NHS Lothian – Page 68 – The NEN

NHS Lothian seeks your views on services for young people

NHS Lothian is looking for children, young people and parents to give their views on the services it will provide for children and young people from now until 2020.

A public consultation on the organisation’s draft strategy, ‘Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Lothian’s Children and Young People’, is now underway and will run until 17 January 2014.

The consultation documents and a short questionnaire are available on the NHS Lothian website and have also been sent to the four local authorities and to voluntary organisations that work with children and young people.

NHS Lothian’s vision is that every child should have the best start in life and grow up being healthy, confident and resilient.

The draft strategy and approach has considered the changes that may be made to services in anticipation of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill coming into effect and should allow the Board to respond to this while maintaining high quality healthcare services for children and young people.

The priorities identified in the strategy include a focus on prevention, more integrated working across services and the building of a high quality replacement for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Sally Egan, Associate Director and Child Health Commissioner, NHS Lothian said: “We provide a wide range of services for children and young people, from conception through the life stages, helping them grow up to become confident healthy people. For those young people that need ongoing specialist help we need to ensure a smooth transition to adult services.

“We want to make sure that our vision and outcomes for the next six years fit with those of the Scottish Government’s 20:20 Vision and are areas the people of Lothian want to see us focusing investment and resources on. I hope people take this opportunity to give us their views.”

The consultation documents can be accessed online at: http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/Consultations/Current/Pages/default.aspx

By email: candypstrategy@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk, or alternatively by phoning, 0131 465 5549 to request a copy.

You can also complete the survey at the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NHSLothianCandYPStrategy

Who’s your health hero?

Celebrating Success Awards- Health Hero category open!

NHS Lothian’s Celebrating Success Awards mark the inspiring and truly amazing work that takes place across health services in Lothian each day.

The Health Hero category encourages the people of Lothian to get involved. This is an opportunity for you to nominate for a health care worker or team who has been exceptional in their line of work. It may be someone who has constantly provided help to others or it may be someone that has made a positive change to a patient’s life. This is your chance to say thank you.

All shortlisted entries will be invited to attend an evening award ceremony, where our winners will be presented with their award by our special guest.

This year’s ceremony will be held on 24th October.

We are looking for someone who:

Is constantly supportive and helpful to others
Goes the extra mile
Is outstanding in what they do
Is approachable to both patients, colleagues and others
Professional in their line of work
Focuses on patients’ needs
Shows genuine understanding and care for patients.

If you know someone who you think is your Health Hero then nominate them by completing the nomination form and submiting it by email to:

celebrating.success@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

or by post to:

Celebrating Success Team

NHS Lothian, 2nd Floor, Waverley Gate,

2-4 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EG.

Tips for writing your nomination:

If you are completing this form by hand, please use block capitals
You can submit as many nominations as you wish – please use a separate form for each entry
Please provide your contact details.

Deadline for all nominations must be received by 30th August 2013

For further information call 0141 578 1779.

Homeothapy no more for NHS Lothian

NHS Lothian will cease to provide homeopathic services following a meeting of NHS Lothian’s board on 26 June. The decision followed recommendations made by the Healthcare Governance Committee and is in line with the recent survey results of the homeopathy public consultation.

The consultation and survey, led by the Midlothian Community Health Partnership, asked whether NHS Lothian should pay for homeopathic services in Lothian. The survey results showed that 72 per cent of all those who responded were against the service continuing to be funded by NHS Lothian with 27 per cent in favour of the status quo and 1 per cent undecided. The results also showed that people who lived in the NHS Lothian health board area responded similarly, with more than 74 per cent against the health board continuing to pay for homeopathy and approximately 25 per cent in favour.

Professor Alex McMahon, Director of Strategic Planning, Performance Reporting and Information, NHS Lothian said: “We have consulted the public and listened to their views and the survey results are clear in showing that the majority of people who took part are against us continuing to provide homeopathic services. The majority of respondents cited lack of evidence for homeopathy and supported investing the funds currently spent on this service into other proven healthcare services.”

In total there were 3,720 responses to the questionnaire, which include 3,350 electronic and 367 paper responses.

There are approximately 200 new referrals each year to the homeopathy service with 1300-1500 return appointments. Approximately 20 new referrals are received per annum from other health boards.

The initial report detailing the consultation process and survey results is available at:

http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/Consultations/Past/Homeopathy/Documents/NHSLothianHomeopathyConsultationReport.pdf

It provides a breakdown of returns both online and paper copies as well as by Lothian residents, non Lothian residents and those who chose not to indicate where they lived.

Edinburgh College students guaranteed NHS employment

Edinburgh College Health and Social Care students will soon be guaranteed employment on successful completion of their course, thanks to a new partnership with NHS Lothian.

The NHS NC in Health and Social Care will be delivered at Edinburgh College, where students will learn a high standard of care to be job-ready for employment in the NHS and social care sectors.

The ground-breaking course is the first of its kind at the College to offer a guaranteed position for graduates who successfully complete the course, giving them a head start in the Health and Social Care industry. Course topics will include psychology and sociology as well as mental health, health promotion and understanding older people.

Mandy Exley, Edinburgh College Principal, says: “This course is yet another example of Edinburgh College’s commitment to producing students who, on completion of their studies, are well trained and highly employable. We are pleased to be working in partnership with NHS Lothian in training the healthcare professionals of the future.”

Melanie Hornett, Nurse Director, NHS Lothian, said: “We are committed to working with communities to support local people into employment. This innovative partnership provides individuals with the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills needed to compassionately care for the people of Lothian in our hospitals and communities.”

To apply for the course, applicants must have a minimum of four passes at SCQF Level 5 (SVQ2, Intermediate 2 or Credit Standard grade) including English. Adults without formal qualifications will also be considered however they will need to demonstrate their ability to work at Higher Level.

Students who complete the course successfully and have a satisfactory college reference are guaranteed entry level employment within NHS Lothian, as long as they meet the essential criteria of the post.

For further course information, please visit www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk.

19/06/2013

NHS Lothian urges parents to protect their children from MMR

NHS Lothian has written to the parents of all children and young people aged between 10 and 17 in Lothian who are not fully protected against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) to invite them to bring their child for vaccination.

Health records show that, across Lothian, around 9,000 children and young people in this age group have not started or completed the MMR vaccination. Two doses of the vaccine are required to provide full protection. NHS Lothian is running a catch up campaign for this age group following the recent outbreak of measles in Wales and England.

Lothian traditionally has very high rates of uptake for the vaccine which is usually given as part of the childhood vaccination schedule. However, uptake rates amongst 10 to 17 year olds in some parts of Lothian have been lower.

Measles is a very infectious virus that causes a fever, cough and rash but can also cause serious problems including blindness and encephalitis (swelling of the brain).

Letters have been sent to parents this week inviting them to make an appointment for their child at their GP surgery to receive the vaccination.

Professor Alison McCallum, the Director of Public Health and Health Policy at NHS Lothian, said: “Measles, mumps, and rubella are preventable by two doses of the MMR vaccine. I would encourage parents and young people to take up this invitation and ensure that all children and young people are fully protected from these three diseases.”

For more information visit NHS Inform (www.nhsinform.co.uk) or speak to your GP.

Free stress control sessions at Royal High School

Hospitals to become smoke-free

NHS grounds to be completely smoke-free by 2015 under new Scottish Government plans

In a move to promote smoke-free environments and healthier lifestyles, patients, visitors and staff will no longer be able to smoke on NHS sites. Under the plans, people who smoke will be offered advice and support to help them not to smoke during hospital visits as well as access to specialist smoking cessation services for those wanting to quit. NHS Boards will be required to implement and enforce smoke-free policies across their grounds by March 2015.

Health Secretary Mr Alex Neil (pictured below) said: “This Government has ambitious plans to reduce the number of people choosing to smoke. To this end, we want to build on the ban on smoking in public places, which was introduced seven years ago this week, by ensuring that our hospital grounds become smoke-free.

“We know that smoking is extremely harmful to health and causes in excess of 13,000 deaths per year in Scotland. The toll of smoking on our nation’s health cannot be underestimated. Creating smoke-free hospital grounds sends out a powerful message that every visit to our health service is an opportunity to promote and improve people’s health.

“We all know how unpleasant it can be to walk through a cloud of smoke in order to enter or leave a building. These measures will help to ensure that we create a healthier environment for people who use, visit and work in our health service. That is why we believe staff, patients and visitors will support and respect this decision and refrain from smoking until off-site.”

In 2005 the Scottish Government issued guidance on smoking policies for the NHS, local authorities and care providers which gave NHS boards the power to ban smoking on their premises. The new measures will not apply to mental health facilities, which have an exemption to allow the provision of designated smoking rooms under the original smoke-free legislation.

Spring into a healthy Easter!

People living across the Lothians are being encouraged to put a “spring” in their step this Easter by preparing ahead for the holiday period.

The NHS Scotland Be Ready for Easter campaign is advising people to take a few simple steps to look after their health. By making sure they have a supply of over the counter medicines , knowing when their GP surgery is open and checking their repeat prescriptions, they can ensure they make the most of the Easter holiday weekend.

This year many GP surgeries across Scotland will be closed for up to four days from Good Friday (March 29) to Easter Monday (April 1).

NHS 24 Medical Director Professor George Crooks said: “After winter, Easter is the busiest time of year for Scotland’s health services. The Be Ready for Easter campaign wants to remind people of the small steps they can take to ensure illness doesn’t ruin their Easter.

“Being prepared by having enough repeat medication to cover you and having some simple home remedies available can make all the difference if illness strikes. It is also important to plan ahead for any required repeat prescriptions over the Easter break, so please order and collect in good time. We would also remind people of the wide range of health information available at NHS inform.”

Dr Alison McCallum, Director of Public Health and Health Policy, NHS Lothian said: “Although many GP surgeries will be closed at Easter, hundreds of GPs will be working throughout this period supporting out of hours services. Taking a few simple steps to be ready for the break means illness need not spoil the Easter break.”

The four key steps that Be Ready for Easter recommends this Spring are:

Restock your medicine cabinet if needed
Common ailments such as colds can often be effectively treated at home with readily available medicine such as pain relief, cough mixture and cold remedies. Parents are reminded to restock their medicine cabinet with child-friendly remedies.

Use your local pharmacy
Your pharmacist can offer advice or help if you need over-the-counter remedies or have run out of any prescribed medication. You can also pick up plasters and antiseptic creams to prepare for any minor accidents.

Make sure you have enough repeat prescription.
If you or someone you care for requires medicines regularly, make sure you order and collect repeat prescriptions in good time to ensure you have enough medicine to last over the holiday period.

Know when your GP surgery will be open
Your local doctor’s surgery may be closed for up to four days during the Easter weekend from Good Friday to Easter Monday (March 29 – April 1).

General advice and information on how to stay healthy this Easter can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88.

GPs to encourage patients to get active

Family doctors are set to help patients get healthier by highlighting the many benefits of physical activity. New ‘brief interventions’ will ask patients about their levels of physical activity and offer advice and follow-up support if appropriate, in the same way as already happens across the NHS for smoking and alcohol.

GPs and health professionals in six health board areas – including NHS Lothian – will encourage adults to get active in a bid to tackle a range of health problems, as physical inactivity contributes to nearly 2,500 premature deaths every year in Scotland and can cause heart disease, stroke, obesity or depression.

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Sir Harry Burns recommends five periods of 30 minutes of moderate activity a week, 60 minutes for children under 16.

The year long pilot will embed the importance of physical activity in the NHS and initially focus on those who can benefit the most from being more active, such as people with chronic ill health, long term conditions or older people.

Speaking on a visit to Strathesk Medical Practice in Bonnyrigg, Sport Minister Shona Robison said: “Getting active is easy, simple and the most effective way to better health, reducing the risk of a multitude of conditions like heart disease, obesity or depression. Any activity, like walking, gardening or cycling, is better than none and makes you feel happier, less stressed and more energised. This is not about telling people to take more exercise, but health professionals offering advice to people who can get the most benefit, most quickly, ultimately reducing the need for further treatment and improving their lives.”

Dr David White, the Scottish Government’s Physical Activity specialist, said: “Regular physical activity really is man’s best medicine, providing a far greater range of health benefits than any medication. It’s been shown internationally that GPs and their teams offering accurate assessment alongside appropriate advice or brief intervention is both cost- and clinically-effective in helping patients become more active. The National Physical Activity Pathway, developed by NHS Health Scotland along with GPs, is a simple and effective resource to make a real difference.”

John Gillies, Chair of Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland, added: “Increasing physical activity is a simple, cheap and highly effective way of both staying healthy if you are well, and reducing the health risks of many chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. It works at any age. RCGP Scotland is happy to support this initiative, which will give GPs vital information on how to help patients increase activity and improve their health.”

Margaret Burns, Chair, NHS Health Scotland, said: “NHS Health Scotland know that three in five adults are not physically active enough to benefit their health and that getting active will increase life expectancy by almost a year. The cost to the NHS in Scotland alone of certain diseases resulting from physical inactivity is around £94 million every year and across the cost to the Scottish economy as a whole, far, far greater. That is why NHS Health Scotland, in partnership with Scottish Government and Royal College of General Practitioners, are supporting to staff motivate people to get active in their own way. The learning from the pilots will then be used to inform NHS practice across the country.”

The direct cost of physical inactivity to the NHS in Scotland is around £94 million per year.

The Chief Medical Officer’s latest Annual Report highlighted that the total annual costs to the Scottish economy of physical inactivity could be in the region of £660 million.

Research shows that brief advice/interventions for physical activity are a clinically proven and extremely cost effective method of improving physical activity within primary care.

The Active Scotland website provides information on local physical activity opportunities.

LEAPing on to pastures new

Stockbridge-based LEAP (Lothians and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme) is moving to a new home in Morningside next week.

NHS Lothian’s community based rehabilitation programme is vacating its current Malta House home as the building and land is being sold, and from 11 February LEAP will provide its addiction service in newly refurbished and newly-named Woodlands House, within the Astley Ainslie Hospital site. The building was formerly used by Napier University as a health studies college.

LEAP will occupy two floors of a wing in Woodlands House and staff from other services – including Spittal Street Centre, The Learning Disability Service and the Primary Care Facilitation Team – will also relocate to the three-storey building in the next few weeks.

Dr David McCartney, Clinical Lead at LEAP, said: “It’s a very exciting time for LEAP, having just celebrated our 300th graduate from the Programme and with the prospect of moving into a new and bigger facility. We obviously will be sad to leave Malta House as this is where LEAP first began but the move will allow us to continue to help and support our patients on the road to life changing recovery.”

LEAP is a demanding and intensive 12-week course for people dependent on substances who are motivated to achieve alcohol and drug free lives. It operates seven days per week and offers people structured activities including group work, workshops, presentations and education and training while recreation and relaxation classes also form part of the programme.

LEAP is funded by NHS Lothian and three local Alcohol Drug Partnerships and is operated in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council and Access to Industry (Transition).