Under pressure Fife hospitals have capacity in critical care wards despite COVID spike

Mainland Scotland was put back into lockdown at the start of the week amid fears hospitals were being swamped with a knock-on effect on all wards.

On Wednesday, a further 2039 cases were confirmed across Scotland with 68 deaths.

In Fife, the pictures is one of a service under pressure - but with capacity to cope.

Claire Dobson, NHS Fife director of acute services, said: “As part of initial preparations ahead of the first phase of the pandemic, critical care capacity was expanded significantly to care for the anticipated rise in the numbers of unwell patients.

“This additional capacity remains in place.”She added: “While there are pressures on our services at present, we continue to have capacity within critical care. This capacity is monitored closely, as it is across our hospital.”And she urged Fifers to play their part by adhering to the tight new restrictions in place on travel and social interaction.

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“Sticking with these measures will help us to reduce the numbers of those becoming seriously unwell and requiring care in our hospitals,” she said.

NHS Fife is also directing people with a non-life threatening condition to their GP in the first instance.

If A&E is the most appropriate place to provide the right care, patients will either be directly referred by NHS 24 or to a telephone or video consultation with a senior clinical decision maker.

This is designed to avoid unnecessary waits in crowded waiting areas and offer care much closer to home whenever possible.

If someone needs to go to A&E, they may be offered an appointment to attend, and the team will know to expect them so they can be seen directly.

NHS 24 on 111 is also there for those who need urgent medical attention but can’t wait for their GP practice or dentist to re-open.

Those with life-threatening conditions including suspected heart attacks, strokes or severe bleeding, should continue to go straight to A&E or call 999.

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