Hospital staff returning to pre-coronavirus roles
MOST Scottish hospital staff who were dealing with coronavirus patients have now returned to their own jobs, health officials say. For three months from March, the NHS moved many staff into Covid-19 response teams, with some working at different hospitals from their usual bases. Many of the NHS’s normal functions were postponed as the health service dealt with the impact of the pandemic. But last night officials said more activity could now be seen in hospitals. More than 4,000 people have been discharged from Scottish hospitals after successfully receiving treatment for the virus since March 5. In recent weeks, the number of new cases has been low and hospitals have been trying to return to normality. In NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, most staff have now resumed their previous roles and a number of services have already restarted.
Cancer treatment services are in the process of scaling back up, and robotic prostate cancer surgery restarted last week, as did transplant services.
Technology such as the Near Me video and audio consultation system, which was found to be ‘highly effective’ during the lockdown, will continue to be used as it means patients can receive consultations from home.
Dr Scott Davidson, respiratory physician and deputy medical director of acute services for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: ‘Within our own ventilation service for example, the Near Me technology has, in recent weeks, been extremely effective in allowing us to review our long-term patients, who are unable to attend the hospital, from the comfort of their own homes.’
An NHS Tayside spokesman said: ‘There is now a decreasing trend of Covid-19 positive patients in our hospitals. This means our clinical teams can now progress plans which are seeing more activity in our hospitals and in our communities.
‘Our initial plans to restart services cover the period to the end of July, with a further phase which will sustain semiroutine activity in the community and reintroduce more routine elective activity.’
A spokesman for NHS Dumfries and Galloway said that some staff who were redeployed to help prepare for Covid-19 cases ‘have been stood down into their traditional roles, but remain ready to respond if necessary’.
Theresa Fyffe, director of the Royal College of Nursing Scotland, said it was ‘reassuring’ to see NHS services reopening and nurses returning to their ‘substantive posts.