Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership is “as prepared as it can be” for a very challenging winter after months of prepartion work.
Its winter plan is at the halfway point of a six-month programme running from October 2021 to March 2022.
And, despite the continuing Covid pressures across health and social care, DGHSCP believes that it is delivering significant benefits.
David Rowland, the partnership’s director of strategic planning and transformation, said: “One thing that we have absolutely sought to do throughout this global pandemic is learn from our experiences, seeking ways to ensure that our patients and staff are protected and that services function to the very best of their ability in what continues to be very difficult circumstances.
“Halfway through the implementation of the remobilisation plan and I’m happy to say that we’re seeing the benefits of a huge piece of work aimed at keeping vital systems running, while continually adapting to new challenges.”
Precautions against Covid, such as wearing of face masks, have also had the benefit of slowing the spread of other respiratory diseases.
At this point, said Mr Rowland, flu cases are extremely low. And the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which affects very young infants, is all but absent within the region.
Together, this has reduced what might have been additional pressures on the region’s hospitals.
However, Covid continues to pose a very real threat with the new Omicron variant.
Mr Rowland said: “Cases are rising elsewhere in Scotland, and we expect Dumfries and Galloway to quickly follow. This will place increasing pressure on our local Test and Protect team, as they will have more contacts to trace, but we have arrangements in place to move staff over from other areas of the partnership to support them if necessary.”
The vaccination programme has proved hugely successful with more of the region’s population having received a booster jag than in any other mainland Scottish NHS board.
Mr Rowland said: “The original target was to have ensured everyone in Dumfries and Galloway aged over 50 had the chance to receive their booster jag by the start of December.
“However, an acceleration of the programme means this offer has been extended to the entire eligible adult population. This is a tremendous achievement – and reflects the efforts not just of the vaccinators and support staff but of everyone in the area who has played their part by getting a booster.
“In terms of emergency departments, people are encouraged to contact 111 in the first instance if it is a non-emergency situation, but if it is an emergency they should call 999 or go straight to the emergency department.”
