Main updates
Employment tribunal
The employment tribunal involving NHS Fife has been adjourned until the summer. Although the case has received widespread media and social media attention, it would be inappropriate to comment on the specifics while proceedings remain ongoing.
It is important to note that NHS Fife did not initiate the litigation; it is responding to it. While there has been some reporting regarding the potential for NHS Fife to stop the employment tribunal case, we are not able to unilaterally stop the proceedings, as we are a respondent and being sued in this legal action.
Supreme Court ruling
The recent UK Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman has provided further clarity on this matter. NHS Fife like other boards and public sector organisations are awaiting the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and Scottish Government guidance to enable us to review our current practices and ensure we are fully filling our equality obligations.
Opening of gynaecology ward
A new gynaecology unit recently opened at Queen Margaret Hospital and will provide a range of services for women in Fife.
The new facility is designed to provide comprehensive and specialised gynaecological services. The design of the unit is intended to future-proof gynaecology services, ensuring they are more sustainable and adaptable, and better able to cope with the rising in demand anticipated in the years ahead.
The unit includes dedicated spaces for pre and post-operative care, ensuring efficient use of clinical sessions and reducing the need for overnight hospital stays. The whole unit will be fully accessible with access to changing and treatment facilities for patients with mobility issues or additional care needs. You can read more on the new unit here.
Update on proposal for reconfiguration of Minor Injuries units in northeast Fife
The local community in northeast Fife were recently asked to share their views about the proposed reconfiguration of minor injuries services in the area via a four-week online survey about the clinically preferred model being considered.
This survey shared the options considered in the appraisal and allowed the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership to capture feedback on what this option might mean for people in the community. A series of Frequently Asked Questions were also developed on topics which emerged through this process.
Two public meetings were also held with the Royal Burgh of Cupar Community Council and St Andrews Community council with representation from clinical and project leads. A report will be presented to the Integration Joint Board (IJB) for final decision later this month.
Access to dentistry
The national shortage of qualified dentists remains a significant issue impacting NHS dentistry across Scotland, including here in Fife. Several factors contribute to this including recruitment challenges and the shift from smaller NHS-run practices to larger corporate entities, which means individual health boards have only very limited influence over practice decisions.
We have two applications in Fife that have been approved by Scottish Government for the Scottish Dental Access Initiative funding – one in Dunfermline and one in Kirkcaldy.
The Cupar Dentist recently informed their patient list of changes to the service they were offering. While there were initial reports in the media that the practice was due to close, this does not appear to be the case. Our Primary Care team have reached out to the practice operators to better understand their intentions and seek assurances that patients will continue to receive a good standard of care.
For patients unable to register at a local practice, Fife’s Public Dental Service remains available to provide emergency dental care. The service plays a vital role in addressing urgent and unmet dental needs, particularly for children and vulnerable adults, providing an essential safety net for those facing barriers to care.
Access to emergency care can be arranged through Fife’s dental advice line on 01592 226 555, which is open on weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm, or via NHS 24 on 111 during evenings and weekends. Information on getting registered with a dentist is available by e-mail to fife.dentaladviceline@nhs.scot
Unannounced inspection of wards at Victoria Hospital
Healthcare Improvement Scotland has published a report on its unannounced follow-up inspection of wards at the Victoria Hospital in December. The three-day visit was to monitor progress made from earlier unannounced inspections in July and August 2023.
Despite the visit taking place during winter when the hospital was under considerable pressure, it was noted that the areas inspected were calm and well led with hospital teams working together to provide compassionate care. The report also noted an open and supportive culture amongst staff, that patients and relatives were complimentary of care and of staff, and that there was good oversight of both clinical and wider system pressures.
Some areas were identified where action is required, including the availability of alcohol-based hand sanitiser, the safe storage of cleaning products and better showering facilities in the two wards within the older part of the hospital. Work is underway to address these issues quickly, with some of these actions already completed. More information is available here.
Proposed new health centres in Kincardine and Lochgelly
NHS Fife remains committed to the projects to build new health centres in Lochgelly and Kincardine. Work is continuing to ensure that we are in the best possible position to commence the builds as soon as the necessary capital funding is made available.
Changes in planning policy since the initial proposal has meant that it has been necessary to submit a new planning application for the new Kincardine Health Centre.
There was also recent speculation following the Scottish Government’s budget suggesting that capital funding for the projects had now been allocated. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case, however, we continue to do the planning necessary to enable us to commence the projects at the earliest possible opportunity once capital funding is confirmed.
New treatment area in ward 44
A new treatment area has opened within ward 44 at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
Ward 44 is a 30-bed combined unit specialising in gastro-intestinal and colorectal care. A new treatment room was recently opened within the unit which will be used to carry out both urgent and routine patient reviews.
Establishing the new treatment area has allowed ward 44 to open Fife’s first paracentesis clinic. Paracentesis is a medical procedure used to remove excess fluid from the abdomen, and can be caused by various conditions, including liver cirrhosis, heart failure, infections, or cancers. The development is helping improve the experience of patients requiring regular paracentesis and enables patients to be safely discharged home the same day, where previously they would have required an overnight stay. You read more about the new treatment area here.
New nurse director appointed
Following a competitive recruitment process, Gillian McAuley has been appointed as our new director of nursing. Gillian will assume the role on 1 July, succeeding Janette Keenan, who announced her intention to retire earlier this year.
Gillian brings 38 years of nursing experience to the role and previously served in senior leadership positions at NHS Lothian and NHS Lanarkshire. You can read more about Gillian McAuley’s appointment here.
Weight-loss medicines
The East Region Formulary Committee, which brings together representatives of NHS Fife, NHS Borders and NHS Lothian, recently approved the addition of semaglutide and tirzepatide to the formulary, enabling the prescribing of these medicines to eligible patients to aid weight loss.
NHS Fife, like many health boards in Scotland, is currently in the process of developing a clinical pathway to support safe prescribing and management of these medicines for eligible patients. This is a complex process as we need to ensure that appropriate safeguards, monitoring and resources are in place to support patient safety and optimise outcomes. These pathways will be finalised and approved through NHS Fife and Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) governance routes to guarantee that the service is delivered safely, effectively and equitably.
We will continue to provide regular updates with any developments as we progress towards implementation of the clinical pathway in Fife.
Cycling Friendly Employer award
NHS Fife has been awarded the prestigious Cycling Friendly Employer Award in recognition of its efforts to support staff commuting by bikes to and from work.
The award, which was made by Cycling Scotland, recognises NHS Fife’s commitment to supporting staff cycling and creating a cycle-friendly environment at Victoria Hospital. This includes the development of safe bike storage, a new cycle-to-work programme, which enabled staff to purchase bikes at a reduced price, and the development of a staff forum to discuss active and sustainable travel. More information on NHS Fife’s receipt of the Cycling Friendly Employer Award is available here.
You find out more about the new treatment area and see photos here.
NHS Fife leads the charge to achieve 100% electric for small and light vehicles
NHS Fife on course to meet the Scottish Government’s target of eliminating fossil-fuelled small and light commercial vehicles from its vehicle fleet by the end of 2025.
In line with the NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy, NHS Fife has already achieved a 79% compliance rate as of December 2024, with 12 petrol and diesel-engine vehicles replaced with electric vehicles (EVs) and a further 10 vehicles removed from service.
By the end of 2025, all remaining petrol and diesel vehicles in the small and light commercial category are scheduled for replacement, ensuring a predicted compliance rate of 100%. This milestone will be achieved through planned funding arrangements and confirmed EV leases.
Efforts are also underway to secure further funding to improve and increase charging infrastructure for patients and staff. Find out more here.
Cardiology consultant delivering life-saving treatments in Nigeria
NHS Fife cardiology consultant, Dr Jagdeep Singh, has been on a medical mission to Nigeria. Dr Singh delivered life-saving cardiology treatments to underserved communities in Port Harcourt in collaboration with the Cardiovascular Education Foundation.
Along with two colleagues from NHS Lothian, Dr Singh dedicated five days to the treatment of 16 patients - mainly implanting pacemakers. More information is available here.
Pipe replacement work
As part of our ongoing commitment to patient safety and high-quality care, works are underway to replace and upgrade an area of pipework within the Victoria Hospital.
These works commenced on 27 April and are expected to take around three weeks to complete. This follows the identification of corrosion within part of the wastewater system in an area of the hospital. Carrying out the works will temporarily impact bed capacity within our renal, paediatric, and neonatal wards. The wider hospital is unaffected continues to operate as normal.
Robust planning has been carried out and we are working closely with the hospital’s maintenance to manage the works efficiently and safely. We have also collaborated with neighbouring health boards to ensure mutual aid arrangements are in place for our Neonatal Service.
COVID Spring Booster
The Spring COVID-19 booster programme started on 31 March. Only certain groups are eligible for a spring COVID-19 vaccine, and these include those aged 75 or over; residents of care homes for older adults; and people aged six months and over with a weakened immune system.
Eligible individuals should have received an appointment or an invitation to book an appointment. Digital invitations (text or email) were sent to those who have opted for these methods, with postal invitations sent to those who opted out of digital communications. Housebound patients have also been contacted with an appointment date.
NHS Fife selected to present spotlight session on delivering change at national event
The NHS Scotland Event will take place on 9 June in Glasgow and showcases best practices and innovative approaches in delivering quality care. Bringing together front-line staff and system leaders, it is an opportunity for colleagues across the NHS to share experiences, explore new ways of working and celebrate success.
As part of the event, NHS Fife will be presenting a session on Reform, Transform, Perform – A New Way Forward for Fife. The session will showcase the creation of our innovative change model which has delivered £25 million in savings, whilst continuing to maintain safe, quality care and build the foundations for a more resilient, future-focused health system in Fife.
In addition, 14 service areas with NHS Fife and Fife Health and Social Care Partnership have had their poster abstracts chosen to be displayed at the event, focussing on a diverse range of innovative work from district nursing and immunisation to sustainability and endoscopy pre-assessment.
Media statements
As part of our efforts to be as open and transparent as possible, we have created a new section on our website where we will shortly be publishing all the formal statements and responses we issue to local and national media outlets.
We are in the process of populating this section with the statements issued from 1 January 2025 to date and will be updating this area on a weekly basis thereafter. You can access these statements here.
Sharing our messages
We appreciate the support of elected members in sharing our health messages with constituents and on social media.
Board papers and statistics
NHS Fife Board: The NHS Fife Board holds meetings every two months at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. Meetings have set agendas, and accompanying papers are available on our website five days before the meeting.
Papers from the latest Board meeting on Tuesday 25 March can be viewed here. The next meeting takes place on Tuesday 27 May.
Performance: A wide range of research, guidance and statistical publications relating to NHS Fife can be viewed here.
Workforce: Statistics on staffing and vacancies are published quarterly by NHS Education for Scotland. The latest publication can be viewed here.
All Information correct at time of publishing. Issued by the Corporate Communications and Engagement Directorate.