Introductory Message
"MEET SLT" Video # 2
If you missed the first video in the series you can view it here: Meet The Senior Leadership Team Video #1
What's in a name?
Since taking up my interim role I’ve been keen to make sure that, as a group, the senior leadership team provides the right leadership and direction.
Collectively, we’ve grown exponentially over the last few years. With the evolution of Health and Social Care Partnerships our work needs to be much wider than NHS Grampian. We all provide leadership across the North of Scotland in different ways and indeed nationally.
It is clear to me that the doing the best for our own organisations is important but, as health and social care changes, it only by working together as one system that we will do the best for our communities and all of the people we serve.
That’s why, over the last 6-9 months, what was the senior leadership group in Grampian has undertaken a programme of development to ensure we all work effectively to provide system leadership.
This isn’t happening in isolation – it is part of a wider programme of development involving management teams across the health and social care system in the North East of Scotland that includes the Acute Sector, Mental Health and Health and Social Care Partnerships in the area.
Deputy Chief Executive Graeme Smith, said: “The focus has very much been on improving leadership for the whole system with the priority being on being delivering success for patients and the population as a whole.
"This change in approach has been emphasised by the NHS Grampian Senior Leadership Team changing its name to be the “System” Leadership Team (SLT).
"On the surface it’s just a name, of course, but it’s much more than that. It’s part our overall commitment to making sure that the whole system of health and social care is the priority.”
In my next report, Graeme will do a fuller article on SLT’s priorities.
Wellness on Wheels!
An Aberdeen haulage firm and the Road Haulage Association have joined with NHS Grampian to deliver an initiative designed to support good mental health.
Almost one third of self-reported work-related illness in transport is due to stress, anxiety and depression. Stigma around mental health remains a problem across the industry.
95% of workers absent with work-related stress Gave a different reason for their absence and 22% of workers with a diagnosed mental health condition DIdn't disclose their condition to their manager.
The Public Health team worked with the Road Haulage Association to run a mental health and wellbeing/resilience workshop as part of their Wellness on Wheels Programme. The interactive workshop focused on raising awareness of the importance of looking after their mental health and wellbeing and looked at techniques for building personal resilience.
Susan Webb, Director of Public Health for NHS Grampian, said: “It’s really important to us as an organisation to support people to be in the best of health at home and at work.Road haulage work can be lonely and a driver’s ability to access health and wellbeing information and participate in work activities can be challenging.”
Working With Maggie's
I was delighted to visit Maggie’s Aberdeen Centre which is based on Foresterhill Health Campus at the end of February. The facility and service offered by the team there makes a real difference to some of our most vulnerable patients.
They provide professional, unconditional support to people dealing with cancer, their families and their friends in an uplifting environment which is designed to be a warm and welcoming safe space.
During my visit, we had some really positive discussions about how we can further build on the really strong relationship NHS Grampian has with Maggie’s.
One of the items we discussed was capitilising on the opportunity having the new Baird Family Hospital and the ANCHOR centre on the doorstep of the Maggie’s Centre will offer to make things as seamless as possible for patients.
On behalf of NHS Grampian, I’d like to put on record our thanks for everything organisations like Maggie’s do to support us and our patients.
Well Done Over Winter
The video below is a message from Acute General Manager Fiona Francey thanking all of our staff for their efforts over the winter.
I'd strongly echo her sentiments - winter is always a challenging time in the health service and our staff have, yet again, performed admirably. Thank you.
Innovation sees 25% of referrals resolved without clinical visit
In March, I was really pleased to receive an update on a successful new project in the south of Aberdeen which has helped to resolve a quarter of all referrals to the paediatric service in the area.
By taking a pro-active approach to working across primary and secondary care, the team involved have reduced waiting times by between 2 and 4 weeks since the introduction of the project 12 months ago.
The project involves a paedatrian dedicating time to identifying cases which could be resolved over the phone or via Attend Anywhere without having to wait for a clinic space.
They also identify where a trial of treatment can be started for later review in clinic. Follow up clinics are then held at Whinhill practice once a month by a consultant and GP with extended role.
The project has led to increased patient and GP satisfaction and a quarter of all referrals in the area are now resolved without the need for a clinic visit.
Not only is the project providing quick and effective treatment for our patients it is also an excellent example of system reform across primary and secondary care using innovation and effective Information Technology support.
The next step is for the project to be rolled out elsewhere in Grampian. Currently the scheme is being widened to rest of Aberdeen City, with Aberdeenshire and Moray to follow.
Scottish Youth Parliament & CAMHS
Dr Lynne Taylor and I recently met with representatives of the Scottish Youth Parliament to discuss transitional care plans from CAMHS to Adult Mental Health services.
We had a great discussion about our own work but it was also really helpful to have an opportunity to hear more about the work of the Scottish Youth Parliament.
Lynne, as Clinical Director for CAMHS in Grampian, is particularly focused on the future use of digital and electronic solutions to enable us to support young people more effectively.
Have YOur Say On Welcome Wards
It's now 18 months since the introduction of Welcome Wards in NHS Grampian. Lyn Irvine and the team are undertaking an evaluation of the project to see where we can further develop and refine it to make sure it meets the needs or our patients, visitors and staff.
Please take a few minutes to complete this short questionnaire about your experiences which can be completed at: http://bit.ly/NHSG-WW-Survey
Unit Operational Managers
The Moray Alliance
Continuing the theme of taking a whole system approach to health care mentioned elsewhere in this report, The Moray Alliance is a relatively new organisation designed to integrate Dr Gray's Hospital and Health & Social Care Moray. Dr Lewis Walker further explains in the short clip below.
It was 20 years ago Today...
Last month I signed the final authorisation for the sale of the site of the former Woolmanhill Hospital which closed in 2017.
The hospital served Aberdeen well for 238 years and was the original Infirmary in the city.
Interestingly as part of that process we came across the letter overleaf from the Secretary of State for Scotland which itself is almost exactly 20 years.
It’s a historic document because, as you can read, it gave the initial go-ahead for the phased closure of Woolmanhill in 1999.
I’ve made sure that this letter now takes its rightful place among the NHS Grampian archives.
We are fortunate to have the most complete archival record for any NHS body in the British Isles. They include fascinating historical records for more than 100 hospitals across the North East stretching back to the 18th century.
More information on the NHS Grampian Archives is available at https://www.facebook.com/NHSGrampianArchives/