Working together is the formula for success

Recognition for vaccine team and care centre

THERE’S NO doubt that strong leadership in the health and social care services can make all the difference to both staff wellbeing and patient care.

Maureen Firth of NHS Orkney is an outstanding leader and an inspiration to her team, so much so that she was named Leader of the Year at the Scottish Health Awards.

As head of Orkney’s primary care service, Maureen’s leadership really came to the fore during the pandemic. She set up a dedicated COVID-19 assessment centre to ensure any patient suffering from symptoms could access face to face healthcare.

Maureen also oversaw a vaccination programme that meant 90 per cent of the islands’ population were jabbed ahead of any mainland NHS board.

From having a couple of vaccinators employed by the NHS, she developed the service to enable a mass event where more than 600 patients were vaccinated every day and around 7,000 patients jabbed in 11 days by just 10 vaccinators.

Maureen made a point of greeting every single one of the patients coming to get vaccinated.

She was able to effectively manage a highquality service and COVID-19 response on Orkney despite having resource, logistical, geographical and financial difficulties.

“Orkney with its remote and rural settings has had different challenges during the pandemic compared to mainland Scotland,” said Maureen.

“We couldn’t fly the vaccines to the outlying islands as there were licensing issues that meant we had to keep them at certain temperatures. We had to use a big boat instead.

“But we had great support from the islanders. We are a small community, and everyone got behind us. I’m overwhelmed and delighted to win this award.”

The Scottish Government is creating a National Leadership Development Programme to develop the next generation of compassionate leaders from all walks of life.

HARLAWHILL DAY Care Centre, who won the Top Team Award, are an excellent example of a team working together effectively to deliver the best possible care and compassion for their community.

The charity, which is supported by the East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, serves a deprived but proud community. The day care centre has been going for 29 years in Prestonpans as a place to go for advice, assistance and guidance for elderly care.

The elderly clients suffer from frailty, dementia related conditions, social isolation, and their carers desperately require respite to allow them to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

Throughout 2020 and 2021, staff have taken members and their families and carers for mystery tours in East Lothian, and supported local businesses by using cafés, pubs and shops to provide meals, snacks and treats.

Dedicated staff have also collected members from their homes in wheelchairs, taking them out for afternoon strolls and shopping trips.

Manager Fiona Mitchell said: “We are very aware that our clients have been more isolated due to the pandemic and that they are likely to suffer the most, not only from COVID-19 but from the physical and mental effects of lockdown and loneliness.”

To combat this, an action plan was created to minimise the effects of not being able to attend the day centre by switching to a blended outreach service.

It included telephone buddies, so everyone had someone to talk to every week to relieve boredom and reassure them they were not forgotten, street congas, and the day centre moving to a marquee set up in Fiona’s garden.

“I’m overwhelmed by this award as we are a wee fish in the big NHS pond. I think this is the future for care – charities, social care and the NHS working together under one umbrella.”