Dumfries & Galloway Health & Social Care

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Cottage hospital consultation drop-in sessions start next week

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DROP-IN consultation events on the role of four of the region’s cottage hospitals begin next week.

Consultation is taking place on options for cottage hospitals in Moffat, Thornhill, Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart, with drop-in events for the public taking place next week in Kirkcudbright, Newton Stewart and Stranraer.

Director of Strategic Planning and Transformation David Rowland said: “We’re very pleased that so many people have already taken part in the consultation on the four cottage hospitals.

“While people can continue to take part online, by visiting the website, next week sees the start of in-person drop-in sessions. At these events, people can call in and either be supported to complete their response to the consultation or take away the survey document.

“It’s very important that everyone is encouraged and supported to have their say on how the cottage hospitals are employed going forward, and I hope to see really good turnouts at Kirkcudbright next Tuesday, Newton Stewart next Wednesday and Stranraer next Thursday.”

Following extensive stakeholder engagement and focused workshop sessions, six options were developed for each of the four cottage hospital sites.

Details on the six options for each location are set out on the Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care website www.dghscp.co.uk/rcrp-consultation

These options are the status quo, status quo plus, a Community Health and Social Care Hub, an inpatient facility, community ownership and closure of the site.

People visiting the site can review the documentation and can complete their formal response to the consultation online, with the consultation drawing to a close on 27 September 2024.

A busy schedule of drop-in sessions begin next week, offering local people a chance to discuss the options with members of our team before completing the consultation document.

Dates, times and locations for the in-person drop-in sessions are as follows:

Kirkcudbright, 20th August, 15:00 – 19:00, Kirkcudbright Parish Church Hall

Newton Stewart, 21st August, 15:00 – 19:00, McMillan Hall

Stranraer, 22nd August, 15:00 – 19:00, Stranraer Millenium Centre

Dumfries, 27th August, 15:00 – 19:00, The Bridge

Langholm, 28th August, 15:00 – 19:00, Buccleuch Centre

Lockerbie, 29th August, 15:00 – 19:00, Town Hall

Sanquhar, 3rd September, 15:00 – 19:00, Community Centre

Gretna, 5th September, 15:00 – 19:00, Richard Greenhow Centre

Isle of Whithorn, 9th September, 12:00 – 14:00, St Ninians Hall

Whithorn, 9th September, 15:00 – 19:00, New Town Hall

Annan, 11th September, 15:30 – 19:30, Victoria Hall Complex

Castle Douglas, 12th September, 15:00 – 19:00, Town Hall

Moffat, 16th September, 15:00 – 19:00, Town Hall

Dalbeattie, 17th September, 15:00 – 19:00, Town Hall

Thornhill, 18th September, 15:00 – 19:00, Community Centre

The events are being promoted through a radio campaign, newspaper advertising, promotions on social media, poster campaigns and direct engagement with local groups.

Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board (IJB) are responsible for making strategic decisions over the future of health and social care, and issuing directions for implementation to the NHS and local authority.

The IJB will be presented with recommendations resulting from the work which has been undertaken at an extraordinary meeting on 29 October 2024.

They will be asked to consider these recommendations, taking account of the feedback from consultation, the outputs from the options appraisal, an assessment of their financial viability, the associated workforce implications, as well as the views of professional advisors and the management team responsible for delivery.

They will also be asked to consider all the formal responses to the consultation, and a financial appraisal of the options.

LINKS:

An animated video promoting the cottage hospital consultation: https://youtu.be/RaFtXIyw6Vg

A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document can be found here: https://dghscp.co.uk/right-care-right-place-consultation-frequently-asked-questions/

Take part in cottage hospitals consultation

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Consultation on options for cottage hospitals in Moffat, Thornhill, Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart began on Friday May 17.

In-person events have been scheduled to take place once the school holidays are over – running from 20 August to 18 September.

You can also take part online, visiting www.dghscp.co.uk/rcrp-consultation

Having lost several weeks of promotion due to the Pre-Election Period, the consultation period has been extended so that it now runs until September 27.

Details on the six options for each location are set out on the Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care website www.dghscp.co.uk/rcrp-consultation

Dates, times and locations for the in-person drop-in sessions are as follows:

Kirkcudbright, 20th August, 15:00 – 19:00, Kirkcudbright Parish Church Hall
Newton Stewart, 21st August, 15:00 – 19:00, McMillan Hall
Stranraer, 22nd August, 15:00 – 19:00, Stranraer Millennium Centre
Dumfries, 27th August, 15:00 – 19:00, The Bridge
Langholm, 28th August, 15:00 – 19:00, Buccleuch Centre
Lockerbie, 29th August, 15:00 – 19:00, Town Hall
Sanquhar, 3rd September, 15:00 – 19:00, Community Centre
Gretna, 5th September, 15:00 – 19:00, Richard Greenhow Centre
Isle of Whithorn, 9th September, 12:00 – 14:00, St Ninians Hall
Whithorn, 9th September, 15:00 – 19:00, New Town Hall
Annan, 11th September, 15:30 – 19:30, Victoria Hall Complex
Castle Douglas, 12th September, 15:00 – 19:00, Town Hall
Moffat, 16th September, 15:00 – 19:00, Town Hall
Dalbeattie, 17th September, 15:00 – 19:00, Town Hall
Thornhill, 18th September, 15:00 – 19:00, Community Centre

IJB Annual Accounts out for public consultation

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The Unaudited Draft Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board (IJB) Annual Accounts for 2023/24 are now out for public consultation.

The IJB was established as a body corporate by order of the Scottish Ministers on 3 October 2015 as part of the establishment of the framework for the integration of Health and Social Care in Scotland under the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014.

The IJB has responsibility for the strategic planning and delivery of a defined range of Health and Adult Social Care services for the residents of Dumfries and Galloway.

The Draft Annual Accounts for 2023/24 opens with an overview of the key messages in relation to the objectives and strategy of Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board (the IJB) and its financial performance for the year ended 31st March 2024.

It also provides an indication of the risks and challenges which may impact upon the finances of the IJB in the future.

The Draft Annual Accounts for 2023/24 can be read by visiting

Any comments should be sent to the email address katy.kerr@nhs.scot by the end of August 16 2024.

Consultation events postponed due to Pre-Election Period

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IN-PERSON drop-in events planned as part of the consultation on options for four cottage hospitals in the region will have to be postponed until after the newly-announced General Election.

Rules around the Pre-Election Period mean that gatherings such as those planned for Moffat on May 30 are not able to go ahead in the run-up to July 4th, and we are not permitted to promote the consultation during this time.

Director of Strategic Planning and Commissioning David Rowland said: “A consultation on behalf of Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board on options for cottage hospitals in Moffat, Thornhill, Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart began last Friday May 17.

“A total of 15 in-person events taking place across the region had been scheduled and promoted, but rules around the period leading up to a General Election now mean that these cannot go ahead.

“None of these drop-in sessions will now take place before July 4. And while the consultation itself won’t be promoted when the ‘Pre-Election Period’ begins on Saturday May 25, all the materials including the online survey and downloadable forms will continue to remain available at the website https://dghscp.co.uk/rcrp-consultation/

“We will look to be able to pick up activity immediately after the General Election, and provide an update on consultation plans, hoping in the meantime that everyone will appreciate the requirement to comply with the rules which accompany periods in the run-up to elections.

“As of 22 May 2024, we had already received 99 completed surveys. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed thus far and want to reassure them that the views they have offered will be shared with the IJB as part of our analysis of the feedback received during consultation.

“All completed surveys received during the Pre-Election Period and those submitted once we return to active consultation will also be included in that analysis.

“At that point consideration will be given to what extension may be required to the consultation period – so as to be able to accommodate rescheduled in-person drop-in events.”

Consultation taking place on four cottage hospitals

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Consultation is about to take place on how to make best use of four of Dumfries and Galloway’s cottage hospitals – running from today until 18 August 2024.

Options have been developed through engagement with stakeholders for the cottage hospitals in Moffat, Thornhill, Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart, and these are now the basis of the consultation.

Ultimately, the consultation outcomes will be brought to Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board, who will make any decisions on their future roles.

There are a variety of ways to take part – including in-person drop-in sessions taking place across the region, virtual consultation sessions, and a consultation document which can be completed online.

All materials including the online consultation document and the options appraisals report can now be found at the website https://dghscp.co.uk/rcrp-consultation/

It’s very important that everyone takes part and has their say, so please get involved.

In-person drop-in consultation events are as follows:

27 May 2024 Mon The Bridge, Dumfries 3-7pm
30 May 2024 Thu Moffat Town Hall 3-7pm
04 June 2024 Tue Castle Douglas Town Hall 3-7pm
05 June 2024 Wed Kirkcudbright Parish Church 3-7pm
10 June 2024 Mon Buccleuch Centre, Langholm 3-7pm
11 June 2024 Tue Lockerbie Town Hall 3.30-7.30pm
12 June 2024 Wed Thornhill Community Centre 3-7pm
17 June 2024 Mon Richard Greenhow Centre, Gretna 3-7pm
20 June 2024 Thu McMillan Hall, Newton Stewart 3-7pm
24 June 2024 Mon Victoria Hall, Annan 3.30-7.30pm
26 June 2024 Wed Millennium Centre, Stranraer 3-7pm
27 June 2024 Thu Sanquhar Community Centre 3-7pm
02 July 2024 Tue Dalbeattie Town Hall 3-7pm
04 July 2024 Thu St Ninian’s Hall, Isle of Whithorn 10am-1pm
04 July 2024 Thu New Town Hall, Whithorn 3-7pm
24 July 2024 Wed Online session 3-4pm
29 July 2024 Mon Online session 2-3pm

IJB okays consultation on options for care in region’s communities

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OPTIONS for providing care in communities across Dumfries and Galloway are to be written up and assessed – in the next stage of the Right Care, Right Place programme.

On Tuesday, members of the Integration Joint Board (IJB) agreed plans to advance the work focused on the care which does not require the services of an acute facility and is not delivered in someone’s own home.

IJB Chairman Andy McFarlane said: “A great deal of work has taken place within Right Care, Right Place, looking at the provision of care, gathering views and insights, and looking at future models.

“With our region’s changing demographics and increasingly complex care needs, we know that we need to adapt our approaches in order to best serve our communities – now, and over the longer term.

“Last year, Right Care, Right Place gathered a huge amount of valuable insight and understanding from local stakeholders, including public and staff.

“In recent weeks, the team have been undertaking focused workshop sessions with stakeholders to take all that we’d learned and start planning, in real terms, how we can adapt to meet the care needs in our communities.

“This takes in everything from the roles played by our care homes to the services embedded in our cottage hospitals.

“A range of options for each of our eight Home Teams areas has been identified. And yesterday we agreed the next stage – to work with stakeholders to assess and shortlist the options, taking the most viable approaches out for public consultation.

“This consultation is expected to begin later in the spring, and we’ll be encouraging everyone to have their say.

“We are working to ensure that, by September, the Board have the necessary information to make the decisions that will provide the best outcomes for all involved, and begin implementing models of care that are best placed to meet the needs of communities both in the short term, and for years to come.”

Full details on the paper to IJB on 5th March 2023 can be found by visiting: https://dghscp.co.uk/integration-joint-board/integration-joint-board-meetings/

maternity consultation

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A CALL is being made for everyone to have their say on two options for the future of maternity services in Wigtownshire – as consultation gets underway.

A series of in-person events and an online survey will set out the options to provide a birthing service for pre-planned, ‘low-risk’ births.

These represent around a quarter of all pregnancies in Wigtownshire.

Lyn Durrant is General Manager for Women, Children and Sexual Health, and she said: “We’re very keen to encourage and support everyone in Wigtownshire to provide their response to this formal consultation on birthing services.

“A full programme of engagement begins today, Monday November 20.

“We’d invite everyone to have their say, to help spread the word to friends and neighbours, and encourage the fullest participation – as the approach which emerges from this will serve Wigtownshire for years to come.”

Engagement earlier in the year gathered the thoughts of stakeholders including service users and staff.

The work took place under the direction of independent chairs, and the findings were used to develop several different options for ‘intrapartum’ birthing services.

After the options were scored, two shared first place.

One was for the current arrangements, providing only for low-risk home births.

The second option would allow pre-planned births within Galloway Community Hospital, but only for the same relatively small number of low-risk births and with the same level of support provided for home births.

This second option was narrowly preferred by the independent chairs when the scores by local professional NHS staff were excluded.

Feeling there was a lack of a decisive outcome, and with no proposals or options having yet been taken out for the public to consider, a recommendation was agreed by a sub-committee of the Integration Joint Board that two options be taken out for formal consultation.

Lyn Durrant said: “Just to be clear, and contrary to some reporting, neither of these options would represent a full birthing service in Wigtownshire.

“High risk pregnancies have always been advised to take place in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, and this would remain the advice.

“It’s important that everybody takes the time to understand all the considerations here, including the fact that both options would only be for low-risk pregnancies and that this is about 23 per cent of all pregnancies in the area.”

The consultation is set to run into February.

Once it has concluded, independent agency Sleeping Giants will produced a thematic analysis of what has come out of the consultation.

This independent report will then be used to help develop a recommendation which will be brought to Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board.

Full details and the online survey are available now at the website https://dghscp.co.uk/maternity-consultation/

Vital new service for people affected by cancer comes to Dumfries and Galloway

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A new service to ensure people living with cancer and their families are offered emotional, practical and financial support was launched in Dumfries and Galloway this week (1st November) as part of a successful model spreading around Scotland.

Macmillan Cancer Support, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership and Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway are working with a range of partners to make sure people across Dumfries and Galloway can access all the help they need – by making just one phone call.

The Macmillan Improving the Cancer Journey service is a tried and tested model which provides one to one, tailored support for people affected by cancer and reduces pressure on health services. It is already available in many parts of Scotland, and now the people of Dumfries and Galloway can feel its positive impacts.

Anyone who is newly diagnosed with cancer in the area will either hear about the service from their hospital cancer team or a letter and will be offered a meeting with a link worker. The link worker will then help the person access a wide range of non clinical support that ranges from benefits advice, emotional support, to help at home or other practical needs.

There are around 100 people diagnosed with cancer each month and approximately 1200 people living with cancer across Dumfries and Galloway. By 2030, one in two of us can expect to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lives.

While it’s good news that advances in treatment mean that more people than ever are surviving, it also means that people living with cancer are living longer, often with long-term effects of treatment or other health conditions that have an enormous impact on health, wellbeing and independence. Many of them don’t know where to go for help in coping with the non-medical effects of the illness.

John Lytham from Dumfries, who was referred to the service after his diagnosis, said: “I was really down in the dumps, I must admit. My whole world collapsed. It was actually my clinical nurse Julie Baty who referred me to the Macmillan Improving Cancer Journey and my daughter Stephanie also made the referral.

“Julie McClelland, my link worker, was soon on the phone and she was very cheery and made an appointment to come out and talk about the cancer. She explained everything to me, made me feel relaxed, and she made me aware straight away that in no way would I be alone on my cancer journey. She told me: ‘We’re here to support you all the way.’

“Overall they really did help me. After meetings with Julie she would always phone up, chasing blue badges, financial support, all sorts of different things. It really is invaluable because it opens up new avenues. I would definitely recommend anyone diagnosed to go to Macmillan Improving the Cancer Journey.”

Macmillan’s Head of Partnerships for Scotland & Northern Ireland Janice Preston said:

“Cancer has a huge impact on every aspect of people’s lives and many people tell us they don’t know where to turn for help. This new service should make sure everyone with cancer and their families and carers in Dumfries and Galloway have someone to call on for help. Improving the Cancer Journey practitioners will help individuals to identify their needs and access expert support, from benefits advice to emotional support – whatever they might need. We hope this service will transform cancer support in Dumfries and Galloway.

It’s thanks to the continued support from people locally, who fundraise for us and donate so generously, that we are able to fund this vital new service. With their help we can make a huge difference to the lives of people affected by cancer in Dumfries and Galloway.”

Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership chief officer Julie White said: “A cancer diagnosis can be a concerning and unsettling event in someone’s life and many people will be left with questions or a need for very practical advice and support.

“The programme being implemented in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support aims to help meet this need by connecting people to the wide range of help which is available.

“Whether it’s advice around benefits, securing practical help at home, or identifying some emotional support, this programme will deliver a real package of support at a time when many people will feel they need it the most.

“We look forward to seeing the benefits the programme will deliver over coming months.”

The project is open to everyone aged 18 and over living with cancer regardless of their cancer type or where they live in Dumfries and Galloway. To find out more about the Macmillan Improving the Cancer Journey service call 07977 171837 or email dg.icj@nhs.scot

ENDS

For further media information please contact:

DGHSCP communications team: alexander.campbell5@nhs.scot or call 07932 745130

About Macmillan

At Macmillan, we give people with cancer everything we’ve got. If you’re diagnosed, your worries are our worries. We will move mountains to help you live life as fully as you can.

And we don’t stop there. We’re going all out to find ever better ways to help people with cancer, helping to bring forward the day when everyone gets life-transforming support from day one.

We’ll do whatever it takes. For information, support or just someone to talk to, call 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk

DGHSCP chief officer Julie White addressing the launch event

Draft Integration Scheme published

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The Integration Scheme for Dumfries and Galloway has been reviewed, revised and updated. This is a draft document until 2nd December 2023 to give people a further opportunity to provide comments and/or suggest changes.

After this time, this will become a final draft document and submitted to NHS Dumfries and Galloway Board and Dumfries and Galloway Council for approval for submission to Scottish Ministers. 

Once agreed by Scottish Ministers, the document will become the Integration Scheme for Dumfries and Galloway.

Please contact Vicky Freeman, Strategic Policy Lead with your  comments at vicky.freeman2@nhs.scot by 2nd December 2023

As this is a draft document at this time, it should be noted that it is still subject to some minor changes and alterations.

Please click here to view the Draft Integration Scheme:

https://dghscp.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Revised-Integration-Scheme-V6.doc

Work Experience 2023

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DOZENS of pupils from across the region have been offered a taste of life working in health and social care.

A total of 91 pupils took part in Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Partnership’s work experience week from 25th to 29th September.

Medicine, laboratory science, Care, IT and estates were just some of the areas where the S4 to S6 pupils were working – getting to take on work themselves, and sit in on everything from tooth extractions to surgeries.

Freya Pardoe from Lockerbie Academy was one of seven pupils who were assigned medicine, and she said: “I thought my work experience was phenomenal.

“I had the absolute best time, I was so thankful to everyone I worked with, and it’s confirmed to me that medicine is the path that I want to take in my career.”

Medical Director Dr Kenneth Donaldson was one of the senior managers from the Partnership who attended an event at The Bridge on the Friday afternoon where pupils gave presentations on what they had experienced and learned over the course of the week.

Speaking at the event, Dr Donaldson said: “It’s been a fantastic afternoon, just hearing the experience of lots of school students – and in particular for me hearing from those who were doing the medical block.

“We know there is a lot of school students out there who might be thinking about doing medicine but are just not sure, and this opportunity to actually see what it offers, and the different range, is just invaluable.

“We’re really keen that we get people locally who are getting into medical school. Obviously, our hope is that they might come back to Dumfries and Galloway in the future because we really want to boost our recruitment number, and I see this as a very good start for that – so it’s been a very encouraging afternoon.”

Many of the pupils who took part in the week noted their surprise at the very wide breadth of roles which feature in the delivery of health and social care.

Sharon Williams from Dumfries Academy was among the block of pupils working in administration within general practice, and she said: “Before doing this programme I always thought that the main roles in the hospital were just the doctors and the nurses – I never really appreciated the rest of the staff.”

Similarly, Luka Stores from Wallace Hall Academy described the estates team as ‘unsung heroes’.

He said: “We went to DGRI, Mountainhall, we had a few jobs at Annan and Lochmaben. We had some small jobs, like hanging a picture of Major Tom in Annan, and we went about DGRI looking at the generators and the air handling units. It was a mix of everything, and really good.”

He added: “The estates department, nobody really speaks about it, but it’s actually really interesting how much work they do and how little they’re recognised.”

Other pupils were placed with health care support workers within the community, within the dental centre, within Human Resources, IT, Administration, Home Teams, Medical Physics, Recruitment and Support Services, and alongside pharmacists, ophthalmologists, public health workers, radiologists, practice educators, nurses and allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway Workforce Manager Vic McDade said: “We’ve had yet another great work experience week, which has allowed pupils an insight into the very many and varied careers which exist within health and social care.

“Hopefully this week gave them a taste of what life might be like after school, and the very many fantastic and varied career opportunities the NHS can offer them.

“And with a bit of luck, a good number of the pupils who we’ve welcomed will go to choose a career within health and social care – and they’ll perhaps go on to work in those roles within Dumfries and Galloway.

“I’d like to thank everyone who took part, and the schools who support this. I’d also like to thank our amazing staff for helping to make these young people feel welcomed and appreciated as they’ve got involved in so many areas of our work.”