered. We need to keep following the rules put in place for good reason, as well as getting tested when possible, to reduce the rising case rate and to ensure we can enjoy a more ‘normal’ summer.”

Community test centres are open for people with no COVID-19 symptoms:

  • Walk-up mobile testing unit, Heart of Midlothian Football Club, Wheatfield stand accessed via Wheatfield Street/Place, until Sunday, 11 July
  • Drive though mobile testing unit at Hibernian Football Club, in the car park behind the east stand accessed off Albion Place/Hawkhill Place until Sunday, 11 July
  • McDonald Road Library until Saturday, 3 July – test pick-up available
  • Wester Hailes Library until Saturday, 3 July – test pick-up available
  • Fountainbridge Library from Monday, 5 July to Saturday, 10 July – test pick-up available
  • Drumbrae Library Hub from Monday, 5 July to Saturday, 10 July – test pick-up available

Find out more about Council services during the pandemic on the Council website.

Read more about the daily COVID vaccination uptake online.

NHS Lothian passes one million vaccinations milestone

An Edinburgh student has received NHS Lothian’s one millionth COVID-19 vaccine. Orken Simsek, 20, received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Royal Highland Showground’s Lowland Hall on Monday 28 June 2021.

He said he was excited to receive the vaccine because it would help give him increased protection from COVID-19 when he went on holiday later in the summer.

Orken is part of the cohort 12, which is now being invited to take part in NHS Lothian’s COVID vaccination programme.

The programme, which began with staff vaccinations at Edinburgh’s Western General on Wednesday 9 December 2020, has now seen around 600,000 vaccinated across the region as part of the fight against COVID-19.

Orkan1.jpg

Pat Wynne, Director of Community Nursing, NHS Lothian, said: “This is an important milestone for NHS Lothian and it is great that so many people have now come through our doors.

“It has taken a lot of work to get to one million mark and I’m really proud of all the effort from all of our teams. It is also great to see younger people now receive their vaccine as the programme enters its final stages.”

The millionth vaccine comes as NHS Lothian launches drop-in centres for all over-18s across the region.

From today (Wednesday 30 June) anyone over the age of 18 and living in Lothian can receive their first vaccination immediately at any mass vaccination centre. 

Those who have already received a first vaccination can receive their second as long as they received a COVID vaccine at least eight weeks before.

This development comes after NHS Lothian successfully launched drop-in vaccination clinics for over-40s over the last month. Those wishing to keep their appointment time can still do so at all of NHS Lothian’s vaccination clinics.

Mr Wynne added: “To celebrate our millionth vaccine, we are opening up all our mass vaccination clinics to all over-18s with immediate effect.  This will let us accelerate our programme and allow as many people as possible to get vaccinated without having to wait for their appointment.

“This means that we are able to target everyone over 18 who doesn’t have an appointment or were unable to attend the appointment they received, for whatever reason.

“It will help us administer more vaccine to more people to help give them some protection, which is obviously vital to help beat new variants and keep people well.”

People will be seen on a first come, first served basis when the centre opens at 8.30am and runs through until 5.30pm. More information can be found at: 

https://www.nhslothian.scot/Coronavirus/Vaccine/Pages/Drop-in-clinics-under-40.aspx

NHS Lothian’s vaccination programme is part of a multi-step approach in the fight to overcome COVID-19.

There are a number of steps member of the public can take to make the vaccine programme as successful as possible. These include physical distancing when out in public, hand washing and taking part in community testing.

Dona Milne, Director of Public Health, NHS Lothian, said:  “As the restrictions begin to ease and the list of things we can do begins to increase, it’s tempting to think that it’s safe.

“The virus is still around us and it doesn’t mean that these things can be done without face masks, handwashing and social distancing. We cannot afford to return to normal just because we want it so badly. Lives may depend on it.

“We know that the weather is better and people want to get together and mix with friends, especially outdoors. As our worlds open up these things are allowed, and as we know outside is always safer, but we still need to think about maintaining our distance and wearing face masks when we can’t.”

Drop-in vaccinations from tomorrow at RBS Younger Building

NHS Lothian are opening a drop-in vaccination clinic for people aged 18-39. The new clinic opens tomorrow at 8.30am – 5.30pm at the RBS Younger Building at the Gyle.

You don’t need to be registered with a GP to get your vaccine at a drop-in clinic.

You can get your 1st dose, or your 2nd dose if it’s been more than 8 weeks since your first.

Meanwhile clinics for over 40s are still running as normal.

The news comes as the latest grim figures were released. 3285 new cases of coronavirus were reported in the past 24 hours – another new record – representing 12.6% of the total tests that reported results.

For more information, including how to get there, visit :

http://ow.ly/Dtsx50FjNeW.

NHS Lothian trials new technology to help manage COPD symptoms

A new tool to help patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) better manage their condition is being trialled by NHS Lothian’s Midlothian Community Respiratory Team (MCRT) in collaboration with Health Innovation South East Scotland.

COPD affects approximately 120,000 people in Scotland and is the second most common reason for emergency hospital admissions.

The Dynamic Scot project (remote physiological monitoring) allows patients to monitor their condition from the comfort of their own home through a digital service that can be accessed via a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Patients are prompted each day to log on and answer questions about their symptoms and how they are feeling. This encourages them to self-manage their symptoms with the option to seek advice when needed via the messaging service. In the longer term this can flag up early signs of deterioration in their condition and help predict if they are at risk of hospitalisation.

Claire Yerramasu, Advance Practitioner Physiotherapist and lead clinician for the MCRT pilot, NHS Lothian (above) said, “COPD is the third most common cause of mortality world-wide and is a major healthcare problem.

“The prevalence of this condition is rising in the UK along with other parts of the world and we therefore need to come up with innovative ways of ‎better monitoring and supporting these patients.

“So far, I have received nothing but positive feedback from the patients currently trialling this new technology.”

Carmel Thompson, one of the patients in the trial said: “Using the online tool makes me think about the variability of my daily symptoms and how I am managing them and because of this I am more confident to wait longer to see if my symptoms resolve before using my rescue medications.

“The service gives a good level of basic information for those who are willing to engage with it and the daily questions are very easy for me to do routinely in the morning.”

Another patient also trialling the new tool, Charlotte Sweeney explained that, “I have found the service useful for recognising my symptoms and knowing what to do and when. It is reassuring to have the messaging service to be able to contact someone with questions and queries.”

Many health services have changed how they work as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and have experimented with digital platforms. Through this approach, a whole host of benefits have been experienced including  giving patients back more control of their care, allowing them to fit their healthcare needs around their lifestyle and reducing the amount of time that they need to spend travelling to attend hospital appointments.

Dr Gourab Choudhury, Consultant Physician, Respiratory Medicine in NHS Lothian said: “We are delighted to be trialling this technology here in Lothian. It is simple to use and patient friendly and the feedback that we have had so far has been really positive.

“We hope to further expand the role of virtual platforms to other areas in Lothian through this technology and similar others in the coming months.”