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SEPTEMBER 2014

HighlightsNurse Morag completesanother monster swim

PATIENTS’ satisfac-tion with NHS High-

land continues to rise,according to a major newnational survey.

The Inpatient PatientExperience Survey 2014,which was commissionedby the Scottish Govern-ment, found that 95 percent of patients rated thecare and treatment theyreceived from NHS High-land as good or excel-lent.

That is an increase offour percentage pointssince the last survey, in2012, and is six percent-age points higher thanthe figure for Scotland asa whole.

The survey also found

Continued on page 2

Percentage happy with care and treatment increases

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Inpatient satisfactionlevels are increasingthat 95 per cent of NHS High-land A&E patients rated theircare and treatment positively,compared with 89 per cent in2012 and 87 per cent in Scot-land as a whole.

Asked to rate the overallhospital and ward environment,94 per cent of NHS Highlandpatients responded positively,four percentage points morethan in 2012 and six more thannationally.

The cleanliness of the mainroom or ward the patient stayedin also rated highly, with 98 per

cent of NHS Highland patientsjudging it very positively orpositively – two per cent morethan in 2012 and three per centmore than the Scotland-widepercentage.

The survey, conducted be-tween April and September2013, saw 2,170 NHS Highlandpatients returning feedback ontheir experiences. They wereasked 65 questions and NHSHighland chief executive ElaineMead said their responses re-flected ongoing improvementsin the care and treatment ofpatients.

She said: “I am not surprised

that overall patient satisfactionlevels continue to improve. It’sa fantastic tribute to our staff,who work diligently to providethe best possible care andtreatment for people while theyare in hospital.

“Putting the patient first is atthe core of everything we inNHS Highland do, and it’s re-warding to learn that our pa-tients appreciate that.”

Elaine Mead added:“Against a backdrop of an age-ing population, with all the de-mands on our services that im-poses, and a challenging finan-cial situation, we remain deter-mined that we will continue toimprove standards.”

There were aspects patientswere less happy about. For ex-ample, the percentage whosaid they were not bothered bynoise at night from other pa-tients was down on the 2012figure, as was the percentagewho said they knew whichnurse was in charge of theward.

Elaine Mead said: “It’s al-ways great to receive positivefeedback but any negativefeedback is also extremely use-ful to us.

“As we strive to continue toimprove, we will take all criti-cism aboard and act on it.”

AMONG the finds of the latest survey are that:92 per cent of patients were positive about the hospi-

tal admission process (up on both the 2012 and national fig-ures)81 per cent were happy with the food they received

(13 per cent more than nationally)96 per cent felt they were kept as physically comfort-

able as they could be (four per cent more than nationally)95 per cent felt that nurses washed their hands at ap-

propriate times (more than in 2012 and nationally)95 per cent rated positively all the staff they came in

contact with (three per cent more than in 2012 and four percent more than nationally)85 per cent felt positively about arrangements for

leaving hospital (seven per cent more than in 2012 and sixper cent more than nationally)86 per cent rated positively the care and support they

received after leaving hospital (in 2012, it was 79 per centand nationally it is 83 per cent).

To view the results of the Inpatient Patient Experience Survey 2014 visit:http://www.careexperience.scot.nhs.uk/

Continued from front page

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THE NHSScotland Staff Survey,which was launched last month,remains live until 3rd October.

As Highlights reported lastmonth, this year the question-naire is shorter and easier tocomplete than previously, butmost of the questions remain thesame. CAPITA’s survey and re-search team will be managing the2014 survey and will ensure re-sponses remain completely confi-dential.

Elaine Mead, NHS Highland’schief executive, has repeated hercall to staff members to completethe survey.

She said: “As members ofstaff, you are the lifeblood of NHSHighland and we want every sin-gle individual to have an opportu-nity to have their say by complet-ing either on-line or using a paperquestionnaire.

“Getting feedback on staff ex-perience is every bit as importantto us as receiving feedback fromservice users; both are integralaspects of improving the qualityof our services under the High-land Quality Approach.”

Those who wish to complete

the survey on-line will have re-ceived an e-mail from CAPITAinviting you to participate. The e-mail contains a unique passwordenabling you to access the sur-vey. This means you can com-plete it in multiple sessions if nec-essary.

It will automatically save yourresponses as you go, so if youwant to think further about thequestions or get interrupted whilecompleting it you can easily re-turn to it later. The survey can,and should, be completed duringworking hours.

The overall results will be ano-nymised and individual partici-pants will not be identifiable.

Elaine Mead added: “We askyou to please take the time tocomplete the questionnaire so

that we get our best ever re-sponse this year.

“This will give us a great steerin making informed decisions fora successful future working to-gether.”

You can complete the surveyusing a paper copy and over theperiod of the survey NHS High-land will be endeavouring tomake this available as widely aspossible, especially to thosegroups of staff who do not havereadily available access to acomputer.

The e-mail from CAPITA in-cluded details of who to addressqueries to; in addition, you canaccess help and support fromNHS Highland’s staff survey co-ordinator at 01463 888343 (emailat raymond.stewart@nhs.net).

Staff members urgedto complete survey

THE Trak Patient ManagementSystem (PMS) went 'live' acrossNHS Highland in early March thisyear, some six months ago.

However, several issues re-main to be resolved from Phase1, the non-clinical phase, of theimplementation. These are beingresolved within a formal project

management framework.To make employees aware of

ongoing progress and futureplans and timescales, short pres-entations will be delivered by IainRoss and Hazel Macphail on 26thSeptember in the Centre forHealth Science, Inverness, at11am and 3pm.

It is also planned to give anupdate on the new, clinically fo-cused elements planned asPhase 2 of the implementation.

The presentations will providean opportunity to express viewsand ask any questions. To attendvia VC send your details tosally.bassett1@nhs.net

Presentations to report on progress with PMS implementation

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MORE than 60 care workers andcooks from 22 care homesacross NHS Highland came to-gether last month for a practicalmaster class in supporting resi-dents who have swallowing diffi-culties.

The two events, held on 19th

and 20th August and sponsoredby Nutricia Clinical Care, manu-facturers of Nutilis Clear, NHSHighland’s choice of thickeningagent, will be repeated by popu-lar demand on 11th and 12th No-vember. They were seen as agreat example of joint workingacross NHS, independent caresector and private business.

Between 50 and 70 per cent ofcare home residents experiencedifficulties swallowing food and/orfluids. This is usually related toneurological conditions such asdementia, motor neurone dis-ease, Parkinson’s disease andstroke.

Not providing food in the cor-rect texture can result in chestinfections, aspiration, malnutri-tion, dehydration and even death.Links to falls and pressure areasas a result of poor nutrition arealso well documented, so it is vi-tal that safe, appetising meals

and drinks can be available andeaten easily.

However, menu fatigue is areal problem for care home resi-dents, who are often limited to asmaller choice, which is repeatedregularly.

At the events, colleagues fromthe speech and language therapyand occupational therapy ser-vices delivered interactive ses-sions, allowing staff to considerthe mealtime experience from aresident’s perspective and offer-ing practical solutions for posi-tioning, use of specialist equip-

ment and creating a suitable en-vironment for eating at any timeof day or night.

There was a fun competitionas staff broke into teams to play‘the dysphagia game’, which wascommissioned by NHS Englandin response to reports, via thenational patient safety agency,relating to large numbers of chok-ing incidents attributable to poorknowledge and management ofpatients with swallowing difficul-ties. Winners of the two dys-phagia games were The Mead-ows care home in Dornoch andThe Howard Doris Centre, Loch-carron.

To find out more about thegame and how to purchase itcontact Evelyn Newman, nutritionand dietetics services advisor, at

TEXTURE MODIFICATION: How to make swallowing easier

Masterclasses give carehomes food for thought

THE next care home training event, ‘Food, Falls and Foot Care’,will take place on 1st October in Strathpeffer Community Cen-tre. There will be a strong focus on mealtimes for residentswith dementia and the role of five of the allied health profes-sions in keeping residents active, safe and prevented from fal-ling. Further details are available from Evelyn Newman on eve-lyn.newman@nhs.net

The scene atone of thetwo eventslast month.It’s plannedto repeatthem inNovember.

Continued on next page

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INVERNESS Caledonian This-tle’s community department, inpartnership with the Scottish Pro-fessional Football League (SPFL)Trust, are continuing to delivertheir ‘Football Fans in Training’course.

The course, which is aimed atmen aged between 25 and 65and whose waist size is at least38 inches, is a 12-week physicalactivity and healthy eating pro-gramme designed to help menget fitter and lose weight, and tomaintain these changes in thelong term.

The Football Fans in Trainingprogramme has run for three sea-sons at SPFL clubs.

Research led by a team at theUniversity of Glasgow, showsthat the programme has provedextremely popular with men, andits effectiveness and value formoney have now been demon-strated in one of the world’s firstrandomised control trials of a

health programme deliveredthrough professional sports clubs.

The 'obesity pandemic' is oneof the most serious health issuesfacing modern societies. Fore-casts suggest that by 2030, up tohalf of adults in the UK will beobese. This will cost the UKeconomy as much as £2 billionevery year.However, evidence shows thatcommercial and NHS weightmanagement programmes arestill predominantly attended bywomen, and this is reflected inthe growing evidence base onwhat works in weight manage-ment interventions.

By using professional footballclubs as a setting for a weightmanagement group, the FootballFans in Training research teamhoped that men’s loyalty to theirfootball team would encouragethem to sign up.

Men taking part in the pro-gramme are ‘trained’ by club

community coaches for 12 weeksat their team’s home stadium.They receive a programme ofadvice on how to eat morehealthily and become more ac-tive, grounded in current science.Men are also given a pedometerto count the number of steps theywalk each day.

Over the last seven courseswe have advertised for candi-dates through our own client da-tabase and the media channelsof local newspapers/radio.

We now are recruiting for newclients and wondered if this issomething local general practitio-ners would be interested in get-ting involved in to use the servicefor referrals which fitted the cate-gory in or if you knew of anyother organisations/contacts whomay be interested in getting in-volved.

Arthur Jack, InvernessCaledonian Thistle

Community & Youth Coach

Training events on texture modification

evelyn.newman@nhs.netThe training events offered

practical, hands-on experiencesof preparing a variety of nourish-ing, tasty and colourful meal anddrink options.

International chef Neil Pallister-Bosomworth took a two-hourmaster class which so enthusedthe staff present that many re-turned to their care homes andimmediately made changes.

Changes to practice are ex-

pected in all participating carehomes and will be followed up byEvelyn Newman, nutrition anddietetics advisor for care homesin NHS Highland, who co-ordinated and evaluated thedays.

This will ensure that positivechange is implemented and evi-denced as a direct consequenceof organising and attendance attraining events.

Commitments made by staffincluded:Offering more texture modi-

fied alternatives on menuCompleting the SLT weeklyassessment sheet in advance ofa visit from SLTEducating other staff in thecare homeUsing smoothies for Hunting-tons residentsOffering more texture modi-fied snacks/smaller portionsthroughout the day.Improving the presentation ofmeals, making sure they are thecorrect consistency for the resi-dents.

Continued from previous page

Club’s goal: helping men

to lose weight and get fitter

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Mrs Janet McDonald, Guild secretary at Wick St Fergus Church of Scotland, and hospital staff withsome of the backpacks they donated. Accepting the filled backpacks, Mrs McDonald said that shewas “completely overwhelmed” by the kindness and generosity of NHS Highland staff

AN appeal to hospital staff inCaithness to donate items to helppoor schoolchildren in Africa hasbeen met with an “astonishing”response.

NHS Highland rural hospitalsgeneral manager Pauline Craw,who is based in Wick, told staffabout the Backpack Project, aninitiative by the Scots charityMary’s Meals to provide childrenwith basic equipment such asstationary and school clothes.

And the result has been thataround 100 backpacks, filled witheverything from exercise booksand crayons to t-shirts and flip-flops, have been donated by hos-

pital staff and are ready to bedespatched to countries such asLiberia and Malawi.

“The reaction of staff to thisappeal has been really astonish-ing,” said Pauline.

“It’s not surprised me, as NHSHighland has always had a verycaring and compassionate staff inCaithness.

“But I have been taken abackby how quickly and readily every-one contributed. The project ap-pealed for backpacks or oldschool bags filled with everydayeducational items, including sec-ond-hand goods, yet many of ourstaff readily bought new items for

the campaign.“They understand that not eve-

ryone is as fortunate as they, ortheir children or grandchildren,are, and have responded accord-ingly.

“Many have even asked me ifthey can continue with this cam-paign next year.”

The campaign closed on 22nd

August but backpacks are stillbeing collected by Church ofScotland Guilds.

Staff at Caithness GeneralHospital and the Town andCounty Hospital in Wick and Dun-bar Hospital in Thurso all re-sponded to the appeal.

Bags of generosity inCaithness hospitals!

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RESEARCH carried out bytrainee clinical psychologistsworking with NHS Highland wasexplained at a major conferencein Inverness on Wednesday, 26th

August.The sixth annual Highland

Psychology Research Confer-ence, held in the Centre forHealth Science, provided an op-portunity for trainees to talk abouttheir work.

In addition, Emma Law and DrPeter Connelly of the ScottishDementia Network gave a pres-entation outlining some of thecurrent issues within dementiaresearch in Scotland and explain-ing the work of the network, andDr Camilla Dyer, a clinical tutor atthe University of Glasgow, gave atalk on recent research looking atteaching practices for traineeclinical psychologists.

Chaired by NHS Highland con-sultant clinical psychologist DrAndrew MacDougall, the confer-ence was a key event for traineeclinical psychologists working inHighland.

Dr MacDougall explained:“The annual conference providesan opportunity for trainee clinicalpsychologists to showcase theimportant research they are un-dertaking and, in doing, so toraise the profile of NHS Highlandas a research-active healthboard.

“In the past trainees have hadtheir research published in major

international journals and havegone on to make important contri-butions in their chosen clinicalfields.

“Closer to home, the work un-dertaken by trainee clinical psy-chologists on aspects of clinicalservices in NHS Highland playsan important role in monitoringwhat we are doing to ensurequality and effectiveness in theseservices.”

The trainees secured highlysought-after places on the Westof Scotland training programme –this year there were well over 300applicants for 24 places – withthree being taken each year byNHS Highland.

Before they can apply for thethree-year Doctorate in ClinicalPsychology course, prospectiveapplicants must have a goodPsychology honours degree, al-though many also have an MScor a PhD.

In addition, most will haveclinical or research-relevant ex-perience.

As well as holding clinicalcaseloads, the trainees also haveto undertake research, and it wasthis work that they presented tothe conference.

Third-year trainee JoannaTeale talked about her researchinto literature on the prevalenceof anxiety disorders after trau-matic brain injury in children andadolescents.

Alasdair Cameron, who is also

in the third year of his doctorate,gave a presentation on his workon stigma and social comparisonin adults with intellectual disabili-ties or Autistic Spectrum Disor-der.

The third piece of doctoral re-search covered at the conferencewas Shona McBryer’s into caringfor an adult child after traumaticbrain injury.

Her work explored the experi-ence of parents who care for theiradult children who have sus-tained a severe traumatic braininjury, during their first four to sixweeks at home.

In addition to a doctoral thesistrainees also have to undertakeservice specific research, andthree other trainees gave talksabout their research specific to apart of the service in whichthey’ve worked.

Second-year trainee BethanyAnderson presented on her auditof the risk strategy associatedwith clinical practice adopted bythe community mental health ser-vice in NHS Highland; KayeMcKie, also in her second year,gave a talk on her evaluation ofmindfulness groups provided bypsychological services; andHelen Pulford, another secondyear trainee, gave a presentationon her audit of referrals to olderadult clinical psychological ser-vices from the remote and ruralareas of Caithness and Suther-land.

CONFERENCE: Clinical psychology event told of doctorate work

Event puts spotlighton trainees’ research

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A HIGHLAND teenager is talkingabout how her life has changedfor the better after being fittedwith an insulin pump to help withher diabetes.

Carron MacDonald (15), fromDingwall, was diag-nosed with type 1 dia-betes at the age ofnine. She was fittedwith an insulin pump inNovember last yearand, while being un-sure about it in the be-ginning, she hasn’t looked backsince.

She said: “My first thoughtafter hearing about the pumpwas I didn’t want to do it. I wasquite insecure when I found outabout it. I think the thought ofwhat could change was weigh-ing on my mind.

“Many friends didn’t know Iwas diabetic and I felt that byhaving the pump they would im-mediately know that I did. I didn’twant to be treated any differentlybecause of that but, now thatthey know, they treat me in ex-actly the same way.”

Carron explains that whenshe first heard about it andlooked into it she found the prosfar outnumbered the cons.

She said: “There’s more free-dom as you don’t have to eat atcertain times. I’m not as tired,and I really do think it has im-

proved all parts of my life.”As someone who takes part

in a lot of exercise Carronwanted to be sure that havingthe pump fitted would not inter-fere with this.

She said: “I like exercise, par-ticularly Highland dancing andswimming, and the pump does-n’t stop me from doing this.

“I keep it attached whendancing and it’s never fallen out.I can detach it for swimming asyou can go for an hour without itso if my swim last longer thanthat I can quickly get out of thepool, check what I need to and

carry on. It makes me feel like Iam living like my friends.”

“I’m just back from a trip toCanada and, although at thestart I was a bit uncertain, espe-cially with checking it throughflight security and how it wouldall go, the pump allowed me totake part in dancing competi-tions and even coped smoothlywith the time change meaningwe had a great time.”

Carron adds that, like mostyoung women, she did thinkabout how it would look andwhat she could wear with it.

She said: “I did think it waseasier for boys as they wearbaggier clothes and can clip iton to belts.

“I wanted to know if I couldwear skinnier tops and jeansand it turns out you can. It’s justas easy for girls, no one eversees the pump and it’s never inthe way.

“It’s used by people all overthe world so I felt like I wasn’tthe only one, I wasn’t differentand I wanted to do it!

“It does take getting used tobut I think that the more peoplethat know about it the more peo-ple might want to see if it is forthem. It is an uphill climb to startwith but once you get to the topof the hill the view is worth it. Ithas changed my life com-pletely.”

‘Insulin pump haschanged my life!’

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THE chair of Argyll and ButeCommunity Health Partnership,Rob Creelman, has been reap-pointed to the NHS Highlandboard by the Cabinet Secretaryfor Health and Wellbeing.

Mr Creelman joined the boardin 2011 and was appointed chairof Argyll & Bute CHP in 2012.

Born and educated in Green-ock, Mr Creelman has worked inScotland and the United ArabEmirates in the civil engineeringindustry, holding senior manage-ment positions. On returning toScotland he set up home in Ar-

gyll, establishing several busi-nesses in the construction, ser-vice and leisure industries.

For the past decade he hasbeen involved as a lay represen-tative with the NHS in Scotland,where his main interest has beenpublic involvement and the con-trol and prevention of infection.

He was a member of the HAItaskforce from 2004, chairing itspublic involvement and communi-cations team until stepping downat the end of 2010. He has alsobeen a member of the NationalPatient Safety Advisory Board

and the first elected chair of Ar-gyll and Bute Public PartnershipForum. Mr Creelman brings tothis role his considerable knowl-edge gained as a lay person on avariety of NHS issues, with sig-nificant experience of communityengagement in contributing topatient and public involvement.

The reappointment will runfrom 1st April 2015 to 31st March2019. It attracts a remunerationof £8,008 for a time commitmentof eight hours per week.

CHP chair isreappointed tohealth board

THE Haematology Depart-ment at Raigmore Hospital

was given a welcome boost thismonth when it received a£2,800 donation from a pa-tient’s relatives.

The donors, Mr and MrsHenderson, from Fort William,are pictured with consultanthaematologists Dr JoanneCraig and Dr Peter Forsyth.

Dr Forsyth said: “We are ex-tremely grateful for this gener-ous donation. It will be put to-wards funds for developing thehaematology clinic service forHighland patients, mostly likelyin relation to equipping ex-panded clinic facilities.”

Patient’s relatives hand £2,800 boost to hospital department

STAYING ON: Non-executive director gets four more years

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THE Highland Health SciencesLibrary based at the HighlandCampus in Inverness looks afterthe information needs of both theUniversity and NHS Highland.

One of the challenging areasof working within a large organi-sation is publicising and maintain-ing the profile of the many differ-ent services which constitute it.

NHS Highland has recognisedthis and one of the methods ithas used is to do this is to have aTwitter site which features aweekly set of tweets from differ-ent parts of the organisation.

These ‘Who We Are’ tweetscover a week of work and experi-ences from the selected service.

Services covered to date in-clude: portering, catering, unionrepresentatives, paramedics andnewly-qualified staff.

The services featured in theseries cover the whole of thegeographical spread of NHSHighland.

For an external organisationserving another one the publicityand profile problems are evenmore pronounced so it was agood promotional opportunitywhen the library service wasasked to contribute to a week oftweets.

None of the current librarystaff was active tweeters so thiswas also a chance to developtweeting skills.

The situation was made easierfor us in that the person who or-ganised the tweeting did thetweeting for us so what we had todo was to come up with a seriesof tweets which reflected the widerange of services we provide.

Part of the week of tweets isshown below.

For each day we aimed tohave some repeating themeswhich were: a pertinent quote ofthe day (eg: “If you think educa-tion is expensive, try ignorance.”Derek Bok.), a featured database(eg CINHAL – via the KnowledgeNetwork - http://ow.ly/mMzVX - isa key resource for nurses, PAMSand even medical staff) and ourlibrary matra: “if can’t find whatyou’re looking for in 10mins?Give the library a call...”.

The rest of the tweets for eachday consisted of highlighting workwe were currently doing whichwould hopefully illustrate thevalue of the resource to the or-ganisation.

Unfortunately, the results ofthe tweet week are unknown.

Using Twitter to promote the Highland

Health Sciences Library service

However, it was aninteresting experienceand has added a pos-sible additional Web2.0 Twitter resource tosupplement the libraryblog at: http://hhsl.wordpress.stir.ac.uk/

The archives oftweets can be foundat: http://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/News/Events/Documents/Library%20Tweets.docx andthe service profile canbe found at: http://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/News/Events/Documents/Library%20Profile%20form.doc.

Rob Polson,Subject

Librarian

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NHS HIGHLAND has confirmed that the Technol-ogy Park in Aviemore is at this stage the preferredsite for a proposed new hospital and health and so-cial care resource centre.

But it stressed that this view was based only onquality and access factors, and that work to furtherappraise sites will be subject to other crucial consid-erations.

The announcement comes following work lastmonth, when four sites were assessed based on arange of quality and access factors.

NHS Highland’s director of operations for Southand Mid, Nigel Small, said: “The steering group hadfour sites to consider and the Technology Parkemerged as the preferred site, followed by GrainishFarm. Before we come to a final decision, however,other important factors such as development costs,land purchase and the suitability of the land for con-struction also have to be considered.”

A well-established options appraisal process was

used to assess each of the four sites against anumber of quality and access criteria including pub-lic preference. Views from the public were gatheredas part of the public consultation.

Mr Small added: “I am delighted to say that boththe public preference and the working group’s delib-erations came up with the same conclusion. Thesteering group considered the sites from the per-spective of people who would need to travel fromoutside Aviemore, as well as those resident inAviemore.”

The proposed development of the new facility inAviemore forms part of a wider redesign of servicesin Badenoch and Strathspey.

The proposals have been subject to a three-month public consultation which concluded on 21st

July.All the feedback from the consultation is now be-

ing analysed with a view to taking a recommenda-tion to the board of NHS Highland in October.

Potential preferred sitefor new hospital chosen

AVIEMORE: Yet more work to be done to appraise various options

FOLLOWING a successful bid to Argyll and Bute Health andWell Being Fund, Islay & Jura midwives have set up a weekly

‘Bumps and Babies’ Group in Bowmore. The group is open to allpregnant women and parents with babies under a year old andtheir siblings. Its focus is on healthy living and reducing socialisolation for young families in remote areas on Islay and Jura.There is funding for transport to the group, which is held at Don-ald Caskie Square every Tuesday from 1-3pm.

Annual R&Dconference

THE annual NHS HighlandResearch and DevelopmentConference will take place inthe Centre for Health Sci-ence, Inverness, on 7th No-vember.

The event, designed tohighlight research activitieswithin the organisation, willfeature keynote speakers,break-out sessions, posters,lunch and networking oppor-tunities.

For further details contactlaura.mcilhatton@nhs.net

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THE NHS Highland Facebook account now hostssome additional video clips of the people or sto-

ries that have been in the news.Among other clips you can watch is one of NHS

Highland's new director of adult social care, JoannaMacdonald, talking about the brand new role and itstremendous opportunities.

Katherine Sutton, associate director of AHPs andJacqui Lunday Johnstone, Scottish Governmentchief health professions officer, explain at the NHSHighland and Highland Council Allied Health Pro-fessional event held in August – 'The Hidden Asset'– why sharing learning from colleagues is so im-portant.

And supporting the ‘Don’t get scared, getchecked’ message, a GP, Dr Sian Jones, and acancer patient explain why it’s important to get anyhealth worries checked or take part in the nationalscreening programmes, as early diagnosis of can-cer gives a better chance of successful treatment.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/NHSHighland

There’s more to‘like’ and ‘share’

THE Scottish Mental Heart Artsand Film Festival will be launchedat Eden Court, Inverness, on 1st

October.An open invitation has been

issued for the event, with an op-portunity to meet the people be-hind the festival’s arts exhibitionbetween 4pm and 6pm and a‘film and words’ evening by localwriters and artists between 6pmand 8.15pm.

The festival aims to get peoplethinking and talking about mentalhealth. It explored the relation-ship between creativity and themind, celebrates artist achieve-ments and promotes a positiveself-image of mental health andwellbeing.

All the work to be showcasedhas been produced or written inthe Highlands.

Among those involved in the

festival are Birchwood Highland,The Bikeshed, Ragtag, HUG(Action for Mental Health), TheClay Studio, Befrienders High-land, Moxiemedia, Brora Learn-ing Centre, Support In Mind Scot-land, Karen Sutherland, JohnAnderson, Kintyre House, CastleGardens, HMP Inverness, High-land Council, High Life Highland,NHS Highland, RCOP and Crea-tivity In Care CIC.

Festival aims to get people thinkingand talking about mental health issues

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“COME and join us for festivefun”. That’s the call from theHighland Health Sports and So-cial Club, which is having aChristmas buffet and disco onSaturday 20th December in itspremises at Raigmore. Depart-ment or single bookings are ac-cepted; contact Alister Dibden(01463 704351; al-ister.dibden@nhs.net

Staff praised tocontribution toGlasgow 2014

Festive fun event

THE First Minister has written toNHS Highland chair Garry Couttsto extend “deepest thanks” for theefforts of staff from across theboard who contributed to what hecalled the “Best CommonwealthGames Ever”.

In a letter written jointly byAlex Salmond and Shona Robi-son, the Cabinet Secretary for theGames, the event was describedas “a spectacular sporting suc-cess and fantastic for Scotland’sinternational reputation”.

The letter added: “Althoughthere were no sporting events inyour area we know that mucheffort was put in to ensuring safepassage of the Queen’s Batonand supporting many other localGames related events.

“We would like to recognisethe board’s contribution and com-mitment to the wide range ofplanning and preparations to sup-

port the Scottish Government’svision of hosting a successful,safe and secure Games.

“While it has been fantastic tosee this vision come to fruition,we would also like to take the op-portunity to pay credit to everystaff member across the boardwho continued to work tirelesslyto ensure that services weremaintained throughout the ex-tended Games period.

“We know that manyNHSScotland staff gave up theirtime to become volunteers takingon a variety of Clydesider roles,including supporting the medicalfunction, and their services wereinvaluable to Glasgow 2014.

“We are extremely proud ofthe people that work in the healthservice, and on behalf of theScottish Government sincerelythank you for your commitmentand contribution.”

Friends donatemattress to

health centreGOLSPIE Health Centre is thebeneficiary of a state-of-the-artmattress donated by the Friendsof Golspie and Rogart HealthCentre.

The Nimbus 3 mattress isdesigned to nurse patients whoare at high risk of pressuresores while being cared for inbed for long periods of time.

Practice manager KarenSutherland said: “We are abso-lutely delighted to have beengiven this wonderful piece oftechnology.

“The donation is greatly ap-preciated by all of us we are cer-tain that the patients will feel themany benefits that this mattresshas to offer.

“Technology such as thisgives us a boost in the fightagainst an age-old problem.Pressure ulcers can be ex-tremely painful and around onein 20 people who are admittedto hospital with a sudden illnesswill develop a pressure ulcer.”

The mattress was donated ata cost of £2,795 with the amountbeing split between the Friendsof Golspie and Rogart HealthCentre, who put £1,600 towardsthe overall cost with a further£500 donated from both the Gol-spie and Rogart CommunityCouncil.

The remaining £195 wastaken from the Community Nurs-ing fund.

The Friends of Golspie andRogart Health Centre were es-tablished in 2001 and have do-nated equipment valued at inexcess of £25,000 to benefitmany fields of healthcare in thelocal community.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Letter to board

- 14 -

DR DONATELLA BARBERA, asurgeon at Lorn & Islands

Hospital in Oban, has said farewellto the hospital as she embarks ona new career in London and charitywork in Bolivia.

Dr Barbera will be volunteeringwith charity Open Hands Bolivia for22 weeks a year and will work atWeston General Hospital in Lon-don for the other 30 weeks.

She said: “I’ll be in Bolivia threetimes a year. The charity helpspeople who cannot afford medicalcare and has already helped withthe building of two operating thea-tres in hospitals in Bolivia’s capitalcity.”

Staff at Lorn & Islands Hospital,and their friends, raised £643.50which was presented to Dr Barberaon her last day.

Photo courtesy of the Oban Times

Colleagues say farewell to surgeon

ALL dental patients within theNHS Highland public dental ser-vice are to be offered the optionof receiving text messages to re-mind them of appointments.

The board began rolling out theinnovative text alert programmein June and it hopes that by theend of the year all its dental clin-ics will be offering the service.

It is hoped that using text re-minders will help to reduce theamount of clinical time dentalpractices lose because patientssimply fail to turn up.

The first NHS Highland practiceto offer the service was theLochshell Dental Clinic in Wick,which between June and Decem-ber 2013 lost no fewer than 253hours of clinical time becausepatients failed to attend.

Alex Fraser, NHS Highland den-tal service manager, said: “At thisearly stage there has been noimmediate improvement in DNA(Did Not Attend) levels, thoughwe are continuing to monitoringthe situation. However, it hasbeen possible to free up for other

purposes time usually spent byadministrators in telephoning pa-tients to remind them of their ap-pointments.

Clinics operating in NHS High-land’s Argyll and Bute Commu-nity Health Partnership area havebeen using text reminders for pa-tients for some time, and the cur-rent roll-out will take in the 23other practices under the board’sumbrella.

An evaluation of the impact ofusing the text service will be com-pleted later this year.

Text alerts for patients

Befrienderswanted

THE organisation BriendersHighland is on the look-out formore volunteer befrienders.

Befriending gives peoplethe opportunity to make a dif-ference for someone who islonely or isolated and has ex-perienced mental health prob-lems, lives with dementia orcares for someone with de-mentia.

For information emailinfo@befriendershighland.org.uk or call 01463 712791.

New appointmentHELEN ROBERTSON hasbeen appointed to the Raig-more Hospital AHP lead roleon a one-day-a-week second-ment basis. The appointmenttook effect on 8th September.

Helen is currently sec-onded to the AHP deliveryplan project manager role on afull-time basis, and will con-tinue this role on her remain-ing four days a week.

- 15 -

A LOCHABER-BASED nurse be-lieves she may have become thefirst person to swim the 12-milelength of Loch Morar.

And 58-year-old MoragHughes did so on Saturday (23rd

August) in just about the worstconditions imaginable for the timeof year, with strong winds blowingup 3ft waves.

“It was awful but I did it,” saidMorag, who swam the EnglishChannel in 2010 and last yearbecame probably the first personto swim the 12.5-mile length ofLoch Maree. “To be honest, itwas the toughest swim I haveever done.”

Morag set off at 8.35am andthought she would complete theswim in nine hours. With dark-ness descending, she finished at9.06pm.

“It took far longer than I imag-ined because the conditions wereso bad,” said Morag. “As it hap-pens, I finished just in time as Iwouldn’t have been able to swimin the dark.”

With a piper to greet her andmotorists peeping their horns asthey passed, Morag providedquite a spectacle but admittedthat she didn’t exactly enjoy theswim.

She said: “I was exhaustedand I really had to dig in,” shesaid. “The water temperature was11 or 12 degrees, so I was quitecold, but the waves made it diffi-cult.

“I usually do the crawl but Ihad to do the breaststroke nowand then as it was easier tobreathe. It was the only swim I’veever done when my legs wouldn’tdo what I wanted them to dowhen I came out of the water.”

Morag added that, given the

difficulties she faced, it wasprobably just as well she didn’tmeet up with her namesakeMorag, the monster said to live inthe loch.

“Maybe it was a bit too roughfor her to surface,” she joked.

Morag, who lives in Fort Wil-liam, attracted sponsorship forthe swim, but says she has noidea as yet how much she hasraised for the restoration fund forSt Mary and St Finnan Church atGlenfinnan.

She said: “I am not a churchmember but it is such a lovely,iconic building with an interestinghistory that I thought it would begood to raise money for it.”

With Loch Morar ticked off,Morag says she is now lookingaround for another challenge –and preferable another one thatno-one else has done.

“I’ve not made up my mind,but I’m thinking about LochArkaig, which is also 12 mileslong,” she said.

But what about what somepeople may regard as the ulti-mate monster swim challenge,the 22.6-mile Loch Ness?

“It may be the last one I do,”Morag said. “It’s been done a fewtimes before, and I like to tackleswims no-one else has done.”

Morag has been a keen swim-mer all her life, and tries to get inthe open water – usually LochLinnhe or Loch Shiel – once aweek, even in winter.

A learning disability nurse,Morag works in the communitybut is based in Fort William.

Anyone who wishes to contrib-ute sponsorship money shouldv is i t : www. j us tg i v i ng . co . /glenfinnan-church

Morag’s monster swim

- 16 -

CAMPAIGN: Choose Life mounts major public awareness campaign

IF you can read between thelines, you can save lives. That’sthe message Choose Life sentout to people across Scotland tomark national Suicide PreventionWeek (8th-12th September) aspart of a public awareness cam-paign throughout September.

Despite a 19 per cent reduc-tion in the suicide rate since the2000–2002 period, the equivalentof around two lives are lost eachday in Scotland.

For each suicide, the impacton those left behind lasts a life-time. The idea that suicide

shouldn’t be talked about is a re-maining taboo and doesn’t helpthose grieving or the many peo-ple who may be feeling suicidalright now.

Choose Life’s ‘Read Betweenthe Lines’ campaign tackles thisstigma and helps to reduce fur-ther unnecessary deaths by rais-ing awareness that if you’re wor-ried about someone, asking di-rectly about their feelings canhelp save lives.

The campaign acknowledgesthat signs of suicide can be am-biguous, but encourages people

to be alert to the warning signsand take all signs of distress seri-ously, even if the person seemsto be living a normal life. It alsoaims to assure people that askinga person about what’s troublingthem can make a positive differ-ence.

Alana Atkinson, Lead for theNational Programme for SuicidePrevention at NHS Health Scot-land, said: “Our campaign en-courages people to be aware ofany signs that someone theyknow isn’t quite themselves orthey notice any changes in theirbehaviour that causes con-cern. It also lets you know wherethey can get help from our part-ners, Breathing Space and Sa-maritans.”

Tracy Preece, Argyll & ButeChoose Life co-ordinator, said:“The team at Choose life in Argyllcontinue to be touched and grate-ful for the support we get from allparts of our community. Ourcourses continue to be verypopular, often oversubscribed.

“Our conference on 9th Sep-tember was fully booked and wehave distributed over 500 re-source packs, 300 posters andother resources for Suicide Pre-vention Week.

“It feels that Argyll really iscommitted to being a suicidesafer community but there is al-ways more to do.

“People are still struggling withproblems that leave them feelingoverwhelmed and alone so needhelp to prevent suicide becomingan option.”

Reading between the linescan help to prevent suicide

KEITH CAMPBELL, Lo-cal Decontamination Op-erator for Cowal Com-munity Hospital’s dentaldepartment, recentlywon the Scottish seniorfours bowls title withthree other members ofthe Upper Cowal Bowl-ing Club.The men retained theirtitle from the previousyear, making them thefirst in the trophy's 114-year history to repeatthis feat with the sameoriginal team members.Keith and his teammates now have a sec-ond chance at the Brit-ish title next season.

Keith takesbowls honoursyet again

- 17 -

A DROP-IN café for people withdementia, carers and familymembers is in the running for anational award, less than twoyears after it first opened.

The Black Isle Dementia Café(D-Caff) in Avoch has beennamed as a finalist in the ‘BestCommunity Support Initiative’category of Scotland’s DementiaAwards 2014. Two other initia-tives have been shortlisted in thiscategory, with the winners to beannounced at an event in Glas-gow on 25th September.

D-Caff provides a friendly,supportive place for socialisingand mutual support. It providesan opportunity for establishingcommunity connections, to meetothers in the same situation for achat and a cuppa and to accessinformation and advice in an in-formal setting.

It meets on alternate Thurs-days from 10.30am to 12 noon inthe Church of Scotland ParishChurch Hall in Rose Street,Avoch. It was set up following apublic meeting called by the latelocal councillor Billy Barclay, whowas supported in his efforts byAlzheimer Scotland and NHSHighland.

The Black Isle has around 160residents who have dementia,and the café has come to be rec-ognised as a valuable resourcefor people with dementia andtheir carers.

Thanks to the support of Argosand Homebase, who are support-ing Alzheimer Scotland as charityof the year, Alzheimer Scotlandhave been able to appoint a com-munity activities co-ordinator, JoSykes, who now runs the caféwith the invaluable support ofcommunity volunteers.

Jo said: “We are delighted thatD-Caff has been recognised inthis prestigious awardsscheme. Thanks to support fromlocal councillors, health and so-cial care colleagues, and ourwonderful volunteers and fund-raisers the café is proving to bevery popular.

“We feel it is important to havea friendly and supportive environ-ment for people with dementiaand their carers, and D-Caff aimsto provide that.”

Nigel Small, director of opera-tions for NHS Highland’s Southand Mid Operational Unit, whichincludes the Black Isle, said: “Iam delighted for everyone whohas been involved in this superbinitiative.

“Run by trained volunteers, theBlack Isle Dementia Café is agreat example of a communityrallying round to support others.It’s gone from strength to strengthsince it first opened in April 2013and I am sure it will continue toplay an important role both insupporting those with dementiaand those affected by it, and inraising awareness of issues sur-rounding dementia.

“Being named as a finalist inScotland’s Dementia Awards is asuperb achievement for such arelatively new initiative.”

Dementia café upfor national award

BLACK ISLE: Drop-in facility on ‘community support initiative’ shortlist

- 18 -

AN NHS Highland admin as-sistant who last year had a

malignant brain tumour the sizeof an ostrich egg has shown herdetermination to live life to thefull by taking part in a 170-milecharity cycle ride.

After pioneering surgery anda course of radiotherapy, SusanMaclennan (33) is now back atwork with the learning and de-velopment team in John DewarHouse, Inverness – and hopesher experience will serve as aninspiration to others.

“I made up my mind I wasn’tgoing to take this lying down,”said Susan, “and I would like toshow people that there can belife after brain cancer.”

Susan recently got on herbike to make the point by takingpart in the Ride the North chal-lenge – a two-day charity cyclebetween Inverness and Aber-deen.

Through sponsorship, Susanraised £1,175 for Maggie’s Cen-tres by taking part in the event,held on 29th and 30th August.

“It was tough but I enjoyed it– well, bits of it,” said Susan,who lives in the Dalneigh area ofInverness.

Susan’s health problems be-gan in 2011 when she startedhaving migraines which at firstwere manageable with medica-tion. By the following year,though, the migraines becamemore intense and more frequent,and medication provided no re-lief.

Taking things in her ownhands, Susan decided to weanherself off her medication and

signed up for the 2013 Ride theNorth event.

But in April that year herplans – and her life – werethrown up in the air when anMRI scan revealed a brain tu-mour.

Susan explained: “The mi-graines had stopped for a fewmonths before I went for the

scan. I actually cycled to hospitalto get the results, and expectedto be told that everything wasOK. But I got an inkling that itwasn’t when the doctors seemedflustered. I was on my own, andthey got a nurse along and I wastold that I had a brain tumour,and that I had had it for quite awhile. At the time they thought itmight be benign – but it turnedout that it wasn’t.

“I couldn’t believe it – but Iknew early on that this wassomething I would need to dealwith as calmly as I could.”

Susan’s tumour, in the rightfrontal lobe – “I was told that ifyou are going to have a braintumour that was the place tohave it,” she said – was re-moved on 16th May, and shethen faced six weeks of radio-therapy treatment.

“It wasn’t great but I just had

The foot of Susan’s NHS emails now carry the message: “On the 29th and 30th of August I com-pleted a two day, 185 mile cycle from Inverness to Aberdeen to raise money for Maggie’s Cen-tres. Please support my completion of this challenge and help Maggie’s Centres be there formore people with cancer by sponsoring me via my JustGiving page http://www.justgiving.com/susan-maclennan1, or text SRTN88 followed by your sponsorship amount to 70070 or contactme for an alternative method. Thank you.”

Life afterbrain tumour:‘I hope I can

inspire othersin same

situation’

Continued on next page

- 19 -

A RETIRED school teacher hasbeen praised for her efforts intrying to tackle social isolationfor elderly people in her commu-nity.

Margot Smith, from CononBridge, has set up a lunch clubwhich runs every second Fridayfrom the canteen at Ben WyvisPrimary School. For the cost ofonly £3, people can enjoy soup,tea and coffee while catching upwith friends.

NHS Highland communitydevelopment officer Kate Mac-Lean said: “Margot Smith is oneof those great community-minded people that just gets onand does it.

“This is a perfect example of‘big society’ in action. If commu-nities can offer social activities,which keep elderly people ac-tive and involved in their localcommunity, there will be lesscall on NHS services.

“The emphasis on fun cannotbe understated. If everyone hadsomething to look forward to

every so often, there would beless isolation and loneliness.Congratulations to Margot andher team of volunteers. Keep upthe hard work!”

Mrs Smith, who worked atDingwall Academy, has a teamof 10 volunteers who help out inthe preparation for the club,which has grown in popularitysince it was introduced in July.

Mrs Smith said: “I’m a com-mittee member of the HighlandSenior Citizens Network, so Iknow how important it is to keepolder people active in the com-munity. Social isolation is ahuge issue and I wanted to dosomething to help combat thatin Conon Bridge.

“The people who come alongare so grateful to have somecompany as many of them cango for days without seeing anyfriends or family.

“I hope that we can continueto run this wonderful service aswe approach the wintermonths.”

New lunch club helpsto beat social isolation

to get on with it,” she said.Now, she says she’s feeling

fine.“It’s as if nothing had ever

happened,” said Susan, whosehair is slowly growing back afterher radiotherapy.

“I really can’t say what myfuture holds but I do know that Ineed to live for each and everyday that I am given. I’m prettypositive about things – I can’t

worry about things I can’tchange.”

Having had to abandon plansto do last year’s Ride the Northchallenge, Susan decided to gofor this year’s event. She cyclesthe seven-mile round commuteto and from work and went onlong training cycles in the run-upto the event.

Day one of the challenge washeld in fair weather but theweather on the second day was

more challenging, with strongwind and driving rain.

“There were times when itwasn’t pleasant but overall I en-joyed it,” said Susan, who is de-termined to do next year’s chal-lenge too.

“I want to show that I am notready to give up on life,” saidSusan. “And it would be great tobe a source of inspiration to oth-ers who may find themselves inmy position.”

Susan Maclennan: ‘I hope I can inspire others ‘Continued from previous page

A ‘privilege’ to havebeen a Clydesider

WENDY O’RYAN, senior clinicalgovernance facilitator for NHSHighland, was selected as one ofthe 15,000 Clydesiders at the re-cent Commonwealth Games inGlasgow.

She was one of the accessibilityteam members, most of whomwere NHS staff, nurses, midwivesand AHPs from across NHS Scot-land, as well as nursing lecturers.

Wendy said: ‘’It was a privilegeto work with such dedicated andmotivated individuals, who formeda fantastic team from day one.Communication was good – oncewe’d mastered the radios! – and life-long friendships have been made.’

IMPACT courseA TWO-DAY IMPACT (Ill MedicalPatients’ Acute Care & Treatment)course will be held in the Centre forHealth Science, Inverness, on 6thand 7th November.

The course will introduce theprinciples and practice of acutegeneral medical care and the re-lated knowledge, skills, under-standing and attitude.

For details contact administratorLouise Annand at 01463 255810.

- 20 -

FRIENDS, family members andcolleagues of a much-loved NairnGP who died earlier this yearhave walked up Britain’s highestmountain to raise money for acause that was close to his heart.

A group of 66 people took partin the Ben Nevis climb on Satur-day 30th August in memory of DrKevin McPhee, raising more than£8,000 – with more money stillcoming in – for the Highland Hos-pice in Inverness.

Among the party were GPsAmy Carter, Audrey Banks andAdrian Baker, of Nairn HealthcareGroup, where Dr McPhee hadpractised for the last six years.

The adverse weather was nodeterrent to the group, and ofthose who met at the foot of themountain 66 people – and twodogs – reached the 4,406ft sum-mit in driving rain.

Dr Baker said: “In his workwith Nairn Healthcare Group

Kevin touched the lives of manypeople and was highly regardedby all who came across him.

“He was also instrumental indeveloping and driving forwardthe vision for the practice which isnow carried on by his colleagues.

“He was a real inspiration wholed by example with a calm, en-gaging and warm manner, andhis is greatly missed by us all.”

Dr McPhee, who died in Feb-

ruary aged 38, spent the last fewweeks of his life in the hospice.He lived in Nairn and would cyclethroughout the year to work andvisiting patients.

“It was a desire to expresstheir gratitude and appreciation ofthe hospice’s work, and to cele-brate Kevin’s life, that led hisfamily to organise the Ben Nevisclimb,” said Dr Baker.

“Medical and nursing stafffrom Nairn have been involvedwith the hospice for many yearsand the charity’s work was ofgreat importance to Kevin, not-withstanding his own illness.”

Donations to the fund-raisingeffort can be made by visitingwww.justg iving.com/Dorcas-McPhee/

The money will be donated tothe Highland Hospice to supportits ongoing work with terminally-illpeople and their families through-out the Highlands.

Friends mount fund-raisingtribute to much-loved GP

- 21 -

Don’t share log-on profiles,members of staff are urged

NHS HIGHLAND’S eHealth De-partment wishes to alert staff ofan ongoing issue regarding theOneSign facility, which allows asingle-sign on to computer appli-cations.

Project manager Andy Griffinsaid some staff members, pre-dominantly in clinical environ-ments, were sharing personal log-on profiles, either knowingly ornot. This contravenes NHS ITpolicy and does not afford protec-tion to staff, as any actions will be

attributable to the logged-in user.Recent support calls to the

NHS Highland Service Desk anda SCI-Store audit report haveidentified that this practice is fre-quently occurring, and Andy hasimpressed on the need for staff tofollow correct IT practice.

He explained: “Once you havelogged on to an NHS HighlandPC/laptop using your per-sonal log-on, do not let anyoneelse access any applications,such as NHS Mail or SCI-

Store, while logged on under yourpersonal log-on.

“If you do so you are contra-vening NHS IT security policyand any actions will be logged asyour own as well as potentiallypreventing you from subse-quently accessing your own ap-plications.”

For more on OneSign, go tothe 'Non Clinical Applications'nugget on the right-hand side ofthe NHS Highland intranet homepage and click on 'OneSign’.

- 22 -

- 23 -

TECHNOLOGY: State-of-the-art equipment at Raigmore

DOCTORS in Raigmore Hos-pital in Inverness are using

state-of-the-art new equipment toget 3-D pictures of patients’hearts.

Previously, they relied on two-dimensional images to help themdiagnose cardiac conditions butthe new kit allows them to get areal-time, three-dimensional viewof the heart.

“It is a big step forward in thediagnoses of patients with heartconditions,” said consultant cardi-ologist Dr Peter Clarkson.

“Through this amazing, cutting-edge technology we are able toget a much clearer picture ofwhat’s going on in the heart. Thatallows us to get a clearer diagno-sis earlier, and it means that oursurgeons can get a much moredetailed picture of the heart be-fore they actually operate.

“It will potentially allow us totreat more patients comprehen-sively and locally.”

Dr Clarksonsaid the echoprobe producedimages much likethe 3-D virtualtours of, for exam-ple, streets or ho-tels that are avail-able online.

The technologyis particularlybeneficial in caseswhere there maybe structural heartproblems. It’s esti-mated that it will be used on up to80 patients a year, some ofwhom would have previouslybeen sent to Edinburgh if 3D im-aging was thought necessary.

Echo probe images are gener-ally obtained transthoracically –using a probe placed on thechest wall – although Dr Clarksonthis week did Raigmore’s first 3-D

scan from a patient’s oesopha-gus, which give an even clearpicture of the heart.

“The results were spectacu-larly clear – much better thanwould have been available to uspreviously,” said Dr Clarkson.

He added: “We are all veryexcited to have this technology,which will improve our ability to

make accurate diagnosesquickly.”

The new equipment — a VividE9 developed by GE Healthcare— cost a total of £250,000,money which had been allocatedunder NHS Highland’s capitalprogramme. It replaces the hospi-tal’s eight-year-old ultrasoundequipment.

The two scans on the left are conventional ultrasound images,while the one on the right is taken from a three-dimensional im-age of a heart obtained using the new equipment. The heart wallsare shown as bronze-coloured and the more distant parts of theheart are shown in blue.

Doctors get 3-D views of the heart

It’s just like a virtual

tour of a hotel room!

- 24 -

A GROUND-BREAKING networkof seven drop-in services hasbeen set up in Highland for peo-ple with sight or hearing loss.

The ‘See Hear’ centres havebeen opened in a partnership be-tween NHS Highland and thethird-sector organisation SightAction, which has an agreementwith the health board to deliverservices for people with sightloss.

The idea is to have one-stopshops for people who have eitherhearing or sight problems, orboth.

See Hear Highland managerJenny Liddell explained: “This isabout offering an integrated ser-vice that provides improved pa-tient-centred care.

“Previously, both NHS High-land Deaf Services and Sight Ac-tion ran separate services but wehave worked together to createjoint drop-in centres that are in-formal, friendly and approach-able.”

Sight Action services includeoffering help with reading, gettingaround both in and outside thehome, and equipment such asmagnifiers and talking watches.NHS Highland Deaf Services can

help with, for example, BritishSign Language and lipreadingtraining, equipment such aspagers and loops, and advice onmaintaining hearing aids.

Jenny Liddell said: “The cen-tres are for anyone with hearingor sight problems but we find thatthere is an increasing likelihoodof older adults developing bothhearing and sight difficulties. Itmakes sense to have a facilitywhere both issues can be dealtwith at one visit.”

The new centres are at 16Kenneth Street, Inverness; theLochaber Sensory Centre in CaolShopping Centre, Fort William;the Caledonian Hotel, Ullapool;Innis Mhor Care Home, Tain;Tigh na Drochaid Centre, Por-tree; Kyleakin Connections inKyleakin; and the Glen Centre,Aviemore. It is also planned toset up a ‘See Hear’ centre inGairloch some time next year.

Some of the centres are at-tended by both NHS Highlandand Sight Action staff while oth-ers are staffed solely by mem-bers of the NHS Highland DeafServices team, who are alsotrained to give basic help for cli-ents with sight loss.

NHS Highland hearing supportofficer Lynda Campbell said: “Theuptake at the centres has been

SEA HEAR: Network of centres throughout Highland

One-stop shops forsight and hearing

problems launchedBSL classes

CLASSES in British Sign Lan-guage are about to start in twoHighland venues.

Courses begin at CaithnessGeneral Hospital, Wick, on 24th

September (7-9pm) and at theSee Hear Centre, KennethStreet, Inverness, on 22nd Sep-tember (7.30-9.30pm).

Classes last for 10 weeks inthe first instance, though follow-on courses will be available.The cost is £135 for the 10weeks; eligible learners canpay via Individual Learning Ac-c o u n t t o k e n(www.myworldofwork.co.uk/section/funding).

For a chat or to apply for aplace, contact Alexia Greig ofSee Hear Highland Education& Learning Services atalexia.greig@nhs.net) or 01463248102.

Continued on next page

- 25 -

WORK is under way to ensure that transport andaccess issues are addressed in planning the newhospital proposed for Aviemore.

The first meeting of Badenoch & StrathspeyTransport and Access Group was held earlier thismonth, with those present agreeing on the newbody’s role.

And one of its tasks, members agreed, is to en-sure that a “robust” transport and access plan isdeveloped to support the business case processassociated with the redesign of NHS Highland’sservices in the area.

In July, NHS Highland concluded public consul-tation on the redesign, which would involve the con-struction of a hospital and social care resource cen-tre in Aviemore and the closure of Ian Charles Hos-pital in Grantown and St Vincent Hospital in Kingus-sie. It is in part to address some of the transport is-sues that would be raised by closing two hospitalsand building a new one that the group was formed.

Among those at Wednesday’s meeting were offi-

cers and elected members of The Highland Council,and representatives of NHS Highland, CairngormsNational Park Authority, the Scottish AmbulanceService, Badenoch & Strathspey Access Panel, Ba-denoch & Strathspey Transport Company and Vol-untary Action Badenoch & Strathspey. Communityrepresentatives were also present.

Council representatives updated the meeting ona proposal for additional investment to pilot new ap-proaches to transport provision, a decision on whichis expected from Transport Scotland’s Business De-velopment Fund in the next few months.

Nigel Small, director of operations for south andmid, chairs the new group.

He said: “Transport was one of the mattersraised by those who responded to the public con-sultation, and I am delighted that such a broadrange of organisations have got together to tacklethe issue. I am sure that working together we will beable to develop improved and sustainable transportsolutions for the people of Badenoch & Strathspey.”

very good but we are sure thereare many people in Highland whoneed help with hearing or sightissues but who do not know ofthe new service.”

Highland has been paving theway in Scotland not only with theprovision of the drop-in centresbut with training staff in sight andhearing issues.

Jenny Liddell explained: “Weare developing a series of on-lineand face-to-face courses, mainlyfor NHS Highland staff, geared atproviding improved services forolder people.

“The idea is that care home

staff or care-at-home workers, forexample, can be empowered todevelop solutions for people withissues that can be as simple aschanging a hearing aid battery.

“We now plan to develop anaccredited qualification, which wehope would be recognised andadopted across Scotland, for sup-port workers dealing with sightand hearing loss.

“That, along with the drop-incentres, shows that NHS High-land and Sight Action are pavingthe way in this field. It’s an excit-ing time for us in that we are nowable to deliver a better service forpeople throughout Highland.”

With ambitions to improve ser-

vices even further, NHS Highlandis to host a workshop at whichclients – people with hearing orsight loss – will be invited to sug-gest how services should beshaped in the future.

Jenny Liddell said: “It’s impor-tant that the people we servehave a voice in designing ser-vices for the future, and we hopethis event will help to give themthat opportunity.”

Details of the event, likely beheld in Inverness on 21st October,are being organised but anyoneinterested in attending shouldphone Kirsty Arnott on 01463704993 or e-mail kir-sty.arnott@nhs.net

Continued from previous page

One-stop shops for sight and hearing problems

New group targetsbetter transport links

- 26 -

Self harm eventA CONFERENCE on self harmand eating disorders will be heldin the Hilton Glasgow GrosvenorHotel, Glasgow, on 6th November.

The conference has been or-ganised to increase understand-ing of the dynamics underlyingself harm and eating disordersand to share knowledge.

It will be particularly relevant toprofessionals working in, for ex-ample, health or social care andwho need a better understandingof this area.

B o o k o n l i n e a twww.medicapd.com

Focus on hepatitis CA TRAINING day on blood-borneviruses and drug use will be heldat Inshes Church, Inverness, from9.30am-4pm on 9th October.

The training will focus particu-larly on hepatitis C, although rele-vant issues relating to hepatitis Band HIV will also be explored.

It is aimed at workers in arange of services, including ad-diction service, mental health andyouth services, and social work.The organisers are particularlykeen to attract workers whoseclients are vulnerable peopleaged under 25.

For details contact tri-cia@sdf.org.uk

World AIDS DayTHE charity Waverley Care is tohold a World AIDS Day event atEden Court, Inverness, on 1st De-cember. The free event will run11.30am-7.30pm and will featurestalls, talks and workshops.

There will also be an opportu-nity to find out about the experi-ences of people living with HIV.

To get involved in the event asa volunteer or to find out more,c o n t a c t R a -chel.hughes@waverleycare.org(tel. 01463 711585).

THE Highland branch of the NHSRetirement Fellowship held itsfirst meeting after the summerbreak in the Recreation Hall atRaigmore Hospital on 1st Sep-tember when Ian Marr fromBeauly gave an interesting talkentitled “Antiques Roadshow”.

Members learnt a lot about thevaluation of antiques, and wereshown a number of pieces andheard about their history.

The next meeting of thebranch will be on Monday 6th Oc-tober at 2pm in the Recreation

Hall when the speaker will be KenPorter, development worker, LiveLife Well project, Hug/Spirit ofAdvocacy.

The branch welcomes newmembers from retired staff, oreven people who still working butapproaching retirement, you willbe made very welcome.

Just turn up on the first Mon-day of the month or contact thesecretary, Jeanie Sutherland, form o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a tjsclan@talktalk.net (tel. 01349866469).

Branch back in businessafter its summer break

THE care at home team in MidRoss has paid tribute to its long-est serving member, IsobelBrown, who passed away re-cently.

Care at home officer DebbieMorrison said that Isobel, whoretired a couple of months ago,was a well liked and respectedcolleague who was known for al-ways going the extra mile.

Debbie said: “Isobel alwayssaid that caring was not a job toher as she enjoyed it so much.No job was too big or too small.

“Many people including col-leagues, clients and their familieshave been in touch to let us knowhow highly they thought of herwhich is lovely to hear. She willbe very much missed by all whoknew her.”

Tribute to late colleague

Holding out for an NHS Highland heroDO you know a NHS Highland hero? If so why not nominate themfor a Highland Quality Award.

Nominations for the HQA Awards can be submitted by staff, pa-tients, carers and the wider public for an individual or team em-ployed by NHS Highland, or working as part of the wider NHS.

The award reflects on an individual or team who has demon-strated actions and behaviours which epitomise everything aboutthe Highland Quality Approach.

While all members of staff strive to do a great job and provideoutstanding care and compassion on a daily basis, the award re-flects actions and behaviours that demonstrate quality improve-ment, or where individuals or teams have gone out of their way toprovide quality care, in support of the Highland Quality Approach.

Nominations should be made to: Highland Quality Awards, NHSHighland, Assynt House, Beechwood Park, Inverness, IV2 3BW, orby e-mail to nhshighlandboard@nhs.net

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SERVICE users at the IsobelRhind Centre, an NHS High-

land facility in Invergordon whichoffers a day service to adults withlearning disabilities, have beentaking to the road – courtesy of afirm which offers three-wheelertrips.

Last month a group of 14 ser-vice users went to Aviemore forThunder in the Glens, one of thebiggest events in the UK for fansof Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

And 10 of them followed thatup earlier this month by going onshort rides on a motor tricycle

with Invergordon business High-land Trike Tours.

“They had a great time,” saidMargaret Bluefield, of the centre.“Accompanied by a carer, theyeach had 15-minute rides, andenjoyed it so much that we’d liketo repeat it in the future.”

The practical side of dying

AN event with a difference to help peoplecope with the practical side of death and dy-ing is to be held in Inverness Town Hall nextmonth.

‘Dying to Know 2’, to be staged Friday the24th October from 11am-3pm, will feature awide range of stallholders and talks. S

ubjects will include wills and humanism,Macmillan Citizens Advice Bureau will be rep-resented, Derek Brown from NHS Highlandchaplaincy services will be present, AgeScotland will consider power of attorney andthe Threshold Choir from Moray will perform.

There is a Facebook page about the event:check out https://www.facebook.com/dying2know2?fref=ts

Take your annual leave!

FIGURES show that last year the average mem-ber of staff on the bank donated a number ofhours of work to NHS Highland, as a conse-quence of not taking the paid annual leave dueto them.

This is important because annual leave isabout taking a break from work in order to keepstaff members – and the patients – safe.

A new procedure for claiming annual leavehas just been introduced, and everyone on thenurse bank will be texted to draw this to their at-tention.

Bank workers should make sure that theytake the annual leave due to them this year, andnotify the bank on the new form, so that they canbe paid accordingly.

Three-wheeled fun for centre’s service users

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WOULD you like to stop wasting energy and money but aren’t sure where to start?The Energy Saving Trust in Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to provide free, impartial

advice to help save energy and money to help fight climate change.In April 2008, The Energy Savings Trust established an enhanced network of five Home Energy

Scotland advice centres to support householders, community groups, businesses and local authoritiesto enable people to live low-carbon lifestyles through advice on energy efficiency and small scale renew-able.

Climate change and the threat it poses are real. The Scottish Government has pledged to cut carbondioxide emissions in Scotland by 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. There is significant potential for car-bon saving and tackling fuel poverty in the Highland & Islands. This makes for an exciting opportunity toencourage and enable genuine behavioural change and make a real impact in the region.

In an effort to achieve these targets, the Energy Saving Trust have developed a simple checklistwhere employees can select what they would like to find out more information on which will be followedup by additional advice and support.

And, as NHS Highland is likely to be the first organisation to use the checklist, the Energy SavingTrust is offering an incentive of a free prize draw to win £250 of gift vouchers.

To qualify, simply print off a copy of the form below and send it to:Freepost Plus RSLE-SKKZ-LKBJHome Energy ScotlandPavilion 2Fairways Business ParkInverness

Stop wasting energy!

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PAST and present staff of thechest unit in Raigmore Hospitalenjoyed a special birthday cakeas they celebrated 25 years ofbeing located in Ward 11.

Guest of honour was DavidHamilton Franklin, who was achest physician in Culduthel Hos-pital from 1973 to 1989 beforemoving to the chest unit in Raig-more, where he worked until2001.

Dr Franklin initially trained asa vet but decided he didn't likethe economics of veterinary prac-tice and joined the NHS!

He specialised in makingthings work, and Ward 11 staffare still finding odd bits of kit thatdate to the Franklin era. Heworked a one-in-two on-call withDouglas Murray (the other chestphysician) for most of his career,and was famed for working al-

most all hours.He was responsible for the

simple but a highly effectivemeasure of putting nebulisersinto ambulances, which revolu-tionised the treatment of asthmaoutside hospital.

He was also responsible fordeveloping non-invasive ventila-tion at an early stage in the High-lands, well before this techniquewas widespread.

Colin McEwen proposed himas an NHS Hero just prior to hisretirement and he won the votefor Scotland's NHS Hero in2001.

They’re on the move once againAFTER a quarter of a century in Ward 11, staff who run the chest unitare soon to be on the move again. But this time, however, they willremain in the hospital moving up to the seventh floor.

It has been a long-term aspiration for the service to be locatedwithin the main tower block. The move, which will take place at theend of the year, forms one of many which are taking place as partof upgrading facilities in the hospital.Significant work has already taken place including the opening of anew endoscopy unit this month.

Happy birthday, Ward 11

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Do you know of something you think

should be featured in Highlights? An

award, an achievement, a piece of

research, an appointment, a retiral …

you name it, Highlights has a place

for it. Please send your articles for

Highlights to tom.davison@nhs.net

(01463 704903) or visit the Staff

Dropbox on the NHS Highland intra-

net home page.

What’s your story? Keep Highlights informed

You can follow NHS Highland on: Website - www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk; Facebook - https://

www.facebook.com/NHSHighland; Twitter –www.twitter.com/NHSHighland or @NHSHighland

THERE are an estimated five mil-lion people living in the UnitedKingdom today that have servedin the Armed Forces at somepoint in their lives. Every year, upto 20,000 servicemen andwomen leave the Services andreturn to civilian life.

Many of them experience diffi-culty in settling back into societyand require adaptations to theirhomes in order to overcome anyphysical or mental injuries sus-tained while in service of theircountry.

The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmenand Famil ies Associat ion(SSAFA) provide the support re-quired for these individuals andtheir families. With over 90branches across the UK andsome six in Highland coveringfrom Argyll and Bute to Caith-ness, SSAFA support up to50,000 ex-service personnelevery year.

Former NHS Highland non-executive director, Okain McLen-nan, is branch secretary for theRoss and Cromarty SSAFA and

is keen to highlight to NHS High-land staff how SSAFA can assistthose brave individuals who haveserved their country.

“Many of these individualshave health issues associatedwith their active service in theArmed Forces and as a result,they need adaptations made totheir home and assistance, un-derstanding and support to as-similate back into civilian life.

“SSAFA work in partnershipwith the many other wonderfulcharities who focus on providingthe necessary help and assis-tance to the men and womenwho have served our country sobravely.

“The Highland Council pro-vides a grant of up to 80 per centfor the cost of adapting a houseto suit based on an occupationaltherapists assessment. However,that leaves a sizeable amount ofmoney that is still required to bepaid.

“What I would like to makeNHS Highland services, and par-ticularly occupational therapists,

aware of is that SSAFA are hereto help.

“Through generous donationsfrom our supporters and othercharities, we are able to help plugthe gap in the funding which canhelp ease any additional worriesover finances.

“So my personal plea to anyNHS Highland staff who workwith or provide support to any ex-Armed Forces personnel whomay be struggling with funding, orany other issues and are un-aware of SSAFA is this; pleasetell them that help is at hand.”

Mr McLennan continued:“These people have made sacri-fices to ensure we enjoy the free-doms we are so used to having inthe United Kingdom. They shouldbe supported as best they can toreturn back into civilian life.

“I would urge all NHS Highlandstaff to make people aware ofSSAFA. For more information,contact SSAFA on 0207 4033783 or email info@ssafa.org.uko r l o o k o n l i n e a twww.ssafa.org.uk”

Helping with life afterthe Armed Forces....

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WANTED: Material for archiveA RENEWED call has beenmade for NHS Highland staff toconsider if they hold records orphotographs which should bearchived.

The NHS Highland Archive,housed in the Highland ArchiveCentre in Inverness, is one ofthe biggest collections of itskind in the country.

But NHS Highland’s boardsecretary, Kenny Oliver, is con-vinced that material that shouldbe archived is currently lan-guishing in drawers and cup-boards throughout the organi-sation

He said: “Our archive is atremendous resource for mem-bers of staff, the general public,academics and social, local andfamily historians.

“We’d like to ensure that it’sas comprehensive, and there-fore as useful, as possible,which is why I urge employeesto check if they have anythingthat should be archived.

“If they find anything, theyshould contact me in the firstinstance.”

The NHS Highland Archive –effectively three furniture lorryloads of records – occupiesaround 150 linear metres ofshelving.

The collection is made up ofrecords from hospitals, publichealth administrations, NHSboards, management commit-tees, executive councils andcounty insurance committees,with the earliest material datingfrom 1798.

The material in the NHSHighland Archive was previ-ously administered from Aber-deen as part of the Northern

Health Services Archives andstored in a commercial unit inInverness, with access ar-ranged through the HighlandHealth Sciences Library at theCentre for Health Science inInverness.

However, it was relocated tothe Highland Archive Centre,where it is kept in the most suit-able conditions – at around 17degrees Centigrade and 45%humidity – and can be moreeasily accessed.

Colin Waller, an archivist atthe centre, told Highlights: “Thisis an archive which is on a parwith health board archives inGlasgow and Edinburgh, but tomy mind more interesting.

“It’s an amazing collectionand I am sure it would be usefulto anyone in NHS Highland whois interested in, for example, thehistory of treatments, the devel-opment of medical services andthe evolution of health servicesites and facilities.”

If you know of materialwhich probably should bearchived, contact NHSHighland board secretaryKenny Oliver on 01463704868 or atKenny.oliver@nhs.net

FESTIVE FUN: Ascene from theRoyal Northern Infir-mary, Nurses’Christmas lunchin1956

(NHS Highland Ar-chive, GB0232/HHB/1/13/19)

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What’s your role?To develop, promote and sup-port volunteering within hospitalsettings and care homes.

Describe yourselfBuilt in 3D. I’m honest, loyal,thoughtful, counter intuitive andreflective. But, given the circum-stances, I can be grumpy, apoor listener and a worrier.

Hobbies and interests?I enjoy going fishing with mydad, particularly when I catchmore than him, spending timewith family, supporting LiverpoolFC, watching most sports, play-ing badminton and being out-doors.

What was the first single youever bought?Stand and Deliver by Adam andthe Ants. I was brought up justoutside Glasgow so the ironyisn’t lost on me.

What is your favourite food?My gran’s mince and potatoeswith dough balls.

How about your favouritefilm?I need to be in the mood towatch a film. Normally films thatcatch me by surprise stick withme. The last one to do that wasThe Reader.

And favourite TV programme?The Thick of It.

What about your favouritebook?Radio is a better medium forme. I’ll always have Radio FiveLive on in the background athome.

If you won £10 million in thelottery, what would you spendit on?My first instinct would be tospend nothing. Instead, I’d askfor anonymity and then taketime to think.

What about a smaller sum,say £1,000?A weekend at Alton Towers withmy nieces and nephew ... price-less!

What are you pet hates?I’m a utility cyclist so driverswho give me a bit of stick rankhigh. The point is this: I’m notgoing to take one hand off mybars to indicate in a 25mphside wind ... live with it, people,or chip in and buy me a car(preferably a Mercedes).

If you could have dinner withthree people, dead or alive,who they be?I’d invite three old friends frommy secondary school days. Reli-able, funny and resilient peoplewho I think about a lot. Youdon’t know what you have untilyou lose it.

What are the best and worstparts of your job?The best part is meeting volun-teers and staff who are compas-sionate, hard working and en-joyable to be around. The worstpart is the A82 – tourists, boyracers and white van man. Butof course, when you all buy memy Mercedes, maybe I’ll not feelthis way.

Answering the questions thismonth is volunteer services

manager Ian McConnell