Tag: NHS Lothian

Edinburgh Cheer: it’s cool to be kind

Edinburgh’s two major football clubs are setting aside sporting rivalry and coming together in a campaign designed to make Edinburgh the Capital of Goodwill over Christmas. 
 
Edinburgh Cheers is supported by the Edinburgh Evening News and Heart of Midlothian FC, through its Big Hearts Foundation, and Hibernian FC , Hibernian Community Foundation and NHS Lothian through their innovative GameChanger Public Social Partnership.
 
The two Clubs are hosting and supporting a series of events in their respective communities, with many of those being hosted at Tynecastle Park and Easter Road, all designed to harness the power of football to deliver positive social outcomes.
 
In addition, a number of events and initiatives will take place throughout December to help those in the city – young and old – who are homeless, who are suffering poor mental or physical health, or who are isolated or forgotten at this time of year, with NHS Lothian ensuring that important well-being messages are delivered as part of the campaign.
 
The city’s public, private and third sectors will come together to back the campaign with the aim of making Edinburgh a more caring and compassionate city.

The EDINBURGH CHEER campaign has received the backing of the Scottish Government’s Minister for Public Health and Sport, Aileen Campbell, who said: “It is tremendous to see two of Scotland’s biggest clubs, city rivals, coming together to promote such a positive message and to help create such a tremendous spirit at Christmas. Football – our national sport – can be a powerful force for good, and this initiative further highlights the great impact it can have in communities.”

Hearts Chairwoman and Big Hearts Trustee Ann Budge said: “The city’s two major football clubs coming together to lead this campaign will, we hope, encourage lots of people to get behind us to deliver Edinburgh Cheer this Christmas. While the two clubs are fierce rivals on the pitch, off the pitch we share similar values and a similar determination to use football to create better outcomes for people.

“Although we do have lots of passionate supporters, we really are only rivals for 90 minutes three or four times a season. Otherwise both clubs are totally committed to doing what they can for the community and to help the people of Edinburgh.”

Hibernian Chief Executive Leeann Dempster said: “We are delighted to be working with Heart of Midlothian to launch this campaign to make Edinburgh the Capital of Goodwill this Christmas, harnessing the power of football to deliver positive benefits. We are also thrilled that so many other organisations have expressed a desire to support the Edinburgh Cheer campaign, and we hope that supporters and all other citizens will sign up to help make Christmas a little kinder for all the people of Edinburgh.”

NHS Lothian Chief Executive Tim Davison said: “Football is Scotland’s national game, and we know the huge interest there is in the game and the influence that football can have. We are delighted to be working with the clubs on a campaign designed to help the well-being of all the people of Edinburgh, and to work with the Evening News to promote positive health messages.”

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay up-to-date with more Edinburgh Cheer announcements!

 
You can play your part in making our city the Capital of Goodwill this Christmas 
If you can do just one of these things, please let us know you are supporting us and sign up for our Edinburgh Cheer news letter at www.edinburghnews.com for campaign updates
 
Smile and say Happy Christmas 
Traffic warden? Shop assistant? Fellow commuters? Share some festive spirit with the people you meet each day
 
Invite someone new for lunch
Maybe a neighbour who is on their own
 
 Give a little of your time
Sign up for our Edinburgh Cheer news letter and see if you can help a local charity deliver a festive project in your neighbourhood
 
 Spread the word about a good cause
Share it on Facebook and Twitter, tell your friends, and don’t forget to let us know so we can help #edincheer
 
Keep people warm on the streets
Watch out for details of how you can support our sleeping bag campaign for rough sleepers
 
 Wish a Polish neighbour Wesolych Swiat
Or say feliz Navidad to a Spanish friend
 
Bring some joy to a dinner table
Donate much-needed supplies to a foodbank such as the one at your local Tesco
 
Make an older person on their own feel special
Send them a Christmas card through #VintageVibes VIP campaign
 
Sing with us
Join our Edinburgh Cheer choir for communal carol singing. Watch out for details of where and when.
 

Take the Edinburgh Cheer pledge 

#edincheer

NHS Lothian staff: what matters to you?

Staff urged to speak out in new survey

As well as the annual iMatter survey, this year NHSScotland staff experience will also be measured using a new short survey called the Dignity at Work Survey, which is running from 6 November until 27 November. It is designed to measure how staff feel they are treated at work, and will provide important feedback to help shape our workforce strategies and build improvements based on what staff tell us matters to them. Continue reading NHS Lothian staff: what matters to you?

Partnership Centre no more: it’s now Pennywell All Care Centre!

 Pennywell All Care Centre group photo website.png

A £12.1 million health centre in Edinburgh is set to bring increased health and social care services under a new name. North West Edinburgh Partnership Centre will now be known as Pennywell All Care Centre following a renaming competition at Craigroyston Community High School. Continue reading Partnership Centre no more: it’s now Pennywell All Care Centre!

St John’s Hospital children’s services: “no quick fix”

A report by clinical experts has recognised NHS Lothian’s commitment to restoring paediatric inpatient services at an NHS Lothian hospital as soon as possible, but warned there was no “quick fix”.

The review, carried out by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), highlighted the dedication of paediatric teams at St John’s Hospital in Livingston and commended the progress being made. It supported the health board’s decision to temporarily suspend inpatient services in order to maintain safe facilities for children and it said the service should only resume once the extra staff are recruited or trained.

Jacquie Campbell, Chief Officer of Acute Services, NHS Lothian, said: “We are working extremely hard to recruit additional senior staff so that we can reinstate 24/7 services at the site and we remain committed to the service. But so far we have been unable to provide sufficient staffing cover to ensure patients receive a safe service overnight.

“We know this is frustrating for patients and families, but the RCPCH has been explicit in their clinical and expert opinion that this decision was the right thing to do.

“Our overarching strategy remains a commitment to St John’s Hospital and the children’s ward and this has been demonstrated by the significant and on-going investment we have made into recruitment.”

The report was carried out after NHS Lothian invited the RCPCH to review progress following their first evaluation of children’s services overall in 2015.

At that time, the RCPCH said that inpatient children’s services should be retained on two sites – St John’s Hospital, Livingston, and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh – and it was recommended that an additional eight consultants were recruited.

The 32 recommendations from the report were taken on board and wide-ranging rounds of recruitment began to help fill the gaps in the rota. However despite extensive campaigns, the required number of posts have not been filled.

The Paediatric Programme Board, which was appointed two years ago to oversee and decide how best to implement the findings of the original report, is now considering the recommendations from the follow-up report.

The RCPCH said that their initial assessment remains the same, but they understand the increasing difficulties in recruitment has caused the current situation.

The report said: “The report reaffirms that for the population of West Lothian the continued provision of inpatient paediatrics is the right model if it can be achieved with sustainable medical staffing.

“This is not a ‘quick fix’ as demonstrated by attempts to recruit paediatricians and advanced children’s nurses. Until sufficient trained medical and nursing staff are available to provide sustainable overnight care, the current daytime only paediatric assessment and decision-making service should be maintained and strengthened.

“Its opening times should be mapped more closely to activity and it should be supported with strengthened community and transport services.”

NHS Lothian is now developing a longer-term strategy to continue to deliver safe and sustainable services, and maintain and strengthen the current provision of the short stay paediatric assessment unit and review the possibility of extending the opening hours.

Ms Campbell added: “We will be looking at these recommendations very carefully in the context of how we can provide patient services safely.

“I would emphasise that parents are not being asked do to anything differently. Most of the children who currently attend the unit will continue to be cared for as normal. They will either be referred by their GP for an urgent medical opinion or attend with a pre-arranged appointment for treatment, assessment, tests or minor day surgery.”

Children will still be assessed and treated in the Emergency Department at St John’s Hospital at night and weekends.  A paediatric consultant will be available on-call 24/7. If a child needs to be admitted to hospital a transfer to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, will be arranged. Maternity and neonatal services at the hospital are unaffected.

The full report is can be read here.  Continue reading St John’s Hospital children’s services: “no quick fix”

Combustible cladding found, but health chief insists Royal Infirmary “remains safe”

NHS Lothian chiefs have assured the public the Royal Infirmary is safe after panels of combustible material were found during safety inspections at the hospital. The checks were initiated following the Grenfell Tower blaze in London. Continue reading Combustible cladding found, but health chief insists Royal Infirmary “remains safe”

LEAP of joy: pioneering programme celebrates 600th success story

A groundbreaking initiative which helps people overcome their addictions has celebrated helping its 600th graduate. Edinburgh resident Angie Dunn is the latest person to complete the Lothian and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme (LEAP), and she joined staff and NHS Lothian Chair Brian Houston to mark the event.  Continue reading LEAP of joy: pioneering programme celebrates 600th success story

Staying healthy at Festival time

NHS Lothian has some healthcare advice for the city’s summer visitors – and it’s useful for locals too:

Are you visiting Edinburgh for any of the 12 summer festivals, including the Fringe and the International Book Festival? 

The festivals in August are a huge part of Edinburgh’s modern culture and history. Established in 1947, the International Festival has grown significantly year by year, making it one of the most popular events in the world.

Last year, 31,545 people participated in shows on the Fringe Festival, and 2,475,143 show tickets were purchased. The average audience for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo each year is 220,000. For the Festival finale on 28 August, an estimated 250,000 spectators will see around 400,000 fireworks burst into the sky above Edinburgh Castle.

Given the numbers attending, it’s no surprise that some fall ill and we need to treat them. If you are one of these visitors or performers and you become unwell, it’s important for you to know who to turn to for medical advice or attention when you’re away from home.

Emergency care is always free at the point of use. For temporary residents from around the world, if you access any of our services we will treat you first and then sort things out later – you won’t be denied urgent care.

Here we summarise the most popular services you might need to access. For more details see our Festival Health website pages.

Common questions or minor ailments
Your local pharmacy will provide you with help and advice on common health problems, minor ailments and questions about medicines.

If you are from the UK and run out of repeat medication, a pharmacy may be able to help you get a prescription from your own GP practice, or an emergency supply.

Less serious injuries 
For minor injuries (minor cuts/burns, wound infections, sprains and small bone breaks), go to the Minor Injuries Clinic at the Western General Hospital. If you want to check if your injury is suitable for treatment here, phone ahead on 0131 537 3481.

The clinic treats adults and children over one year old and is staffed by specialist nurse, paramedic and physiotherapy practitioners. It’s open every day from 8am – 9pm. The last patient book-in is at 8.30pm, but no appointment is necessary.

Sexual health problems
The Chalmers Centre provides care and advice on sexual health issues, including emergency contraception. For appointments and advice, call 0131 536 1070. For walk-ins, you can attend the Centre between 8:30am and 10am.

GP services
If you are acutely ill and need contact with a General Practitioner (GP/family doctor) that day, you should first phone a local GP practice.

Alternatively, phone 0131 667 3925, where there are a number of additional appointments available during the festivals, between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, from 4 August to 28 August.

Urgent mental health support 
The following are some useful telephone numbers to
Mental Health Assessment Service (MHAS) on 0131 537 6000
Breathing Space helpline – 0800 838 587
The Samaritans helpline – 08457 909 090
Edinburgh Crisis Centre – 0808 801 0414

Out of hours
Need urgent medical advice out of hours, and not sure what to do? Call NHS 24 on 111.

Dental health
For information on emergency dental care, see NHS 24’s website.

Emergencies
NHS Lothian has hospital Emergency Departments at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, St John’s Hospital, Livingston and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. These services are for urgent and emergency situations only.

If at any time you think you need an emergency ambulance for a life-threatening condition, call 999.

A big welcome to Lothian’s temporary residents – we hope you all enjoy the summer festivals!