Health board launches winter plan
NHS Tayside is to introduce additional beds, a new frailty unit and extra GP sessions as part of its 2019/2020 winter plan.
The plan, developed in partnership with Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnerships and the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), launched this week.
It aims to prevent as much illness in Tayside as possible and ensure that services are prepared to manage any issues which arise during the tougher winter period.
The additional beds will be made available at Ninewells and Perth Royal Infirmary to help manage capacity.
The new frailty unit will be introduced at Perth Royal Infirmary following the introduction of a new dedicated assessment unit for the elderly (AME) at Ninewells, which looked after more than 400 of its most frail patients last winter, focusing on early assessment and planned discharge.
Extra out-of-hours GP sessions and advice calls will be made available to help patients manage minor illnesses at home and“reduce pressure”on the emergency departments at Ninewells and PRI.
More clinical and social care staff will be made available at weekends and on public holidays to allow people to go home as soon as they are ready.
There will be an increase in staff flu vaccinations to prevent the spread of flu in hospitals, healthcare facilities and local communities and to maintain staffing levels during busy periods.
Care at home assessments will become more prevalent to determine whether hospital admissions are necessary.
NHS Tayside will also aim to implement more“effective”planning of elective procedures.
Consultant gastroenterologist Dr Elaine Henry, who is clinical lead for winter planning, said:“We know that winter has its challenges, particularly for our frail, elderly populations and patients with chronic conditions.
“We want to make sure we can provide the best service to our communities and manage the increased demand we experience over the winter period in our hospitals.
“The success of last year’s winter plan directly led to improvements for patients over the challenging period.
“By investing in additional services and beds, improving access to the right care in the right place, and changing the ways in which patients are assessed, admitted and discharged, we were able to maintain services and respond to any challenges quickly.”
NHS Tayside will also be raising awareness of the range of services provided locally by community pharmacies and promotion of our ‘Keep Well In Winter’and‘Know Where To Go For Healthcare’campaigns.