Health heroes on the shortlist

Two NHS Forth Valley Health heroes have made it to the final round of the People’s Choice Award in the Scottish Health Awards – and are now looking for your vote.

This is the first year that this category has appeared in the national awards and it has been introduced to help recognise the extraordinary work of NHS health and care staff across the country in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

NHS Forth Valley’s medical physics team, headed by Bryan Hynd, worked round the clock at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic to increase renal treatment in ICU after it quickly became apparent that many patients with the virus receiving ventilation treatment, often required renal care as well.

Renal care within ICU at Forth Valley Royal Hospital had previously been administered using mobile renal facilities. However, the demands of Covid-19 made it necessary to provide a fixed facility for renal treatments within ICU to provide a longer term and enhanced renal care.

With components in short supply, Bryan and his colleagues, together with the help of facilities company Serco, installed an ultra-pure water system in ICU that works in the same way as dialysis machines. This enabled better filtration, reduced reliance on the hospital’s mobile dialysis machines and increased the number of machines available.

The complex work was completed in record time – several days rather than several months. The team also converted anaesthetic machines, normally used in operating theatres, to ventilators so they could be used to help patients with Covid-19.

The arrival of Covid-19 also presented a challenge to Jade Scott, an NHS Forth Valley healthcare assistant and student nurse at Stirling University. Jade was on a nursing placement in the intensive care unit at FVRH and was also leading a dementia unit in a nursing home. When placements were stopped, she opted to help the NHS by working in a nursing home whilst also help care for her mother who has dementia.

Jade’s work throughout this difficult time has had a huge impact on her mother, her family, residents in her care, her patients whilst on placement, and colleagues whom she supported to help get through the outbreak.

NHS Forth Valley’s chief executive Cathie Cowan said:“it is fantastic that two of the seven finalists for this special award feature local NHS Forth Valley staff who have been selected from almost 90 nominations. I would encourage everyone to vote for them to help recognise the wonderful care which our staff provide day in, day out. I am so proud of them and wish them every success.”

To vote, visit: www. scottishhealthawards.com before Friday, November 6. The winners will be announced on December 9.