Latest news with #NHSDumfriesandGalloway
Daily Record
02-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Waiting lists for Dumfries and Galloway hospital appointments branded 'devastating'
New figures show that the number of waits for outpatient appointments have hit a record high. Waiting lists for hospital appointments in Dumfries and Galloway have been branded 'devastating'. New figures show that the number of waits for outpatient appointments have hit a record high And Public Health Scotland has noted the increase over the past 12 months is the largest amongst Scotland's health boards. South Scotland Labour MSP, Colin Smyth, said: 'Once again our region has been singled out on a national scale for all the wrong reasons. 'These figures are devastating for our area, exposing the abject failure of the Scottish Government's handling of the NHS. 'We were promised that waiting times would reduce yet these damning figures show how hollow those promises were. 'On John Swinney's watch, the number of patients left waiting for outpatient appointments in Dumfries and Galloway has spiralled. 'No one with a referral should forced to wait so long in pain – yet that is the grim reality for more than thousands of people in our region. 'Our health and care staff across Dumfries and Galloway are working tirelessly to deliver the best possible standard of care, but they simply cannot keep up as there just aren't enough of them. 'These waiting times also have a knock on effect as those who are waiting are forced back to their GP again and again. Serious changes must be made.' At the end of March, there were 559,742 waits across Scotland – down from 560,456 the previous month. In Dumfries and Galloway, the waiting list stood at 13,718 – the highest figure on record and up from 13,364 in February. In March 2024, 10,813 waits were recorded. The Public Health Scotland report notes: 'NHS Dumfries and Galloway shows the biggest percentage increase in ongoing waits at 26.9 per cent. 'NHS Dumfries and Galloway have reported that the rise in ongoing waits relates to staffing issues across multiple services, including ophthalmology and pain management.' The Scottish Government has set a target that 95 per cent of patients should be seen within 12 weeks. In Dumfries and Galloway, 48.4 per cent were seen within that time frame – an improvement on the February figure of 45.7. The national figure was 41.4 per cent. The figures reveal 175 waits had lasted for more than a year and 14 had lasted more than two years. The inpatient waiting list stood at 5,192 at the end of March, down from 5,314 at the end of February. The March 2024 figure was 5,059. Just 31.1 per cent of patients were seen within 12 weeks, with 763 waits lasting more than one year and 10 more than two years. A healthboard spokesman said: 'NHS Dumfries and Galloway acknowledges the concern around the recent increase in waiting list numbers. This reflects a complex situation, including rising demand and the demographic challenges of a rural region with an ageing population. 'The figures refer specifically to first outpatient appointments with a doctor, and do not include follow-ups or care delivered by other healthcare professionals. In some cases, speciality waits are influenced by national scheduling availability, not local services alone. 'Despite these challenges, NHS Dumfries and Galloway continues to perform well, with one of the lowest numbers of people waiting over a year for a consultant-led outpatient appointment. 'A key target for NHS boards is to ensure that no one waits more than 52 weeks for an outpatient or inpatient appointment. We work towards that while prioritising those in need of urgent care, seeking to expand clinical capacity and developing new models of care to reduce waiting times wherever possible.' A Scottish Government spokesperson added: 'It is encouraging and indeed a testament to our hardworking NHS staff that the statistics published this week are showing improvements in some outpatient, diagnostic and inpatient/day case waiting-times performance metrics. 'Our 2025-26 budget provides record funding of £21 billion for health and social care – with NHS boards receiving an additional £200 million to reduce waiting lists and help support reduction of delayed discharge. 'NHS boards have exceeded the commitment to deliver 64,000 appointments and procedures in 2024-25, funded through our £30 million investment, with boards reporting delivery of 105,500 appointments and procedures.'
STV News
01-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Patient couldn't start chemo because of botched treatment for infected toe
A patient at an NHS board was unable to start chemotherapy because of botched treatment they received for an infected toe. The patient's spouse complained to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) over the treatment received from NHS Dumfries and Galloway. They complained that the infected toe remained unresolved, despite several months of treatment, and that their spouse was unable to start chemotherapy for their oesophageal cancer during this time. The spouse said that this meant the patient 'experienced significant pain' and that there had been a 'failure' to coordinate their care needs. The SPSO took independent advice from a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and a consultant clinical oncologist. In its report, it found that the health board had provided reasonable care when each admission was considered in isolation. However, during one admission it was found the results of an MRI scan were not correctly reported, resulting in the patient receiving lesser surgery. It was also found that this incident was not reported in accordance with Duty of Candor legislation, and no internal review was conducted to learn from it. The watchdog stated that a more coordinated approach to the care could have provided a 'proper overview' of their needs, including pain management, which were known to be complex. NHS Dumfries and Galloway did not 'accurately' describe the impact of failing the MRI scan to the patient or 'acknowledge the impact' this had on their surgery and treatment plan. The board also failed to initiate 'relevant reporting and investigation' processes. A number of recommendations were made by the SPSO, including that the board should apologise to the patient's spouse. It also included following processes after an incident to ensure learning, reflecting on how the patient's care could have been managed differently, and investigating complaints in line with guidance. A spokesperson for the health board said: 'NHS Dumfries and Galloway cannot comment on individual cases. 'However, it can confirm that it has accepted the SPSO's decision and is in the process of undertaking the associated recommendations. 'An apology has been issued to the complainant in line with those recommendations.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health board remains 'vigilant' over cyber attacks
A Scottish health board has said it remains "vigilant" for potential cyber attacks nearly a year after a major data breach. Hackers managed to access a huge amount of NHS Dumfries and Galloway information - including confidential details on patients and staff - in February 2024. The health board said it was "in no way complacent" about its data security nearly 12 months later and staff were now required to undertake a mandatory programme of cyber-security and information governance training on an annual basis. Police Scotland said its inquiries into the attack were ongoing. More stories from South Scotland Listen to news from Dumfries and Galloway on BBC Sounds The health board was targeted in February last year and details of the incident started to emerge the following month. It is one of the most serious cyber attacks ever seen to date in Scotland. The health board said it had mounted a "robust and rigorous response, supported by respected third party specialists - offering a high degree of assurance". "However, the ever-evolving threat of cyber security is always present, and NHS Dumfries and Galloway is working along with its supporting partners to remain vigilant and ensure that we are taking all reasonable and appropriate mitigations," said a statement. It declined to reveal any information it had on how access to its system had been gained, saying that could "potentially invite fresh attempts" on not just its own IT defences but those of other organisations. However, it did confirm that no member of staff had been disciplined in connection with the attack. In total, more than 100 people phoned a dedicated helpline which was established after the incident and advice is still hosted "prominently" on the NHS Dumfries and Galloway website. The health board said it also now worked closely with staff to try to avoid any repeat attack. NHS health board hackers unlikely to be convicted - police
BBC News
10-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
NHS Dumfries and Galloway remains 'vigilant' over cyber attacks
A Scottish health board has said it remains "vigilant" for potential cyber attacks nearly a year after a major data managed to access a huge amount of NHS Dumfries and Galloway information - including confidential details on patients and staff - in February health board said it was "in no way complacent" about its data security nearly 12 months later and staff were now required to undertake a mandatory programme of cyber-security and information governance training on an annual Scotland said its inquiries into the attack were ongoing. The health board was targeted in February last year and details of the incident started to emerge the following is one of the most serious cyber attacks ever seen to date in health board said it had mounted a "robust and rigorous response, supported by respected third party specialists - offering a high degree of assurance"."However, the ever-evolving threat of cyber security is always present, and NHS Dumfries and Galloway is working along with its supporting partners to remain vigilant and ensure that we are taking all reasonable and appropriate mitigations," said a statement. No disciplinary action It declined to reveal any information it had on how access to its system had been gained, saying that could "potentially invite fresh attempts" on not just its own IT defences but those of other it did confirm that no member of staff had been disciplined in connection with the total, more than 100 people phoned a dedicated helpline which was established after the incident and advice is still hosted "prominently" on the NHS Dumfries and Galloway health board said it also now worked closely with staff to try to avoid any repeat attack.
