Main updates
New elected member enquiry inbox
Following feedback, our process for co-ordinating elected members correspondence has changed to provide a more streamlined service.
Our corporate communications directorate now co-ordinates a dedicated mailbox at fife.electedmember@nhs.scot. This mailbox is monitored Monday to Friday between 9.30am – 10.30am (excluding public holidays).
Elected members have been sent an email with more detail, including expected response timescales and consent arrangements for enquiries relating to constituent care. A dedicated webpage has also been set up at nhsfife.org/electedmembers.
Please note, enquiries relating to constituent care and medical treatments will be passed to our Patient Experience team to respond in line with existing arrangements. We also ask that you note that we are unable to expediate waiting times on the request of an elected member. Waiting times vary depending on factors such as clinical priority, available resources, and ongoing service demand.
In-person briefing session
We look forward to welcoming many of our MPs and MSPs to Queen Margaret Hospital on 13 December for an in-person meeting. The session will include a presentation on the provision of mental health services in Fife. Please remember to let us know if you can attend by responding to the invite.
A&E pressures
Our A&E has been extremely busy in recent weeks, and we expect to see this continue as we move into winter – a common challenge for health boards across the country.
We prepare for the traditionally busier winter period for many months in advance, and whilst we have several initiatives in place to help manage the increased demand, it can be a challenging time for our services. Indeed, we see upwards of 250 people daily in A&E who all need to be assessed, treated and either transferred to an appropriate ward or discharged.
Importantly, patients who are most unwell are given the greatest priority, which means those presenting with less severe complaints will wait longer. This is a particularly important point as we look to manage demand and promote alternative healthcare services that benefit both NHS Fife and the needs of the patient.
We have been using our social media channels to promote resources on our website that reinforce messaging around winter, the pressures it brings, how to remain well, and how to seek appropriate care if it’s needed. Examples include:
- Let’s Talk
- Stay Well This Winter
- Right Care, Right Place
As winter approaches it’s vital that we work together to help ensure that people across Fife know about the options available to them for non-emergency care and, by working together with our elected members, we hope to help to enhance the community’s understanding of how best to access services and contribute to ensuring efficient use of healthcare services in Fife.
M.E specialist nurse recruitment
Following the sad passing of our M.E specialist nurse, Keith Anderson, we have been working to recruit an appropriately trained specialist nurse to continue his excellent work.
While we actively seek to fill this role, the current shortage of specialist M.E. trained professionals nationwide presents a significant challenge.
In the interim, we are committed to ensuring that patients and their families continue to receive the care and support they need through a series of actions.
- maintaining arrangements that enable GPs to refer patients with M.E. to appropriate long-term condition services within Fife, aligning with practices across all Scottish health boards.
- training our nursing staff through a Continuing Professional Development (CPD)-accredited learning module. This equips them to recognise the signs and symptoms of M.E and provide immediate support to these patients.
- reviewing our service delivery model with the goal to establish a dedicated M.E. multidisciplinary team, which will be further strengthened once a specialist nurse is appointed.
We recognise the impact of M.E and the importance of specialised care. We remain dedicated to recruiting an M.E specialist nurse to improve the support available to patients and their loved ones.
Newly qualified practitioners welcomed
Over the last fortnight we have been welcoming our latest intake of newly qualified practitioners.
The recruits were invited to introduction breakfasts at the Victoria and Queen Margaret Hospitals, where they learned more about the organisation and the support and opportunities available to them in Fife.
The latest intake includes 159 nursing posts, 35 midwifery roles, and 21 allied health professionals.
Interactive careers events - medicine, nursing, and midwifery
We are hosting a series of interactive careers events for high school pupils interested in pursuing a healthcare profession.
Our first events take place on 25 November at Queen Margaret Hospital for S5 and S6 pupils with an interest in nursing and midwifery. The interactive sessions will include a chance to speak with nurses and midwives, trying common tasks like taking blood, and a chance to try our frailty suit, which gives an idea of how it feels to have impaired mobility and reduced vision.
Further sessions are then taking place at Queen Margaret and Cameron hospitals on 4 and 5 December. These are for S4 pupils interested in a career in medicine. These sessions will help prepare students for university applications and interviews, as well as increasing their understanding of the skills needed for medicine.
Neurodivergence support roadshow
Our final free roadshow showcasing some of the support available to neurodivergent children and young people takes place next week. The session will be particularly helpful where children show differences in development around thinking and learning, managing emotions and overactivity.
The session takes place on Wednesday 20 November at the Main Hall in Lynebank Hospital from 2-5pm. For more information email fife.parentsincadhd@nhs.scot.
Scottish Health Awards 2024
We were delighted to learn that dietetic assistant, Karli Whittle, won the Support Worker Award at the Scotland's Health Awards in Edinburgh last week.
There were also a number of other local finalists shortlisted who work with NHS Fife and we were extremely proud to be so well represented at the event.
- Tracy Cunningham: Support Worker Award
- Kelly Anne McNeill: Support Worker Award
- Infant mental health team: Integrated Care Award
- Dr Bernadette O'Hare: Global Citizenship Award
- Dunfermline Ambulance Station: Reader’s Choice Award
- Nicole Haggerty: Doctor Award
Scotland's Health Awards celebrate the extraordinary achievements of individuals and teams who go above and beyond to deliver compassionate, high-quality health and social care to the people of Scotland.
Coil fitting trial at Pipeland Medical Practice, St Andrews
Pipeland Medical Practice in St Andrews has begun a trial clinic for coil fitting. The service is open to people across North-east Fife–not just those registered at the practice - who would like to have a coil fitted.
The trial will run for six months to determine uptake and looks to support those whose usual practice doesn’t provide this service. More information can be viewed here.
Walking aid return and refurbishment
People who have walking aids that they no longer use can now return them to a local recycling centre. Staff working at the centres will be able to direct them to the community equipment recycling container, where aids are picked up, cleaned, refurbished, and then used again if they are in good condition.
We estimate that around 98% of returned walking aids can be refurbished or reused. More information is available here.
Mouth cancer awareness month
November is Mouth cancer Awareness Month and we have partnered with Dunfermline Athletic FC to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer. Mouth cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world but can be treated more effectively if it is caught early.
Our mouth cancer awareness campaign saw our dental access team visit East End Park, where they were joined by local mouth cancer survivor, Barbara Boyd, to give the Dunfermline players mouth cancer checks and record a series of promotional videos.
Prostate cancer awareness raising
Following Sir Chris Hoy’s high profile prostate cancer diagnoses, we have published a webpage dedicated to raising awareness of the disease, its symptoms, and how to seek checks and treatment. The page has been promoted on our social media platforms, which has led to a notable spike in visits.
Vaccination
Campaign encouraging staff to protect themselves against flu and Covid
We are encouraging our staff across Fife to take advantage of their free winter vaccines to help protect against flu and COVID.
All healthcare workers are eligible for the free flu jab, regardless of whether they have patient contact or not. The strains circulating change constantly and the vaccine offered this year gives
the best protection against catching and spreading the virus.
There are a range of options available to you to help make flu vaccination as easy and straightforward as possible for our staff, including visiting an appointed local clinic by booking online, visiting a drop-in, or a visit from one of our 120 peer vaccinators, who work across acute and community services and are taking their vaccines on the road. Staff can also visit one of our 50 participating community pharmacies.
Sharing our messages
We appreciate the support of elected members in sharing our health messages with constituents on your webpages and via your social media accounts.
Board papers and statistics
NHS Fife Board: Papers from the latest Board meeting on Wednesday 25 September can be viewed here. The next meeting takes place on Tuesday 26 November.
Performance: A wide range of research, guidance and statistical publications relating to NHS Fife can be viewed here.
Workforce: Statistics on staffing and vacancies are published quarterly by NHS Education for Scotland. The latest publication can be viewed here.
All Information correct at time of publishing. Issued by the corporate communications service.