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Latest Health News 23 May 08 Whether you have worked in the NHS, been a patient or even volunteered we are keen to hear your stories. Garry Coutts, Chair of NHS Highland, explains: “60 years is an incredible milestone. In my four years as chair I’ve found the pace of change daunting and inspiring. In the constant drive to innovate and improve care for patients we might forget about the changes that have been made to the health of the population and to healthcare. I’d like us to take this opportunity to recognise the difference that has been made by staff, volunteers and patients who have contributed to the NHS.” NHS Highland would love to hear from current and retired staff, patient sand volunteers so we can collect stories to use in displays and in an online record of the past 60 years. We would also be delighted to receive digital copies of photographs to help illustrate those stories. We’d need your permission to use them and ideally a personal narrative of what is in the photograph and what it means to you – perhaps because you were there or perhaps because it speaks of a relative’s service in the NHS. If you would like your story to be told please contact the Communications Team via email info@haht.scot.nhs.uk , in writing to Communications, NHS Highland, Assynt House, Beechwood Park, Inverness, IV2 3BW or by phone 01463 70.
Caithness
Breast Friends The group is
an informal network of experienced breastfeeding mums who are happy to
support and encourage new mums in their efforts to breastfeed. This can
involve visiting in hospital or at home, or simply chatting over the phone
to give the real low-down on how to succeed through the early physical and
emotional challenges that may arise when breastfeeding. To help spread the
word the group has its own website - Fiona Matthews, volunteer co-ordinator of Caithness Breast Friends, said, "Every breastfeeding mum remembers how challenging those first few days and weeks can be. There are not always breastfeeding relatives in the family who can help, so it’s great to have a number you can call to find a mum near you who has been through the same thing. With a new baby it can be difficult to get out of the house to attend the well-established NHS breastfeeding support groups in Wick and Thurso. Caithness Breast Friends aims to fill this gap so that mum-to-mum breastfeeding support is available from day one. The health professionals are trained to give breastfeeding advice and our volunteer mums are there to complement this with solid moral support. No mother should never feel lonely breastfeeding in Caithness... there are loads of breastfeeding mums out there and we can help new mums to find them." The Caithness initiative is a pilot project for a Highland-wide peer-support scheme run by NHS Highland. Karen Mackay, Infant Feeding Advisor for NHS Highland said: “It has been a pleasure working with the peer supporters and staff in this exciting new venture. The Caithness Breast Friends speak from personal experience and have back-up from NHS professionals so it’s the best of both worlds for mums. NHS Highland is committed to improving breastfeeding rates so more babies get the many health benefits of breast milk.” Although almost 60% of babies in Caithness start out breastfed, by 8 weeks old only 33% of babies are still receiving breast milk. The NHS breastfeeding support group meets in Wick every Wednesday at the Henderson Unit in Caithness General Hospital from 12-1pm. In Thurso, mums meet every Friday from 2-3pm at the Community Health Centre on Davidson’s Lane. Experienced breastfeeding mums are invited to get involved by submitting their details to the "Breastfeeding Fone-A-Friend Directory" on www.caithnessbreastfriends.org.uk . The only qualifications required are that you live in Caithness, you have breastfed at least one baby and you are happy to provide moral support to new breastfeeding mums. The directory will be shared among health professionals to help pair up new mums with an experienced mum living nearby. For further details visit www.caithnessbreastfriends.org.uk or phone Fiona on 01847 821014.
11 February 08 Chief Operating Officer Elaine Mead said: “I am delighted that our internal figures show that at the end of December we were able to honour the 18 week waiting times guarantee for the patients of Highland. Every effort has been made to provide local sustainable solutions, due to the distances some patients already have to travel, with the vast majority of patients being able to see a local specialist within Highland. We invested in additional outpatient clinics and all the support services required to enable these, and over the last three months of 2007 we saw more than 1200 extra patients. It has involved a lot of hard work from a large number of staff across the Highlands who have pulled together to improve services for patients and I can’t thank them enough for their hard work. All staff are continuing to work hard to provide even shorter waits for patients and our focus in 2008 will be on bringing waiting times down even further. Our track record should give patients confidence that we will be able to overcome challenges and meet the new target by 2011.” Staff throughout the Highlands have been working extra hard to ensure that the waiting times guarantee is met. Sheena Craig, General Manager for the North Highland Community Health Partnership explains: “All staff in the North have worked tremendously hard over the past year to achieve the success rate in meeting all of our waiting time targets. Since March 2007 more than 70 patients have had their cataract surgery in Caithness General Hospital rather than having to travel to Inverness and, across Highland, patients no longer have to go for an outpatient appointment after they have had cataract surgery, they can be seen by their High Street Optometrist. My thanks go to all the staff who have worked so together so well for the benefit of our patients.” Waiting Times figures are validated by the Information and Statistics Division. The validated figures are due for publication in late February at www.isdscotland.org 26
January 08 Macmillan Cancer Support is working together with NHS Highland and other organisations on a consultation exercise to find out what patients and carers thought worked well and what could be improved. The research is underway and people can take part by phone or by meeting face to face between now and the end of February. Macmillan Cancer Care Nurse Consultant Chrissie Lane said: "We want people to tell us what was important to them. We haven't narrowed down a list of topics. Everyone's opinion counts. We are constantly looking at improving the services in Highland and it's only natural that we would ask the people using them what they would like to happen. It won't take long to pass on your comments and it's all completely confidential. This is important work for the future and we really hope as many people as possible come forward with their suggestions." The research has already been publicised through patient and public participation groups. People can take part by phone, meeting or by sending comments by letter or email. To take part email rd.consulting@tiscali.co.uk or telephone Catherine Smith, Project Coordinator on 01179 424442 31
December 07 Susan Birse, Acting Tobacco Coordinator for NHS Highland, explains: “We hope this policy will improve the health of staff, patients and visitors by protecting them from harmful exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Smoking is one of the biggest causes of disease and early death in Scotland. Research has shown that 70% of smokers want to quit and we think it will be easier for them to succeed when they have fewer opportunities to light-up. However beating an addiction to tobacco isn’t easy and our smoke-free policy goes hand in hand with support for people to stop.” It is recognized that a stay in hospital may be a particularly challenging time and therefore patients are sent details of how to contact their local smoking cessation service to get support and advice on how to remain smoke free during their treatment. Intensive support will also be given to staff and patients who wish to make an attempt to quit. In Scotland in 2004 an estimated 13,473 deaths in Scotland were attributed to smoking, which equated to 24% of all deaths.
3 December 07 The new materials form part of the PDS’s ‘Get it on time’ campaign, launched in 2006 to ensure that all people with Parkinson’s get their medication on time every time in hospital. The charity’s free ‘Get it on time’ washbag contains: a detailed guide including useful tips on how to prepare for a hospital stay, what to prepare and who to talk to, a medication record, a card to put by their bed and tear off reminder slips to alert staff to their Parkinson’s. In addition, the PDS has produced a leaflet: Helping You Complain – Scotland which gives people the information they need to report if something goes wrong (an incident) and to make a formal or informal complaint if they have problems with the timing of their Parkinson’s medication or any other medicines management difficulties during their stay.
Problems with the timing of Parkinson’s medication in hospital can have a significant impact on the experience of people in hospitals. In a survey of Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialists carried out in 2006*, nine out of ten nurses felt that patients with Parkinson’s can experience clinical problems or an extended hospital stay as a result of missed or late administration of their medication.
The ‘Get it on time’ campaign was launched to highlight the issue to staff working in hospitals across the UK and to encourage them to improve the processes they have in place for people with Parkinson’s.
Andrew Sim, Manager for the Parkinson’s Disease Society in Scotland said: “The ‘Get it on time’ campaign has already made a big difference to the lives of many people with Parkinson’s and their families in Scotland. We are sure that these materials will go even further, giving people the tools they need to explain to hospital staff why they need their medication at certain times. The campaign is not about undermining staff working in hospitals – it’s about helping staff understand the complexities of the condition and preventing problems arising. We would urge every person with Parkinson’s living in Scotland to order a free ‘Get it on time’ washbag.”
The ‘Get it on time’
washbag and English complaints leaflet are available to order free of charge
from Sharward Services Ltd, Westerfield Business Centre, Main Road,
Westerfield, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP6 9AB. Tel: 01473 212 115, Fax: 01473 212
114, Email:
pds@sharward.co.uk
28 October
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28 October 07
1 October 07 Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of the Council's Education Culture and Sport Committee added: "We are delighted to see that fewer young people in Highland are smoking and will persist with our education initiatives to ensure this downward trend continues. Any move to prevent young people from starting in the first place can assist us greatly in improving the lives of those in Highland and future generations." More than 1,500 retailers in Highland have been advised of the new legislation, which includes a requirement to clearly display a statutory notice (A3 size) stating: " It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18'. Failure to display this sign is an offence. Powers to enforce legislation is the responsibility of Trading Standards Officers of The Highland Council. The maximum penalty to sell tobacco to a person under 18 is £2,500. Officers regularly visit retailers to provide assistance/advice on best practice to avoid underage sales, such as staff training. Alistair Thomson, Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards, said: "We welcome this new legislation and initially will be providing advice and guidance to retailers to ensure they know their responsibilities. We will be vigilant and will take action when appropriate." Trading Standards Officers carry out covert test purchasing of age restricted products and can now use child volunteers to carry out the test purchasing of age restricted goods. Officers must follow a strict protocol, which requires the volunteers, who must be at least 18 months younger than the age restricted product in question, to always tell the truth to traders and never persuade or coerce them into making a sale. The owner or manager of a business, as well as an employee who sells an age restricted product, may be liable to prosecution for an illegal sale. Earlier this year, there were four convictions in the Highlands following the sale of cigarettes in retail premises to a 14 year old volunteer, under supervision of Trading Standards Officers. The total fines were £500. Retailers who would like advice on the prevention of the sale of age restricted products such as tobacco may contact Trading Standards for more information on 0845 600 4222 (local rate). Members of the public who suspect a retailer of selling age restricted products to children can report their concerns to Trading Standards or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. NHS Highland also welcomed the new legislation. Garry Coutts, Chairman, NHS Highland said: "Smoking has a devastating effect on young peoples lives and their futures. We know that many adults, hooked on smoking, deeply regret having started as teenagers. We certainly welcome this change in legislation as a further action to reduce smoking and minimise tobacco-related harm. Smoking still remains to be one of the biggest single causes of preventable disease and premature death." Evidence that fewer young people are smoking was provided via results of a Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS). It showed that in Highland 5% of 13 year olds said that they were regular smokers compared with 12% of 15 year olds, a significant decrease from 2002 when it was reported that 9% of 13 year olds were regular smokers and 22% of 15 year olds.
It has also been reported that 83% of smokers regret having started smoking
and would not smoke if they had their time again. The Scottish Government has launched the website www.tobaccoagechangescotland.co.uk which contains information for retailers, training guide, FAQ's, the statutory notice, etc, all of which can be downloaded from the website. Also contains helpful information and guidance for young people. |
