Latest news with #NHSAyrshire&Arran
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Tranquil new garden opens at NHS Ayrshire & Arran's Kyle Chemotherapy Unit
Tranquil new garden opens at NHS Ayrshire & Arran's Kyle Chemotherapy Unit The garden space has been redeveloped through community benefit funding provided by Hewlett Packard Inc. and designed by RePollinate. The garden officially opened on July 4, 2025 Patients attending the Kyle Chemotherapy Unit at Ailsa Hospital are now enjoying the benefits of a new garden. The ward applied to the NHS Ayrshire & Arran Community Wealth Building programme for assistance in making their green plans a reality. Health chiefs have a community benefit requirement into their procurement contracts and tenders since April 1, 2023, to help deliver a wide range of economic, social and environmental benefit projects. New garden is fully accessible for the patients of Kyle Chemotherapy Unit and their families Officially opened this month, the garden space at Kyle Chemotherapy Unit has been redeveloped through community benefit funding provided by Hewlett Packard Inc. and designed by RePollinate, a conservation charity which aims to create networks of high-quality pollinator habitats through the delivery of new community garden spaces. Deputy Charge Nurse, Wendy Ruiz de Pascal, from NHS Ayrshire & Arran's Kyle Chemotherapy Unit, said: "The garden space is a truly relaxing, calming space. We are incredibly grateful to all the hard work from everyone involved. "We were keen to put some fresh life back into the garden area at the ward so patients and their loved ones could make use of the space while attending here for treatment and I think the space speaks for itself." Nicola Graham, Director of Infrastructure and Support Services for NHS Ayrshire & Arran, said: "This is the latest example of ongoing partnership work across NHS Ayrshire & Arran and how we can utilise public procurement partnerships in NHS Scotland, to achieve greater economic, social and environmental benefits for those living in Ayrshire & Arran. "We're delighted with the end results, for the funding support from Hewlett Packard Inc. and the help and support received from all organisations involved." The garden benefits from a range of low-maintenance trees, shrubs, herbs and perennials Kyle's new garden now benefits from the addition of raised beds, corten steel planters, additional paving and gravel paths, planted with a range of low-maintenance trees, shrubs, herbs and perennials all of which will increase biodiversity and attract pollinators to the garden. It also includes four colourful steel artwork panels, 'Light Through Leaves', funded by Hewlett Packard Inc. and commissioned by an artist through Impact Arts, after engaging with patients from Kyle Chemotherapy Unit who were able to add their design ideas for the creation of the panels. Nicholas Macauley, Strategic Account Manager for Hewlett Packard Inc. said: "We are delighted to support projects like this in Ayrshire. Our partnership with the Scottish Government through our framework agreements enables us to deliver meaningful and lasting sustainability projects to benefit local communities. HP Inc. is committed to delivering projects of similar significance to our communities across Scotland." Nick Trull, from RePollinate, added: "RePollinate has aimed to create a space that immerses users in the planting and, importantly, the wildlife that will share the garden, such as pollinating insects and birds. The design introduces diverse structure into the space both in terms of the tiered raised beds and the planting itself, which includes grasses, herbaceous perennials, trees and shrubs. "We hope that the garden at Kyle Chemotherapy Unit will provide a calming space for patients and their families, and will do so for many years to come." South Ayrshire Council's Criminal Justice unpaid workers shaped the garden at weekends under guidance from RePollinate to help bring about the transformation of the current outdoor garden into a new fully accessible area for the patients of Kyle Chemotherapy Unit. Councillor Hunter, Portfolio Holder for Health and Care Services for South Ayrshire Council, said: "The Community Justice Unpaid Work Team were delighted to be part of this project. It has provided a valuable opportunity for the team to develop new skills, build confidence, and make a positive contribution to the community. "The finished garden is a beautiful area for patients, families and staff to enjoy, promoting wellbeing and a sense of calm. The South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership is incredibly proud of what the team has achieved, it is a great example of how Community Payback can make a real difference." Article continues below Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter
Daily Record
04-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
'Further blow' over new Ayr National Treatment Centre
The plans were put on hold in February last year due to funding problems. The future of The National Treatment Centre at Carrick Glen Hospital, Ayr, won't be known until December. The plans were put on hold in February last year due to funding problems. However, the Scottish Government is now saying there won't be any update on its future until the end of the year. Ayrshire Live previously told how NHS Ayrshire & Arran were forced to 'pause' any new capital projects, including Carrick Glen, from the Scottish Government because of budget constraints. In April 2022, £1.8m of public money was used to purchase Carrick Glen Hospital in order to take it out of the private sector. At the time the overall plan was to build 10 National Treatment Centres across the country and thus reduce waiting times. It was supposedly part of £400m investment in 10 centres across the country from the Scottish Government. They were touted to play a 'pivotal role' in reducing waiting times. Carrick Glen was due to be operational in 2025 and help reduce waiting times in orthopaedics. However, with no fresh finance going towards its completion, the Carrick Glen Hospital plan, which passed all planning hurdles in the summer of 2023, remains in a state of paralysis. And news of this fresh delay has been greeted with dismay. South Scotland Labour List MSP, Colin Smyth, said: 'This is a further blow to plans for a treatment centre in Ayr. 'New National Treatment Centres were at the heart of the SNP's NHS Recovery Plan and these delays spell disaster for waiting lists in the south of Scotland.' Mr Smyth continued: 'This will be very worrying news for patients in south Scotland who are languishing on waiting lists, and show just what a serious situation our NHS is facing. 'Hospitals in Ayrshire, and across the whole of south Scotland, are under huge amounts of pressure and every month we see yet more record high waiting lists. 'Our amazing NHS staff are doing all they can, but they can't work miracles and need the improved facilities they were promised.' The Scottish Government did say they were spending more than £1bn on NHS capital investment this year. A spokesperson added: 'As part of our own Scottish Spending Review, we are undertaking a full review of our capital spending to prioritise the available funding towards projects that drive progress against our priorities. 'We will provide clarity over which projects and programmes will receive funding in the medium term when we publish our new infrastructure pipeline, alongside the 2026-27 Budget and Scottish Spending Review. 'The publication of the new pipeline will put our capital budget back on a sustainable trajectory.'
Daily Record
25-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Patient dies after treatment for broken hip as NHS ordered to apologise
The health board has been ordered to apologise following the death of the patient. NHS Ayrshire & Arran has been asked to apologise to the family of a patient who died following treatment for a broken hip. They brought the complaint about both nursing care and medical care received at the hospital to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, but not all elements were upheld. The Ombudsman's report stated that the patient had surgery for the fracture but was diagnosed with a number of illnesses while in hospital and subsequently died. The Ombudsman backed the family's criticism of nursing care as well as the way the complaint was handled by the health board. But issues raised about the medical care received were not upheld. Following an independent review by a nursing adviser and a consultant geriatrician, the Ombudsman identified shortcomings in several areas of nursing care. These included failures in nutrition, pressure sore care, person-centred care planning, and documentation, all upheld by the Ombudsman. The medical treatment provided was deemed generally reasonable, and this part of the complaint was not upheld. However, feedback was issued to the board regarding the initiation of oral nutrition supplements, in line with the Scottish Hip Fracture Guidance. The Ombudsman also found delays in how NHS Ayrshire & Arran responded to the family's complaint and noted that not all concerns raised were fully addressed. Although the board had acknowledged these issues and taken action to address them, this part of the complaint was also upheld. The SPSO has asked NHS Ayrshire & Arran to apologise to the family for both the failings in nursing care and the handling of their complaint. The apology must meet the standards set out in the Ombudsman's guidance. To prevent similar failings in future, the Ombudsman recommended improvements including: Timely and accurate assessments for pressure sore risks and care; Prompt and repeated malnutrition screening with properly completed food charts; Person-centred care planning with consistent and supporting documentation Jennifer Wilson, Nurse Director at NHS Ayrshire & Arran said: 'I am sorry that we did not meet the high standards of care that we strive for within NHS Ayrshire & Arran for this patient and offer my deepest condolences to their family. "The Board fully accepts the recommendations in the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) report. We have issued a formal apology to the family of patient A and are working through the recommendations highlighted in the SPSO report. "To ensure learning across the organisation, we will share the findings from the report with staff and seek assurance from our teams that the necessary actions have been completed.'
Daily Record
19-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
First Minister John Swinney calls Ayrshire drug statistics 'concerning'
First Minister John Swinney made the comments on a visit to Harbour Ayrshire yesterday, Wednesday, June 18. First Minister John Swinney has said that recent trends in drugs-related hospital admissions and suspected deaths in Ayrshire are "concerning". Statistics published by the Scottish Government last week revealed an increase in suspected drugs-related deaths in Ayrshire in the first quarter of 2025. NHS Ayrshire & Arran have also previously warned of an increase in drugs-related hospital admissions. Speaking exclusively to Ayrshire Live, Mr Swinney said the Scottish Government was supporting "many" community projects in Ayrshire to help people facing addiction, including the Ayr -based Harbour Ayrshire. He said: "The level of drug deaths and circumstances of addiction in Scotland is far too high and our strategy is aimed at reducing that. "There are a number of different ways in which we do that, some of which will be direct health care support when people are in moments of crisis. "There will also be community projects that we support to enable them to make a significant impact on people's lives. "Harbour Ayrshire is one example of that. There will be many others around Ayrshire and we are constantly identifying what are the most effective ways in which we can act and intervene to support people to be able to make better choices in life. "That is the focus of the government's strategy. The statistics are far too high but the government is determined to continue to make sustained progress. "Of course, statistics like that are concerning and that is why there is such a focused approach within government. "I have just appointed Marie Todd as the new drugs and alcohol minister. She will take forward the government's strategy which remains very focused on supporting people to be able to be free of addiction. "What I have seen here today is a very good example of how that can be delivered in practice."
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Crosshouse Hospital hosts patch party to raise awareness of 'lazy eye' condition
Young patients got the chance to meet others with eye patches and play games. The Orthoptics team at University Hospital Crosshouse held the first ever Patch Party to highlight World Orthoptic Day on June 2. The team invited some of their young patients so they could meet other children with eye patches, play games, and do some arts and crafts, such as designing their own patches and glasses case. It was also an opportunity to create awareness of the condition Amblyopia, commonly known as 'lazy eye', and inform parents about the importance of patch wearing. Orthoptists are trained to offer a range of treatments in the management of visual development and eye muscle misalignment. This may include eye patches, eye exercises, prisms or glasses. Laura Lindsay, Senior Orthoptist for NHS Ayrshire & Arran said: "The party was a great success, it was lovey to see the children getting involved in the activities and realising that they are not the only ones going through the treatment. "It also provided a great opportunity for parents to provide each other with support and share hints and tips on making sure their child wears the patch. "I would like to extend my thanks to Crosshouse Childrens Fund for providing funding for arts and crafts supplies, snacks, and teddy bears, complete with their very own patches, for young patients to take home. "And thanks also to the Kilmarnock Odeon who have provided each of the families with tickets to see The Disney/Pixar film Elio, in which the main character wears an eye patch." To coincide with the opening of the film Elio, NHS Ayrshire & Arran's orthoptic team have an information stand about the Amblyopia and raise awareness for the see4school visual screening programme, at the Odeon cinema in Kilmarnock from Friday, June 20 until Sunday, June 22. Laura added: "Children undergoing patching treatment can feel alone, isolated and have reduced confidence. Hopefully the film will give children with eye conditions the ability to feel confident in themselves. "With the party being such a success we would love to host one annually."
