Main updates 

Navigating budget challenges 

As we continue to analyse the implications of the Scottish Government’s 2024/25 draft budget, our work to revise our financial plans and create a framework of reform and transformation is ongoing. 

Whilst the detail of this framework is yet to be finalised, the unprecedented level of savings that we are being asked to make represents a significant organisational challenge and it is inevitable that we will have very difficult choices ahead. 

As part of our commitment to keeping our staff informed and engaged, we will shortly be providing them with more detailed information around our financial position and the approach we will take to navigate the savings that are required.  

New chair takes up role 

Patricia Kilpatrick started her new role as chair of the NHS Fife Board this week. Ms Kilpatrick was formally appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Michael Matheson MSP in November and succeeds Alistair Morris who was appointed acting chair the previous April. 

Ms Kilpatrick was previously vice chair at NHS Tayside having been a non-executive board member there for the past five years. She has extensive experience in healthcare spanning a career of 40 years. 

Case of measles in north-east Fife 

Last week, it was confirmed that a person living in north-east Fife had contracted measles. As part of the east region health protection team, we identified the close contacts of the individual and put measures in place to help reduce the opportunity for the virus to spread. 

Measles can be a very serious condition, causing pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and can affect those of any age if they have not been vaccinated. The virus is highly transmissible and while there have only been two confirmed cases in Scotland since October 2023, measles has been increasingly prevalent in other parts of the UK in recent months, as well as in mainland Europe. 

We have been encouraging people in Fife to familiarise themselves with the most common symptoms of the virus, which include: 

  • cold like symptoms 
  • sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light 
  • a high temperature 
  • a rash on the skin that usually first appears on the head/neck and then spreads to the rest of the body 

The best protection is to receive two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine is usually offered in early childhood although can be given at any age and offers life-long protection against the virus. More information around measles can be found here. 

Online portal improving waiting list management 

We are enhancing the way we communicate with patients on waiting lists. Patients currently on the waiting lists for the following services and specialties will now receive a text or email from NHS Scotland about their referral with NHS Fife: 

  • Gynaecology 
  • ENT 
  • Urology 
  • General Surgery
  • Orthopaedics 

Those with a registered mobile number or email address will be contacted in due course on how they can manage their referral through our secure online portal - Patient Hub. More information is available here. 

500th robotic procedure carried out 

More than 500 patients in Fife have now been treated using pioneering robotic-assisted surgery (RAS).  

The Victoria Hospital was the first District General Hospital in Scotland to adopt RAS in 2021, and it's now used by eight specially trained surgeons across colorectal, gynaecological, and urological surgery.  

In addition to reducing post-operative pain, RAS is helping shorten the average length of hospital stay, speeding up recovery for patients, and reducing the chances of readmission. More information is available here. 

First dedicated BSL interpreter appointed 

NHS Fife has appointed its first dedicated British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter, initially on a fixed term contract. 

Mandy McCreadie will support conversations between patients and clinicians to help ensure the views of patients are understood. She will also be signing written communications to patients in advance of clinical procedures to ensure information is delivered clearly in the patient's preferred language.  

Based at the Victoria Hospital, Mandy will be working with Deaf BSL users in hospitals, the community, GP practices, and even home visits across Fife. More information is available here. 

GPs participating in protected learning time sessions 

Some local GP practices are taking part in two Protected Learning Time sessions this month.  

One session took place earlier this week with another scheduled for Thursday 15 February. 

Practices take part in several sessions throughout the year to allow staff to access training.  

More information, including a list of participating practices, is available here. 

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. The latest information can be viewed here. 

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. The latest publication was published in June and can be viewed here.