Tag: NHS Lothian

NHS Lothian thanks big-hearted volunteers

NHS Lothian has paid tribute to the hundreds of volunteers and those who stepped forward to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Volunteer Week kicked off NHS Lothian took the opportunity to thank people from all walks of life who offered help in many different ways when it was feared that the NHS may be overwhelmed by the virus.

The response from hundreds of people keen to help in the early days of the pandemic was overwhelming and around 620 new volunteers bolstered the ranks of the existing community of 494 volunteers.

They went on to become ward helpers, take up a role in shopping and distribution of donations or laundry, or become meet and greet/stop and gel volunteers in sites all across Lothian, dressed in their purple T-shirts.

Fiona Ireland, Deputy Nurse Director, NHS Lothian, said: “It has been quite heartening to see the response from the public, and to welcome so many new faces to our volunteer network.

“Volunteers really do provide so much across our sites – whether it’s helping patients to video call loved ones, transporting personal laundry to pick up points , fulfilling patients’ shopping requests or assisting with meal times – the friendly faces of our volunteers are having such a huge impact on both our patients and staff.

“It seems fitting, that during Volunteers Week, we take a moment to recognise and celebrate the contribution that every single volunteer is making every single day. Thank you for your continued support.

“The pandemic has seen our volunteering numbers swell, there are positive benefits of volunteering, not only for the recipients but for the volunteers as well – it would be a positive legacy of this situation if we were able to sustain this level of volunteering .”

John Naismith, 59, from Edinburgh, began volunteering as a ward helper when the country moved into lockdown. John, a keen fiddle player, often plays to entertain the patients in the ward where he was posted as a helper in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

The engineer and his wife Serena, 59, were both keen to show their support and Serena, a dyslexia specialist teacher, took up a post providing patients with a shopping service in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

John said: “We both felt really strongly that we needed to do something to help and show our support. We thought that the NHS was going to be overrun and thankfully that has turned out not to be the case.

“It has been really rewarding for both of us and we have felt as though we have made a difference.”

Dan Williams, 17, from Edinburgh, was volunteering at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh as a ward helper before the pandemic and continued to help as the virus continued to grow.

The secondary school pupil, who hopes to study medicine, took on an additional commitment as a meet and greet/stop and gel volunteer and has clocked up 100 hours in this role alone so far.

Dan said: “I have been volunteering since before the COVID-19 pandemic began and thoroughly enjoy it. Since school closed, volunteering has helped to provide a sense of direction, the opportunity to see and interact with different people and some structure to my week.

“I’m hoping to study medicine at University, so it is great to spend time in a busy hospital, getting a flavour of what the job might be like.”

Volunteering in NHS Lothian is supported by Edinburgh and Lothian Health Foundation, the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and the Pears Foundation.

NHS Lothian to play key role in COVID-19 vaccine trial

NHS Lothian is set to become involved in a major clinical vaccine trial testing the new Covid-19 vaccine in collaboration with Oxford University and 17 other sites across the UK.

The vaccine study will run at both the Western General Hospital and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

The aim is to enrol approximately 600 Lothian frontline health and social care workers which will include doctors, nurses, emergency department staff, paramedics, care home nurses, porters and domestics to test a new vaccine.

Screening volunteer health and social care workers is planned to begin from next week.

Dr Tracey Gillies, Medical Director, NHS Lothian, said: “We are pleased to be participating in this unprecedented clinical vaccine trial and I would like to thank everyone for their participation in this vital research.

“Their involvement will be essential in the development of a vaccine and this pioneering and important research allows us the opportunity to contribute to the development of a globally approved vaccine against Covid-19.”

The main focus of the study will be to develop a safe vaccine for use across the population.

As part of that, it will investigate the effectiveness of the vaccine, to pinpoint any side effects and to establish if it induces good immune responses against the virus.

To recruit the large number of participants needed for this trial, multiple clinical research sites across the UK are involved in delivering the study. The collaborative effort, led by the University of Oxford, will see vaccinations taking place throughout May and June.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I am delighted that the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow along with NHS colleagues are taking part in the human safety trials for the development of a COVID-19 vaccine by Oxford University.

“Scotland has a long established reputation for medical research, and I would like to thank the research community across the country. The pace of work and the commitment of teams across Scotland has been outstanding and is testament to the world-class research infrastructure and expertise we have here.

“Of course, while the prospect of an effective vaccine developed here in the UK is exciting, there is no guarantee of success and we must continue to follow the guidelines set out by the Scottish Government to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect our NHS.”

Wellbeing ‘Hub in a Tub’ for NHS Lothian staff

NHS Lothian and its official charity partner, Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation, are working together to prepare and deliver wellbeing boxes to NHS Lothian staff working in the community.

The pilot, which is being called ‘Wellbeing Hub in a Tub’, recognises that not all staff have access to the Wellbeing rooms that are being set up across some of the hospital sites and need alternative ways to access support that will make a positive difference to their health and wellbeing during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The boxes are now being sent out and include sleep packs, handcream, lip balm, energy snacks, refreshments, car chargers, headphones, and many other items which will support the wellbeing of our teams in the community as they carry out their day to day role.

They also contain a wellbeing booklet with advice and guidance on how to look after their own emotional and physical health during these challenging times.

Part of a wider staff wellbeing initiative, these boxes have been made possible thanks to funding from Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation through its NHS Lothian Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund, collaboration with NHS Lothian teams, as well as through generous donations from companies including British Airways, Friendly Soap, Doublebase, Cetraben, Hydromol, Diprobase, Epoderm KIND Snacks, RitterSport and BaxterStorey, with Network Rail supporting distribution.

Amanda Langsley, Associate Director of OD and Learning, who has been spearheading the initiative, said: “It was really important for us to acknowledge the important role that all staff are playing during the pandemic and ensure that we were also supporting the wellbeing of our staff in the community.

“We have undertaken a lot of work setting up wellbeing rooms in various hospital sites and we needed to find a way to replicate this as best we could for staff who were unable to easily access these resources. 120 Wellbeing Hub in a Tub boxes will be distributed this week.

“This initiative will then be evaluated to ensure it is having the right impact and to determine the ongoing sustainability of this approach moving forward.”

Director of Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation, Jane Ferguson, said: “Improving health and wellbeing is at the core of everything we do. During this time, staff are under increased pressure and often put their own wellbeing second.

“That is why it is so important that while they are helping us, we help them. This is another fantastic example of everyone coming together to support our amazing NHS Lothian colleagues and we are proud to be part of it.”

Wellbeing Hub in a Tub is part of a range of staff wellbeing initiatives that are being funded by Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation through their NHS Lothian Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund.

These include: supporting the provision of wellbeing rooms with recliner chairs, TVs and appliances so staff can rest, relax and get some much needed downtime, hot meals and drinks to keep staff nourished and refreshed during long and busy shifts, accommodation costs for staff who are self-isolating from their families, and an increased staff listening service offering support to NHS Lothian staff who are under extreme pressure during these challenging times.

Call to restart cancer services in Scotland

Scottish Conservatives Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has called for the Scottish Government to publish an NHS Scotland Recovery Plan to restart services disrupted by Covid-19, particularly cancer services.

In preparation for the Covid crisis NHS Scotland went to great lengths to free up capacity and many services were paused.

Elective surgeries were postponed for three months to free up beds and cancer screening programmes for breast, cervical and bowel cancer as well as some cancer operations were also indefinitely halted.

Now cancer charities have issued a plea to the Scottish government to get cancer services up and running again and the Scottish Conservatives have asked for a plan to deal with the backlog in treatment and operations.

In NHS England cancer treatments restarted over two weeks ago.

In addition, this morning ISD Scotland published figures showing that attendances at A&E services have dropped dramatically since the end of march, due to the measures put in place to respond to COVID-19.

The statistics highlight that during the week of the 3 May only 16,107 people were seen at A&E, compared to 27,845 for the same week in 2019, the previous year, a staggering drop of over 40%. 

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary said: “It is vital that the Scottish Government brings forward an NHS Recovery Plan – a plan to restart our health service, particularly cancer services and operations, in Scotland.

“Over the last two months, in so many ways, people have selflessly put their own needs on hold.

“The A&E figures show that people have been staying away from the NHS meaning many people may be suffering in silence.

“But further delays will mean more patients could have poorer outcomes.

“It is now over two weeks since NHS England restarted cancer treatments, we could too.

“Thanks to the incredible work from everyone who works in our NHS, our health service has not been overwhelmed during this crisis.

“The Scottish Government must publish a plan to deal with the current backlog of operations and treatments and give everyone access to the healthcare they need before it’s too late.”

NHS Lothian welcomes 910 new nurses on International Nurses Day

NHS Lothian has welcomed 910 new nurses and midwives to support the Health Board to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new recruits are made up of nursing staff and midwives and will be working in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the Western General Hospital and St John’s Hospital, Livingstone as well as across the community.

All 910 of the new staff were recruited  through a national effort to boost the workforce during the pandemic and beyond, during the national recovery phase.

One of the new Staff Nurses, Alex Simpson, said: “I’m really enjoying doing my bit to help and the team have been so welcoming and supportive of me.”

Jacqueline Reid, Senior Charge Nurse, said: “What a privilege it is to have all these students volunteer to come and work with us and our patients during the current pandemic of Covid-19. An inspiration to us all.”

Craig Stenhouse, Deputy Chief Nurse for Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Associated Services, said:  “Having the student nurses join our team has allowed us to continue to provide the high level of care we strive for.

“Each of the students I have met so far have been motivated, enthusiastic and excited to start working in their new teams. It is difficult to believe how quickly these new members of staff have become part of our team.”

This year on International Nurses Day NHS Lothian joined health organisations around the world to celebrate the exceptional work preformed every day by nurses and midwives.

Yesterday was the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered to be the pioneer of modern nursing. Whilst the profession had developed considerably since, it continues to evolve in scope and importance and in the range of roles open to the modern nurse.

Gillian McAuley, Nurse Director for Acute Services in NHS Lothian, said:  “One of the biggest challenges  for us right now is making sure we really connect with our patients and their families. It’s an important part of in making sure really outstanding ,compassionate care is  delivered.

“The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can create barriers between us and our patients. A lot of nurses have said can be hard when patients can’t see our expressions, like  seeing us smile and of course it’s not possible for a nurse to  give a bereaved family member a simple hug.

“We’ve had to do a lot of work learning how to show our expressions and emotions through our eyes and using other forms of expression. We’ve done things like creating cards called ‘a hug in a card’ to try and keep that connection with our patients and their families.”

Alex McMahon, NHS Lothian Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals said: “We’ve had to cancel a lot of events we’d been planning to mark International Year of the Nurse but, despite that, we know there has never been a better time to celebrate nursing.

“We welcome our new recruits who know there  has never been a more exciting time to be a nurse. There are  a whole range of specialisms to choose from and nursing remains a profoundly rewarding and fulfilling  profession.”

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “The recruitment of 910 nurses and midwives is very welcome during these exceptionally difficult times.  

“NHS Lothian will face significant challenges after Covid-19 in improving waiting times and getting patients treated and these new recruits will go a long way to overcoming these challenges.”

Scottish Tories: Government must plan to clear backlog of operations

The Scottish Conservatives have called for the Scottish Government to publish a plan outlining how they will clear the backlog of operations created while the NHS concentrates on Covid-19.

The call comes as the latest figures show that the number of planned operations for March this year in Scotland has fallen over 30% compared to March last year.

In addition, the number of cancelled operations for the same month has almost doubled to 15% compared to March 2019.

The Scottish Conservatives have said that it is understandable that the NHS has been prioritising Covid patients but the Scottish Government must outline a plan to clear this backlog and ensure there isn’t any avoidable suffering beyond the pandemic.

3,429 operations were carried out in NHS Lothian during March 2020, a decrease of 1,875 from 5,304 in March 2019 – a decrease of 35%.

The percentage of cancelled operations has more than doubled compared to March 2019, with 21.3% of operations cancelled in March 2020, compared to 9.9%.

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary said: “Our NHS has rightly diverted time and resources to tackling Covid-19 and we wouldn’t expect anything else.

“But the dramatic reduction in hospital operations is not without cost and must be reversed as soon as possible.

“The Scottish Government must put a plan in place to clear these operations or Covid could cause even greater suffering.

“Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak SNP Ministers were failing to meet their own waiting times targets.

“It is clear that for many patients the wait to get the treatments and operations they need is going to be significantly longer.

“I am enormously grateful to everyone working in our NHS right now – the Scottish Government must plan now so doctors and nurses can continue to save lives now and in the future.”

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.