NHS Western Isles Archives

Proposal to move Griminish Medical Practice to Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh

June 12, 2015

Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh.

Am Pàipear has learned that NHS Western Isles is considering re-locating Griminish Medical Practice and other health board staff currently based around the islands to Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh.

Plans to centralise the three existing dental practices in Lochboisdale, Liniclate and Lochmaddy at the hospital have already been announced, and are due to be discussed as part of a public consultation process.

Bringing the three dental practices, Benbecula surgery and other NHS staff together within the hospital are part of plans to create a “health hub” on the site, NHS Western Isles has said.

At this stage it remains unclear what has prompted the proposal to centralise services in Balivanich, or which spaces within Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh would be re-developed to accommodate the three dental clinics, GP surgery and additional staff.

Explaining the proposals as they stand, a spokesperson for NHS Western Isles told Am Pàipear: “A full range of options to make best use of the Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh site in the future will be developed through a consultation process later this year.

“At this stage, NHS Western Isles is proposing that the options for consideration should include bringing Griminish Practice, dental services and staff at other locations on to the hospital site, to create a health hub.

“We look forward to discussing all potential options with the public and staff in the Uists later this year, so that they can give their views on how the site could be developed and improved, and where services in other locations should be located in future.

“The main consultation events will be a planning and strategy day for staff in September 2015, followed by a public event in Uist in November 2015.

“However, there will be a wide range of opportunities available in addition to these events for staff to provide their views.”

More on this story as it develops. If you have any views on the proposals, please contact Am Pàipear on 01970603299 or editor@ampaipear.org.uk

Health visiting services reduced due to staff shortages

March 13, 2015

Some “non-priority” health visiting services have been suspended as NHS Western Isles experiences ongoing difficulties in recruiting to vacancies.

Today the Health Board announced that specific health visiting services are currently being prioritised as it tries to recruit two full-time members of staff for the health visiting team.

In the meantime, non-priority services have been reduced or suspended temporarily until the vacancies are filled. The service is being reviewed on an ongoing basis.

For a temporary period, health visiting appointments will generally take place through clinics and home visits, and school input will be minimal until further notice.

Across the Western Isles, health visitors are prioritising issues of child protection, ‘looked after’ and accommodated children, vulnerable families, primary visits to newborn babies with additional visits up to eight-weeks for those mums who require it, and children with complex health needs.

Community staff nurses who support the health visiting team will continue to provide 16 week reviews of babies (also providing advice to mums), postnatal support visits and follow up support visits on a needs-assessed basis.

The infant drop-in service (M’ulaidh) in Stornoway will continue to be available. Parents and carers are encouraged to use the drop-in as the home visiting service will be prioritised, according to need. The drop-in is every Tuesday afternoon from 1-3pm, at Adventure Island Soft Play, Inaclete Road, Stornoway.

The services that will unfortunately be temporarily suspended will be:

Routine weekly postnatal visits by a health visitor
Antenatal core contacts – contacts to introduce the potential mum to the Health visiting services prior to delivery
27-month assessments of babies (in the Uists and Barra, 27 month checks will be carried out at clinics.)
Pre-school assessments (in the Uists and Barra, pre-school checks will be carried out at clinics.)
Child planning meetings, in cases where there is no complex health need.

NHS Western Isles Associate Chief Operating Officer, Colin Gilmour, said: “We are experiencing ongoing difficulties in recruiting to our health visiting vacancies and are making every effort to ensure that posts are filled as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have prioritised services to ensure that all essential services are maintained. We do regret that some services have been temporarily reduced or suspended, and would apologise to anyone that this affects. We would reassure our service users that these service reductions are temporary and we hope to have normal service provision in place as soon as posts are filled.”

Those who need to contact the service can do so directly through the central health visiting office at the health centre, in Stornoway (tel. 709842).

Enquiries within Uist and Barra will continue as normal to the health visiting bases:- Barra (01871 810 879), Uist (01878 700 846) and Balivanich clinic (01870 60 2266).

Parents and carers are advised to seek medical advice from their GP or from NHS 24 if they are concerned about their child.

Further update from NHS Western Isles:

Whilst NHS Western Isles has been experiencing challenges in relation to the recruitment of health visitors, we would like to reassure that all essential services will continue, and we are optimistic with regard to our latest advertisement, with interviews taking place at the end of March.

All essential services will remain in place. Across the Western Isles, health visitors are prioritising the important issues of child protection, high priority cases, ‘looked after’ and accommodated children, vulnerable families, primary visits to newborn babies with additional visits up to eight-weeks for those mums who require it, and children with complex health needs.

All new babies will continue to be seen and assessed by a health visitor and will be prioritised according to assessed need. This is negotiated with individual families as part of the routine visit.

Additional staff nurse capacity has been put in place to support the service at present. The skills of these staff include infant feeding support, practical advice and child health and development advice. Midwives remain the lead contacts for antenatal women, and midwives will continue to liaise with health visitors as required.

A small range of non-priority services have been affected, however, measures are in place to cover these, where possible:

Routine weekly postnatal visits will be affected, but patents will be encouraged to attend the alternative M’ulaidh infant drop-in service. The drop-in is every Tuesday afternoon from 1-3pm, at Adventure Island Soft Play, Inaclete Road, Stornoway.
There is currently limited capacity for non-urgent ‘core contact’ 13 and 27 month assessments, however decisions are being made and assessments prioritised, depending on assessed individual need. (In the Uists and Barra, 27 month checks will continue and will be carried out at clinics.)

Pre-school assessments will be temporarily suspended, except in the Uists and Barra, where pre-school checks will be carried out at clinics.

Child planning meetings, in cases where there is no complex health need, will be assessed according to need.

Health visitors will continue to be available for advice by telephone and via M’ulaidh drop-in clinics.

Anybody with concerns who feel they need support or advice is encouraged to contact their health visitor in the normal way.

Health Secretary responds to Uist healthcare changes concerns

March 6, 2015

Statement from Andrew Walker, Benbecula Community Councillor:

I am pleased to report that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well-Being, Shona Robison MSP, has now responded to my letter of 2^nd February, with the following unequivocal statement:

“Should any proposals be considered to constitute major service change, they must be subject to full, formal public consultation and, ultimately, ministerial approval.”

The letter received late yesterday (5th March 2015) goes on to say:

“When Health Boards are reviewing and considering changes to the services they provide to local people, the Cabinet Secretary expects boards to communicate and engage with all local stakeholders, and the process NHS Boards should follow is set out in national guidance ‘Informing, Engaging and Consulting People in Developing Health and Community Services’.”

This decision is in keeping with the strong views communicated also in recent press releases from Benbecula Community Council on 5^th February and the Association of Community Councils on 13^th February. The trade union, UNISON, also issued a press release in support of both staff employed at the hospital, and patients.

Concerted action by all concerned stakeholders at a local level has now resulted in decisive action and intervention by the Cabinet Secretary. I expect that common sense shall now prevail in terms of process and procedure when a decision of this magnitude is in the offing – cutting bed numbers by 44% and proposals to move three dental practices into the hospital. This constitutes “major service change”.

The letter also contains a mild rebuke aimed at our NHS Western Isles board, which I hope the chairman, Neil Galbraith, and Chief Executive, Gordon Jamieson, will respect, both now and as we move forward in meaningful consultation:

“I am sorry to learn you have concerns around the Board’s engagement process with local people in relation to reducing the number of beds at Uist and Barra Hospital, please be assured your comments have been noted.”

I expect an immediate announcement now from the NHS Western Isles board, informing all stakeholders that there is an immediate moratorium on the decision to cut bed numbers at Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh by 44% and that a process of consultation will commence. This should include the Comhairle, where councillors carry major concerns now about the eight beds designated as ‘continuing care beds’.

Letter: Continuing Care Beds at Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh

March 2, 2015

Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh.

Dear Sir/Madam

Continuing Care Beds – Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh

A ‘Freedom of Information’ request to NHS Western Isles regarding bed occupancy at the above hospital and the status of the designated eight continuing care beds, came back last Friday with the following information:

“There are no continuing care beds at Uist and Barra Hospital.”

So, there we have it, all the brou-ha-ha about cutting beds from 29 to 16 – by 44% – with flexibility to increase to 20 beds, does not really relate in any significant way to cutting the number of acute beds, but rather to discontinuing the historically agreed provision for those patients with long-term and chronic medical conditions. Such patients may be defined as those who would traditionally require nursing home type care, as many of the patients who previously occupied beds at the Lochmaddy Hospital (28 beds), closed down in 2001 when the new hospital opened in Balivanich.

Whilst I am not really in favour of those with long-term conditions being cared for in a hospital setting, and don’t disagree with this decision, I am very much concerned that no discussion has proceeded with the Local Authority, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, to ensure that alternative provision is in place before these eight beds are removed, “at a stroke”, and without any consultation whatsoever with the affected communities.

The Comhairle is responsible for the provision of residential and community care services. In my estimation NHS Western Isles will save about £3/4m pa by not providing eight continuing care beds in Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh.

Under the terms of the Scottish Government “transformational agenda”, shifting the balance of care, this money should be redirected towards the provision of appropriate care in the community, including residential care. Perhaps the old Lochmaddy Hospital can be utilised for this purpose?

NHS Western Isles has responded in an excellent article in Am Pàipear on this subject by saying that “the hospital is not included in the plans for joint working between the Health Board and the Comhairle”. This makes a mockery of integrated health and social care strategic planning as we move forward.

The Health Secretary, Shona Robison MSP must now intervene, as I have already asked her to do in a letter of 2^nd February.

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Walker

By-Election Candidate – Ward 2

Call for moratorium on Uist healthcare changes

February 16, 2015

A call has been made for Health Minister Shona Robison MSP to issue a moratorium on proposed changes to healthcare provision in Uist until new health and social care integration structures are in place.

Uist Association of Community Councils (UACC) says moves to reduce bed numbers at Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh and relocate dental surgeries to the hospital should be stalled until NHS Western Isles and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have formed a new body to deliver adult health and social care services in the Outer Hebrides.

At a meeting on Thursday 12^th February, representatives from each of the six local community councils, along with local councillors, discussed significant concerns about a decision by NHS Western Isles to cut the number of beds at Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh from 29 to 16.

UACC also discussed the upcoming consultation on plans to relocate the three existing dental practices at Lochmaddy, Lochboisdale and Lionacleit into the hospital at Balivanich.

UACC members said they had already received considerable representation on the latter proposal, and suggested a direct relationship between both proposals – relocating the three dental practices appears to be dependent on creating space at the hospital by cutting bed numbers.

In a statement, UACC said: “[UACC] regrets the manner in which these announcements were made, without any consultation whatsoever with the affected communities, and at a time when the Health Board and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have just began a consultation on proposals for Integrated health and social care services.

“The association is firmly of the view that any changes being proposed for Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh will inevitably impact on community-based health and social care services, and any significant change of function being considered for the hospital, should not be decided upon in isolation.

“For example, the association wishes to clarify the status of the eight beds at the hospital originally designated as ‘continuing care beds’ for patients with chronic long-term medical conditions. Do these beds still remain within the 16 bed designation? It is a known fact that local authority provision in the two residential care homes are facing increasing pressures as a result of demographic trends, and they operate at 100% capacity with waiting lists.”

UACC members unanimously decided to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well-Being, Shona Robison MSP, to request her immediate intervention, recommending that a moratorium be called on both proposals until such time as the newly constituted integrated joint board and managers have had an opportunity to comprehensively assess the diverse and challenging health and social care needs of the communities served by the hospital.

Benbecula Community Council raises healthcare concerns

February 9, 2015

Benbecula Community Council has raised concerns about healthcare in Uist.

Benbecula Community Council (BCC) has raised a series of concerns regarding the provision of healthcare in Uist and is seeking a meeting to raise matters further.

At its meeting on Tuesday 3rd February, BCC discussed the decisions announced by NHS Western Isles late last year, to reduce regular bed capacity at Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh from 29 to 16, and to consult on a proposal to relocate the three existing dental practices at Lochboisdale, Lionacleit and Lochmaddy to the hospital in Balivanich.

Councillors were unanimous in their support of the published letter written by community councillor Andrew Walker to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well-Being, Shona Robinson MSP, copied to local elected members.

BCC said it was surprised Western Isles Health Board had chosen to proceed to implement this decision to reduce hospital bed numbers without any consultation whatsoever with the communities affected. It is, says BCC, presented as a fait accompli as though the views of local constituents, and existing or prospective patients, are unimportant.

Councillors discussed the wider ramifications of this decision. Anecdotal evidence was heard about the negative impact and high costs associated with patients having to travel long distances for fairly minor procedures.

BCC highlighted the lack of residential care home places and community-based health and social care services, running contrary to the Scottish Government agenda of shifting the balance of care from hospitals to the community. BCC says that the decision taken by NHS Western Isles will inevitably result in staff redundancies, with no apparent consequential increase in community-based staff being employed.

BCC also voiced concerns about the lack of funding for a Mental Health Outreach Worker post beyond April of this year and the lack of a replacement MacMillan Nurse, after the departure of Lorna Senior on her retirement.

BCC will be writing to the chair of the newly formed Association of Community Councils, Cllr Uisdean Robertson, requesting an early meeting to discuss the above concerns, which affect all Uist and Barra households.

Severe Weather Impact: Statement from NHS Western Isles, Police Scotland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

January 14, 2015

Two storms are set to hit the Outer Hebrides over the next few days.

Severe weather has hit the Outer Hebrides over the past week.

Statement from NHS Western Isles, Police Scotland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar:

The last week has presented very challenging circumstances for the population of the Western Isles in terms of power outages and adverse weather, with the consequential impact on heat, light, food, travel and communication.

The Western Isles Emergency Planning Coordinating Group (WIEPCG) has been active and responding throughout to keep our communities supported, while Scottish Southern & Energy engineers worked tirelessly to carry out repairs and restore power.

The local community response has been remarkable and we would like to pay tribute and thanks to all who have made individual and collective efforts, in particular:

Local community groups;
HM Coastguard;
HebSAR (Hebrides Search and Rescue);
Red Cross;
Salvation Army;
Scottish Fire & Rescue.

We are grateful to our own staff: council, health and police, for their ongoing support and commitment to helping our community.

Many local contractors and businesses also worked alongside the Public Sector Agencies to respond to the challenging demands, and these are all to be commended.

Sincere thanks to one and all for your efforts.

Gordon Jamieson Gordon MacLeod Malcolm Burr

NHS Western Isles Police Scotland Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

£260,000 funding boost for NHS Western Isles

January 12, 2015

NHS Western Isles will receive an extra £260,000 from the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government has today confirmed NHS Western Isles is to receive an extra £260,000 of funding in 2015/16.

The money is part of the additional £65m for health boards announced by the Health Secretary, Shona Robison, yesterday.

NHS Western Isles will receive an additional £260,000 specifically to address pressures such as the rising cost of new drugs.

The additional £65 million announced by the Cabinet Secretary yesterday will see Territorial Boards receive an average uplift of 3.4 per cent in the next financial year, and will bring all NHS territorial boards to within one per cent of parity under the NHS NRAC funding formula a year earlier than planned, and help boards meet the cost of expensive new drugs.

The NRAC formula was introduced in 2009/10 and the Scottish Government’s policy has been to phase in changes to NHS boards’ funding gradually, with a view to bringing all boards to within 1 per cent of NRAC parity by 2016/17.

The announcement of additional funding brings the total uplift for NHS Western Isles for next year to £1.5m.

Ms Robison said: “Despite Scotland’s fiscal resource budget being slashed in real terms by 10 per cent by Westminster since 2010, we’ve increased the health resource budget by 4.6 per cent in real terms.

“Our NHS services face challenges as a result of the increase in patients, with more complex illnesses, and the rising costs of expensive new drugs.

“This additional investment of £1.5m increases the resources available to NHS Western Isles and will help alleviate these pressures, ensuring our NHS can continue to deliver effective and sustainable care to patients in the area.”

After last year’s success…the 3×30 Challenge is back for 2015!

January 6, 2015

Following the success of last year’s event, the 3×30 Challenge is back for 2015.

The NHS Western Isles 3×30 Challenge is your opportunity to commit to walking, cycling, jogging, swimming, or even kayaking – for 3K each day, for 30 days in a row.

Many people think that 3K sounds like a long distance, but in fact 3K only works out at 1.86 miles (1 kilometre = 0.62 miles). So with this in mind, 3K doesn’t really sound like such a large distance after all, does it?

We can all make plans to lose weight, get healthy, improve our personal best, and organise our lives – so why not resolve to do 3 kilometres every day for 30 days… either as an individual or as a group… and see yourself change your habits for a lifetime!

Whenever you want to start your 3×30 Challenge is completely up to you – and you don’t even have to go outside if you don’t want to … you could visit your local Sports Centre to use the cross-trainers, rowing machines, treadmills, exercise bikes and swimming pool.

The 3×30 Challenge is open to everyone within the Western Isles, and will be entirely run through its own dedicated website at www.3×30.scot.nhs.uk. You can also choose to take part as either an individual or as part of a team.

All you have to do is to register online and regularly post updates on what you’ve done and how you’re getting on. You never know – you could end up motivating someone else to take up the Challenge too!

To help you get started, a useful section is included which offers activity ideas, weight diary, alcohol diary, and tips on getting your ‘5 a day’.

You also get the opportunity to read about some of our local 3×30 Ambassadors, sharing their personal stories and how keeping active is helping them in their daily life.

Why not also find out about some of your local sporting clubs and groups through their member profiles? After reading about them and what each of their clubs and groups has to offer, you might find yourself becoming a member too.

A list of local sporting events has also been included to the website, and it is hoped that after completing your 3×30 Challenge, you may feel empowered and motivated enough to attempt them.

As an added incentive, those who complete the 3×30 Challenge will have the opportunity to receive one of our specially purchased 3×30 sports watches. To receive yours, all you have to do is visit the ‘Your Posts’ page and post once a week, sharing what activities you’re doing during your 30 day Challenge.

So what are you waiting for? Register online today at: www.3×30.scot.nhs.uk – and don’t forget to regularly post to let us know what you’re doing to achieve your 3×30 Challenge! You could also let us know about your progress via Twitter @NHSWI #3x30WI

Work started on modern new birthing suite

October 16, 2014

A new birthing suite, encompassing a birthing pool, will be part of the Western Isles Hospital Maternity Unit modernisation programme, NHS Western Isles has confirmed.

Work started on the modernisation programme this week, after agreement was reached on a suitable location for a modern new birthing suite within the current Maternity Unit.

The suite will include a birthing pool, labour ward bed, toilet facilities and a shower.

It is anticipated that the work to create the new birthing suite will take approximately five months, and that the birthing suite and birthing pool will be available for use in early 2015.

NHS Western Isles Nurse Director, Sandy Brown, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be able to confirm that the option of using a birthing pool will be available to women in Western Isles Hospital from early next year. There is no doubt that this has been a long-awaited development and one which I’m sure will be warmly welcomed.”

He added: “Throughout this process, there has been an absolute acceptance by NHS Western Isles of the value and importance of being able to choose to use a birthing pool, and we have maintained a steadfast commitment to ensuring that this development progressed in a safe and effective way. We now have clear plans in place and the birthing pool will, importantly, be part of a wider purpose-built modern birthing suite, so that the installation of the pool is not a development in isolation. Rather, it will form a central part of a new modern suite aimed at improving the overall birthing experience for women in the Western Isles.”

Chairperson of the Western Isles Maternity Services Liaison Committee, Ruth MacAlpine, said: “I am delighted to hear the news that work has now started on a new birthing suite which will include a birth pool. After a long time of waiting, this news will be very welcome to expectant mothers in the Western Isles who, from early next year will be able to choose a water birth. This will bring practice in the Western Isles in line with other maternity units across Scotland where the option of a water birth is already available. There are many advantages of using a birth pool during labour and it is great to know that expectant mothers in the Western Isles will now be able to benefit in this way.”