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Anabytics

Central Edinburgh based Agent (www.anabytics.com) for a Trusted American Exporter of FDA validated PPE at scale.  The Smart Healthy City Alliance (managed by www.Orchestrallinc.com) has an ideal USP for the current crisis. The SHCA have people on the ground in Chinese Factories validating PPE production capacities, stock inventories, product specifications and monitoring factory output quality control. In collaboration with the SHCA, Anabytics has researched and secured fast logistics options for European based buyers. Orders can be FOB delivered within 10-15 of a Purchase Order. Anabytics stands ready to help Scotland’s PPE Buyers, specifically those able to purchase at scale. 

Products: FPP2 Masks, Type IIR Masks, Protective Glasses/Goggles, Face Shields, Nitrile Gloves, Gowns (Surgical, Surgical Isolation, Non-Surgical), Gowns (Surgical, Non-Surgical)

 Get in touch  – available almost 24/7.  Email Address: [email protected]    Mobile: 07803131245

SHCA Catalogue April 2020 (1)
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Covid-19 Open Webinar – 16 April

The next Scottish Care Covid-19 webinar will take place on Thursday 16 April 2020 at 3:00 pm. This session will be hosted by Donald and Karen along with a guest host – Professor Graham Ellis, National Clinical Adviser for Ageing and Health, Scottish Government.

Professor Graham Ellis is a Geriatrician in Lanarkshire in Central Scotland and a clinician with the Hospital at Home service.  He has a research interest in the organisation of acute services for Older people.  He was recently appointed as National Clinical Lead for Older People and Frailty in NHS Scotland.  He was recently appointed as Honorary Professor at Glasgow Caledonian Universities department of Health and Life Sciences.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to ask us and Professor Ellis any questions you may have on Covid-19.

Please note that this webinar is open to both Scottish Care members and external colleagues, therefore those who are interested in attending will need to register to access the webinar (even Scottish Care members). You can register via the following link. After your registration gets approved, you will receive an email with a unique link to join the webinar.

Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1yyTi6HiTWmdS1meUpElqA

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Covid-19 Open Webinar – 16 April

The next Scottish Care Covid-19 webinar will take place on Thursday 16 April 2020 at 3:00 pm. This session will be hosted by Donald and Karen along with a guest host – Professor Graham Ellis, National Clinical Adviser for Ageing and Health, Scottish Government.

Professor Graham Ellis is a Geriatrician in Lanarkshire in Central Scotland and a clinician with the Hospital at Home service.  He has a research interest in the organisation of acute services for Older people.  He was recently appointed as National Clinical Lead for Older People and Frailty in NHS Scotland.  He was recently appointed as Honorary Professor at Glasgow Caledonian Universities department of Health and Life Sciences.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to ask us and Professor Ellis any questions you may have on Covid-19.

Please note that this webinar is open to both Scottish Care members and external colleagues, therefore those who are interested in attending will need to register to access the webinar (even Scottish Care members). You can register via the following link. After your registration gets approved, you will receive an email with a unique link to join the webinar.

Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1yyTi6HiTWmdS1meUpElqA

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Tech Device Network keeping care home residents connected during Coronavirus

A generous Glasgow business has become the latest member of the newly established Tech Device Network and has immediately made a different to care home residents in Scotland.

DVI Technologies, a communications and IT business based in Stepps, donated four new tablet devices through the online initiative, which aims to connect donors with spare devices to local care services who need them in order to support vulnerable and older individuals to remain connected to loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tech Device Network, established by Scottish Care and Jennifer Nimmo-Smith from Electric Shores, encourages individuals and organisations to indicate through the website (www.scottishcare.org/techdevicenetwork) what they are able to donate whilst also asking care services to register, providing details of what they would like to use donated devices for in their support of care home residents.   The Network then connects these different groups up to arrange safe collection or delivery of the devices.

It is through this mechanism that DVI Technologies were connected to Nazareth House, a 70-bed care home and registered charity in Cardonald, Glasgow which has been supporting older people since 1902. Nazareth House requested tablets to help residents communicate with their families, which was providing challenging on the small phone screens of staff due to visual impairments.

Safe delivery of the devices took place on Monday 14 April, which gave staff from Nazareth House the opportunity to thank DVI Technologies and share more about how the devices will make a difference to residents.

Stephen Murney, Director of DVI Technologies, said:

 “DVI has always been delighted to support the work of Scottish Care, but more so in these recent weeks as Covid-19 has impacted their members. As a company, we remain open for business to provide essential support to those working in the Critical National Infrastructure sectors, and to help in whatever ways we can.

He added:

 “I have a deep and personal respect for the work of carers, and Coronavirus presents a hugely challenging time for them. With loved ones unable to visit, they’re carrying out their incredible jobs and taking the place of family. It’s been our privilege to help with the Tech Device Network, and I would urge other businesses to help where possible.”

A representative from Nazareth House said,

“As you can imagine, due to the present lockdown our residents are not able to have their loved ones visit them. Trying to explain to some residents who are living with dementia that their loved ones are thinking of them every day can be very emotional, not only for our residents but also for our staff. We are offering reassurance to the resident who is asking or looking for their loved one, as we staff feel their pain, anxiety and sense of abandonment.

“Modern technology is often criticised by us in what would be normally classed as a fast world, but in this present time each and every one of us are united in helping others in one way or another through their pain. By connecting our residents to their loved ones via Face Time we will offer reassurance to them that they are always near. Though not feeling their immediate touch, our residents can touch them virtually and seeing them will I’m sure bring tears but these will be overcome with joy as when in this sad world at present it also allows us to stop, think and thank how kind people can be. With this, we thank DVI Technologies and the Tech Device Network from deep within our hearts for their very kind gifts.

“Love, laughter and hope is being brought to all of us today and may this continue to be shared to all.”

Becca Young from Scottish Care, one of the co-founders of the Network, added:

“We’re very grateful for the generous donation by many kind-hearted individuals and businesses across Scotland such as DVI Technologies and are delighted that we are able to get these devices out into care services.

“The Tech Device Network is a positive opportunity in a difficult time for people to make a difference to the wellbeing of vulnerable citizens, and we’re really pleased that it is growing by the day. In order for us to support more people, we’d like to encourage organisations who could donate devices in unused or good condition to the Network to get in touch with us, as we have many more services in the Network who are desperate to receive devices for their residents.

“We have also established a JustGiving page for anyone who would like to contribute to the Network in another way, with these funds going directly towards the purchase of devices for care services. It can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/techdevicenetwork”.

 

Ends

Full details of the Tech Device Network can be accessed at: www.scottishcare.org/techdevicenetwork

A JustGiving page has also been established for anyone who would like to contribute to the Network in another way, with these funds going directly towards the purchase of devices for care services. It can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/techdevicenetwork

For media or Network enquiries, please contact:

Becca Young, Scottish Care – [email protected] / 07584 659995

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Scotland launches its first human rights-based Charter for Bereavement

A Bereavement Charter for Children and Adults in Scotland

www.scottishcare.org/bereavement 

After eighteen months of development including consultation and engagement with individuals and groups across Scotland, on Wednesday (15th April) Scotland’s first Bereavement Charter for Children and Adults will be launched.

 

The Charter together with Guidance notes has been developed by a coalition of individuals and organisations. It contains 15 statements which describe what the best bereavement care and support should look like. It has been developed to support individuals and communities who struggle with the death of someone they know or someone in their community.

 

Today, the need for such a Charter has become even more important due to the unique circumstances we currently find ourselves in as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. People who are bereaved may not have been able to be with a person as they approach the end of their life and may be isolated from their usual networks of support. It has also changed the traditional ways we are able to mark our grief. Traditional bereavement rituals and funerals have changed with many people now unable to attend funerals in the way that they might have in the past. Many deaths have become sudden with little or no time to prepare.

 

The Charter is designed to help us understand not only the importance of bereavement support, but what that support needs to look like.

 

Whilst accepting that every death is unique and that the way we each come to terms with a death is individual, this Charter and Guidance attempts to describe what good bereavement support can look like and what difference it can make.

 

The authors of the Charter hope that it will begin to appear in locations across Scotland and will be used by diverse groups and individuals. It is therefore hoped that the Charter will help us as a nation become more effective at supporting people to grieve.

 

Dr Donald Macaskill, Chair of the Bereavement Charter Group and CEO of Scottish Care, commented:

“Bereavement support is an intrinsic part what it means to be a citizen in modern Scotland. Good bereavement support is not an optional extra, it is fundamental to a society basing its character on dignity and human rights. Good bereavement support renews and restores, it can give a sense of purpose and direction, for many it is what has literally saved their lives.

“I have been deeply honoured to lead the work on developing the first Charter on Bereavement for Children and Adults in Scotland. Dozens have given their time to create this unique document in the earnest hope that we will become better at talking about death and dying, and better at supporting the women and men who grieve in our communities.

“We are launching this Charter in very unusual times. The weeks and months ahead will require us all as a society to support one another to grieve for those who have died – our family, friends, neighbours and acquaintances. I hope that this Charter and its Guidance will help Scotland to be able to grieve.”

 

Dr Janice Turner, Principle Educator: Medical Education at NHS Education for Scotland commented:

‘’It has been an immense privilege to work with so many individuals and organisations in the development of Scotland’s first Bereavement Charter for Adults and Children. We collectively hope that it will make a real and positive impact on the quality of bereavement care in Scotland, both now, and for many years to come’’.

 

Notes:

The Charter has been developed by a wide coalition of individuals and organisations including the Care Inspectorate, Childhood Bereavement Network, CHAS, Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, MND Scotland, National Bereavement Alliance, NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Fife, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Northumbria University, St Columba’s Hospice Care, Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish Care, Sue Ryder, University of Glasgow and the University of the West of Scotland.

There is a short film further summarising the rationale for the development of the Charter available at: https://vimeo.com/395685686

The Charter, a FAQ Sheet and a Guidance document can all be found at www.scottishcare.org/bereavement 

 

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Losing touch in the Coronavirus pandemic

One of the few positives to have come out of the Covid19 pandemic has been the extent to which folks have got in touch with me through social media with at times very personal questions, concerns and stories.

This weekend I have been thinking a lot about those who will not have managed to be in physical contact with their families because of the lockdown that care homes and the rest of society is experiencing. This is very hard indeed but perhaps it is hardest for those who have a family member who is at the stage of receiving active palliative care and who are at the end of their life.

I have also spent time this weekend considering with colleagues the importance of enabling families, with appropriate safeguards and protection, to be present at the death of their loved ones.

I received a message from the wife of one of the residents in a care home this morning. She said:

“ I was initially very frightened about the virus, but I wanted to be with John. The staff supported me so much and made sure I was wearing the right protection… I know it was not ideal… but I was at least there… I am so grateful for them… even though I was wearing gloves I held his hand as he passed… that was so important … I felt the touch of his heart through my fingers.”

If we have the opportunity, being present with those who we know and care for at the end of their lives is so very important. It can help a great deal to know that they were comfortable, able to feel and have the sense that we were there.

Sadly, for too many in hospitals and in care homes this has not been possible in the last few weeks. Despite all the challenges and restrictions, I know that staff have tried to keep people in touch, through recorded videos and voice messages. Staff have spent time in care homes speaking about family members and loved ones to someone who is dying especially as for many care home staff they have known the families through their visits and contact for a long period of time. It is  these amazing care home staff who through their voices have sought to console and comfort, whose hands have offered the touch to remove fear and soothe anxiety, and whose presence has instilled solace and assurance. I know through all my work across Scotland’s care homes that staff are skilled at simply being there, alongside in silence and in word, with those who are dying,  there to hold someone’s hand in the last minutes of life.

Along with others I fear the damage that is being done to us as individuals by being denied or prevented from having these opportunities. So, over the next week, with others, we will attempt to do everything we can to make it easier for care homes to admit a family member to be present in the last hours and moments of someone’s life. It might not always be possible, but I really think it is of such fundamental importance that we all of us need to try our hardest – despite the obvious challenges – to enable this to happen.

“I felt the touch of his heart through my fingers.”

Donald Macaskill 

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Revised PPE Guidance – 10 April

This revised guidance concerns use of PPE by health and social care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is applicable across the UK and supersedes previous PPE guidance.

Note update: Ultimately, where staff consider there is a risk to themselves or the individuals they are caring for they should wear a fluid repellent surgical mask with or without eye protection, as determined by the individual staff member for the episode of care or single session.

View guidance here – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control/covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-ppe 

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Care Inspectorate staffing notification system – 10 April

The Care Inspectorate have introduced a new notification which enables services to tell them about changes to staffing levels and what additional staffing they require.

This red, amber and green system will enable them to direct you to available help and support you may urgently need in order to cope with the impact of COVID-19 on your service.

It is essential that you use the notification to let the Care Inspectorate know about any changes in the staffing situation in your care service.

Full information, including when and how to notify, is available here – https://www.careinspectorate.com/index.php/coronavirus-professionals 

 

 

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Advice for the Easter Weekend

The Easter bank holiday weekend is an important time for many. This year we need to be doing things differently.

Restrictions on visits to care homes and to individuals in their own homes (unless providing care) MUST remain in place and only essential travel can take place.

Gifts, cards and presents are fine to receive but please follow strict infection control procedures, including isolation of items for a period of time.  Please follow the advice on NHS Inform.

We recognise that this weekend, more than ever, many people will be feeling the strain of being apart from loved ones .  It is essential that we are supporting people as much as possible to remain socially connected to activities and loved ones in order to support their wellbeing.

Useful resources:

Please also consider how staff wellbeing can be supported, as they too will may be struggling with being separated from friends and relatives and of working extremely hard in challenging circumstances.

Useful resources:

 

Have a safe and happy Easter in these strange and difficult times.