Main updates

Re-form, Transform, Perform (RTP)

Significant energy savings projected across NHS Fife estate

As part of our ongoing work to ensure that we are maximising the efficiency and value of our estate, our RTP infrastructure and digital workstream has been working towards significant savings in the realm of energy costs.

Energy price increases have significantly impacted NHS Fife, with the annual bill rising from £3 million to £8 million in recent years. To mitigate this, our infrastructure and digital workstream has implemented a comprehensive program of energy-saving measures which are projected to deliver combined savings of nearly 1million per year. These include:

  • Battery storage systems:Installed at no cost to NHS Fife, these systems are estimated to generate annual savings of around £500,000.
  • Enhanced building efficiency:The installation of heat recovery systems, LED lighting, and more energy-efficient building materials is projected to save approximately £195,000 annually.
  • Solar power:The recent installation of solar cells on numerous buildings is anticipated to deliver an additional £250,000 in annual savings.

Other infrastructure and digital workstream measures that are currently underway include a device amnesty encouraging staff to return old or under-utilised laptops, phones, iPads etc so that they can be repurposed, a drive to reduce the amount of printing being done across the organisation, and a review of staff mobile phone contracts.

Emergency gas works at Kirkcaldy Health Centre

After a period of unplanned closure due to emergency gas repairs, Kirkcaldy Health centre re-opened on Wednesday (3 April).

The closure was caused by issues relating to ongoing gas maintenance taking place on Whyteman’s Brae. Three GP practices and the adjoining Well Pharmacy were impacted, and interim arrangements were quickly put in place to ensure that a reduced service could continue.

The period of reduced service means that there will be a backlog of activity for practice teams to work through and patients who had scheduled appointments postponed will be contacted in due course to rearrange.

Historic partnership with University of St Andrews

NHS Fife has agreed a major new partnership with the University of St Andrews.

The partnership will benefit local patient care and medical research, while boosting Scotland’s overall training provision for new doctors. It follows a decision by the Scottish Parliament in 2021 to remove a historic prohibition that had prevented the university from awarding its own medical qualifications.

Students will now be able to do all their clinical training and complete their primary medical qualification in Fife. More information is available here.

Reduced working week

As part of the implementation of the Agenda for Change recommendation, NHS Agenda for Change staff - including nurses, midwives, paramedics, allied health professionals, porters, and others - will see a reduction of 30 minutes in their working week from this week.

The move follows a recommendation from a working group set up to implement a previous commitment to cut the number of working hours as part of the 2023/24 pay deal. It is one of several measures to modernise the NHS Scotland Agenda for Change system and has been agreed with trade unions. Protected Learning Time will also take effect this week as per the STAC Review Group’s recommendations. 

Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019

The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 (HCSA) came into force this week with a view to helping support workforce planning and the delivery of frontline services.

The Act sets out requirements for safe staffing across health and care services and health and care professions. It also builds on existing policies and aims to embed a culture of openness and transparency, ensuring staff are informed about decisions relating to staffing and able to raise concerns. More information is available here.

First Minister visits Fife’s National Treatment Centre

First Minister, Humza Yousaf MSP, visited our National Treatment Centre in Kirkcaldy on Monday (1 April) as part of a Scottish Government announcement on NHS investment. His visit marked one year since the NTC was formally opened by the First Minister’s predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon MSP. You can read more about our NTC here.

Recruitment of new Board member

The Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care is seeking to appoint a new member to the Board of NHS Fife.

The role is ideally suited for someone with experience in healthcare delivery, social care, or the third sector, with a strong understanding of the challenges facing our NHS. Applications close on 18 April and prospective candidates can apply here.

Expansion of Patient Hub into vasectomy service

NHS Fife is expanding the use of Patient Hub within our vasectomy service.

As well as managing vasectomy appointments through our secure online portal, patients can now complete their surveys online. They will be sent a text and/or email from NHS Scotland with a link to follow to access the system. If patients do not interact with the text or email, a letter will be sent by post. More information is available here.

Shingles vaccination

As part of a national drive to increase uptake of the shingles vaccination, we have started sharing online resources aimed at encouraging those eligible to take advantage of the free protection. Constituents will be contacted directly about their appointments from June 2024. More information is available here.

ADHD service survey

The Fife Health and Social Care Partnership is reviewing how it supports children and young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The feedback survey invites parents, young people with ADHD, and providers to share their experiences with a view to using the information to help improve the service. Please consider sharing the survey, which closes on 7 April, with constituents.

Fife dental nurse writes book to encourage good dental habits in nursery

A Fife dental nurse has written a new book to help encourage good dental habits in nursery children.

Tracy Pirie wrote 'Harry's Healthy Teeth’, which follows a young boy as he makes a visit to his dentist for a check-up. With colourful illustrations and an engaging storyline, Harry learns about the best ways to look after his teeth and keep his healthy, happy smile.

Tracy works as part of the Childsmile programme, which is a national programme aimed at improving oral health and reducing dental inequalities in Scotland. More information is available here.

NHS Fife Board

Board papers: papers from the latest meeting of the NHS Fife Board on 26 March can be viewed here. The next meeting will take place on 28 May 2024.

NHS Performs

As referenced at the top of this document, NHS Performs brings together a range of information on how NHS Fife is performing, including A&E performance, cancelled operations, delayed discharges, and diagnostic waiting times. The latest information can be viewed here.

Workforce information

NHS Education for Scotland publishes a quarterly update on workforce related information, including the number of staff directly employed by NHS Fife and the number of vacant posts for nursing and midwifery staff, allied health professions, and medical and dental consultants.

The interactive dashboard also outlines trends over time and references other useful information such as sickness absence rates, staff age profile, and spend on agency and bank. The latest publication can be viewed here.