To protect patient safety the Health Secretary has delayed the move of patients, staff and services from the existing Royal Hospital for Sick Children to the new site at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, which was due to take place next week. Continue reading New Sick Kids Hospital: MOVE HALTED
Scotland’s first health board-led Green Health Strategy has been published by NHS Lothian, Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation and greenspace Scotland.
Greenspace is often described as ‘our natural health service’, with a growing body of research evidence showing its positive benefits for physical and mental health and wellbeing.
The Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace and Health Strategic Framework was prepared by greenspace scotland, on behalf of NHS Lothian and funded by Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation.
The strategy aims to fully realise the potential of the NHS Outdoor Estate and community greenspaces as a community health asset benefiting patients, visitors, staff and communities. It covers a range of Green Health activities, including community and therapeutic gardening, health walks, green prescriptions, Branching Out and Green Gyms, as well as greening the NHS outdoor estate and encouraging access to greenspace close to where people live.
Brian Houston, Chair of Lothian NHS Board, said: “We are increasingly recognising the role and importance of therapeutic interventions in greenspace on our health and wellbeing.
“For several years, the Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation has provided grants to support therapeutic gardening and the development of community gardens at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Midlothian Community Hospital.
“We have seen the benefits of these projects for patients, staff, visitors and the wider community – and we recognise the potential to achieve much more through a coordinated and strategic approach. The Greenspace and Health Strategic Framework will play a key role in guiding and shaping our work with partners to realise our vision of Longer Lives, Better Lived through our GreenSpace – Lothian’s Natural Health Service.”
Joe FitzPatrick, Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, said: “Green spaces play a vital part in improving our physical and mental health. They provide people with many opportunities to be physically active, and to enjoy the benefits of contact with nature – such as going for a walk, taking part in a gardening project, or active play.
“Last year we published a comprehensive Physical Activity Delivery Plan, setting out a wide range of actions to support and encourage people to be more active, more often. I welcome NHS Lothian’s Green Health Strategy as a valuable contribution to that aim.”
Julie Procter, Chief Executive of greenspace scotland, said: “Studies repeatedly show the positive impact that greenspace can have on our quality of life and particularly on health and wellbeing.
“Greenspace really is our natural health service: a daily dose of green space could be just what the doctor ordered to keep us active and provide tonic for the soul!
“We were delighted to work with NHS Lothian and a wide range of partners from across the NHS, local councils, voluntary organisations and community groups to develop a clear vision and plan for how the NHS outdoor estate and local greenspaces can improve the health and wellbeing of people across the Lothians.”
The Strategic Framework sets out a Vision of Longer lives, better lived through our GreenSpace – Lothian’s ‘natural health service’, underpinned by a delivery programme with clear priorities for action.
The Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation has provided grants to Cyrenians, TCV and Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust to support early action on new green prescribing schemes, the development of community gardens and active green travel routes.
A Green Health Programme Manager is being recruited to lead the delivery of the Green Health Strategy.
To read more about the Green Health Strategy click here or to find out more about GreenSpace Scotland here
Congratulations to the 22 young interns aged 16-29 who graduated from the Edinburgh Project SEARCH programme this week.
Each intern has successfully completed nine months of work experience at the City of Edinburgh Council or NHS Lothian to improve their employability and skills confidence. Project SEARCH is a transition programme for individuals aged 16-29 years who have additional needs when they are beginning new careers. Continue reading Celebrating Project SEARCH
Homelessness projects are today the focus of over £3 million in National Lottery funding, set to increase third sector led provision, helping prevent Scots losing their tenancies and becoming homeless. Continue reading National Lottery delivers funding support to tackle homelessness
The new Sick Kids hospital – or, to give it it’s official title, The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People – will open at 8am on 9th July. Continue reading New Sick Kids to open on 9th July
The men in nursing network at Edinburgh Napier University are holding a networking event tomorrow (Friday 17th May) at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Continue reading Men in Nursing: have a coffee at The Royal
The Chalmers Gender Identity Clinic recently set out to create a resource which would provide information to people who were exploring their gender identity or had been referred to the clinic. Continue reading Chalmers Gender Identity Clinic produce information video
” … right care, at the right time, in the right place” – Cllr Ricky Henderson, Chair of Edinburgh Integration Joint Board.
Edinburgh Residents are being asked to comment on a “bold new vision” for way the city delivers health and social care services. The Edinburgh Integration Joint Board has launched an online consultation as it seeks feedback on its new draft Strategic Plan.
The high-level vision – which intends to rapidly influence the way services are delivered by the NHS and City of Edinburgh Council – proposes the creation of a bespoke ‘Edinburgh Model’ for collaborative health and social care, placing Edinburgh’s communities and citizens at its heart.
Developed in collaboration with patients and their families, voluntary groups and care workers, the draft plan seeks to tackle inequality and concentrate resources at a local community level rather than in hospital settings.
Through a range of measures, the strategy intends to create the right conditions for the EIJB’s existing systems to evolve over the next three years and beyond so that it can provide the city with a “radically more modern, inclusive and sustainable offering”.
Residents are being asked to what extent they agree with the vision and its aspirations which include developing a:
Chair of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, Ricky Henderson, said: “At its heart, the strategic plan sets out our desire to support people to be well at home, and in their community, for as long as possible. Providing first class acute hospital care only when medical intervention is needed, and the right care, at the right time, in the right place.
“Age, disability or health conditions should not stop people living a safe and good life and so our approach aims to work with individuals and their carers to see what matters most to them and support them to reach their goals. Everyone also deserves to live as comfortably and independently as they can, and by working towards a ‘home first’ method, we hope to empower people and communities to make these choices where they can.
“To do this, we need input from everyone who is touched by health and social care services in Edinburgh and we need to work collaboratively with our partners to optimise available resources. I urge people to take part in the consultation and have their say.”
| How can I take part in the consultation?
You can take part online through the consultation hub. A number of specific drop in events will also take place with staff, members of the third sector and EIJB stakeholders.
What is a ‘three conversation’ model’? The Three Conversations Model is proving successful as an approach to health and social care and is expanding fast. The conventional approach to care triages people, attempts to divert and connect the level of support required, and then too often makes people wait for an ‘assessment for services’. To move away from the idea that the task is to process people, complete unwieldy documents and presume the need for formal services, the Three Conversations Model offers three clear and precise ways of interacting with people that focus on what matters to them. It is a radically different approach which recognises the power of connecting people to the strengths and assets of community networks, and the necessity to work dynamically with people in crisis. It is focused on improving the experience of people and families needing support, and in so doing, improving the satisfaction, fulfilment and effectiveness of those working in the sector, whether they be health care professionals, volunteers or carers. The Three Conversations Model not only improves the experience of service users but is popular with those working in the sector and can lead to a significant reduction in recurring funded support. What is the Edinburgh Model? Essentially, we believe people are experts in their own lives, so our aim is to work with individuals and their carers to identify what matters most to them and support them to reach their potential. We will introduce the Edinburgh offer to redefine the services and support that we offer to Edinburgh’s people. It will concentrate on supporting and enabling people to be as independent as possible. We will engage our citizens in a more active and collaborative way. People who find themselves needing our support will know how to engage with us and realistically what to expect from that relationship. It will be an explicit statement of our intent and mutual expectations, with greater definition on the kind of contract we wish to have with Edinburgh’s citizens. What is a ‘home first’ approach? Under a Home First approach, Integration Joint Board staff would work closely with colleagues in the community and in social care to plan for a patient to return home from the first day they arrive. Some patients may not need any help when they get home, but for those who do, Home First would make sure the right support is in place. Patients would be seen at home within hours and receive an assessment by a Home First Team, made up of community nurses, therapists and social care professionals. Every patient would have a personal care plan and this may include therapy, goals, support for carers, any equipment they may need and self-help advice. It helps patients to get home quicker and helps them to lead independent lives, with the support they need. |
The length of time people are waiting for care assessments in the Capital has fallen by almost 50% under the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB), (writes its Chair, Councillor Ricky Henderson). Continue reading Health and social care: An improving picture but more needs to be done, says EIJB Chair
NHS Lothian has contacted patients who had heart aortic valve replacement operations at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in the last six months to advise them of a possible infection risk. Continue reading Royal Infirmary patients contacted about possible infection risk
