A healthy year for NHS Western Isles NHS Western Isles presented a positive picture of health at today’s Annual Review in the Town Hall, Stornoway. The event covered progress made by NHS Western Isles with regard to national targets (such as waiting time targets and infection control targets), as well as achievements and challenges over the past year. This year’s review focused strongly on quality of care for all patients, and measures the local health board has taken to ensure that the theme of ‘quality’ runs through every service and development. Presenting the year’s progress were Chair, Neil Galbraith, and Chief Executive, Gordon Jamieson. Service developments Three of the most significant service developments over the past year - the new orthopaedic service, new out of hours service and paediatric service - were highlighted during the event. Mr Jamieson described the organisation’s orthopaedic service pilot in 2012 as having been ‘outstandingly successful’. He highlighted that in 2011/12, 314 orthopaedic patients had been treated locally, in 2012/13, 456 patients had been treated locally and in 2013/14, the Board is anticipating that 570 people will have been treated locally by the end of the year. The new orthopaedic service, which has resulted in the appointment of two orthopaedic consultants, has now been implemented on a permanent basis. “The new orthopaedic service has led to a big increase in the activity locally,” said Mr Jamieson. “It is a priority for us to do as mush safely and effectively here in the Western Isles as we can.” The Board’s new out of hours service was also highlighted as a positive development by NHS Western Isles, and was also welcomed by a member of the public attending the review. The new out-of-hours service model is a service without Junior Doctors in Training on site out-of-hours (between 8pm and 8am). Overnight unscheduled (unplanned) care provision in the Western Isles Hospital Emergency Department is now covered by GPs, who have experience in covering out-of-hours shifts for NHS24, together with Emergency Nurse Practitioners and Overnight Community Nurses. A second on-call GP is available overnight to support patients in the community requiring a medical response. Inpatient services continued to be covered by Ward Nursing staff, advanced practice Clinical Support Nurses and on-call Consultants (who are available in all our main specialities 24/7). Junior Doctors in Training continue to provide medical care from 8am until 8pm, seven days a week. Mr Jamieson described the new service as ‘far more robust’ and highlighted the benefit of having primary care and secondary care staff working side by side, which improves teamworking and benefits patients. Improvements to local paediatric services were also highlighted, most notably the appointment of a Consultant Paediatrician during 2012/13, and the subsequent launch of new paediatric clinics in the Uists for the first time. A positive experience of healthcare NHS Western Isles staff continually work to ensure that everyone has as positive an experience of healthcare as possible, and this was another area of focus for this year’s Annual Review. In terms of care for people who have had a stroke, the Chief Executive pointed out that 100% of patients were admitted to a stroke unit on the day of admission or the day following presentation. This exceeded the national target of 90%, and ensures that Western Isles patients get the best possible stroke care. Mr Jamieson also highlighted the importance of complaints and feedback from patients to continually improve services. “Every complaint gives us the opportunity to look back on the care and services provide, to make improvements,” he said. “Listing and understanding what patients are experiencing is how we can deliver the best possible care. I would like to thank anyone who has taken the opportunity to provide us with any feedback as this really helps us to improve the service.” Safe and effective care With regard to healthcare associated infections, NHS Western Isles was delighted to report that targets had been met, in terms of a reduction in staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (including MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. Diff). Mr Jamieson also reported that external inspections of NHS Western Isles had been mainly positive, with hospital environments found to be clean. All actions highlighted for improvement in the latest Healthcare Environment Inspectorate Inspection of Western Isles Hospital (carried out in March 2013) had been completed. Technology The investment in technology over the past year was an extremely positive feature of this year’s annual review, with successes in terms of digital pens and Giraff technology (to facilitate communication between carers and family members with dementia) being showcased in particular. Mr Jamieson described the success of the digital pen project in terms of an increase in direct patient facing time for community nurses. Capital investment From a capital budget of £1.69million, NHS Western Isles made a number of important investments during 2012/13, including the replacement of Radiology Rooms in Western Isles Hospital and Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh, the installation of enhanced security measures throughout Board premises, and investment in a range of equipment such as patient hoists, orthopaedic equipment and audiology equipment. Board Chair, Neil Galbraith, would like to thank everyone who attended this year’s Annual Review and contributed to discussions.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 17:18:32 +0000
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