Main updates
NHS Fife budget
The Scottish Government recently announced the 2024/25 draft budget, which significantly increases the financial challenge for all Health Boards across Scotland. Our finance team has been working to fully understand the implications of this for NHS Fife and it is clear the current financial pressures are going to increase significantly next year. As noted by the director of health and social care finance within the Scottish Government, “the financial pressures across health and social care are, by far, the most challenging since devolution”.
We currently project an overspend of £23million for the 2023/24 financial year and to operate within the statutory limits of the funding available, it is inevitable that we will have difficult choices ahead. Over the coming weeks, and at pace, we will be reviewing the detail of our financial plan to create a framework of reform and transformation and more information will be made available in due course.
A&E performance
Our acute hospital remains incredibly busy, as we would expect over the winter months when demand is at its highest. However, we welcome the latest figures which show a steady improvement in waiting times over recent weeks (60.1% - 68.3% from 11 December), particularly given rising attendances over the same period.
As we referenced in the previous edition of this update before Christmas, we have introduced several changes and improvements to help us mitigate the impact of winter pressures not only in our A&E, but across our hospital services, including:
- giving our emergency care consultants in the Victoria Hospital more control and oversight over pathways and patient care via our flow and navigation hub (which directly links NHS24 into our services).
- extending the hours of service of our Rapid Triage Unit, which provides short and focussed assessments of patients upon arrival in A&E and decides whether they need medical admission or onward referral.
- introducing seven-day rehab; weekend physiotherapy services to support people who are ready for discharge.
- introducing a homeless liaison officer in our A&E to work alongside Fife Council to help find accommodation or places for people to go upon discharge from hospital.
- opening extra beds in both our acute and community hospitals.
- continuing to utilise Queen Margaret Hospital for elective surgeries.
Throughout winter we continue to reiterate the messaging that where patients require urgent healthcare, but it is not life threatening – they should phone NHS 24 on 111. Call handlers can arrange an appointment with an appropriate service close to their home and often without a lengthy wait.
More information about getting the right care in the right place
Mobile sexual health clinic making services more accessible
Our sexual health service received funding from the Fife Health Charity for a mobile clinic.
The clinic is being used to help work towards eliminating hepatitis C, as well as providing preventative health advice and interventions relating to sexual health and blood borne viruses.
It also allows sexual health to move closer to people in communities who find it hard to access services – particularly those experiencing challenges such as poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, or poor mental health.
Ultra-realistic robot helping in army disaster situations
We recently welcomed STV News to Queen Margaret Hospital as part of a feature on the British Army’s use our Simulation and Training Centre.
The centre opened in 2022 and was funded by the Fife Health Charity at a cost of more than £200,000. It enables healthcare professionals to simulate realistic scenarios and assists in the development of medical students, nurses, and allied health professionals.
Childcare restrictions in pregnancy clinics relaxed
Constituents attending antenatal clinics and pregnancy scans can now bring children with them if they are unable to arrange childcare.
Since 2020, children were not permitted to attend clinics with a parent. Constituents are still strongly encouraged to arrange childcare, where possible, but can bring their children if there is another adult able to attend with them. The attendance of children can be arranged in advance through a constituent’s local antenatal clinic.
Online pregnancy registration
Constituents who have a pregnancy test that comes back positive can now self-refer online.
Registration allows them to register with a midwife or discuss their pregnancy choices. Once they have completed the form, our maternity team will be in touch to provide all the information and support they need to guide them through their pregnancy journey - however that may look. More information is available here.
Four- and eight-month health visits for babies
We have been asked by various media outlets to confirm whether, like in some other areas, NHS Fife has had to pause or end the provision of four- and eight-month health visits for babies. Our current position is that pathway visits are still being delivered and business continuity plans are in place to deal with any staffing pressures - should they arise. In addition, several newly qualified health visitors have recently been recruited to the service.
Winter ready webpages
With temperatures dropping and viruses like flu circulating more, we have updated the winter readiness pages our website. The pages are designed to give people information and advice to help them stay well and, should they require healthcare services, get the right care in the right place.
Statistical information
NHS Performs
As referenced at the top of this document, NHS Performs brings together a range of information on how NHS Fife is performing, including A&E performance, cancelled operations, delayed discharges, and diagnostic waiting times.
Workforce information
NHS Education for Scotland publishes a quarterly update on workforce related information, including the number of staff directly employed by NHS Fife and the number of vacant posts for nursing and midwifery staff, allied health professions, and medical and dental consultants.
The interactive dashboard also outlines trends over time and references other useful information such as sickness absence rates, staff age profile, and spend on agency and bank.