Tag: NHS Lothian

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.

Briggs: Health Secretary ‘misled Scottish Parliament’

On Tuesday this week, Miles Briggs MSP asked Jeane Freeman MSP what her response was to concerns raised by the former chair of NHS Lothian regarding the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.

http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12568&i=113612

The Cabinet Secretary for Health stated: “I stress that, on 4 July, I took the decision to halt the move. Mr Houston next met me on 18 July. At no point in the intervening period did he – the chair of a major NHS board – feel that it was incumbent upon him to contact me, as the cabinet secretary, to discuss what might have gone wrong or what should be done next and where the board should be involved.”

It has since transpired that the Cabinet Secretary for Health was contacted by Mr Houston by email on 12 July, despite Parliament being repeatedly told otherwise.

The Scottish Government have refuted that Parliament had been misled on the grounds that the email by Mr Houston did not refer to specific issues.

The correspondence from Mr Houston referred to the “RHCYP/DCN situation” as well as assurances that himself and the board were handling the situation and an offer to meet for a 1 to 1 chat prior to the meeting on the 18th July.

Scottish Conservative Health Spokesperson, Miles Briggs, said: “It truly beggars belief that while Jeane Freeman was answering allegations of lying, she misleads the Scottish Parliament.

“The Health Secretary’s transparent attempts to smear Mr Houston have been exposed for what they are.

“The truth is that Jeane Freeman simply refuses to take responsibility for the mess at the Sick Kids hospital and continues to blame everyone but herself.

“It is clear that Mr Houston did attempt to contact the Cabinet Secretary for Health prior to the 18th July, but was ignored by her, as he has been since Ms Freeman took up the post.”

Children’s mental health services ‘creaking at the seams’

  • The NHS in Scotland failed to meet a maximum 18-week waiting time target for children and young people to receive treatment from mental health services
  • More than a third are waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment.
  • 11 out of 14 health boards, including NHS Lothian, failed to meet the 18-week waiting time target.
  • 272 children and young people waited more than a year prior to being seen
  • Coalition calls for fundamental rethink and renewed focus on prevention and early intervention, including embedding mental health within education.

Latest waiting time figures have reinforced the call by a coalition of leading independent and third sector children and young people’s service providers for dramatically increased investment in mental health services in the budget to address the current mental health crisis.

It has also called for an urgent need for transformational change in services, focusing on prevention and early intervention in order to tackle what is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time.

The call from the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), which campaigns to improve services for vulnerable children and young people, comes as the latest waiting time figures from the Information Services Division, part of NHS National Services Scotland, highlight that thousands of children and young people are failing to treated within a Scottish Government waiting time target.  

With an increasing number of children and young people being identified with mental health problems they also highlight a postcode lottery for mental health treatment across the country.

Covering the quarter October to December 2019, the figures highlight that 3,884 children and young people started treatment at specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in this period.

The NHS in Scotland, including 11 of the 14 regional health boards, failed to meet the Scottish Government 18-week waiting time target for children and young people to receive treatment from CAMHS. This target should be delivered for at least 90 per cent of patients.

While 66.4 per cent in the NHS in Scotland are being seen within this 18-week waiting time, still in itself far too long, more than a third (33.6 per cent) are failing to be seen within this period.

Individual health boards failing to meet this target are: NHS Fife (66.1 per cent), NHS Ayrshire & Arran (89.9 per cent), NHS Grampian (80.1 per cent), NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (68.9 per cent), NHS Highland (75.2 per cent), NHS Lanarkshire (57.8 per cent), NHS Lothian (48.4 per cent), NHS Tayside (57.4 per cent), NHS Dumfries & Galloway (88.6 per cent), NHS Shetland and NHS Forth Valley (57.7 per cent).

The figures also indicate that 272 children and young people in the October to December quarter had been waiting for more than a year prior to being seen for treatment, an increase from 204 in the previous quarter and a considerable increase from the  same quarter of last year (108).

Mental health services are creaking at the seams due to greatly increasing demand, as evidenced by these waiting time figures. Research indicates that 10 per cent of children and young people (aged five to 16) has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem (around three in every classroom), with 50 per cent of mental health problems established by the age of 14 and 75 per cent by the age of 24.

While acknowledging the great efforts the Scottish Government is making, such as an additional £250 million of funding announced in the Programme for Government of 2018, the SCSC has called for the Scottish Government to greatly increased investment in CAMHS and for a more consistent approach to delivering these services across Scotland. 3

It has also called for a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention for those with mental health problem, reducing the need for referral to under-pressure specialist CAMHS.

This includes embedding mental health within education from an early age in order to strengthen knowledge and awareness of mental health, as well as reducing the stigma associated with mental health.

SCSC says emotion and resilience classes should be provided to all students from primary one to teach students how to work through their emotions in a healthy way and there should be a whole-school approach, with training for all staff involved in education and providing counselling support.

A spokesperson for the SCSC said: “These latest waiting time figures highlight that we desperately need increased investment in the forthcoming budget to address this situation. The simple fact is that we are continuing to fail thousands of children and young people with mental health problems, and more clearly needs to be done to address this epidemic.

“These newly released figures highlight that the NHS in Scotland, including eleven of our health boards, are failing to meet what is already a lengthy waiting time. Yet we know that three children in every classroom has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem.

“There must be a radical transformation of our mental health services, with a focus on preventing such problems arising in the first place and intervening early, especially when we know that half of all mental health problems begin before the age of 14.  This includes embedding mental health within education from an early age as well as providing training for all staff involved in education.

“With mental health and the issues associated with it representing one of the greatest public health challenges of our time, we must ensure that children and young people are able to get the care and support they need, when they need it. This includes investing in greater community support and support at school, reducing the need for referral to specialist CAMHS.”

One in three young people in the Lothians are waiting over a year for mental health support.

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative Lothian MSP, said: “It is deeply concerning that we are now in a situation where over a third of young people referred for mental health support in NHS Lothian are having to wait over a year.

“SNP Ministers have allowed us to reach crisis point by not properly managing NHS Lothian’s workforce and must take responsibility for neglecting to take action over the mental health crisis amongst young people.

“These figures show just how urgently we need an additional 40 whole time equivalent mental health professionals in NHS Lothian.”

Coronavirus: ‘Drive through’ testing introduced

Testing arrangements for coronavirus are being expanded across Scotland. 

Health boards are implementing a range of different methods for people in their areas to access testing. This ranges from testing in contained areas at local health centres, to community testing in the home, and ‘drive-through’ testing in some areas.

NHS Lothian is the latest health board to introduce ‘drive through’ testing, where patients with mild symptoms drive themselves to a contained area of the Western General hospital for testing, enabling them to avoid public transport or walking.

However the drive-in initiaitve is NOT for self-referalls.

Dr Tracey Gillies, medical director at NHS Lothian, stressed: “This service is for patients who have been assessed by the specialist team so it is an appointment-only service. It is not a drop-in clinic and it is important to stress that patients cannot be seen without an appointment.

“The drive-through facility and the community testing teams allow us to test patients without them coming into healthcare facilities. Patients will be referred on by their GP or NHS 24 if they are at risk of the virus and meet the clinical criteria.

“They will then be referred on to our teams, who will decide whether they need to be tested in their own homes or if they are well enough and can use their own transport to drive to the Western General Hospital.”

Other boards are running community testing, which allows people to be tested in their own home where appropriate. This involves staff from public health teams attending people’s homes in protective suits to provide testing, and offer advice to anyone displaying symptoms.

It follows the introduction of specialised coronavirus screening laboratories in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said: “Although all test results have come back negative so far, it is only a matter of time before there is a positive case in Scotland. 

“Our priority is to ensure testing facilities are available across Scotland, so we have asked health boards to explore options for people in their area depending on their needs. Methods of testing will be different depending on factors like population and geography.

“Scotland is well-prepared to deal with coronavirus. We need the public to help contain spread by keeping themselves informed of the latest health and travel advice, and taking basic hygiene precautions such as hand-washing, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and binning the tissue straight away.”

NHS England news release on drive through testing

The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland are well-prepared to deal with a potential coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and are working with the UK Government, Wales and Northern Ireland to publish a coordinated response.

In the coming days the four nations will jointly publish an updated action plan on the response of the health care system and the public to coronavirus. The document will outline the steps that will be taken to manage coronavirus if there is a sustained epidemic.

The Scottish Government is also participating in the UK wide launch of an updated public information campaign this week. It will feature posters and social media adverts to reinforce the importance of hand-washing, for 20 seconds or more with water and soap, to prevent the spread of the virus.

In addition, the Scottish Government has:

• stood up its Resilience Room (SGoRR) with both Ministers and officials meeting regularly to ensure the country is prepared
• participated and engaged in UK Government COBR activity
• developed emergency regulations to ensure coronavirus is a notifiable disease
• implemented a training programme and trained Scottish Ambulance Service staff to support the transport of patients that may be infectious
• established two laboratories in Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) to manage an increase in testing
• delivered face masks to GP practices as a precautionary measure
• developed and issued guidance to clinicians as well as sector specific information to schools, universities, ports and airports to ensure members of the public are alerted to the latest clinical information
• established a dedicated helpline within NHS 24 to provide members of the public with the opportunity to receive information and discuss concerns
• developed an online resource via NHS Inform that can be accessed 24/7

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “In Scotland we have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues and while all tests have so far come back negative, it is highly likely that we will see a positive case soon as coronavirus continues to spread around the world.

“As part of our efforts we are working with the UK Government, Wales and Northern Ireland to publish a coordinated response in the coming days.

“Staff across the Scottish Government, its agencies and key partners are stepping up work to deal with the potential consequences of a coronavirus outbreak. This includes prioritising key activity to keep Scotland running should the situation change, but also to ensure that all sectors can play their part in managing the response.

“Led by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, our clinicians and Health Protection Scotland are working closely with their counterparts across the UK to guarantee a consistent and joined up approach.

“We will continue to ensure we are as prepared as possible for the likelihood of coronavirus cases in Scotland and will continue to work with health boards, local authorities and other governments across the UK in ensuring that plans and preparations are in place to respond.”

The UK has 23 confirmed cases – none so far in Scotland – but there are warnings more will inevitably follow.

Don’t Sit Still!

Young at heart get active with chair-based exercise

Active Communities March 2019

Edinburgh Leisure’s Ageing Well programme, working in partnership with Steady Steps, an NHS community-based health referral programme, has launched a new chair-based exercise class in a new locality at the Queensferry Sports & Community Hub. 

Running every Monday, from 11.45 am – 1.00 pm, the class launched on Monday, 3rd February with eight people attending and more participants expected over the coming weeks.

The Ageing Well Project, run by Edinburgh Leisure in partnership with NHS Lothian, delivers a range of city-wide activities which support people to become, and remain, active in later life.

The emphasis is on meeting new people and making physical activity accessible and enjoyable. Each session is followed by refreshments and time for that all-important chat and a cuppa.

Steady Steps is run in partnership with NHS Lothian and delivers group exercise sessions to people who have had or are at risk of having a fall with the aim of preventing future falls and injury.

There is scientific evidence that the exercise used in the sessions help to increase endurance, strength, flexibility and balance. The classes are delivered in a safe environment and can be adapted so no exercise is too easy or difficult for any individual.

Michael McLaughlin, Specialist Health Instructor at Edinburgh Leisure said: “These classes will act as a pathway for those attending Steady Steps, so they have a class to continue on to.  It will mean that they don’t undo all the hard work they have put in when they have been attending the 16-week Steady Steps programme for 1.5 hours each week.

“We’re also hoping to welcome any other older adults in the community looking to be active.  No specialist equipment or workout gear is required.  Just wear lose, comfortable clothes and trainers or soft-soled shoes.  It’s such a great opportunity to make new friends too and of course, socialise over tea and biscuits afterwards.”

A donation of £2 is welcomed for the class.

Interested?  Just turn up at the Queensferry Sports & Community Hub, 30 Ashburnham Road, Queensferry, South Queensferry EH30 9JN

Family Nurse Partnerships celebrate tenth anniversary

The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) programme celebrated it’s 10th birthday last week with special guest Nicola Sturgeon.

The First Minister, who initially helped launch the programme in Scotland ten years ago, attended the event in the Edinburgh Corn Exchange to meet many of the mothers and staff who she first met back then.

The First Minister said: “The Family Nurse Partnership is really close to my heart. We know that for any woman becoming a mum is a life changing experience but for young, first time, mums it can present particular challenges and the whole point of the Family Nursing Partnership is about helping young mums to overcome those challenges.

“It really helps mums and dads to give their children the best start in life and in my opinion it’s probably the best investment we can make as a society.”

FNP focuses on helping young, first time, mothers and their families to provide responsive, sensitive and positive parenting. It also helps them to develop self-efficacy to both identify and achieve their future goals.

Laura Wilson, 26, from Edinburgh, who was one of the first mothers to join the programme back in 2010 said: “Pam, my first Family Nurse, was willing to let me take things at my own pace and encouraged me to bond with the baby.

“Shortly after Caitlin was born I changed Family Nurses to Trudy, but honestly she was so nice and couldn’t have done a better job.

“She helped me to have the confidence to get out of an unhealthy relationship, which allowed me to be happier and to be a better parent.

“She also saw potential in me to help other parents in the community to breast feed. I received training and that allowed me to apply for my first job in the NHS as a clinical support worker and I’ve been there for six years now and I’m currently studying towards a HNC in care.”

In 2010 NHS Lothian became the first health board to provide this service in Scotland. In March 2015, Nicola Sturgeon announced Edinburgh city (as part of NHS Lothian) had been formally recognised as the first city in the world to have achieved delivery of a concurrent FNP service to all eligible clients. Since then the service has expanded to cover all of Lothian.

Val Alexander, the original FNP Supervisor for NHS Lothian, said: “Our first clients showed us that they wanted to become the best mums they could be for their children. Last night they evidenced that they had achieved their goal.  The first children of FNP now age 8-9 years presented as happy, confident and inspiring to all who attended.”

The programme was first developed 40 years ago in the United States of America by Professor David Olds and the University of Colorado. It has shown to improve pregnancy and health behaviours, reduce child abuse and neglect, increase maternal employment and economic self-sufficiency and reduce closely spaced subsequent pregnancies.

Since the initial introduction in Scotland the programme has continued to grow; for example the service was initially offered to mothers 19 years of age and younger where now it supports mothers from 21 years of age and younger. From 2015 NHS Lothian has supported NHS Borders to implement the FNP programme and in 2019 similar arrangements were put in place to include NHS Dumfries & Galloway.

Dorothy-Ann Timoney, FNP Supervisor, said: “We remain proud of our FNP programme in Lothian and as we strengthen and focus on quality improvement for our service we continue to value the ongoing feedback from the staff, clients and their families.”

Free Training Opportunity: Getting the Balance Right: Physical Activity and Healthy Eating

This course provides participants with the information, confidence and tools to support their client group to put healthy eating and physical activity recommendations into practice to improve health and wellbeing. 

WHERE AND WHEN

Tuesday, 17 March: 09:30 – 16:30

Chancellors Building

Seminar Room 1

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, EH16 4SA

WHAT

Participants will have the opportunity to: 

·        Gain an understanding of the policy context relating to food and health, physical activity and mental wellbeing 

·        Gain an understanding of current eating and physical activity patterns in Scotland. 

·        Increase understanding of the definitions, key messages around food & health, physical activity and the links to mental wellbeing. 

·        Increase awareness of barriers to healthy eating and physical activity & raise awareness of behaviour change. 

·        Understand risk factors and benefits associated with healthy eating and physical inactivity 

·        Be aware of national and local initiatives and resources for promoting healthy eating, physical activity and mental wellbeing 

·        Reflect on learning and how it will inform professional practice. 

This course is provided free of charge by NHS Lothian Health Promotion Service. 

Book your place through Eventbrite HERE

John Brennan | Senior Health Promotion Specialist (Physical Activity) | NHS Lothian Health Promotion Service | R4008 Canaan Park  Astley Ainslie Hospital 133 Grange Loan Edinburgh EH9 2HL |  ( 0131 537 9419 È07776 225 778