managing with extreme weather ralph roberts chief operating officer
TRANSCRIPT
NHS Borders - Context
• Smallest mainland Health Board in Scotland
1 DGH4 Community
Hospitals24 GP Practices
Single LA
New Chief Executive
2 new Executive Directors
• Population – 110,000• 1800 Square Miles• 65% of the population
live outside settlements of 10,000 people, (28% for Scotland)
Monday 4th January
• Public Holiday
• Review of “Festive period”
– A&E @ 99%
– A&E activity down 9%
– 60 beds fewer across system
– 9% fewer admissions
– Discharges / admissions in balance
• cold spell over festive period
Tuesday 5th January
• Planned reduction in Elective Activity – URGENTS only
• New Executive Team meeting
• Schools closed – access
• SBC Emergency Co-ordination group –
review forecast / school opening
• Extreme weather NOT forecast overnight
Wednesday 6th Jan
• Heavy snowfall (15cm)
• freezing temps ( -14 c)
• Most B & C class roads impassable
• A Class roads – 4 WD only
Wednesday 6th Jan: Early AM
•06:30 – BGH Staffing issues escalated
• Emergency Services only / Public Communication
• Facilities for Night Staff
• 09:00 – HQ closed – Crisis Management Team at BGH
Wednesday 6th Jan: AM
• Establish Crisis Management Team
• SBC Strategic Co-ordinating Group – “the bunker”
• Staffing / Service review by site
• Electives for 7th January
• Information / Public Communication
• Late shift Staffing
Wednesday 6th Jan: PM
• Supplies
• Information / Public Communication
• Emergency Retrieval
• Helicopter
• Out of Hours transport
Wednesday 6th Jan: PM
• Supplies
• Information / Public Communication
• Emergency Retrieval
• Helicopter
• Out of Hours transport
•Night staff
• Initial Transport review
• Planning for 7th Jan
Thursday 7th Jan
• Limited additional snow
• Temp remain around -10 c
• Most B & C roads closed all day
• A class roads passable from mid afternoon
Thursday 7th Jan
• Crisis Management Team
• Staffing – 2 shifts ahead
• Transport Hub
• Patient transport
Thursday 7th Jan
• Crisis Management Team
• Staffing – 2 shifts ahead
• Transport Hub
• Patient transport
• Non emergency activity for Friday ?
• Emergency Retrieval
Thursday 7th Jan
• Crisis Management Team
• Staffing – 2 shifts ahead
• Transport Hub
• Patient transport
• Non Emergency services for Friday ?
• Emergency Retrieval
• Crisis team / Operational teams
Friday 8th Jan
• Elective services operating
• HQ re-opened
• Recovery phase
• Weekend Plans
• “counting the cost”
• Public Communications
Lessons - SystemsBusiness Continuity Plans
- initial escalation- scenarios- communication / Crisis Team
- Information / IM&T- Decision Log
Lessons - SystemsBusiness Continuity Plans
- initial escalation- scenarios- communication / Crisis Team
- Information / IM&T- Decision Log
Transport- access to 4WD- supplies
Lessons - SystemsBusiness Continuity Plans
- initial escalation- scenarios- communication / Crisis Team
- Information / IM&T- Decision Log
Transport- access to 4WD- supplies
Multi Agency links
Lessons - SystemsBusiness Continuity Plans
- initial escalation- scenarios- communication / Crisis Team
- Information / IM&T- Decision Log
Transport- access to 4WD- supplies
Multi Agency links
Specific patient groups- Vulnerable- Cancer- Dialysis- Emergency retrieval
Lessons - Staff
Rate limiting factor
Junior Doctors
Contact
Transport
Flexibility
Variability
Policies / FAQs
The big freeze grips the region
True grit needed as big chillGrips the region
Town is “cut off” as snowWreaks havoc
Winter White Out
Life - Savers
Valiant efforts tackleSnowfall in Scottish Borders
Snow hits stricken helicopterfor six
Borders snow clearancebattle continues
Keeping warm and wellin the cold snap
Community spirit helped elderly survive Sea King returns to the skies
Supplies on a sledge for hospital patients
Exceptional efforts of NHS Borders Workers during the big freeze
NHS Borders staff go the extra mile NHS Borders: Normal
service resumes