Military expected to assist NHS Grampian

NHS Grampian has confirmed they expect the military to begin helping with the vaccination programme by next week.

The health board are also expecting an answer from the Ministry of Defence to their request for military assistance in hospitals "very soon". 

People in the North East are being asked for their understanding of the challenges being faced across health and community care across the region

NHS Grampian is warning that it is being "stretched further than ever before" as the effects of Covid-19 continue to apply an “incredible level of pressure”. 

Adam Coldwells, deputy chief executive of NHS Grampian said: “The reality of the situation is around 80 beds are being used by Covid-19 patients every day and to staff our hospitals daily becomes more difficult due to the increasing demand.  

“Every day comes with the added challenge to have enough beds to allow us to treat cancer patients, trauma patients, Covid-19 patients and other unplanned emergencies. There is an incredible effort to care for those who urgently need it.  

The same applies in our community hospitals and care settings.  They face the same challenges in providing care whether that be at home or on a ward.

“It means those who can wait, will wait longer and longer for procedures including hip replacements, knee replacements, laparoscopies and other elective procedures – ultimately having a grave impact on those individual’s quality of life.  We want to mitigate that as much as possible.   

“We need everyone in the north-east to play their part.  Using the right services at the right time helps - NHS - Grampian (know-who-to-turn-to.com).  Dial 111  - you may have to wait, and we apologise for that, but we are facing an incredible level of pressure across the whole of the NHS and that includes NHS24.”  

Mr Coldwells added that it was vital people who have not yet been vaccinated do so, and urgently.  

He said: “We want to continue to serve our communities in the north east of Scotland and beyond.  When thinking twice about vaccination, I would urge the public not only to think about their own wellbeing and that of our loved ones, but we must include our own staff across health, social care and the ambulance service in that.  We need to protect those who protect us.  It’s that simple.” 

The health board also urged residents to play their part in their loved-ones and friends care and for employers to allow them to do so.  

"We still see the vast majority of people who are fit to go home being collected by relatives and friends at around 6pm in the evening – following their work,  

"We need employers to be flexible to allow employees to help us get people who are fit to go home from hospital there sooner – this benefits not just the patient being discharged but it allows us to admit an acutely ill person to that bed. Help us treat more people more quickly.  

"If you are an employer we’d urge you to sign-up to the scheme and pledge your support to health care in the region – support our nurses, doctors, surgeons, porters, and everyone else. I would also urge employers to keep staff who can work from home, working from home.  This does make a difference whilst the vaccination programmes are on-going.

"We are still in a global pandemic and there has never been a period before where the health service has needed the public’s support so much. Let's each play our part.

Finally, I want to give a heartfelt thanks to everyone across health and social care for the incredible work that they do in these times.  From people on the front line to staff working from home to keep these systems going, every cog is needed to keep the wheels turning.  We are lucky to have our health service.  Let’s cherish it."