Weekly News
Released on 11/05/2009
Events Diary
15 May
Strategic Planning Network
Annual Conference: Planning for a Healthier Future
Beardmore Conference Centre, Clydebank
Last chance to book. Interactive event facilitated by Andrew Lyon, International Futures Forum. See attached flyer and booking form.
20 May & 2 June
4 & 18 June
IHM Scotland
Project Management
9.30-4pm, Glasgow, Inverness
See page 2 and attached flyers for course content and booking.
21 & 22 May
NHS Education for Scotland
Enhancing Your Practice:
Networking and Learning for Practice Managers Annual
Conference
Crieff Hydro Hotel
See www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/events.
6 & 7 October
IHM Scotland
Annual Conference
Airth Castle Hotel
Programme information available shortly: put in your diary today.
This week in Parliament
Wednesday
10:00 Health and Sport Committee
The Committee will take evidence on the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services ( Scotland ) Bill at Stage 1 from Mary Cuthbert, Head of Tobacco, Sexual Health and HIV Team, Public Health and Health Improvement Directorate, Rosemary Lindsay, Principal Legal Officer, Solicitors Health and Community Care Division, Legal Directorate, Kathleen Preston, Solicitor, Solicitors Health and Community Care Division, Legal Directorate, and Jonathan Pryce, Head of Primary Care Division, Primary and Community Care Directorate, Scottish Government.
Thursday
11:40 General Question Time
Linda Fabiani (SNP, Central Scotland): what cross-border cooperation has there been between NHS Scotland and its English counterpart in combating the flu outbreak.
12:00 First Minister’s Questions
17:00 Members’ Business: Cathy Jamieson (Lab, Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley): RNID Hearing Matters Campaign - That the Parliament welcomes RNID Scotland’s campaign, Hearing Matters; notes that there are 758,000 deaf and hard of hearing people in Scotland, the majority of whom are aged over 55; further notes that it takes people on average 10 to 15 years to address hearing loss and that there are around 350,000 people in Scotland who could benefit from a hearing aid but are not currently using one; considers that some GPs in the NHS Ayrshire and Arran area are screening adults for their hearing in the community rather than making a straight referral to audiology or ENT, and believes that hearing loss should be identified and treated at the earliest opportunity and the introduction of hearing screening on the NHS for those aged 55 and over considered.
Sturgeon praises NHS staff response to swine flu
In her most recent statement to Parliament about the H1N1 flu virus, the Health Secretary took the opportunity to “pay tribute to the efforts of staff across the NHS who have worked so hard and, to date, so successfully, to stop this virus spreading,” adding that, “we shouldn’t underestimate the scale of the challenges the NHS in Scotland has faced in the last ten days.” Ms Sturgeon’s full statement can be read at www.scotland.gov.uk/News/This-Week/Speeches/Healthier/ah1n1-statement.
New guidance for teenage hospital care
The Scottish Government has issued new guidance intended to ensure that young people in adolescence receive care that is appropriate to their needs. The guidance responds to concerns that hospital care has traditionally been geared towards either children or adults, with teenagers falling between the two stools and having to rely on services designed for much younger or older people. The government has already agreed to raise the age limit for children’s hospitals from the 13th to the 16th birthday.
The guidance launched last week recommends:
• All hospitals should provide facilities and services for young people aged 13 and over, separate wherever possible from children and adults
• Extra educational support for young people, particularly those who need frequent or lengthy hospital stays
• Support for moving from adolescent to adult care
Better Health, Better Care: Hospital Services for Young People in Scotland can be read at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/05/07130749/0.
Project Management comes to the Highlands
Following many requests, IHM Scotland’s extremely popular two day Project Management course is coming to Inverness on Thursday 4 and Thursday 18 June. The workshops, led by John Hutchison of the Grange Group, have already provided an invaluable introduction to this key management skill at locations across Scotland and are now being staged at a venue that is accessible to health and care managers in the north of the country.
Designed for managers in all sectors and at all levels who are new to the discipline of project management, the course is closely tailored to individual needs and experience of what works in the real world of the NHS. Participants will conclude the course with the knowledge and confidence to enable them to initiate and see through projects within their own organisations.
Places are still available on the Inverness course: book now to avoid disappointment. The same course is also taking place in Glasgow on 20 May and 2 June. See the flyers attached with the Update for details and booking.
Mental Health Improvement Plan
Public Health Minister, Shona Robison, has launched the Scottish Government’s policy and action plan for mental health improvement over the next two years.
The plans in Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland include:
• National marketing campaigns raising awareness of how adults and young people can promote their own wellbeing, aided by self-help resources and practical support
• Awareness raising and help for older people to spot the early signs of dementia and get earlier diagnosis
• Training for health and social workers on how best to promote mental wellbeing in children and young people
www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/05/06154655/0
£30m funding for medical equipment
The Public Health Minister has also announced today that NHS boards will share £30m for new medical equipment this year. The money is already part of 2009/10’s overall NHS budget of £11.09 billion, but is additional to the £8.64 billion of this which has gone to NHS boards in revenue and capital funding.
Ms Robison said: "This funding for medical equipment will ensure that patients across Scotland continue to benefit from state-of-the-art facilities.
"Up-to-the-minute technology is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment and this funding will allow NHS boards right across the country to purchase equipment ranging from specialised care beds to expensive scanners.
"And it means our NHS staff working on the frontline will have the equipment they need to carry out their jobs most effectively."
