There’s quite a bit to today’s update.
Sound like it’s been a busy few days for the NHS (amoung others), so here’s a way for you to jump to the specific you might want to find.
- Thanks to 4×4 drivers
- NHS Staff
- Emergency Department and Beacon Health Centre at St. Mary’s
- Hospital and Medical Appointments on Monday 11th January
- Elective Operations
- District Nursing Visits
Thanks
Dr Jenifer Smith, Director of Public Health/IOW Chief Medical Advisor has thanked NHS staff and members of the public for their overwhelming support for the Island’s NHS and its staff.
Offers for 4×4 drivers have been flooding in to the Incident Control Room at St. Mary’s Hospital over the past couple of days to help deliver essential supplies to District Nurses in the community and transport healthcare staff who have been unable to make it through the snow and ice into work.
Dr Jenifer Smith said: “The response we have had to our request for help has been amazing. So many people have offered their services and helped our staff to get into work. Just knowing that we have that support available, whether we have taken up all the offers or not, has meant that we have been able to make important decisions around services and staffing. So a huge thank you to all the 4×4 volunteers.”
NHS Staff
With a large number of healthcare staff having worked many hours over the past few days and deserving a well earned rest, and the expectation that schools will be closed on Monday, Dr Jenifer Smith is asking Island teachers for their help: “We are planning to set up a child care facility at St. Mary’s Hospital to enable those staff with children to still be able to come into work to relieve staff who have worked extra hours and need some rest. Any teachers that are able to come to the St. Mary’s Hospital site and help look after older children tomorrow would be much appreciated.”
Teachers can telephone 822099 Ext. 6601 if they are able to offer their services. The YMCA Creche at St. Mary’s Hospital has also extended their age range to help support NHS staff get back to work.
Emergency Department and Beacon Health Centre at St. Mary’s
Both the Emergency Department and Beacon Health Centre at St. Mary’s are continuing to treat ice related injuries. Around 150 people have presented to the Emergency Department and Beacon Centre over the past 3 days with fractured bones. Despite this the teams are coping well and dealing with emergencies and urgent medical enquires as they come in. For advice please telephone NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhs.uk or out of hours ring the Island Health Line on 0845 6031 007.
Hospital and Medical Appointments on Monday 11th January
All routine outpatients appointments at St. Mary’s have been cancelled for Monday 11 January. All appointments missed will be rebooked. The same applies to other clinic appointments in the Community. Anyone who has been unfortunate in sustaining a fracture during the past few days will have been given details of where and when to attend for further treatment – these appointments will continue, as will some more urgent appointments which we have spoken to individual patients about.
Elective Operations
Scheduled operations at St. Mary’s Hospital have been cancelled for Monday 11 January. A decision on whether the hospital is able to return to normal working on Tuesday will be taken on Monday morning. Anyone who has an operation planned for next week is advised to contact the Pre-Assessment Unit at St. Mary’s Hospital from 11am on Monday (11th January).
District Nursing Visits
District Nurses are making every attempt to visit those patients who have not received a visit over the past few days as well as continue to carry out essential visits. District Nursing arrangements will be reviewed daily. Anyone concerned can contact the District Nursing Team on 552456.
