Tag: NHS Louisa Jordan

One million Scots vaccinated

Milestone reached as programme gathers momentum

More than one million people at greatest risk from Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland have had their first dose of the vaccine.

The landmark of one million was reached on Wednesday 10 February. 69 year old John Loch from Bearsden was among those vaccinated on the day the milestone was reached. The retired businessman received his first dose at NHS Louisa Jordan in Glasgow.

The programme has now reached more than a fifth (22%) of the 4.5 million people who will be offered a vaccine.

The biggest vaccination programme ever undertaken is now moving at pace through the 70-79 age group following the opening of new mass vaccination centres at Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) and P&J Live in Aberdeen and other large sites across the country.

The programme remains on track to complete first doses for all those in this age group by the end of this week. Those aged 65 and over are also receiving invitations for their appointment.  

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “This is an important milestone in the biggest vaccination programme ever delivered in Scotland and I would like to thank everyone involved and all those who have taken up their offer of a vaccine.

“We have now given first doses to more than a million people in the groups which were prioritised to address 99 per cent of preventable deaths associated with COVID-19. These include elderly care home residents and staff, frontline health and social care workers and those who are at risk of serious harm and death from this virus.

“Scotland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme is delivering ahead of our expectations. Our aim is to vaccinate as many people as possible with both their first and second doses as quickly as possible but the speed at which we can do this depends on supply and we expect a dip in supplies UK wide towards the end of this month.

“We hope to see a significant drop in the disease due to the vaccination programme, however this will take a number of months to evaluate fully. In the shorter term, we are monitoring the uptake rate but we also have a comprehensive surveillance system in place to monitor outcome of vaccine efficacy and disease reduction.

“Each health board is working hard to get the vaccine into people’s arms as quickly as possible, and everyone eligible will be offered the vaccine as we work our way through the priority groups.”

 “We continue to urge everyone to take up their appointment when they are offered one. The vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and the important lockdown restrictions everyone in Scotland must follow. All these measures work to greatest effect when they work together.”

John Loch said: “I am delighted to have received my vaccine, particularly on the day Scotland reached a million doses. It is exciting to be a part of this milestone moment.

“I would like to thank all the staff at the Louisa Jordan for being so reassuring and making the process so simple and straightforward.”

NHS LOTHIAN VACCINATION FIGURES

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said yesterday: “It is positive that we have seen the number of people vaccinated increase by over 50% since the introduction of mass vaccinations centres last week.

“There are some concerns that NHS Lothian is behind other health boards in the percentage of people vaccinated, but it is important that we keep up the momentum.

“The sooner the people who are most vulnerable to Covid-19 are vaccinated the sooner we can get pupils back to school and reopen the economy with confidence.

“A huge thank you to all NHS Lothian staff working tirelessly in getting the vaccine rolled out and to members of the public for keeping social distanced to suppress the virus, whilst vaccines are rolled out.”

Super Saturday at Louisa Jordan

Mass clinic vaccinates 5,000 staff at NHS Louisa Jordan

More than 5,000 health and social care staff were vaccinated at NHS Louisa Jordan today as part of a mass vaccination drive by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. 

The operation saw a team of 95 NHSGGC staff working in close collaboration with NHS Louisa Jordan staff to deliver up to 500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine per hour over the course of the day. 

Located at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC), a total of 65 vaccine stations have been mobilised, utilising the large floor space at NHS Louisa Jordan to ensure a rapid turnaround in a safe environment. The first injection was administered at 8:45am, with the last vaccination targeted for 7:30pm. 

Across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde an additional 2,350 staff are being vaccinated over the weekend at different sites.

The rapid rollout will help ensure a well-trained workforce is in place and processes are well developed to deliver the wider national vaccination deployment plan which will see 400,000 people across Scotland receive jags each week by the end of February. 

In line with the national plan, once the vaccine has been offered to all eligible health and social staff within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Louisa Jordan will play a key role as a vaccination hub for the general public.

Members of the public will be informed when they are eligible to book an appointment for a vaccine.

Dr Linda De Caestecker, Director of Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Today’s mass clinic at NHS Louisa Jordan is testament to the careful planning and professionalism of all the staff involved and I’d like to thank everyone who has made this possible.

“This will play a crucial role in preventing the harm caused by this virus and keeping our vital staff safe to care for patients across healthcare settings.

“While Saturday marks a significant milestone, much work is yet to be done. The rates of infection remain very high in this area and vaccination must work alongside other measures if we are to suppress the virus. Everyone must remember to follow the FACTS and to avoid social mixing in order to save as many lives as possible.”

Health Secretary, Jeane Freeman, said: “To have 5000 vaccinations taking place at NHS Louisa Jordan in a single day is testament to the hard work of all the staff at the hospital and I want to thank each and every one of them for their part in the roll-out of the biggest vaccination programme ever undertaken in Scotland.

“The vaccine offers us hope and as we vaccinate more and more people that hope becomes more real. 

“On its own, it won’t be enough to win the race against this virus. Our testing programme is crucial. In addition, each one of us needs to follow the guidance, abide by the restrictions, wash our hands, wear face coverings and maintain 2m distance from others. If we all play our part to suppress the prevalence of the virus, then vaccination can do the job we need it to do. 

“Doing all of this will protect us, protect the NHS and save lives.”

NHS Louisa Jordan facility stands ready

Construction work has been completed at the NHS Louisa Jordan hospital at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) in Glasgow. From today (Monday 20 April), the hospital will be equipped and clinically ready to treat patients during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, if required.

It is hoped the hospital will not be needed thanks to the public’s continued efforts to stay at home and the other measures that are being taken to increase the number of NHS Scotland beds.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I want to offer my sincere gratitude and thanks to the contractors and NHS Scotland staff who have come from across Scotland to work tirelessly to transform the SEC into the NHS Louisa Jordan. You are an inspiration to us all.

“The decision on patients being accepted at the NHS Louisa Jordan will be reviewed on a regular basis. I hope this facility will not be needed as, alongside the public’s continued efforts to stay at home, NHS Scotland has already taken steps to increase the number of NHS beds.

“The exceptional efforts of everyone involved in creating NHS Louisa Jordan during this unprecedented public health emergency will ensure this national facility will be able to treat patients from across Scotland, helping to save lives and protect our NHS.”

Chief Executive of NHS Louisa Jordan Jill Young said: “Building the NHS Louisa Jordan has been an incredible effort. It has been a privilege to lead the project and I want to thank all those who have come from across the country to help us establish this national facility.

“The hospital stands ready to treat patients from across Scotland in a safe, effective and compassionate way, if required.”

The First Minister announced on 30 March that the NHS Louisa Jordan would be established to help ensure NHS Scotland has extra capacity to treat patients during the coronavirus (COVID-1) pandemic.

The hospital was named after Glasgow born First World War nurse Sister Louisa Jordan who died on active service in Serbia in 1915 as part of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals for Foreign Services.

The hospital has a capacity for an initial 300 patients and this can be expanded to more than 1,000 beds. 1036 bed bays have been built at the hospital.

First Minister visits NHS Louisa Jordan facility

The First Minister has praised the dedication of the NHS Scotland staff and building contractors working to establish the NHS Louisa Jordan.

During a visit to the NHS Scotland medical facility at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, the First Minister said their efforts will provide reassurance to people across Scotland and if required, ensure that the NHS has extra capacity to treat patients.

Construction work began on turning the SEC into the NHS Louisa Jordan on Tuesday 31 March. Since then:

  • 23,000 square metres of flooring have been laid
  • partitions between the beds have been constructed, creating more than 1,000 bed bays
  • more than 8,000 pieces of medical equipment have been ordered
  • 35,000 metres of network cabling have been laid for the nurse call system
  • 135,000 metres of cabling for lighting and power sockets have been laid
  • a new bespoke system to ensure oxygen supply to every bed has been put in place with 1,400 medical gas outlets.

The First Minister also urged people across the country to stay at home over the Easter weekend to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The First Minister said: “Everyone involved in establishing the NHS Louisa Jordan deserves our sincere thanks. They are working tirelessly under extremely challenging circumstances to build a unique national facility.

“While I still hope that it will not be needed, the NHS Louisa Jordan will help our NHS to prepare and provide people with reassurance that we have measures in place to help treat people during this pandemic.

“I urge everyone in Scotland to continue to follow the social distancing advice and to stay at home. By following the social distancing measures, they can help to slow the spread of COVID-19, save lives and protect our NHS. If they do this, the NHS Louisa Jordan will not need to open.”

The NHS Louisa Jordan is an NHS Scotland-run medical facility. It will have an initial 300 beds which could expand to hold more than 1,000 patients if required.

Jill Young, former Chief Executive of the Golden Jubilee Hospital at Clydebank, has been appointed Chief Executive of the temporary hospital.

The facility is named after Sister Louisa Jordan, a First World War nurse who died on active service in Serbia in 1915 while providing much-needed care to an area of dire need as part of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals for Foreign Services. Born in Maryhill, Glasgow, Louisa Jordan signed up to the war effort in December 1914 while working as a Queen’s nurse in Buckhaven, Fife.